Travel Systems vs. Separate Stroller and Car Seat?

This is N

A friend of mine is having her first baby in September. I volunteered and said I would take care of the stroller and car seat. I originally thought I would just get her a travel system. Then I thought everytime she wants to take the baby somewhere she's going to have to take the carseat out and put it in the stroller everytime...which will become a hassle quickly. Then I started reading travel systems are dangerous. I want the baby to be safe but it will be more than I can afford to get good high quality seperate stroller and car seat. Also I don't want the baby to grow out of the carseat in 6 months...if that is inevitable though let me know. I need advice on what to get. Give me links too of products you reccomend.

Answer
I had a travel system. You are able to use the stroller without the carseat. My daughter is 3 and sometimes we still use the stroller. Also, the base of the carseat not only buckled into my car but had 2 metal clips that buckled into the base of my car's back seat. so it was VERY safe. Also, the carseat was up to 40 lbs. so she didnt need a new one until she was a year old and could face forward anyway. Id say Travel system cause you can use them seperately, its generally cheaper and they do match!

First time expecting mom seeking advice on infant car seat and strollers vs travel systems etc?!?

kjfdhgks

Hello
I am a first time expecting mother and am pretty confused on all the baby gear options. I've ruled out that, although a convertible car seat saves money and stuff, that I do want to go with an infant car seat so that I don't have to wake the baby every time we get out of the car...Maybe? lol Im also torn between using a travel system or just getting an infant car seat and a light weight stroller. I do plan on getting the baby Bjorn as well. Im only 4'10 and I have concerns with a travel system being too bulky and heavy. I also want to make sure Im going to get use out of it. I would love opinions from experienced mothers on what worked for you or even expecting parents and what your planning on doing. This is all so confusing and overwhelming as a first time mother because im not really sure what will work and all. Thanks=]

Answer
Definitely 100% get a travel system. We got one and it's made life much easier. The carseat snaps right into the stroller when they're little so you don't have to move them out of it and into a stroller. They make lots of lightweight ones- if you look on the internet at some, just check the weight- it will say how much in the description.

We had a baby bjorn too but only used it maybe 5 times. Barely ever used the bumbo either- both were waste of money in our case.

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Best Travel System Stroller?

kayliee mo

I'm looking for a stroller but i get mixed reviews on all of them. I need something sturdy and something where the baby can maybe face me maybe by Graco? And something neutral or girly. I was looking at the Graco MetroLite Travel System - Cherry Blossom and the Graco Alano Travel System - Zoe. Any reviews on those either? Any suggestions help!

Answer
you will get mixed reviews on everything - something great for you may not work at all for me

and you may need more than 1 stroller.....(i have 3, and use them all for different things)

to me the metrolite offers little to no underseat storage

the only way you can have the child facing you in a graco stroller is to use the stroller with the carseat - attach carseat to stroller (easier than sounds, very quick, safe, secure) so for a graco it would have to be a travel system -

then you can choose how long to have them face you - up to 22 pounds or 30 pounds - snugride (22 lbs) vs safe seat (30 lbs)

you may also consider a universal stroller in addition to the travel system - it can be used with any carseat - the kolcraft universal 2 is very nice, very light, can be folded and unfolded 1 handed (by moms that is....dads will probably have issues - is not advertised as 1 hand fold) it has a small parent tray, and quite adequate under seat storage basket

do not worry so much about the print or pattern - there are far more important things on a stroller to worry about, such as:

seat recline, flat or not - IMPORTANT for infants and babies who are not sitting up yet - a bonus for the flat recline, is that you can also change your baby in the stroller, a much cleaner option than public changing tables (i carry around a can of l
lysol for just such emergencies)

size of the under seat storage basket and ease of use

if you are exclusive walker, have car or use city transportation, weight of folded up stroller, size of folded up stroller and maneuverability of folded stroller - the graco i have, you can not move using the wheels when folded up - the brake is on when folded - my universal you can have the brake on OR off when folded - great for moving while holding the baby/carseat, diaper bag, shopping bags, etc

how long you are going to use the stroller - they have weight limits as well

very important - parent tray/organizer and cupholder - sounds like a luxury in reality a necessity - car keys, cell phone, water, baby bottle (for the first year, you will not be letting your bottle sit in the stroller area cup holder...how many times do you want to pick up the bottle from the ground, and would you even give it back to your baby after it feel out on most public areas????)

