I hope the Ozbargain Hive Brain trust can help me solve this puzzle.
I am trying to filter through all the options when I am clueless about what to look for.
So starting with the basics
Need a convertible car seat .
Need a pram / stroller . Unsure about pros/cons of a travel syatem.
The whole setup should fit in our 2011 corolla.
I am steering away from a capsule based on comments on previous posts but if thats a mistake please correct me.
In short Heeeeeeeeellllllppp!!!!
I agree with the capsules idea mentioned by JohnSy - if your baby is asleep it is just so convenient to bring them back inside in the capsule and let them keep sleeping.
And the rest of his advice as well!
Happy the Joie system.
We had a Joie capsule and pram, the pram is very compact and easy to travel with. Capsule was great for first 6 months. Recommend the combo.
Can buy the capsule second hand and then resell once done and it might cost you $50, as you can imagine they change hands quickly, look after it and you'll almost get your money back.
I went to a hire store that was selling ex stock and bought Maxi Cosi capsules for each of my kids. Apparently they are "checked" and cleaned after every hire, after my kids outgrew them I resold on FB marketplace for more than I paid for them.
Britax Graphene is highly rated and it's a compact seat so it'll be less bulky than the others. Baby love Ezy switch is pretty highly rated on the budget end (they've changed the name but it's still under $200 IIRC)
My sister made the mistake of buying a Bugaboo Fox 4, so I'll tell you what to look out for that I hate about her pram 😂 make sure you get a seat that folds, so vital for boot space. Look out for a large basket and make sure the bar isn't in the way as baby bags get BULKY. get one that's easy to fold in 1 step (1 handed would be a bonus). Then brakes and if you're planning for more kids in future than ability to convert to double (think whether you want side by side or streamline).
I got a city select Lux and it's been pretty great, albeit a bit heavy but I think all the big game prams are pretty heavy. I think they've stopped making some attachments for it so I'm pretty lucky to have gotten them all ages ago. Check out marketplace you should be able to find some good ones. I sold my City mini gt that was like new for half the retail price as I cbb switching prams most of the time.
Probably look in to getting a big pram, and then a travel stroller just for the quick runs.
Visit baby bunting, they will help you / fit it for you and they always got sales
or kid safe.
Britax Graphene is a well regarded compact 0-4 car seat. Will fit in a Corolla. Having tried other brands, I think Britax is the goods. Worth the premium. Ofc if you aren't getting a capsule, it won't fit in a pram. So… I guess you can just take your pick with the pram.
Pramwise, Steelcraft Strider is a bit of a mid range workhorse pram. Nothing fancy, but well built with a lot of space. It can also fit a Britax capsule if you end up going down that route. Con is its a bit heavy. Plenty of other options at BB. Redsbaby is an Australian pram brand if you want local (they aren't made here though).
I didn't bother with a travel system - I had my first at the beginning of Covid so we weren't going anywhere much anyway! I had a pram that came with a bassinet so we just pulled bubs in and out of the car. We have a Britax Graphene which is supposedly compact - and even though I have a big car, it still takes up heaps of space and I shudder to think how much room some of the bigger seats would take up! I'm having my second in July and getting a capsule isn't on the to buy list, and none of my friends used one either. Also consider if mum has a C-section she won't be able to lift baby when it's in a capsule for 4-6 weeks as well. If you really want one, look for one on marketplace or hire for a few months as they are a decent expense given the short time they are useable (and add in the cost of adapters for it to fit whatever pram you end up with if they aren't directly compatible).
If space is an issue for the pram, consider going to Baby Bunting to look - they will usually let you take them out to the car to see how they fit. Go in with a list of what your requirements are as there are sooooo many to choose from. I've got an Uppababy Vista which I love, but my friends with the same pram have to take the seat off to fit it in their cars. After having one baby I'm glad I have what I have as we have shops close by so I walked everywhere and could fit HEAPS in the under basket, I could rave about how much easier it made my life, but other things suit different lifestyle and tastes.
Do you do a lot of walking? You want something with big wheels and easy to push.
From home or from the car? Overall size is less of an issue if you mostly walk from home.
What are the footpaths like in your area? Small wheels get stuck in potholes and cracks. It'll drive you nuts.
If you drive everywhere and treat shopping centres as a place of worship then buy something with small wheels, one hand fold and compact because it would be so much more convenient. You'll also have room to put whatever you buy in the car because bigger prams take up a LOT of space. I've had such a good experience with my Uppababy and their service team - my frame had a fault 18 months in, and within a week they'd sent me a new frame under warranty. Make sure if you buy one you register it so you get an extra year of warranty too.
Remember that whatever you buy for baby, you will not use extensively and grow out of it in a few months. Always try to source second hand or hand me downs and avoid super expensive stuff unless you can afford to abslutely throw money away.
This applies to many baby stuff.
Good advice.
Bear in mind car seats that pull out to go into prams aren't usually safe sleep when the car seat is on its own, due neck slump and closed airway
The whole setup should fit in our 2011 corolla.
just get what you think will be more comfortable for your child. almost all child seats should fit a corolla.
Also almost all babies will fit any baby seat. :)
Highly recommend Infasecure car seats. They're inexpensive and last a long time. Go simple for the pram, you never know how dirty it's going to get and no point wasting 1000s on a pram.
When looking for prams, ensure it can be folded using just one arm. Makes life easy We were very happy with a Baby Jogger, lasted 7-8 years.
Spending 1000s on a pram was the worst thing ever. These things don't get much use!! Buy in gumtree almost new for $30.
I couldn't find an almost new baby jogger second hand for $30. I must be doing something wrong.
Perhaps times have changed since I used to do it. My apologies. The sentiment of my advice remains.
Capsules have their time and place. (probably upto 6 months of age). They are good if you go somewhere and wish to keep a baby sleeping after getting out of the car.
After this, you need a rear-facing car seat - these can require quite a bit of space - best to go to a baby store (eg baby bunting) and perhaps try a few types out in your car to see what fits. Some of these will be usable until the child reaches about 8 years of age.