travel system

[Anonymous]

hello,
I know there is a lot of questions and answers about strollers, etc. but they jjust make me more confused. Can someone tell me: if I get the travel system I don't really need another stroller(at least for a while, right)?Which travel system is good and has a reasonable price? Thanks very much...

[Anonymous]

The travel system is actually the one baby thing I regret purchasing most. We used the carseat with the stroller for a little while, but DC is now 8 months and we just bought a Macclaren because the travel system stroller is just so big and bulky. It just takes up a lot of room everywhere--trunk of the car, shopping malls, etc. If I had it to do over, I would buy a Snap N Go (I think they're called). I think they're only about $50 and it's just a black frame that you snap the carseat into. Then, when baby is old enough you can buy a smaller umbrella stroller.

[Anonymous]

I didn't get one, and am glad I didn't. I hear lots of moms say they regret them or never use them once baby gets a little older.

[Anonymous]

I got a graco metrolite. It was fine at first. By the time my baby was 10 months, it was hard to fold up. It's also heavy, clunky, and it takes every sidewalk crack like a speed bump. Even when we was just a itty bitty baby I felt like I was shaking her in the stroller. The benefit of these is that you can snap in the carseat like the snugride. I wish I had gotten the snugrider, snugride and then the Maclaren. I hear similar complaints from everyone who got these travel systems. They are not built to last.

[Anonymous]

We had/have a Graco Metrolite and for us it worked just fine. We used it with the carseat (Graco Snugride) when my daughter was an infant, and we used it without once she could sit up on her own (around 6 months).

I was really conflicted and had read a lot of negative feedback about travel systems but my husband is the one who finally convinced me that it didn't make sense to buy the Snap n Go frame for $50/60 because once they outgrow the carseat you have no stroller - nothing. For $50 more you could get the Metrolite and have a stroller that could work for years.

We used ours a lot - it's not as shi shi as a lot of the ladies on here seem to go for but it's a perfectly serviceable stroller. We used it from the time she was born until she was about 2.5 and stopped really riding in a stroller.

We did end up buying a Maclaren Quest because I thought it would be good for travel. We did use it a lot when traveling (not any more - my daughter is 3.5 now) but its only advantage was being smaller and lighter to transport. For day to day use, my daughter and I both preferred the Metrolite.

It seemed more comfortable to her, had a tray for snacks/toys/etc and a really good sun shade. It also had a much bigger basket underneath for her bag and we used it frequently when we went grocery shopping, for walks, and on public transportation.

Just my .02.

[Anonymous]

Another poster who is so happy that I did not buy the travel system. I bought a snugride infant car seat and then bought the equivalent of the snap and go but the graco brand. I know it has a name but I can't remember. I was so happy with it and was so bummed when my child outgrew their infant carseat at about 5 months. I only got 5 months use of out it but it was completely worth it. It was so light and easy to car and fold up. The basket is huge. Most of the time I wouldn't use a cart at the supermarket or target and just load up the basket with my purchases.

After my DS outgrew the infant seat we then moved to a Britax Marathon and I had bought a Combi stroller. I love my Marathon but I regret the Combi and wish I had gotten a McClaren (sp)? I live in an urban environment and the Combi's wheels are not the easiest. The worst part is that I am too tall for the Combi. I'm 5"7, but if I wear even the slightest heel I am completely hunched over and it is very uncomfortable. The McClaren's handles definitely come up higher.

When DS was about 8 months old I got my third and final stroller, a BOB. Love it! Was supposed to go running with it which kind of happened but it is so easy to push, great over bumps and easy to fold. I got the model that allows you to lock the wheel or let it swivel which is great.

I am about to have #2 and will use everything again but am seriously considering donating the Combi because for me, it just doesn't work.

Good luck with your purchases. It can be so overwhelming. I know some people who have ended up buying 6-7 strollers because of it.

[Anonymous]

I second the vote on Graco SnugRide + a Graco Stroller Frame. It is a MUCH better idea than the heavy travel system and a lot cheaper.

I used that for at least six months. After that, we switched to a Zooper Waltz - huge basket and bigger wheels (great for city). It is good to wait on buying the "big girl or big boy" stroller. You will have a better idea of what you want. Be careful of brand vs. function. I loved the Maclaren before I had baby, but realied that it had a terrible basket - look carefully.