size of sunshades and rotation (180, 90), peek a boo window are 2 minor things that are quite important to me - checking on baby and babies are very sensitive to bright light so a large multiple position canopy is very important to me

we have a graco quattro tour deluxe travel system with the safe seat - it is an EXTREMELY nice, comfortable (for baby and mom) stroller. it is also very heavy and is hard to fit in the trunk of my car - so for errands around town (a lot of in and out of car) i still use the universal, and only the stroller for trips out of town, strolls in the neighborhood, or for 1 or 2 longer stops when out - 3 or more stops or just 1 quick stop and i use the universal.

if cost is a factor (it was for us) try sears - my local store had the quattro tour deluxe on closeout for 90 bucks - regularly 240 bucks - so i did not give a whit about the pattern, but it is a nice chocolate brown with tan/beige print - the universal i found on craigslist for $15

graco does have 2 new girly prints out that i know of - a pretty purple flower one from babies r us, and a pink one also, not sure where you can find - go to gracobaby.com - but keep in mind for the lighter prints: stroller and car seats get dirty quite easily (even with us OCD types) - car seat covers are very easy to remove and wash......strollers are another story entirely - you need a screwdriver, a lot of time patience AND the instruction booklet is VERY HELPFUL - not to mention drying time for the cover - using the stroller with the carseat - you will definitely want to scotch guard the stroller first - or get a darker or neutral print - babies spit up a lot and toddlers can be quite messy - and a stroller is something you will use for at least 2 years - (my 3rd stroller is a size up from an umbrella, more square, has a tiny canopy and tiny underseat storage - but is great when doing laundry and hanging clothes on the line, cleaning out or washing the car, and was quite cheap - bought at a thrift store - took apart to clean/wash seat, looks brand new and works great to take baby around the house with me doing chores)

Question about Evenflo Travel System Strollers vs Jogging Stroller?

Momuvtwinb

I have a Evenflo Eurotrek Travel System and was wondering if anyone has tried an Evenflo stroller on gravel and how did it perform? My boys are fixing to start baseball again and I'm wondering if a jogging type stroller with big wheels will be necessary as I plan on taking my 4 month old with me to practices and games as long as the weather permits in her stroller. Some of the ballparks are gravel and I was wondering if anyone has any advice.

Answer
Travel systems are way to bulky! I got the Citi Mini by Babyjogger. Its a 3 wheel stroller with bigger wheels and yet it is not a jogging stroller. Its meant for everyday use on concrete and gravel terrain. Its also pretty lightweight and collapses in half by simply pulling on the handle located on the seat. You can literally collapse it with 1 finger while holding the baby! I think this is the most awesome stroller and its fairly well priced at $219.99

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Question about Evenflo Travel System Strollers vs Jogging Stroller?

Momuvtwinb

I have a Evenflo Eurotrek Travel System and was wondering if anyone has tried an Evenflo stroller on gravel and how did it perform? My boys are fixing to start baseball again and I'm wondering if a jogging type stroller with big wheels will be necessary as I plan on taking my 4 month old with me to practices and games as long as the weather permits in her stroller. Some of the ballparks are gravel and I was wondering if anyone has any advice.

Answer
Travel systems are way to bulky! I got the Citi Mini by Babyjogger. Its a 3 wheel stroller with bigger wheels and yet it is not a jogging stroller. Its meant for everyday use on concrete and gravel terrain. Its also pretty lightweight and collapses in half by simply pulling on the handle located on the seat. You can literally collapse it with 1 finger while holding the baby! I think this is the most awesome stroller and its fairly well priced at $219.99

Travel systems vs. regular stroller..which do you prefer?

99mom

I am trying to decide between getting a travel system or just a regular stroller. I have looked at the reviews for both. I can see how handy a travel system could be but I have also read that a baby shouldn't be in that carrier all the time, it should only be used in the car and not at the store, in the stroller etc. all the time. It said people leave their baby in them too much. So I would like to hear what other parents think. Maybe parents that have used both the travel system and a regular stroller and which did you like better.
I don't need the travel system just to get the infant seat. A carseat I am purchasing is a convertible type for 5 lbs and up. The state health dept. recommends them over an infant seat carrier so that's what I am going with.

