How to Buy a Travel System for Baby

Buying a travel arrangement tin can be a minefield of models, features and condom guidelines. But what should you look out for when buying one?

What is a travel system?

In short, a travel arrangement is a type of buggy. It is made up of a chassis (wheels and base) that is uniform with a infant motorcar seat, a toddler seat and, in some cases, a carrycot.

This means that you can transfer your kid from buggy to machine and vice versa without the hassle of taking them out of the automobile seat.

About all travel systems tin exist used with a newborn, however not all models come up with a carrycot to prevarication your baby completely flat and yous may need to buy additional adaptors to adhere a separate car seat. Travel systems that come with a carrycot and a car seat are known every bit three-in-1 travel systems.

Do I need a travel system?

Every parent's preferences are different, but considering travel systems can be bulky and expensive, information technology's worth checking whether or not you actually demand i. If you often travel by car, a travel system will relieve y'all time and energy when out and nigh with your infant.

They are particularly good for newborns as their carrycot attachment will have a flat recline choice (double check this when it comes to the actual pushchair seat unit of measurement) and can be removed without you having to wake your baby.

If you rarely use a car, or if you lot know you'll frequently be lugging your pushchair upwardly and down flights of stairs, there are a number of lightweight buggies that are both lighter and cheaper than a traditional travel system.

Information technology is worth noting, however, that not all buggies tin can become travel systems, only some lightweight pushchairs, such as the Babyzen Yoyo+, are compatible with a car seat and tin can be used as a travel arrangement, which may just give you the best of both worlds.

We've tested and reviewed the best pushchairs for newborns, so if weight and size are your concern, then i of these may be more suitable for your needs.

Need more advice? Check out our video below.

How to choose the right pushchair

How much do travel systems cost?

How much you lot cull to spend on a travel organisation is completely upwards to y'all. Prices range from £250 to over £1000, but bear in mind that even the nigh expensive model may not be suitable.

If yous live in a city, a large off-road travel arrangement volition likely exist too bulky and, while a huge shopping basket may be great for a trip to the supermarket, information technology may non be quite so useful when you're cramming the pushchair into the boot of your auto.

One time you've found the model and brand you like, shop effectually as at that place tin be discounts or exclusive packages on offer. And while there's nothing incorrect with picking up a bargain, always buy from a trusted retailer.

Also look at what'south included in your chosen bundle – you might save money in the long-run if you don't have to buy lots of things separately. More expensive options often come with extras, such every bit a footmuff, have a sleeker end and commonly offering customisable features.

You might also recollect nigh selling your travel organization once your kid has grown out of it and you tin can normally look to become back at least half of its original price (depending on the model), although information technology's worth mentioning that many parents won't want a 2d-hand car seat due to potential safety risks.

Higher terminate models, such equally the Bugaboo Fox will predictably be worth more in a resale than a cheaper option similar the Maxi-Cosi Zelia.

What's included?

Many travel systems will be uniform with a car seat and a carrycot. Others may have fewer options or certain limitations, such as a seat which is world-facing only.

So let'due south break information technology downwardly.

one. Machine seat

With most travel systems, you lot can either purchase a matching car seat along with the system or buy one separately. Buying them together will sometimes end up existence cheaper as many manufacturers offer parcel deals, but buying them separately may hateful yous have more than choice and flexibility. Just brand sure the two are compatible before you spend any coin.

If your travel arrangement comes with a machine seat, make sure it meets UK safety standards and is in the right car seat grouping for your kid. If y'all have your own automobile seat or are ownership one separately, check how it fits onto the travel system chassis.

Will you need divide adaptors, is it piece of cake to fit on the chassis or will it exist an added hassle? Most travel systems volition require you to remove the original seat before clicking the car seat into place, just some will allow you to attach the seat on pinnacle.

You must use a rear-facing child automobile seat for a baby until they are at least nine months, but it is recommended that they rear-face up for as long every bit possible. The auto seat groups are as follows:

Grouping 0 (rear-facing) – upwards to 10kg (birth to six or ix months)
Group 0+ (rear-facing) – up to 13kg (birth to 12 or 15 months)
i-Size (rear-facing) – past height from approximately 40 to 105 cm (birth to at least 15 months, but in some cases up to iv years)
Group 0+/one (combination seat) – upwardly to 18kg (birth to approximately three or four years)
Group one (forward-facing) – ix to 18kg (nine months to four years)
Group 2 (high-backed booster seat) – xv t0 25kg (four to vi years)
Group 3 (booster cushion) – 22 to 36kg (six to 11 years)

Questions to enquire when ownership a motorcar seat

Does the seat fit my child?
Does the seat fit my automobile?
Will this seat be compatible with my travel system?
Does it adhere to all U.k. car seat safety regulations?
What are the seat'southward crash test ratings?
How easy is it to adhere and disassemble from the travel system?
How heavy is information technology?

For more essential tips on what to look out for ownership a baby car seat, read our auto seat buyer's guide.

2. Carrycot

If your travel arrangement comes with a carrycot, check it feels secure and comfortable plenty for your newborn to lie in. Does it detach and adhere to the base hands?

