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Nurseries and Baby Gear
Julier1103
member
Travel system vs. carseat & stroller seperately?
Julier1103
member
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Travel system vs. carseat & stroller seperately?
We got the Graco Trekko Travel System in Jive as a gift. I was looking for something we could take on walks/jogs.
We also got a system as a hand-me-down that has the Graco Snugride infant seat and a regular stroller. We intend to use both systems.
I can't speak from experience yet, obviously, but we do know that we will be getting a travel system. I want a stroller that I can use with an infant without the car seat AND with it; so we were looking for a stroller with a reclining back. As was mentioned in a post a couple down about swings, there are concerns about leaving babies in the car seat for long periods due to lack of oxygen. All the recommendations that meet our criteria I've gotten are way, way out of our price range.
I would skip the travel system and buy separately. Those travel system strollers tend to be really heavy and bulky. There are a lot of better strollers with great features that can be used with infant car seats.
I'm not sure what your budget is so here are a few options:
1) The Baby Jogger City Mini is a really good stroller. AlbeeBaby has it for $200 with free shipping and I don't think they charge tax. It doesn't include everything though, so add ons like the car seat adapter, bumper bar or snack tray, and parent cupholder are all extra.
2) I love my Inglesina Zippy which is $310, but everything is included: bumper bar and snack tray, parent cupholder, car seat adapter, and rain cover. It has all the features you could want but it's only 20 lbs. and it has the easiest one hand, standing fold.
3) The Kolcraft Contours Option 3 is a good budget option at $160. It is quite a bit heavier though but that's why it's cheaper. All the accessories are included, even the car seat adapter. A good feature of this stroller is that the seat can be turned so LO can face you or face out.
med-free birth x2, breastfeeding, baby wearing SAHM
My BFP Chart
The lack of oxygen is usually because of the head position of young infants. Their heads flop forwards and kink off their airway. Also not good because any device (swing, car seat, RNP, bouncy chair) that keeps their head in one position too long has been proven to contribute to plagiocephaly (flat spots), and that is serious. Which is why I'm not a fan of travel systems. I think it is fine for short trips (15m or so), but walks and long trips (30m+), I far prefer flat laying strollers or bassinet style.
https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/safedrivers-childsafety-notices-d200204-d200204e-qa-441.htm
https://www.bcchildrens.ca/NR/rdonlyres/BF316617-733C-49AB-8E35-0C403B698484/30103/BCCH034PlagiocephalyCliniciansGuideWeb1.pdf
ETA: Katcarls has good suggestions, or if you have a decent craigslist/kijiji, look for a midrange stroller on their that will adapt to the infant seat of your choice. Often strollers in the $450-$700 range used will fit your budget, and often have little wear on them. If you have a Once Upon a Child, stalk it.
I registered for this travel system, $119 for both stroller and infant car seat. Also, I had played with the same brand's travel systems in stores before requesting this one (in store versions were more expensive)... It's also pretty light in comparison to other travel systems. It was stiff when we first got it and assembled it, so we just had to play with it, and it's good now. We liked it in store, and it's affordable. Before you decide to buy one (if going for new), definitely try it out and see if it will work for you.
I also agree with trying craigslist, once upon a child, and other resale options for a stroller. However, a car seat should be new or from somebody that you trust (so you know the history, and that it is still safe).
DS #2 - 4/2/14
We originally had a Graco Quattro travel system. We kept the car seat, gave the stroller away, and got a Graco Snugrider. Thankfully, we found the Snugrider on clearance at Target for less than $40 and it came with a car seat too. We sold that since we didn't need it.
We now use a Britax B-ready as our main stroller. I paid about $342 for it and got the 2nd seat free. I have a Cosatto Diablo as our umbrella stroller.
I did not like my travel system, and wish I would have done more research.
Sadly, we don't have a good specialty used baby store around here and Goodwill's stuff tends to be in pretty bad shape
Also, on our local CL I usually see travel strollers for $50 and then all the others jump to $300+. Around here people seem to mostly get inexpensive or very high-end strollers.
The travel systems I have seen lie flat and close up to act as a bassinet; when I was looking at the Ingelsina and Kolocraft it was unclear if they do... It seems like a travel system is a pretty inexpensive way to get a car seat and a bassinet style stroller in one.
When I futzed with it in store, it seemed pretty light to me (I had no problems picking it up and carrying it.) I seem to be the lone person that finds them to be extremely maneuverable and easy to use... Luckily we have lots of time and I'll keep looking around. Thanks for the suggestions!
Keep an eye on the wheels then in the cold, and the folding mechanisms - any of the plastic pieces that see a lot of action. They tend to get brittle in the cold and snap (esp. Kolcraft, Evenflo and Graco). This has happened to me. I've been through lots of brands and it's happened.
I don't know if this is in your budget, you may be interested in the Phil and Ted's smart buggy. It is lightweight and compact, can get the Peanut bassinet attachement (which is certified for overnight use - don't need a crib straight off), and is compatible with the Snugride 22. I've seen the stroller on it's own for around $250, with the bassinet for $350, and they do go on sale. I'm pretty sure it's usually around $90 and goes on sale often too.
Take a look on albeebaby.com, they have a Chicco Keyfit Cortina Travel system on for $280, the infant seat is great, and the stroller fully reclines. Good luck with the shopping.
After a year of use, we ditched our Chicco cortina travel system. DD had outgrown the keyfit 30 (which we loved), and the stroller was becoming more cumbersome. It took all the space in our accord's trunk and was heavy. The folding in and out was getting more tricky too (getting stuck?). We have bought the Britax B-Agile in its place. Had this stroller been available a year ago, I might have bought it then. It appears to be competing with the City Mini. Again, I didn't hate the Chicco stroller, but in hindsight, I would not have purchased it. The car seat was awesome though.
After using a travel system for a year, I really recommend going with a stroller you love and a car seat you love. Many strollers come with or sell attachments to go with other car seats (if you don't buy the same brand.) You can also find snap and go strollers for sale often on CL. That way you can wait till your child is a bit older before making a big stroller purchase. (That would be my biggest recommendation.)