Answer
I would say to also think about what time of year you will be using it. My son was born in the fall, so I used the infant carrier throughout the winter. That way I just put the blanket thing (I forget what it's called) around the carrier. It's better to use those instead of bulky coats.
Once Spring came, I switched to a convertible car seat and regular stroller. By then he was able to sit up on his own, and didn't like the way the carrier forced him to recline.
With a late spring or summer baby, go for the regular stroller. With a fall or winter baby, get the infant carrier.
When you go to the grocery store or shopping, you can use a wrap or front carrier.

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Mommies- What was one thing you bought and never used?

baby travel system vs stroller image

*Sweethear

What was the one thing that you bought or recieved during pregnancy that you thought you would use but never did? I hear changing table alot but I wondered what yall didn't use.

Answer
Gotta tell ya a changing table would probably be what Id say. Cribs are good, bassinets are good, etc. so why need a changing table too? Usually you just change the baby wherever you are at the time (floor, table, bed, etc) you dont go to a designated 'changing table'. Id even walk in a room and use the crib to change my niece over the changing table because of the height needed and way the changing table was (it was built in to a hutch thing so I was always needing extra room for stuff, the crib just made it simplier).

Another thing would be a travel system. You use the carseat but not the stroller a whole lot and by the time you are ready to use the stroller, the child is old enough for a toddler/baby $30 stroller, so you could have saved $150+ from buying a regular stroller vs. the travel set.

There are a lot of things that are just wasted money that can be used with other stuff instead --- like if its a boy and you buy a wee-wee shield. Someone is making a lot of money on some thing you could use a cloth for (you'd have to clean the wee-wee up with a cloth if they peed toward the plastic wee-wee sheild any ways so why by it?Know).

There's a bunch of baby items you can do without or sub other items you already have around your house in place of.

Disney Collection by Safety1st, any feedback vs. Graco, Evenflo, Gerber & Eddie Bouer?

GEORGE MAV

Currently they are selling it at K-mart & Sears. The price seams too good to be true. Everything is Pooh. Travel System, Play Yard, Walker, Highchair, Bouncer and Swing. Please give me any feedback if you are familiar with these baby products. ThanX

Answer
My daughter is 10 months old. I have the Safety 1st play yard & love it! When she was a newborn, we used the basinet & changing table. Then when she reached the max weight for the basinet we easily changed it to the full play yard & removed the change mat. I'm a big fan of the Pooh pattern & mobile that came with it. My mom watches my daughter when I work & has the Graco pack n play in the Pooh pattern. I like the Safety 1st one better. The Graco has an odd set up for the change table & I didn't think the basinet was as sturdy as the Safety 1st. We never had a problem, thats just my opinion. When you remove the Graco change mat the metal bars that it fits into are exposed. I don't like that. The play yard portion is comparable on both.

I've also got the Safety1st walker which is wonderful. It has 3 adjustable height settings and multiple toys on the front. There is a separate tray area where we can put her Cheerios. The walker is collapses for storage or travel which worked well when we went on vacation so we could pack it up & bring it along.

I also have the Graco travel system with the car seat/carrier, base, and strolller, and the swing. I really love the travel system. It has worked so well. I bought 2 additional base units for like $30 each to put in my husband and mom's vehicles. We put our daughter in the car seat/carrier & transfer her from one car to another without having to get her out of the seat. I also love that the seat has a clip on the back so I can put her in a cart securely when I grocery shop & the whole carrier/car seat fits right into the top of the stroller so she can face me when we're out. We're just now starting to put her in the stroller forward facing without the carrier & the transition is going well. We can use it both ways depending on what we need.

The swing is also great! It has 2 toys on the front & a mobile overhead. There is a reclining seat, a bunch of speed settings & music to go along. There is a secure waist strap & a tray. My daughter enjoyed the time she spent in her swing. We felt she was safe & saw that it helped her learn while she was entertained & played.

If you need to know anything else about these products, feel free to email me pack513@yahoo.com .

