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Original poster

Travel System without Pram?? Help.

34 replies

Folkestone · 25/04/2009 16:44

I need a pushchair that is suitable for a newborn upwards with the option of attaching the car seat. I won't be taking it on and off buses so just in and out of my boot and will generally use it for walking into town and shopping, that's it.

I have seen so many reviews from everyone and am really confused. I haven't got a lot of money to spend so if possible need to keep it around £300. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

OP posts:
twinklytoes · 25/04/2009 22:09

graco deluxe this is pretty good. my friend had one and it was well used walking everywhere, on bus, in and out of car. the newborn carrycot cocoon was ideal in the early days as it meant baby faced her (the hood is adjustable so goes to front of pushchair rather than stay in the traditional position. its also not huge.

other friends have the jeep or chicco systems which can be picked up in argos. I had the mothercare urban detour which I used as you describe but it was heavy and cumbersome to lift into car especially difficult in early days if you'd had a cs.

nappyaddict · 25/04/2009 22:41

traxx ecuador, mutsy 4 rider or light rider as it is sometimes called (not urban rider that's an arse to push), any of the teutonia pushchairs, mamas and papas skate, m&p joolz, gesslein f2, gesslein future, gesslein vision s, mothercare maiu, bebecar ip-op, bebecar vector, mia moda allegria, mia moda atmosferra, bugaboo bee

mamadiva · 25/04/2009 22:45

Hi

Car seats are not the best idea for babies as it means their spines are angled when they are meant to be flat.

Could you have a pushchair that can rear face for first few months and then have a car seat to leave in the car?

mamadiva · 25/04/2009 23:03

Anything with air tyres would be good for walking comfy for you and baby but can be quite big.

Ebay is good for cheap pushchairs!

Jane Slalom Pro

That is supposed to be great! The car seat lays flat too so can be used as carrycot and as a proper car seat.

nappyaddict · 25/04/2009 23:15

I wouldn't get the Jane matrix car seat though www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWq6U77Jphc

naomi83 · 26/04/2009 08:26

loola or loola up? or streety? all take maxi cosi car seats, have a good recline and fold small for the car

mamadiva · 27/04/2009 07:51

Ooh okay don't buy the matrix car seat.

The Loola's are a bit of a PITA if you walk a lot, the wheels are crap on all of them wear away very quickly!

How about a Baby Jogger city series? They are fantastic I have the mini one and it is great I love the fold just pull the strap on the seat and it collapses no fuss, you don't need to take any parts off to fold unless carrycot or car seat obv but is lovely! It is compatible with the maxi cosi too.

I imagine you could get one cheapish on ebay.

mamadiva · 27/04/2009 08:08

Cheap Cosatto Cabi 3 in 1 and car seat

This is a lovely pushchair, the seat can face either way and comes with footmuff, change bag, and raincover. The car seat also looks great.

My friend has this as a travel system and it is lovely only thing is you have to take the seat unit off but this is'nt really a major problem if using the car.

For £280 this would be the one I'd go for

nappyaddict · 27/04/2009 10:23

The seat is a bucket seat on that isn't it? That means the seat doesn't actually recline flat so is only suitable from 6 months. You have to tip the seat back, but it means the shape of the seat doesn't change iyswim.

mamadiva · 27/04/2009 10:26

Nappy the carrycot bit comes with and lays totally flat is lovely!

For £200 I'd have it, I'd have it now if DS was'nt too big LOL.

nappyaddict · 27/04/2009 10:40

Yeah I saw that but my friend has the old version of this - the cobi and her DD outgrew the carrycot at around 3 months. Luckily she had also bought a Maclaren XLR for public transport. She found even when her DD was old enough for it she didn't like being tipped back with her legs in the air perhaps cos she'd been used to lying properly flat in the XLR.

What about the Maxi Cosi Mura 4

or the

Pliko Switch

nicolamumof3 · 27/04/2009 11:26

Bug bee?

naomi83 · 27/04/2009 12:49

both maxi cois mura and pliko switch are far too heavy for putting in and out of the car, maybe check out micralite fastfold or toro? cheapish, lightweight, folds small-ish (wheels come off so even smaller) and takes maxi cosi

nappyaddict · 27/04/2009 13:10

With both of those you can take the seat unit off so ideal for putting in the car. I know someone who has gotten a maxi cosi mura in a clio by being able to seperate the seat unit from the chassis. There's no way it would have gone in otherwise.

mamadiva · 28/04/2009 09:18

I think the Mura is really plasticcy and bulky looking when you see it in RL, makes me think of a wheelchair

Never thought of the Toro!

