Cheap baby travel systems

Travel systems are a common purchase for new parents. A color-coordinated stroller and tiny infant car seat carrier is appealing to budget-conscious and style-conscious parents alike. Many parents complain about bulky travel system strollers or hard-to-use car seats once baby arrives, though. Before you buy a baby travel system, consider how you will use the travel system stroller and car seat to be sure you're buying a travel system that works for you and your new baby.rnTravel Systems MVP: The Car SeatrnWhen buying a baby travel system, you must choose the car seat first. While strollers add convenience, the car seat will keep your new baby safe in the car. Narrow down your choices quickly by selecting travel systems with car seats that fit tightly in your vehicle and that you can easily install and use. Look for 5-point harnesses on infant car seats, and check to see whether or not you can install the car seat without the travel system base, in case you need to switch vehicles quickly. Choosing the Best Car Seat for Babyrn What is a Travel System? Choose Your Favorite Travel System Stroller SecondrnTravel system strollers come in all shapes and sizes. You can choose from lightweight strollers, full-size feature-packed strollers and jogging strollers. If you'll keep the stroller in a vehicle, check to see how well it will fit and how much space is left over. If you prefer a larger stroller, consider where you will use it and whether it will be hard to navigate cramped spaces with a wider stroller. Jogging strollers handle any terrain, but don't always fold as easily for trunk storage.rnConsider Separates Rather Than a Travel SystemrnIf you can't find a ready-made travel system with a car seat and stroller that you love, create your own travel system with separate car seats and strollers. Different brands may not snap together when putting the car seat on top of the stroller, but many parents don't use the travel systems that way. You'll still be able to carry baby in the infant car seat carrier and use the stroller as usual.rnOther Travel Systems OptionsrnIf you don't want to buy a full size stroller and don't want to carry the infant car seat, consider buying a universal stroller frame that snaps to the car seat bottom, letting you wheel baby around without taking the little one out of the car seat. Stroller frames are inexpensive, and let you decide on a full-size stroller later when you have a better idea of how you'll use it.rnDo You Need a Travel System at All?rnA lot of experienced parents say they wouldn't buy another travel system. Why? Often the strollers are bulkier than they prefer, and many parents find that they'd rather carry baby in a backpack carrier or sling than in a stroller or infant car seat. Obviously, you do need an appropriate car seat for your baby, but a stroller and infant carrier car seat combination isn't required. You may want to buy a car seat now and decide on a separate stroller or baby carrier later.rnAre Used Travel Systems Safe for Baby?rnThe car seat components of used travel systems aren't generally considered safe for re-use. If you can't verify the car seat's crash history or if the car seat is more than 5 years old, don't use it. You need to conduct a thorough recall search on used car seats and strollers, and be sure that the items still have all of the original parts including instruction manuals. Used strollers can be safe so long as they meet safety standards and are not under recall.