Hi
New to this site and soon to be a new mum (DD 20th March) and I'm hoping that someone will be able to give me some advise on which pram/travel system/3-in-1 I should look at I know I want a "pram" that lies down flat but can also sit upwards as my baby gets older. I also need the system to be small enough to fit easily into my car (Peugeot 206) and obviously I need a car seat aswell .... if anyone has had any previous experience of something that might fit all my requirements it would be much appreciated as as I'm finding it all pretty mind boggling!!
Thanks in advance
x

Hi Helen,

I'm beginning to look into this too, particularly the merits of whether to get a travel system or not. The buyer's guides on travel systems and prams are a useful place to start, and then there are reviews by users. The Maclaren range seems to be widely recommended by TB users and I've seen stacks of recommendations for the Maxi Cosi cabrio car seat which combines with several brands of pushchair to create a travel system.

You can find all this information if you use the 'products' link in the grey bit of the nav bar at the top of the page. You can go direct to info on travel systems and pushchairs from there.

As an additional question to ask parents, sorry to highjack the thread, I'd like to know whether people plumped for a carry cot as part of a travel system and if so, how much use they got out of it.

Hi Helen I agree that when trying to decide between the multitude of prams on offer you're left feeling mind-boggled. As a start for you I have heard lots of critisism for the Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe System. Good luck deciding

Hi Helen

I'm new to this site but have come across your message. I have done heaps of reseach and have completely gone off the travel systems and will prob opt for a maclaren classic - its suitable from newborn upwards and is very light and easy to fold - also read some brill reviews on this buggy and have friends who bought the whole travel system and now have bought the maclaren! Hope this helps!
Denise

I too have been told 'oh you'll end up with a maclaren sooner or later!' but if you do think you'll need something a bit more robust (can't imagine trucking across the fields of my local park with dog and sprog in tow on those teeny tiny wheels!) I think the Jane Nomad system seems to offer a good compromise. I have tried zillions of prams at friends and in shops loosing nails and dignity in the process (its like the Krypton factor - all I'm sure created to make you feel really stupid!!!) and found it the easiest to open and close and its, so far, ticked the most boxes combining a bit of 'urban street' with 'off roading'. Hope this helps but if anyone has any bad stuff to say about the Nomad please let me know - QUICK - before I part with my dosh!!! Thanks!

I have a Loola system the stoller part comes with the chassis and can either face you or away. it has five reclining postions, going from upright to flat. the car seat fits onto the chassis and is one of the safest and most comfortable on the market which was the big point for me. it is very light weight and fits into my fiesta. you can also buy a carry cot which fits onto the chassis too I used it in the house as a mosses basket although they don't use that part for long so I wouldn't recommend that part. you can get excellent deals on-line at kiddicare and the glasgow pram centre and they deliver free!
I love mine but goodluck with your research!

Hello everyone :)

I think travel systems are great- if they meet your requirements. Obviously the ease of use for a small baby moving them between car and pushchair without taking them out seems a huge bonus- especially in the early days.
But- and I think it's a big BUT - if you have a curious lively fidgeting 5 month old like my son Jacob was- you will soon stop using the once 'handy' function of attaching car seat to pushchair.

It really is ideal in the early weeks I don't deny that at all- but only because your newborn sleeps all the time!!
I didn't use a travel system and whenever I did go out I just took the risk of him waking up transferring him to his pram. Let's face it- if they're that tired they nod off again within 5 minutes anyway!

Having tried a many many number of pushchairs, prams and strollers during my son's whole 13 months of life- I have managed to compile a fairly long list of what I would look for in a pushchair if I was to buy new.

Travel systems I think are largely overpriced for the minimal use you actually get out of car seat and pushchair combined. Several women I know now regret buying them. They work for some people- but I think the appeal is short-lived.

3 Wheelers - I love mine, but it's rubbish to fit into any car boot that isn't an estate or Land rover. They often don't fold down compact enough and I veiw them more as a fashion accessory. Especially in the urban concrete land I live in - you hardly off road around Milton Keynes' shopping centre.

Strollers- I love mine- but I often wish I had Jake in something a bit more substantial. However I rely on public transport so I can't fault it for that. They're light and functional, and you can pick them up for around £50 - or more if you choose a well known brand like Maclaren. Mine was £35 from Mothercare. It does the job.

One thing I do wish more pushchairs could do- is have the baby facing you in the seat!!! It's so much more beneficial to them! You interact more, they can still see everthing they could facing forward- and you can keep an eye on them!
Unfortunately this seems to make the price rocket- mainly because only the more established brands seem to offer this as an option. Mamas and Papas do a wonderful selection of prams with reversible seat options, but only if you have £400 odd to spare in your baby budget!

I have rambled on a bit I know, but I felt so lost in the beginning trying to figure out what would work best for me as my baby grew and my reliancy on public transport did too!

We went from a Mamas and Papas with a carry cot facing me in the first 5 months to my Mothercare stroller, primarily because the M&P pram had fixed wheels and was a nightmare on the buses.
Then I got my big 3 wheeler, which has the option of the seat facing me, and was a dream to push and swivel wheeled- but again, heavy and a nightmare on the buses.
Now as Jake is older we mainly use the stroller, and a lightweight Aria stroller from M&P. Added to the collection is a M&P Freestyler pushchair- lovely, but only used occassionally.

Think carefully before you invest in something very expensive- you will end up owning some sort of lightweight stroller (like a Maclaren if you have the money!) as your baby rapidly turns into a toddler!
Ask Mum's at your local Mother and Baby groups. You can always go along with a bump to ask advice!

Oh- any store you go into to try pushchairs should let you try them in the boot!
Mothercare are usually the best for this- park outside their big Mothercare World stores and they should be more than happy to help!
Even if you don't buy from them you can try before you buy... online from a cheaper retailer!!
Kiddicare and Two Left Feet (.com retailers) have a big showrooms specifically for those reasons! Go along and try anything you want (even push them around the carpark) and see what fits and what doesn't!

another to consider is if putting the child seat in the rear of the car will it fit with the child seat/infant carrier fit behind the front seats with enough room for the people in the front to sit comfortably.
for instance we have a mamas and paps system 3 infant carrier and have 2 cars now on our astra estate i cant have the carrier behind my seat if i'm driving as it doesnt fit due to my seat position, and if i'm in the passenger seat theres not enought leg room for me to be comfortable with the seat behind me, yet on our mondeo we don't have a problem.

should also add i agree with mummygoth that in the end you'll end up with a lightweight stroller as your child gets older.