You volition exist spending the first few months moving your baby around in it, then does it have a handle and is it calorie-free enough for y'all lift with ease? Bank check if your baby tin can nap in it or sleep in it overnight as this tin can be a useful feature to save you taking an additional newborn bed if you lot're away for a nighttime or two.

Most carrycots don't take straps or a harness every bit they're intended for babies who can't however sit up past themselves (newborn to five or half-dozen months). To brand sure they're snug and secure, you lot may wish to tuck them in with a blanket.

Questions to ask when ownership a carrycot

How easy is it to attach, detach and elevator?
Is my baby comfortable and secure?
Tin I use the carrycot as a newborn crib or travel cot replacement?

"The carrycot for my travel arrangement has been invaluable. I become into boondocks with it everyday and apply it equally a Moses basket for naps."

3. Seat unit of measurement

It'south hard to imagine your newborn will ever be big enough to sit down in an bodily buggy seat, but they will, and they will also be desperately trying to escape as well.

As presently as your kid can sit up unaided, you can move them to the travel organisation's standard seat unit. The seat is the component that you will exist using the near, and for the longest amount of time.

Some seats recline which can help with nap fourth dimension, but besides recall virtually when your child reaches toddlerhood. Will the chair even so be suitable? Like a carrycot, the seat volition demand to be comfortable and large enough for your child, so be sure to bank check that they'll have enough room to grow.

Check the harnesses for fiddly connections and long straps that tin get caught upwards or chewed on. Most are v-point harnesses which means your child is secured at the shoulders, effectually the waist and through the legs, with a fastening in the middle. We'd recommend having a practice with the harness in shop so that y'all can iron out whatever kinks earlier you lot purchase.

Also cheque whether y'all can still collapse the pushchair with the seat attached or if it needs to be detached each time. See whether the cover is detachable and easily washable as it will certainly be tested to the limit over the years with exploding nappies and half-chewed nutrient.

Some seats are parent-facing while others a globe-facing, just many can be switched between the two. Retrieve about what you and your baby would prefer, only a changeable one is ultimately more flexible for both parties.

Questions to ask when looking at the seat

Is it comfortable, prophylactic and secure?
What is the recline similar? Are there a number of recline options?
Volition I need a seat with a lie-flat recline (if not intending to buy a carrycot)?
Is it parent- or world-facing? Can this be altered?

Which travel organisation should I buy?

Accept a await at our travel system reviews where nosotros reveal the best travel systems on the market.

The ultimate heir-apparent'southward guide checklist

i. What is the weight limit for the seat? Will I be able to employ the pushchairs for as long as I need it?

2. What does the initial cost include and what is my budget?

3. What are the seat recline options?

4. How easy is information technology to take off and attach a carrycot or car seat? Is information technology difficult to switch betwixt parent-facing and world-facing? Is this possible?

five. Are the seats roomy plenty?

half dozen. What are the folded and unfolded dimensions? Is the pram like shooting fish in a barrel to fold? Is it a ane-handed or fast fold?

seven. Will it fit into the kick of my car, through my front door or on public transport?

8. Is it low-cal enough for me to carry/lug up and downward stairs if necessary?

9. How like shooting fish in a barrel is information technology to push and steer? What's the turning circle similar?

10. Does information technology accept an adjustable handle tiptop for parents of different heights?

11. Does it come with added extras such as a rain encompass, automobile seat adaptors and footmuff?

12. How big is the storage handbasket?

13. Volition the sun hood provide enough protection? Is it extendable?

fourteen. Tin I convert it to a double buggy or fit a buggy board when my family grows?

15. How stable is it? Volition information technology concur a changing bag off the handles with and without a passenger in the seat?

sixteen. How easy is information technology to clean? Does it have removable covers for washing?

17. What are the aesthetics like? Does it come in colours I love? Will I (and my children) bask using information technology?

Safety advice from The Purple Social club for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)

Always buy from a reputable shop or website. Don't endeavor to get a inexpensive deal as yous don't know if you'll be ownership the real branded item or a re-create.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to fit and apply the travel system. If information technology'south non designed to have 3 five-kilo bags of potatoes hanging off the handles, then don't do it.
Remember – don't go out your baby in the auto seat for more two hours (xxx minutes if your child is a low birth weight or has medical problems). Information technology can be tempting after a automobile journey to leave a baby in the auto seat if they are asleep, or use the car seat to feed the baby in. This can crusade fatalities.

Find out more about pushchair safety on the RoSPA website.

Why you should trust u.s.

Mumsnet has been making parents' lives easier since 2000 and, in those years, we've seen, tried and reviewed countless products. We've watched trends come and go and safety features become more than and more slick. Our testing is best in class – we rigorously test each product with existent children in existent-life situations as well every bit standardised lab-way testing and we're confident that our testing leaves no stone unturned. This means that parents don't need to compare reviews or hunt around for other opinions. They know Mumsnet has it covered.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by existent parents afterwards weeks of research and testing – this includes recommendations from the Mumsnet Talk boards. We work hard to provide honest and contained advice y'all tin can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. Still, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

All prices correct at time of publication

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