Question about travel system vs. Stroller (xpost from Pregnancy)

I got the Grace Quattro Tour system but haven't opened it and after reading Shana's thread I am worried I am going to hate it.


Here's my question before I open it.
If you get just a stroller how does that work with an infant seat. Can you put and infant straight into the stroller without the infant seat?

I'm confused but don't want to open the box unless I am sure I am going to like it.

Re: Question about travel system vs. Stroller (xpost from Pregnancy)

from what I understand, it seems that if you JUST get the Snug Ride Carseat (or any infant car seat) there is what is called the universal Snap and go, which is merely a frame that fits any of those infant car seats.

You would then purchase a completely different stroller and car seat for when the baby has outgrown the infant car seat.

Herein lays my problem.....

Re: Question about travel system vs. Stroller (xpost from Pregnancy)

OH GOD! This is all way too complicated. Baby Bargains gave the Gracos a good review and the Peg and Maclaren just seemed so overpriced. All my friends have Grace and didn't complain but reading the other threads makes me worry.

Re: Question about travel system vs. Stroller (xpost from Pregnancy)

I think it's purely personal preference....whatever you are comfortable handling.

For me...it has to be easy to put together/fold up to put in the car for when I am alone with the baby. It also has to be comfy for DH to push since he is taller than I am.

Unfortunately, price is also an issue....so we are waiting to go to the store to test them to see how we like them.

Re: Question about travel system vs. Stroller (xpost from Pregnancy)

I've come across some people who are against the travel systems because of thier size, bulkiness, etc. However, all of my good friends swear by the graco travel systems. I have been to babys r us so many times, trying things out, looking and OBSESSING over what I get. THe gracos do get pretty good reviews. THere are always one or two people who find fault in everything, but if you have 4- or 4.5 stars on something and over 100 people have reviews it, I think that says something for the product.

When you have a newborn, I think the gracos would come in handy for the following reasons:
1. you don't have to take the baby out of the car seat (infant seat) to put it into the stroller. just move the infant seat over. if it's a light sleeper or even if it's not, it could be disturbed by taking it all the way out, and sometimes when your shopping or doing whatever, you want the baby to sleep as much as possible.
2. there is a lot of room for your stuff as well as the baby bag. from drink/food compartments, to a big under basket for the diaper bag, your shopping bags, etc., you dont' have to worry about carrying everything yourself.
3. They usually are pretty good about not being bumpy, having easy to care for fabric, a lot of good features that you wouldn't get with a smaller stroller.
4. They will grow with your child. Once they are out of the infant seat you can still use it.
5. if you are planning on having more children, you can reuse it all over again through infant stages up.

I can see people's point about them being bulky, and eventually, once the baby is bigger, I'll probably get a cheap basic umbrella stroller to use instead. But I think I'll stick with the travel system for at least the beginning months.

Just my opinion, of course.

Re: Question about travel system vs. Stroller (xpost from Pregnancy)

I love my travel system but I also have a May baby and live in the South.

I use mine for 2 mile walks every morning there are no sidewalks here so the wheels easily handle different terrain and don't bounce him around too much.
I like being able to put him in the stroller part and lie him flat rather then in the infant seat when I take him on our walks.
It can handle sand. I have been able to get it across the beach pretty easily
I take him everywhere since my husband is away so I need the convience of being able to just plop the infant seat in there and once it is in I have the storage underneath as well as some underneath the car seat.
Yup, it's somewhat on the heavy side but it flips open and close really easily and I look at it as helping me to tone my back and arms up again.
I have a F250 and an Escape so I can easily fit it in my suv or truck.
I like to go out without my diaper bag and the little compartments help me take essentials with me plus it holds my water and other things when we go on walks.
I also like that if I'm in a place that has too many people who want to touch him who look creepy that I can kinda seal him up in there between the two canopys.