You've finally reached the point in your pregnancy when you can start thinking about buying some things for your baby (how exciting?!). One of the first things you'll want to look into is a car seat and pushchair suitable for your new arrival. Once you start looking, it won't take you long to notice that hunting for the right travel system can be very confusing and rather time-consuming, so before you buy, it's a good idea to know exactly what you're looking out for.
That's why we've put together this handy travel system buying guide so you'll have all the knowledge on what a travel system is, the different types and exactly how to choose a travel system before they're born.
Read more: The best baby travel system pushchairs
What is a travel system?
A travel system is a buggy with a detachable car seat. The car seatcan be easily secured to your buggy or detached as you need it to be, and the idea is to make it as easy as possible for you to move baby from the car to the buggy as simply and as quickly as possible.
Some travel systems also come with a separate carrycot instead of a car seat, which allows baby to lie flat, which is a good idea for newborn babies.
Here's a quick rundown of other transport options...
Pram: A pram is designed to carry newborns and younger babies, usually while they're lying down. It's sturdy and generally can't be folded flat and it isn't suitable for older children.
Pushchair: A pushchair is quite sturdy. You should be able to recline the seat fully so that your baby is lying down and have it either forward-facing or parent-facing. It'll usually grow with you, meaning it's suitable for both newborns and older babies, and can often fold flat.
**Stroller:**A stroller is a light and compact single pushchair without all the bells and whistles that you’ll find on more versatile and expensive models. Strollers generally weigh more than lightweight pushchairs, so this probably isn’t the one to pick for travel use – it’s more robust and substantial than that, but functionality is minimal.
Types of travel systems
When buying your travel system, you have a few options:
Option 1: Buy a complete package
You'll buy your buggy and your carry cot together from the same manufacturer and the two compartments will be compatible with one another.
Option 2: Choose your options
You also have the option of buying a buggy and car seat from separate brands. You'll have to check they're compatible though, and this may cost you more. You will however be able to have more freedom of choice to find the perfect travel solutions for you.
Not all buggies can become travel systems, but you'll probably find that the leading brands will be travel system compatible, so it's a good idea to find the buggy you want, and then see if it's travel system compatible. Just keep in mind that you might have to buy adaptors if you buy from different brands.
How much does a travel system cost?
Budget: Under £250 - if you're on a budget, you'll want to consider some of the more affordable brands such as Graco, Kinderkraft, Chico, Cuggl and some Joie models.
Mid-range: Up to £500 - For a mid-range budget, ranging from around £300 - £500, you might want to consider the likes of John Lewis, Nuna, Cybex, Maxi-Cosi and some Joie models.
Premium end: Up to £1000 - If you haven't got a budget in mind, you can look at brands such as Silver Cross, Mamas and Papas, Bugaboo, Cosatto, iCandy and Stokke.
How to choose a car seat for your travel system
When it comes to car seats and buggies, it's all about safety first. In the UK, it's the law for babies and children to use a car seat until they’re 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first, which is why many parents choose a car seat or buggy which can adapt and grow with your child as they get older.
Size
When shopping for their very first car seat or buggy, you'll need to make sure it's suitable from birth. These are known as group 0 (birth to 11 months) or group 0+ (birth to 15 months) car seats.
Remember, your baby should not be left in their car seat for more than two hours (unless it's a lie-flat seat). You can read more about this on the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents website.
Weight
If you've ever carried a car seat, you'll know how heavy they can be, so it's worth checking the weight before you buy, as you can get lightweight or heavyweight options. Remember, the weight is without your baby inside, so you'll want to factor that in too!
Fitting into your car
You'll not want to spend all your time fiddling around, fitting the seat into your car (especially on rainy days). These days, most car seats are secured into the car using an ISOFIX system which not only takes all the hassle out of getting your car seat in and out the car, but it's the safest option to keep your baby secure.
How to choose a buggy for your travel system
If you've got your eye on a particular car seat, you'll firstly want to make sure the buggy you buy is compatible with the car seat. Features you might want to consider are whether it's front or rear-facing, how fast it folds, whether or not it fits in your car boot, will it grow with your child, does it have extra features like a shopping basket or drinks holder, is it suitable for the terrain you'll be walking on with your baby?
Have you considered a carry cot?
As mentioned previously, your baby shouldn't be left in their car seat for more than two hours for the first six months, so you'll either need to make sure they can lie flat in their buggy or have a carry cot with your travel system for them to lie flat in.