Any recommendations...

rjacques

for strollers, car seats, or cribs? My DH and I are going to start registering this weekend and the number of options are completely overwhelming! I am not sure whether I should go with a travel system or buy each item seperately. This is our first child and I have no idea where to begin.

Any help, recommendations, or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

mrsjenni

If I had to do it again, I'd skip the travel system and get a Snap-N-Go and a nice stroller. (I got the Chicco Courtina TS with DS and we never used the big clunky stroller.)

I'm helping my BFF register for her first and we picked a Chicco Keyfit 30 and the new Baby Jogger City Mini.  I have the City Mini double and it's AMAZING.  She also liked the Britax B Ready stroller and matching car seat, but she decided against it.

As far as furniture, we have a convertible crib for each kiddo (DS was only 22m when DD was born so we needed another) and made sure to just use a standard dresser as a changing table.  I don't like the actually changing tables b/c once the baby grows up,  their dresser still looks like a changer.

And as for convertible car seats, Britax are the best, hands down. We have a Roundabout and a Marathon.

JKPLMS

I would recommend a travel system, I think it's easier that way and then you know your carseat will fit in your stroller, and they match We chose an easy fold one. We were amazed at how you can fold up the stroller with one pull.

judahsmommy1

https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10886316

This is the car seat we are getting for our L.O. My two favorite features are that the straps adjust from the front not the back (my son's straps adjusted from the back and it was a massive pain every time!) and it tells you when it is installed correctly. (Love!) This is the item we are spending the most money on by far. How often it is used, and how important it is that it fit my son (and our vehicle) correctly makes the extra money worth it to me.

rjacques

Thanks so much! I appreciate the advice!

LittleApple

JKPLMS:

I would recommend a travel system, I think it's easier that way and then you know your carseat will fit in your stroller, and they match We chose an easy fold one. We were amazed at how you can fold up the stroller with one pull.

 I disagree.  Travel system's are heavy bulky and the strollers are cheap.  Who cares if they match?  Ease of use and functionality outweighs a matching set.

I suggest going with a infant car seat (Graco or Chicco) and a snap n go to start and then get a better stroller like the City Mini or Britax B-Agile.

You can also get the City Mini and use it like a travel system.  You have to purchase the car seat adaptor separately. 

HappyMama2011

I wouldn't get an expensive infant car seat because they don't stay in it for too long.  DD was in hers for about 6 months.  They get SO heavy and she preferred to be sitting in the shopping cars around that age.  Obviously, make sure what you get has a good safety rating.  We got the basic Graco Snugride infant seat and spent the money on her convertible seat (Britax), which she will be in for a few years.  

 I second the Snap n Go.  I used it exclusively while outside the house while she was still in the infant car seat.  I'm a huge fan of my Bumbleride Flight.  If we weren't having two so close in age, it would be my only stroller.  It is a lot cheaper than the other Bumbleride models and is only 11 pounds.  It is practically an umbrella stroller and comes with a car seat attachment that fits most brands.  Only drawback is that there really isn't much of a basket to hold stuff. 

judahsmommy1

Just weighing in on the travel system/no travel system debate that is so popular. I think that before you make a decision you have to ask yourself how you see yourself parenting. Are you an "attachment parenting" kind of girl and see yourself wearing your baby throughout the day? Or do you feel like you need your own space and see wearing your baby as heavy, hot, and so not worth it? Do you want to be able to jump out of the car and get in the store as soon as possible or is it worth it to you to spend a few extra minutes on set up so that you can have your body to yourself? 

During the first few months your two options in a store with baby are 1.) keep him in the car seat (either with a stroller or in the basket of a cart) or 2.) put him in a wrap or carrier and carry him. Both options give you both hands to work with. In my experience the wrap is faster. (I put it on before I left the house, when I got to the store I carried him in and put him in the wrap. Took me all of 30 seconds. I used the stroller of my travel system maybe twice. I wore my son in the store, or on walks, at the beach, on hikes... the wrap went where strollers couldn't

I have to say that the other benefit to carrying him in the wrap is in those first few weeks when you DON'T want people touching him you can put him in the wrap and cover the back of his head so only his face is exposed and keep your (clean) hand near his face. People seem to like to touch babies if they're in a stroller and get their face right up near the baby. That's harder to do if the baby's face is on your chest.

jworkman1980

Is this considered a snap and go? https://www.gracobaby.com/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=1771841

I would rather buy a snap and go and a car seat and spend the money on a jogging stroller later on........and I know they are expensive! Thanks ladies

kelnyc

I also got the City Mini 2012 and Chicco Keyfit 30, which clips in with an adapter. It's a popular model especially in urban areas because it's light and can be folded up with one hand. When the time comes, we'll just buy the regular car seat.

LittleApple

jworkman1980:

Is this considered a snap and go? https://www.gracobaby.com/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=1771841

I would rather buy a snap and go and a car seat and spend the money on a jogging stroller later on........and I know they are expensive! Thanks ladies

No.  That is a stroller.

This is a snap n go

https://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=snap+n+go&ix=sea&ion=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1194&bih=695&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=4709001365524250760&sa=X&ei=PrVgT9PuL-Pl0QH3hITGBw&ved=0CFwQ8wIwAA

rjacques

I hadn't really thought about the attachment vs. not carrying option.Something to think about. Thanks!

Daisy22

Personally, I think travel systems are not that great. They are bulky and you can find a much better stroller if you do it separately. We have a chicco car infant seat, city select stroller and a double bob. For us, a snap and go wouldn't have been used much since both my boys were out of the infant seat by 12wks. They hated it so we had to put them in RFing convertible seats which I recommend the britax marathon 70s. Awesome convertible seat. The city select has an infant seat adapter so it comes all in one. Most of the strollers you can buy have infant seat adapters. The city mini is extremely popular and if I read correctly the 2012s come in the infant seat adapter.

linzeek44

I liked Baby Bargains, but I really love the Lucie's List website. It was super handy when I was just starting to think about things. 

I think we're getting an infant seat and a Snap 'N Go. Then we'll get a nice stroller. I watched a youtube video that someone had posted comparing the City Mini 2011 with the 2012, and have been lusting after a 2012 ever since.  

Serendipity*

As far as carseats go we used the Chicco Key Fit 30 for DS and LOVED it. Originally we had a Baby Trend one and absolutely hated it so we sold it and bought the Chicco. I loathe travel systems so we bought an UppaBaby Vista stroller and loved it. They have different adapters for carseats so you can use it like a snap and go. It also has a bassinet which was wonderful when DS was smaller and the main seat can either face you or away from you. Go to Babies R Us and "test drive" a few strollers, try folding them and lifting them up and see what you like. As far as furniture goes I wouldn't get a changing table or a dresser with the built in changer. You can just buy a changing pad thing that sits (you can also attach it to the back) on top of the dresser. We bought one but never used it either. Oh and definitely check out Baby Bargains. It has great information.