Bassinets for strollers - a must for spring babies?

alohamora · November 2012

I am just starting my stroller research and need to figure out what features are important to me. Our baby is due mid-May, and I picture us going on walks around our neighborhood (just outside the city, with sidewalks) a lot.

At first I thought we'd just get a City Mini with carseat adapter, but now I'm second guessing. Am I going to want a bassinet? Or is it fine just to use the carseat? Also, how much do you like having a seat that can be both parent- and outward-facing?

LittleApple · November 2012

I wouldn't bother with a bassinet for the stroller unless you plan on using it in the house as well.

I have the car seat adaptor for the City Mini double and I love it. So easy to pop into the stroller and we are on our way.

If you are looking for a stroller that the baby can face both ways, look at the new Baby Jogger City Versa.

MisN · November 2012

I LOVED having a bassinet (we have an uppababy vista) and dd was also a may baby. She usually did one of her naps in it each day on a long walk until she was 6 months (yes she napped in it until 6 months!). I like having a flat place for her to lie down rather than a car seat as car seats aren't the best for them to lay in for long periods of time. The vista has a really great sunshade that comes down on the bassinet too so it was dark and quiet for her (not the case with a car seat).

i also had a car seat adaptor so I could snap in the car seat if we were out in the car and running into a store which is handy but I much preferred the bassinet for walks and naps.

I also loved the feature of being able to face her towards me or out. Until about a year, she usually preferred facing me and sometime still does at 18 months (usually so she can request her favourite songs)

ali26 · November 2012

I'm also due in May and thinking of a bassinet. My DD was a December baby and by the time spring rolled around was always so hot and sweaty in her infant seat. Luckily by then she could go in her stoller without it. The carseats are so much more constricted and the fabric doesn't breathe, I think it is worth it if you plan on spending a lot of time outside.

The only concern I have is that I take long walks in my neighborhood and the sidewalks are very bumpy. I'm thinking the carseat would be better for head support early on.

ateach · November 2012

The city mini does have 2 bassinets you can purchase additionally. They are pricey, but I found the larger one for $40 on Craig's list. I like that I'll have the option! (Although it may not get as much use from a winter baby!)

diskogurl · November 2012

MisN:
I LOVED having a bassinet (we have an uppababy vista) and dd was also a may baby. She usually did one of her naps in it each day on a long walk until she was 6 months (yes she napped in it until 6 months!). I like having a flat place for her to lie down rather than a car seat as car seats aren't the best for them to lay in for long periods of time. The vista has a really great sunshade that comes down on the bassinet too so it was dark and quiet for her (not the case with a car seat).
i also had a car seat adaptor so I could snap in the car seat if we were out in the car and running into a store which is handy but I much preferred the bassinet for walks and naps.
I also loved the feature of being able to face her towards me or out. Until about a year, she usually preferred facing me and sometime still does at 18 months (usually so she can request her favourite songs)

this! We love the UBV bassinet. So much more comfortable for the baby. And a great place for him to chill out anywhere we are with him (like my parents).

blondbomber23 · November 2012

I have the Uppa Baby Vista as well and we never used the bassinet feature. DD is 2.5 now and I'm pregnant with my 2nd. I found that it was just easier to leave DD in the infant seat and fasten into carseat adapter (though she always wanted to be held so I spent more time holding her than anything). Also, once DD was about 4 months old she wanted to see everything around her. She wanted to be sitting upright and looking around.

I think this is one of those things that really depends on the child. If my next one is different than my 1st child, then I might try the bassinet with her. Also, I think it makes a difference as far as where you live. For a big city or a ton of walking, the feature is probably nice. We use/used our strolling mostly for neighborhood walks and going to the mall, etc.
At this point though, I wouldn't have missed having one.

ETA: My DD was born in early April. This next one is due late March.

gimmietimmies · November 2012

I loved this feature. We used convertible car seats with most of our kids and the bassinet was fantastic. My ultimate favorite stroller with bassinet was a Peg Perego pram that you could detach the bassinet and use it on a stand. It also had fantastic suspension, baby got a smooth ride (this was for dd1). This was a feature we had to have with our strollers through to dd4, it got a lot of use.

Oh, while I loved being able to face in or out, it wasn't my must have feature.

kristen218 · November 2012

MisN:

I LOVED having a bassinet (we have an uppababy vista) and dd was also a may baby. She usually did one of her naps in it each day on a long walk until she was 6 months (yes she napped in it until 6 months!). I like having a flat place for her to lie down rather than a car seat as car seats aren't the best for them to lay in for long periods of time. The vista has a really great sunshade that comes down on the bassinet too so it was dark and quiet for her (not the case with a car seat).

i also had a car seat adaptor so I could snap in the car seat if we were out in the car and running into a store which is handy but I much preferred the bassinet for walks and naps.

I also loved the feature of being able to face her towards me or out. Until about a year, she usually preferred facing me and sometime still does at 18 months (usually so she can request her favourite songs)

This is exactly why we are getting the UBV. I do not feel comfortable having baby in the car seat for long walks. I think the bassinet will be much better for walks and naps!

penguingrrl · November 2012

I think the bassinet is kind of a waste. Both of my kids hated being flat on their backs when they were little (both had stomach issues.. one had reflux the other had dairy and soy intolerances) so we never would have used a bassinet. But I see them a lot of places so I guess some people use them a lot. We also only used the infant seat in the car because they hated being in it and I feel like we're the only ones who had that!

thismplsgirl · November 2012

Many newborns have reflux and are super uncomfortable lying flat. My daughter couldn't comfortably lay flat until she was too big for a bassinet so we never got to use ours. Waiting to see how tolerable your baby is would really be the best idea so that you don't waste the money.

