thread: Pram and car seat, where to start?

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  1. #1
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Jun 2008
    In snuggle land
    4,499

    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.

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Jan 2009
    A Pirate Ship
    3,627

    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.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    in the Capital
    1,478

    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!

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Nov 2009
    69

    Cherished I know just how you feel! We are starting to look at prams, car seats, cots oh my... there is so much stuff to think about.

    I ordered the Choice baby buying book from their website yesterday and I'm hoping this will help a bit. Great thread!

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    Perth, WA
    2,315

    We looked at the Choice book from the local library for advice - might be helpful.

    We too decided to go the Safe n Sound Meridian AHR; it's by far the most $$, but we figured you can't skimp on your child's safety. And yes, it still has the crash swap guarantee. RACQ gives a bit of a discount for member and will also fit for free if you're a member and buy from them. Many baby shops will also fit for you.

    Prams were by far the hardest thing to buy! Go to as many different places as you can Cherished - we found that hardly any places had the same types so it made it hard to compare prices, but we could see a bigger range. You really need to 'test' drive' as many as you can (both you and DH), and practice folding too. We found a lot were really wide and therefore tricky to manouvre through aisles in shops etc. Ours is reversible and has a bassinet for bub, then converts so will last for ages. But a friend found hers too bulky whe bub was larger and ended up just buying a cheaper, lightweight stroller. But if you want yours for two, that point will be irrelevant! And when you've decided, go online as you may be able to do a better deal (and a package deal if you buy together). Oh, and start stalking people when you're out and about - everyone we asked was really happy to tell us what they liked/didn't like about their prams! GL

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Add Little Chicken on Facebook

    Mar 2010
    Melbourne
    1,855

    [QUOTE=JLeigh29;2315906 And when you've decided, go online as you may be able to do a better deal (and a package deal if you buy together).[/QUOTE]

    Absolutely second that. Find exactly what you want and go online to find prices the savings can be pretty good. Or even take the online prices back to the baby store and see if they can match. Also if looking for a pram that can suit 2, check the stability of it with a toddler seat attached just to make sure, it can sometimes affect the handling.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Jan 2009
    A Pirate Ship
    3,627

    more awesome advice from the BB girls!

    Cass do you mean that you can get a car seat that actually matches the pram ie the car seat / capsule actually fits in the pram as in it's part of the pram? Sorry if I've misunderstood you... Or do you mean that you can take the capsule out of the car and sit it int eh pram so make sure it will fit in the pram? Sorry I must sound like such a donkey lol