What you could maybe do and it's probably what I would do now actually is get a bigger pram for walking and a smaller one for chucking in the car but you could get 2 that fit the maxi cosi car seat if you could afford it but you get other ones that are just as good.

Bargain Graco Quattro comes with in car base too so you don't need to keep undoing the seat belt all the time! I have not seen it that cheap before not for all it includes!
Would be good for walking.

And Graco mosaic for in the car.

The car seat from the big Graco would fit onto the smaller pushchair too so you have complete flexability at a bargain price!

Original poster
Folkestone · 28/04/2009 10:46

Thank you ladies, that's certainly a lot of info to take in. I think I'll print this page off and have a look at all of them individually.

I feel like such a novice!

OP posts:
mamadiva · 28/04/2009 11:52

LOL check out the pram shed thread, you will get loads of info there and sometimes you will get a bargain there too

We are all novices to start with, so how long have you got until due date?

Best thing to do is think about your priorities, what you need and don't need...

Forward facing/Rear facing or combination.- Rear facing is a nice to have but often adds to price and size but is not essential.

Inflatable or plastic wheels- Inflatable is great if you will be doing a lot of walking but plastic large wheels are okay for this too.

Umbrella or flat fold- umbrella much more compact but two handles are a lot harder to push with.

You don't need lots of fancy accessories footmuffs and change bags are nice yes but the one you get free from boots is just as good and footmuffs are easily replaced with some cosy blankets!

Good luck and let us know how you get on

nappyaddict · 28/04/2009 13:15

Don't get the graco mosaic! I know someone who had this and it was a nightmare - the wheels kept sticking so it was really difficult to steer.

mamadiva · 29/04/2009 08:05

Was it the one hand fold one nappy I know they ahd problems with the original one but fixed it for the mosaic one.

nappyaddict · 29/04/2009 09:30

no it was definitely the mosaic one.

Original poster
Folkestone · 30/04/2009 15:26

Thank you so much. I have a long way to go yet, not due till November but I can't help planning it all especially as I will need to buy gradually.

I guess I would like a combination of forward & rear facing.

I hadn't even thought about wheels - I didn't know they did different types! Inflatible sound better though.

I still don't know what Umbrella or flat fold is - does that refer to when it is collapsed? I only have a Peugeot 206 so the smaller the better.

As you can see, I need all the help I can get!

OP posts:
nappyaddict · 30/04/2009 22:43

If you imagine them laid down in your boot then an umbrella fold will be longer and may fill one side of the boot to the other. A flat fold has a small width when folded. If you imagine going from the front to the back of your boot then an umbrella fold will only go back a litle bit where as a flat fold will go further to the back of your boot. If you imagine from the bottom of your boot to the top an umbrella fold will go higher up than a flat fold. Hope that makes sense.

mrsjammi · 30/04/2009 22:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mamadiva · 30/04/2009 22:52

Hiya again,

Yup I'm a pramaholic so would happily help with stuff for you!

Best way to do it is ask I am on my 6th pushchair and I tell you if I could go back and do it again with hindsight and the help of MN I could've managed with 2!!!

Umbrella folds normally have 2 handles and fold in the way just like an umbrella so they are normally long but a lot thinner than a bar handle. I had a Maclaren XT which was good and it folded up to a decent size but only faced away but would be handy for travelling or just to keep in car.

The ones with inflatable wheels tend to be quite big but pushchairs with large wheels made of plastic tend to be good too but for off road or rough terrain defo inflatable.

I have to say though a bar handle (single handle) although folds larger is much better for pushing as you can do it one handed most of the time and tends to be smoother and sturdier.

FIrst thing I would say is measure your boot that way you can easily rule out what won't work and what will.

Do you walk a lot?

If you do it might be an idea to get a pram for in the car and a 3 wheeler or a large inflatable wheel pushchair for walking.

And lastly keep your eyes open for a bargain on here or ebay you can pretty much find anything for baby on these places saves soo much money!!!

mamadiva · 30/04/2009 22:54

And for me I'd have the Loola up because it is purdy