GirlWithTheMostCake · November 2012

Using a car seat adapter is a convenience feature for parents, but does NOTHING positive for an infant. It is warm, it is a 45 degree angle and it is not meant for them to hang out in for months while we are strolling. If you don't have a stroller that lays completely flat, I think the only option is a bassinet. I hate that car seat companies have made us feel like a seat made for safety when driving is the place for kids to stay when they aren't in the car. Here and there I get it...regularly, get the bassinet! If a child has reflux, a slightly inclined stroller seat with a snug is significantly better for them than sitting in the car seat regularly.

vlong4 · November 2012

MisN:
I LOVED having a bassinet (we have an uppababy vista) and dd was also a may baby. She usually did one of her naps in it each day on a long walk until she was 6 months (yes she napped in it until 6 months!). I like having a flat place for her to lie down rather than a car seat as car seats aren't the best for them to lay in for long periods of time. The vista has a really great sunshade that comes down on the bassinet too so it was dark and quiet for her (not the case with a car seat).
i also had a car seat adaptor so I could snap in the car seat if we were out in the car and running into a store which is handy but I much preferred the bassinet for walks and naps.
I also loved the feature of being able to face her towards me or out. Until about a year, she usually preferred facing me and sometime still does at 18 months (usually so she can request her favourite songs)

All of this except for we have a Bugaboo Chameleon. Love that it has shocks and a very smooth ride for the baby. Neither of mine felt any bump while in the bassinet. I just felt that being in the car seat al the time wasn't that healthy for them and their spinal development. I remember reading that babies shouldn't be in a car seat for long periods of time constantly when I was doing my stroller research. That's why we went with bugaboo (UBV was second choice). Bassinet and having the baby facing me or away are very nice features.

vlong4 · November 2012

GirlWithTheMostCake:
Using a car seat adapter is a convenience feature for parents, but does NOTHING positive for an infant. It is warm, it is a 45 degree angle and it is not meant for them to hang out in for months while we are strolling. If you don't have a stroller that lays completely flat, I think the only option is a bassinet. I hate that car seat companies have made us feel like a seat made for safety when driving is the place for kids to stay when they aren't in the car. Here and there I get it...regularly, get the bassinet! If a child has reflux, a slightly inclined stroller seat with a snug is significantly better for them than sitting in the car seat regularly.

Yes All of this.

penguingrrl · November 2012

GirlWithTheMostCake:
Using a car seat adapter is a convenience feature for parents, but does NOTHING positive for an infant. It is warm, it is a 45 degree angle and it is not meant for them to hang out in for months while we are strolling. If you don't have a stroller that lays completely flat, I think the only option is a bassinet. I hate that car seat companies have made us feel like a seat made for safety when driving is the place for kids to stay when they aren't in the car. Here and there I get it...regularly, get the bassinet! If a child has reflux, a slightly inclined stroller seat with a snug is significantly better for them than sitting in the car seat regularly.

That's a very good point. We used neither. We either laid the stroller seat down a bit (couldn't be flat because of stomach issues with both) or wore the baby in a sling/carrier. Neither liked being in a stroller or carseat or anywhere that wasn't in our arms until they were way older than bassinet age.

bugandbibs · November 2012

This is why I love my JJ Cole Broadway. It's seat turns into a bassinet (nothing to buy), and it can parent or forward face with a quick swivel. You can also angle the seat if your LO has reflux (mine did).

My LO sweat like no other in her infant car seat. It was fine with the snap and go if we were already in the car, but I never used it for walks around the neighborhood.

MrsJetSet · November 2012

You can see it is highly dependent on baby and mamma. Dd was a march baby and we loved the bassinet that came with our UBV. Dd had reflux and did fine in it. She even slept in it at night until her reflux was diagnosed. I read while I was pregnant that carseats are made for the most safe angle in a crash but are not the best angle for breathing. I didn't put much effort into confirming this so take it for what it is worth, but makes sense to me. Dd got really hot in her carseat so was not a huge fan of it. We transitioned her from the bucket at 4.5 mos because she hated it so much. Despite our love for the bassinet and all the use we got out of it we did use the snap and go adapter a lot too. It is so easy if it is just a quick run into the store for a few things.

As for the facing issue, dd is 8 mos and she has always faced me so far. I am not ready yet to not be able to see what she is doing and I'm generally not a super hovering mom.

Other things that were important for us were a big basket, comfy steering for both me and DH he is a lot taller than me, ability for DH to walk behind the stroller and not bump his knee or kick the bar between the wheels if this is an issue for you make sure you try out strollers in a reclined position too that was a deal breaker for several strollers for us, ability to navigate between store displays not crazy long like most joggers relatively easily but able to handle light off roading, and ease of fold/unfold. We also preferred a stroller that could accommodate more than one child at a time, but that was less of a priority.

Good luck!

Rocklandholly · November 2012

I had a May baby and had the snap and go. It worked out great, except the model I had held the car seat very upright so my son was completely sitting up vs. laying back ...Ithink the Baby Trend models have the car seat leaning back more..We also have the City Mini and love it. The converter bar is almost teh same price as the snap. Also, the snap and go is SO much lighter than the city mini. I really don't think you need a basinett attachment, although I have seen mom's change the baby's diaper in it, which is a nice plus vs. having to use a public bathroom changing table.

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Bassinets for strollers - a must for spring babies?

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