Again, I have:
Safety 1st: Play Yard & Walker
Graco: Travel System, Swing, & Pack n Play (at Grandmas)

P.S. I think I heard that they are discontinuing the Day's of Hunny pattern which may be part of the reason for the low prices.

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can infants be placed in stroller without car seat?

baby travel system vs stroller image

I'm looking for travel system vs. stroller frame/car seat option.
What makes more sense?
Would you buy another travel system?

Answer
I would buy a travel system all over again. I liked it. But with baby #2 I'm not buying one because I still have my daughters so I'll just buy a double side to side stroller.

Jogging stroller versus travel system â pros and cons, & what about hiking?

Woodland H

Iâm thinking of getting a jogging stroller to use on our local hiking trails here. Has anyone ever hiked on trails using a jogging stroller? Or is it just meant for dirt roads & that type of terrain? What is it like hiking? Oh also, do jogging strollers come w/ the infant car seat? Does the basket underneath have ample storage compared to a travel system stroller?

What else are the pros & cons of jogger vs travel system? TIA!

Answer
Our Jogging Stroller turns by lifting the front wheel, which is a hassle to use for strolling around town, so we've got a variety of different types of strollers. I've used the jogging stroller on trails and mostly mulit-use paths (paved and dirts paths for biking and walking), never used it for hiking back country and while it's easier to push, I would think it would be unstable for hiking purposes (if the trails are bumpy and have obstacles).

The jogging stroller really isn't great for babies that aren't sitting up yet, it doesn't come with a special infant seat and we much preferred a standard stroller when our little guy was an infant (he could recline and sleep, plus the shade bonnet was bigger to protect him from the sun.

We opted not to get a Travel System, and it's worked out great. We've never had a problem with getting the baby in and out of the carseat to the stroller, and it's less gear to carry around. Car seats are in the cars permanently and we only used our infant seat carseat in shopping carts for a few months.

All in all, the jogging stroller is not getting used much at all, I prefer using the Kolcraft Contours stroller for our little guy. I suggest you visit some stores and see the different types personally, then shop on line to maybe save some money.

Hope this helps!
Best Wishes!

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can infants be placed in stroller without car seat?

baby travel system vs stroller image

I'm looking for travel system vs. stroller frame/car seat option.
What makes more sense?
Would you buy another travel system?

Answer
I would buy a travel system all over again. I liked it. But with baby #2 I'm not buying one because I still have my daughters so I'll just buy a double side to side stroller.

Jogging stroller versus travel system â pros and cons, & what about hiking?

Woodland H

Iâm thinking of getting a jogging stroller to use on our local hiking trails here. Has anyone ever hiked on trails using a jogging stroller? Or is it just meant for dirt roads & that type of terrain? What is it like hiking? Oh also, do jogging strollers come w/ the infant car seat? Does the basket underneath have ample storage compared to a travel system stroller?

What else are the pros & cons of jogger vs travel system? TIA!

Answer
Our Jogging Stroller turns by lifting the front wheel, which is a hassle to use for strolling around town, so we've got a variety of different types of strollers. I've used the jogging stroller on trails and mostly mulit-use paths (paved and dirts paths for biking and walking), never used it for hiking back country and while it's easier to push, I would think it would be unstable for hiking purposes (if the trails are bumpy and have obstacles).

The jogging stroller really isn't great for babies that aren't sitting up yet, it doesn't come with a special infant seat and we much preferred a standard stroller when our little guy was an infant (he could recline and sleep, plus the shade bonnet was bigger to protect him from the sun.

We opted not to get a Travel System, and it's worked out great. We've never had a problem with getting the baby in and out of the carseat to the stroller, and it's less gear to carry around. Car seats are in the cars permanently and we only used our infant seat carseat in shopping carts for a few months.

All in all, the jogging stroller is not getting used much at all, I prefer using the Kolcraft Contours stroller for our little guy. I suggest you visit some stores and see the different types personally, then shop on line to maybe save some money.

Hope this helps!
Best Wishes!

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My husband and I are thinking of buying the Concord stroller/travel system. Anyone have experiences/advice?

baby travel system vs stroller image

Schmid2263

The travel system comes with lots of options. I think its pretty pricey and before we make the investment, I wanted to hear from other parents who have used it and bought it. We are looking at the Fusion and the Neo, I am not sure which one is better and which carrier options (ion vs. intense and sleeper vs. scout) are better.

