I don't think whoever you spoke to knows what they are taking about you can only use a capsule up to about 6 months and then you would need a car seat anyway. You can hire a capsule for the 1st 6 months if you want to be able to take the baby out of the car and keep them in the capsule without actually picking up the baby, some find this useful if there bubs wakes up easily when picked up. We decided to get a car seat that bubs can use till they are about 22kg (I think) and if bubs is asleep in the car seat we bought a cocoon to put them in and carry them inside in that to continue sleeping, the cocoon also fits into our P&T dash pram so they can still be lying down sleeping... of course with our system we are counting on bubs not waking up when we move them from the car seat to the coocoon. I'd ask some more questions in a different store.
I've got a Viaggio capsule and my little one still easily fits in them. The SNS Unity is a cheaper/similar concept. They're designed for 9-12kgs depending on the model I think. The SNS has been rebadged for the HiPod capsule and the Fisher Price capsule. And both capsules fit into a number of prams.
My Viaggio fits into my P&T Sport with an adapter.
I find it convenient when I'm not using my Ergo. It just makes it easy to snap and go and she faces us.
We are going with the capsule system, but mostly because I like the thought of being able to move my baby about without waking it. One thing that is not emphasised at all over here when looking at capsules is that they are not suitable for long periods of time because they squish the babies body up too much. When they are still young their bones and internal organs are very maleable and the curved shape of the capsule is not good for their spines and organs. So if you were planning a day out, you would need to take the capsule in the car, and also take the basinette for them to lie flat in. One friend of ours got one and loves it, another didn't bother because they said they weren't planning on leaving the house for 6 months, and really didn't, so it's really just a matter of choice and finances.
As others have said, it's totally personal choice. Capsules and car seats are both safe for your baby so personal preference is all it comes down to.
No doubt the stroller salesperson said what they said because there are some really neat travel systems out there if you want to go for the capsule option. I really wish I had've considered this before my first, but we were given a car seat as a gift so it didn't really occur to me to investigate (plus the travel systems are much more prevalent now than 4 years ago!)
We coped fine with just a reversable car seat, but I must admit I had capsule envy when my friends at playgroup brought their 2nd kids in a capsule, placed them in a quiet corner to continue sleeping and went about playing with their older kids.
There are plenty of capsules now that can safely take a baby up to 8-12kg, so I think it is possible to get your money's worth - especially if you then have more than one kid.
Having said all that, if you see a stroller you really like or just simply can't afford a travel system (the good ones are really quite exey) then get the stroller you like and think about car seats later.
We got the S&S Unity capsule for DS for the reasons others have talked about. I found it great, but did wish that I had of spent a bit extra and bought one the one that fitted on my bugaboo. When DS was 6 months PIL wanted to buy us a car seat so we got the S&S Meridian. TBH DS could've stayed in the caspule longer (he's 13 months and not yet 12kgs, but would be a bit of squish anyway). We sold our capsule on ebay, because next time round I want one that fits the pram, we got $210 for it and I think we only paid about $260 or something, so for us it worked out cheaper than renting it.
With DS we only had the reversible car seat that we had rear facing for 11 months then turned around when he reached 12kg. We didn't bother with a capsule as we didn't want to buy two car seats. For DS2 we are borrowing a friends capsule as we figure it will be easier to have the baby in the capsule in one hand and ds1 in the other hand as he is a bolter. Its personal preference really.
Thank you everyone for your views. I understand that it is a personal decision but by reading some of the positives and negatives to each option that you have stated it will make making my decision a little easier (well at least I think so anyway!).
With DS we just had a reversible car seat. I brought a capsule with DD. For me it was one of the best things I've brought. DD is 1yr old in 3 weeks and still in it. It made things so much easier not having to wake her every time we went out. If it was nap time and I knew we had to go somewhere soon I would put her down it her capsule and just took her out asleep.
you can only use a capsule up to about 6 months and then you would need a car seat anyway. You can hire a capsule for the 1st 6 months if you want to be able to take the baby out of the car and keep them in the capsule without actually picking up the baby, some find this useful if there bubs wakes up easily when picked up. We decided to get a car seat that bubs can use till they are about 22kg (I think) and if bubs is asleep in the car seat we bought a cocoon to put them in and carry them inside in that to continue sleeping, the cocoon also fits into our P&T dash pram so they can still be lying down sleeping... of course with our system we are counting on bubs not waking up when we move them from the car seat to the coocoon. I'd ask some more questions in a different store.
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