Bassinet accessory on a stroller... did you use it?

kikibird

I'm really interested in the Baby Jogger City Elite stroller (or possibly the City Mini, but DH and I are both 6'0" and the City Elite seems a better fit), and love the fact that you can get a bassinet attachment for it, but at ~$250, I'm wondering if the bassinet is worth it. 

I plan to get a car seat adapter so I can use the stroller for my newborn, but have heard it's better for infants to lie down flat.  So my question is, do those of you who have a bassinet attachment to your strollers use it frequently, and if so, under what circumstances?  Or do you just always pop in the car seat?  How long is the bassinet usable (til what age/weight)?

I'm hoping to go for walks frequently this summer while on maternity leave, but they will get less frequent I'm sure once I go back to work. 

TIA!

 

hmp1

I live in TX so I get to use it more often than most winter moms.  I only use it for walks and use the carseat attachment for shopping.  We also used it for a travel bed during the holidays when we were spending all day at relatives homes.  It was better than putting him in his carseat when we ate or he napped (the few times he wasn't in someone's arms.

You can use the bassinet until the baby can get themselves out of the flat position, I think about 6 months. 

I have the I'Coo Targo.

KTLT91412

hmp&mrj:

I live in TX so I get to use it more often than most winter moms.  I only use it for walks and use the carseat attachment for shopping.  We also used it for a travel bed during the holidays when we were spending all day at relatives homes.  It was better than putting him in his carseat when we ate or he napped (the few times he wasn't in someone's arms.

You can use the bassinet until the baby can get themselves out of the flat position, I think about 6 months. 

I have the I'Coo Targo.

 

This.

I've used mine when we were out only a hand full of times, mostly because of the weather.  It's too cold to take him out of the car seat and lay him in the bassinet in a cold parking lot and it's too cold to go on walks. Your due in May though so it won't be an issue for you.

 

  He also went through a phase where he slept in it for about a week.

 

That being said, mine came with my stroller.  I wouldn't have paid 250 for it.

AwaitingBabyV

I don't have the bassinet accessory (I have the City Mini), but I wish I did.  DD was born at the end of May. We both loved going for walks, especially in the early morning and evening hours when it wasn't too warm. For each walk I had to put in her the car seat, then pop her into the stroller. The car seat worked just fine, but sometimes I wish I had the bassinet feature for her lay flat and stretch out in. If I would do it again (and have a baby in the spring/summer months), I would definitely get the bassinet! GL!

bethCT

We put DD right into the city mini seat (fully reclined) at 2 or 3 months and she did fine.  With that capability, we didn't see the need for the bassinet.

snansley

We have the Uppa Baby Vista which comes with the bassinet.  It was great when we were out of the house and needed someplace for DS to nap or a diaper change.  DS is an August baby and we live in Atlanta.  It is pretty hot here in the summer/fall so he didn't always love going for walks in the bassinet.  He's hot natured and that just made him too hot.  We started using the stroller seat in a reclined position by 2 months.

I have other friends who have the UBV stroller and their fall/winter babies loved the bassinet.

bisabelm

I did not get a car seat adapter...I use the bassinet everyday. I do live in South Florida and we go on walks around the neighborhood almost everyday. He loves his bassinet and falls asleep pretty quickly.

Luma88

I got a Mountain Buggy and there was a sale a couple of months ago that the bassinet came free when you bought the stroller - so I go it that way.  Do you know if that ever happens with the City Mini, if it does then it may be worth waiting to buy!

mishu917

We have the Orbit which my parents paid well over 1300$ for the car seat, base and stroller seat but my parents still got us the bassinet which was an additional $280... even though we live in NYC where we have strong winters ANDdddd... LO came in a 26in blizzard. haha However, we have been using it for her to sleep in at nights in our room, and when we go to places that are walking distance. We plan to use it a lot more for walks once the weather gets nicer. We don't use it if we're driving bc usually she's sleeping and we don't want to disturb her just to put her in the bassinet! I'd def recommend it if the weather is going to be nice out when your LO comes, but definitely NOT necessary if LO is going to be here in the next few weeks!

kikibird

Thanks everyone, your input has been very helpful!  DH and were out all day looking at baby gear, and boy we have a lot to think about!