For me next time, I'd get a car seat that is also a capsule that attaches onto the pram. When Mitchell was little it used to break my heart that I'd wake him up getting him out of the car into the pram. Also a capsule would have been very handy to take to friends houses etc when he was little for sleeping.
As for brands, I love my Bugaboo Bee.... Pricey, but the smallest I could find for my car and so, so easy to put up and down.
We just decided on the Safe n Sound Meridian!! Found the straps were easy to adjust no pulling moving seat around... And can use it from Newborn to 18kg...
We also decided on the Bugaboo Cameleon as its not as wide as the peg-perego or Strider etc I am all for easy moving around ailes in the shops rather than not fitting! It also goes from standard to 4wd and you can flip the bassinet and toddler seat either way via moving the handle or attatching it that way! HTH
Safe and sound are a good brand and they used to (don't know if they still do), come with a crash swap guarantee. I have heard people say good things about the infacare turn-a-tot. If you want a capsule system, look to hire one as capsules can be pricey for something that might only be used for 6 months. The NRMA publishes a brouchure about what they consider to be the safest car seats and you can find it on the net.
After much research, but no practical experience yet, we bought a safe n sound meridian for DH's car and I am hiring a Safe n Sound capsule from the council for my car for 6 months.
Re: prams - there's a lot to take into account
How tall are you and DH? - an adjustable handle is a must, unless it fits you both perfectly
How long is your stride - so many prams we saw we kept kicking as we walked because we both have long strides
Is the seat or handle reversible - I wanted to be able to have bub face me to start with, then be able to turn them out to see the world when they'e older. Check out the Mothercare spin - very funky, though it's a big pram
Ease of fold/ compactness - you don't want to be there for hours trying to get the thing down. Will you need to take it on public transport?
How high is the bassinet/kid seat - will you break your back bending over all day? eg the bugaboo cameleon is great, but it's too low for both DH & I. The Stokke explory has bub up high, but we didn't like the handle/stride or the storage bag (or the price)
Budget - I loved the Emmalunga but it was $2000. It was a bit easier to use than the pram we got, but twice the price
How "solid" do you want the pram? DH's favorite was a solid tank of a pram - we ended up with the Silvercross Sleepover Classic. It's a solid pram with big wheels - we found we ended up kicking the smaller wheeled prams
How maneuverable to you want it? Many prams can spin on a dime and will be easy to use in shopping centre aisle etc. The Sleepover classic wont, but will be great for footpaths etc
What terrain will you push it over? Shopping centres, beaches, footpaths?
What size is the boot of your car. Turns out the Sleepover doesn't fit in the back of my car, so we also got an ex-display Silvercross Halo to go in that. Doesn't have a lot of the features I wanted, but will do for short shopping trips when I'm not baby wearing.
Gl - we spent ages looking and researching. Also note many more are coming out in Jun/July.
Wow girls there is just so much to consider, I knew there was a reason I was putting it off, I find it a bit overwhelming I am also not looking forward to going to the shops to try them out because I think I'd have to go to Brissy to a much larger store to see more of a range. I am keen to get something which will fit a toddler and a newborn as we desire to have kids close together so that will be a must. Also things like hitting your shins on a bar Something I would have never considered unless it happend when trying it out, I hate it when shopping trollys do that in supermarkets!
So much great advice here, thanks so much, I will write a list for when I go and try them out.
I agree with Fiona. In hindsight I wish we had paid the extra and gotten the capsule which comes out and clicks into the pram (we got a birth to 18kg seat). So much easier when they've fallen asleep in the car and you just know that they are going to wake up the minute you unbuckle them - particularly if it's been a stressful trip to the shops and they've finally gone to sleep!!
Plus, if you are keen to have kids close together you will need to get an extra carseat anyway once bubs number 1 outgrows the capsule and bubs number 2 is ready to go into it!
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I am also not looking forward to going to the shops to try them out because I think I'd have to go to Brissy to a much larger store to see more of a range. I am keen to get something which will fit a toddler and a newborn as we desire to have kids close together so that will be a must. Also things like hitting your shins on a bar
Something I would have never considered unless it happend when trying it out, I hate it when shopping trollys do that in supermarkets!
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