Buyer's Guide to Travel Systems

Inglesina Zippy pushchair available as travel system

What to consider when buying

When opting for a travel system remember that the performance of all the separate parts is important. Some systems perform excellently all-round and are greater than the sum of their parts given the flexibility the system offers. Other systems may have great pushchairs, but indifferent or less suitable car seats and carry cots. Maybe you don't like the handle of the carry cot, or the car seat doesn't click in to the frame as easily as you'd like. Don't dismiss these objections because if you don't like one of the parts you won't use it as intended and so the system will be a false economy.

• Is it as flexible as it looks? - All travel systems are based on the premise of flexibility, however, not all are created equal in terms of usage. Check how easily the car seat and carry cot clip and unclip from the frame, if it's complicated, difficult or just a nuisance to do then the chances are you won't bother using it as a system.

• How does the car seat fit / function?- There's little point in investing in a travel system if the car seat doesn't fit well in your car. Most reputable dealers will allow you to check the seat in your car first to check you're happy with the fit, as well as offering expert help. If you want to be able to use it in the front passenger seat as well as the back seats then make sure you check the fit there too (though remember that if you have an airbag fitted in the front seat you won't be able to use the rear-facing seat there). Ease-of-use is also an important consideration in testing the car seat. For more help on choosing a car seat see this buyer's guide.

• Do you need the carry cot? - As we said above, some systems come complete with carry cots, others offer an optional carry cot at a greater price and yet others don't include a carry cot at all. Before you let this influence your decision too much, try and work out whether the carry cot will be useful to you.

  On the plus side carry cots are better for your baby's back than car seats, so you can both leave them sleeping in a carry cot longer. You can also use the carry cot instead of a moses basket in the early months. Some mums will like being able to add the carry cot to the chair frame to make a relatively small pram. But carry cots generally take up a lot more seat space in the car than car seats, and once your baby can sit up unaided (by six months) they're no longer suitable for travel.

• How does the carry cot perform? - Obviously you'll only get good use out of the carry cot if you like it and find it easy to use, so check how it carries, fits in the car and clicks onto the system frame if you do want to have one.

• How does the pushchair function/perform? - In all likelihood the pushchair will be the lynchpin of your system, check how easy it is to put up and collapse, how heavy it is and how much space it takes up for storage in your car boot or home. Other things you will want to consider when looking at the pushchair include: seating positions (does it include fully flat for a newborn?), stability (is it likely to tip over if you place anything on the handles?), padding and comfort, build quality, brakes, handles (and height), wheels and usability of the straps. For more details on what to look for in a pushchair see this buyer's guide.

Maxi-Cosi Cabrio infant carrier as part of travel system: £89

• Options - Not all travel systems are single-branded, so there may be a few less obvious options out there. For example the Maxi-Cosi Cabrio car seat is compatible either with the Maxi-Cosi Speedi, the Bugaboo or certain pushchairs from the Quinny range to create a travel system.
• Accessories - As with pushchairs there's a wide range of accessories available for travel systems, and they may or may not be included in the price. Check exactly what is included in the price and how much other accessories that you want will cost, so you can accurately compare value across systems.