Answer
Pricier does not mean better. My husband and I both used snugglies but for strollers we would go to the stores and test them out for ourselves and knew that we needed a compartment for diaper bag, bottles, a cup holder, and most important shading for a baby. If there are alot of bugs where you live then a net for the stroller. It was not huge and it wasnt cheap or pricey. They were like 39-99 to 59.99. Also check out on line the best strollers or even stroller recalls. Thats important. You dont need a limousine for your baby who is going to outgrow it fast. Just go and test them out.

what is the best stroll/ carseat out there for the price?

Kellysue B

I can't spend more than $300 on the set but i do want nice and Safe (safety above all), my dad has a graco (he just had a baby in march) and he likes it but i want to get some other opinions!

Answer
Graco is the best way to go in my opinion!
I love the Quattro Tour Deluxe travel systems (car seat, base and stroller).

They range from $220-$260 and have the snugride 32 or 35 carseat which means the carseat can be used until 32lbs or 35lbs or 32in which is better than the 22lb and 29in. The stroller also holds up to 50lbs vs. the old 40lbs. PLUS they have a huge basket!

I will say that the stroller is pretty big and the carseat is a little heavier than some (by about 2lbs) but I think it is worth is for the extra safety and after the first few months you will probably just be taking the baby in and out of the carseat and comfort of your little bundle of joy!

After Graco I think Peg Perego is wonderful as well but the carseats only go up to 30lbs and 30in and it is very expensive, about $250 for the carseat and the stroller is almost $370!

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Jogging stroller versus travel system – pros and cons, & what about hiking?

baby travel system vs stroller image

Woodland H

Iâm thinking of getting a jogging stroller to use on our local hiking trails here. Has anyone ever hiked on trails using a jogging stroller? Or is it just meant for dirt roads & that type of terrain? What is it like hiking? Oh also, do jogging strollers come w/ the infant car seat? Does the basket underneath have ample storage compared to a travel system stroller?

What else are the pros & cons of jogger vs travel system? TIA!

Answer
Our Jogging Stroller turns by lifting the front wheel, which is a hassle to use for strolling around town, so we've got a variety of different types of strollers. I've used the jogging stroller on trails and mostly mulit-use paths (paved and dirts paths for biking and walking), never used it for hiking back country and while it's easier to push, I would think it would be unstable for hiking purposes (if the trails are bumpy and have obstacles).

The jogging stroller really isn't great for babies that aren't sitting up yet, it doesn't come with a special infant seat and we much preferred a standard stroller when our little guy was an infant (he could recline and sleep, plus the shade bonnet was bigger to protect him from the sun.

We opted not to get a Travel System, and it's worked out great. We've never had a problem with getting the baby in and out of the carseat to the stroller, and it's less gear to carry around. Car seats are in the cars permanently and we only used our infant seat carseat in shopping carts for a few months.

All in all, the jogging stroller is not getting used much at all, I prefer using the Kolcraft Contours stroller for our little guy. I suggest you visit some stores and see the different types personally, then shop on line to maybe save some money.

Hope this helps!
Best Wishes!

Graco Travel System vs Snugride stroller frame?

Stephie

I am a First time mom and can't decide if I need a travel stroller system or if I just need the snap and go style system with infant car seat? Help!!!!!! Do I need both?

Answer
Don't get both!

You should get the snap n go style travel system until you decide what kind of stroller you want once your baby is a little bit older. You'll discover more what sort of lifestyle you will have with your baby, because, as you know, it will change in ways you cannot imagine. Then you'll have a better idea of what you want.

Do you exercise a lot? Then an all terrain or jogger stroller would be best for you, if you don't mind a bit of bulk.

Run errands and want something lightweight? Then an umbrella or lightweight stroller is best and there are LOTS of excellent choices.

Have a bigger budget and want something really nice? Oh my gosh, your options are huge. Start with the convertible strollers where you can have baby face you or face the world in a reversible seat.

I'm just saying that you have many more choices besides Graco, although this brand is very nice. I like their new Trekko all terrain stroller, and the new UrbanLite or FastFold are getting rave reviews.

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