From 2nd tri

almostasadler

Could anyone share their opinion on your stroller/carseat systems?  What are the benefits of an all in one? I just started my research and am overwhelmed!! Thank you!

VivaAmore

I never had one because they just seemed too bulky to me, but the benefit is having a stroller that matches/fits your car seat perfectly as well as having the option to use the same stroller after you're done with the bucket seat. The strollers are often heavy and large so many do ride nice, but take up tons of space in the car.

I just used the car seat with a snap n go frame and got a separate small MacClaren umbrella stroller for when she outgrew the bucket. I was very happy with these and never wished I had a system (although friends of mine would also say they can't imagine NOT having had their system!).

That Baby Bargains book really helped me with research on all this stuff. https://www.windsorpeak.com/babybargains/

 

neesernicole

I remember being overwhelmed too.  I'm not the stroller expert but we got the graco travel system (carseat fits into the stroller).  It's big but it served its purpose.  I really wanted a lightweight stroller but a "heavy duty" car seat...i couldn't seem to find one.  Just remember the car seat safety is way more important than any bells and whistles on the stroller.  GL!

sugarp

If oyu're going to get a travel sysytem, find the one that's least bulky!  After my 1st 2 babies, and 2 travel systems, I found that I used them a little, and then ended up getting the cheaper, light weight umbrella strollers for my kids when they got to be around 7-8 months. Learned my lesson with the next 2 babies...I got an infant car seat/carrier, and then just the Snap N Go. Best $$$ I ever spent. When you're done with the infant seat, you can get a good quality, lightweight, stroller that you really like. Trust me, you'll be so much happier without the huge, bulky, travel system stroller!

kjlrs

we used the Graco Snugride carseat and Graco Metrolite stroller. They snap together although we didn't buy them as an official travel system (i imagine most brands do this). Before I realized that, I had spent awhile looking for a "travel system" in the patterns I liked.

 

#1 benefit is that you can put your baby still in the carseat into the stroller so you dont have to take them in and out. The metrolite is a good, nice stroller, but also lightweight and not too extravagant, and i've been very happy with it. It's nice enough to have cupholders, storage for mom, etc which I don't think I would want to live without just having an umbrella stroller.

YouAreMyILoveYou

We used/will use a combination of all different things!

In the begining with DD#1 we used the Graco travel system w/snug ride infant seat.

Pros: Only having to lift the seat vs. taking the baby in & out of the car seat, the seat snapping into the stroller easily, we used multiple bases so the baby could go from car to car safely and easily, the stroller was big and had a lot of room for storage (and diaper changes in the middle of the mall!), the stroller had 2 cup holders which came in handy!

Cons: The car seat was only good until she was 10 months old and in the last few months we no longer carried her around in it -- it was just too heavy! The stroller was heavy and bulky and hard to push around in certain mall stores -- especially children's clothing stores!

Evenflo Triumph Convert. Carseat

Pros: Can be used from 5lbs - 40 lbs (although we didn't use it until DD was 10 months old). Great safety ratings & affordable (compared to ther models like the Britax).

Cons: It's HUGE. It doesn't fit in the back of DH's 2 door Cavalier safely. It is also REALLY hard to clean -- you have to unscrew the back and take out the straps just to get the cloth cover off to wash. DD was really sick for a few days and threw up in the seat 3 times in 1 week, so it was REALLY annoying to have to take the seat apart 3 times!!!

We are currently using the Evenflo seat for DD#1 but she will be moving into a booster seat in the next few months.

Jeep Umberlla Stroller

Pros: None. It was a waste of money. The only good thing was that it is a lot smaller than the Graco and easier to move, but my 6' tall DH couldn't push it because the handles were so low. We only used it a handful of times.

Cons: No storage, too short for DH.

When DD#1 was 15 months old I convinced DH to let me get a Maclaren Triumph stroller. We still currently use this stroller for our 3 y/o DD.

Pros: Everything! This is the best strolled I've ever used! The print is really cute, it was relatively cheap on AlbeeBaby.com (free shipping!), and I just love how it functions. It came with a wind/rain sheild which has been awesome and DH loves how high the handles are and how easy it is for him to push. It reclines into 4 different posistions and has an extender by the legs. It also cleans up really well! I just washed the pads for the first time this weekend and it looks brand new again! It's super easy to get all of the pads off and on as well!

There is storage underneath and you can buy an additional piece that has 2 "cup holders" (it really hold bottles, juice cups or water bottles. You can't put anything in a paper cup in it) and 2 extra storage pockets. We got this on AlbeeBaby as well.

Cons: Storage if you need a lot of space. We didn't get this until DD was older and requires less "stuff" so having limited storage wasn't a big deal for us.

 

So, in summary, in the begining the travel system worked out great for us, but as DD got bigger and more mobile it was nice to have a seperate umbrella stroller and stationary car seat.

darlene'smommy

I had a Graco Safe seat (she fit in this car seat untill 21-23 mos) and Graco Mosaic stroller.  It was the only stroller I could find that folded up small like an umberlla stroller and was light weight that still held a car seat.  We later got a Phil and Teds sport and could use that with my car seat.  After using the P&T I will never go back to a travel system stroller.