There are many ways to get baby about in those first few months, some people prefer slings or buggies but my personal preference is the travel system. Here I’d like to share why I think these provide the best starting point for a new family as it can save you a lot of time and energy – not to mention backache!

First up is the overwhelming versatility of these systems. This advantage alone means travel systems win hands down for me and I’m so glad I started out with one of these that I was moved to write this! These adaptable systems mean that with on one simple purchase you’re pretty much sorted and ready to go. What could be better?

Designed to be used straight from birth, these brilliant inventions mean you can take baby in and out of the pram easily (and best of all without waking them) in one simple click and some styles mean that the carrying parts are not just carry cots they are car seats as well.

This is an important distinction as investing in the latter saves you making a purchase of a separate dedicated car seat in addition to your cheap travel system – and to be honest I would suggest that if you can have an all in one system I can’t imagine why you would choose otherwise! Carrycots are more attractive without doubt but since baby will need to be in a car at some point and to be as safe as possible too, the fact of having a dedicated car seat that comes as part of your travel system seems -to me- a must.

Of course the other way of looking at it is that the car seat choice of travel system means more weight to carry. If you live in a flat you might feel that a carrycot is just fine! Carrying a baby pram up two flights of stairs is no fun after all and since all of these systems are as sturdy as they come, you might not fancy an extra few pounds of plastic added to the overall weight of your travel system. Fair dos.

Another area of versatility that travel systems offer is the choice as to whether you want front or rear facing mode. While some families think that having baby facing mum and dad -especially in those first few months- is a big bonus, to others it’s no biggie. Either way choosing a system dedicated to one or the other can prove problematic in the long run as baby will grow to want to see what’s going on around him or her eventually. There are of course some travel systems out there which can take on both options and while having this choice is brilliant it does add to the overall price so it’s good to examine whether this functionality is so important to you before you buy.

Another huge bonus you’ll benefit from if you choose a travel system is that this purchase will – if made carefully – last for a good few years. In order to make sure your system works for you, make sure the design you choose allows for baby to lie flat in the first few months and that it will grow with baby to allow for sitting upright (whether the design allows for the baby to be facing toward you or out into the world). Personally, I feel that making a huge purchase such as one of these systems should be seen as an investment rather than a style choice, so looking practically for the long term is the best approach.

One last thing; by the time your new addition reaches a certain weight you’ll be able to move over to a collapsible buggy that can fold down quickly and will take up a lot less room in the boot but until then consider the size of the system when folded down does it leave enough room in your boot for shopping, changing bags and your own bits and bobs?

It has to be said that these systems are big thanks to all their built in safety features. While this is an essential consideration, there’s no point in having only room for the travel system in your car’s boot. This is a mistake I have seen time and again and it has to be said that the nagging sensation of having to fit shopping etc. in footwells will add up over time. It may even spur you on to have to make another purchase which is something no one wants!

It’s also worth considering where you’ll keep your travel system. When not folded down they do take up a lot of space, so think carefully about the design in terms of your hallway too – after all it will be parked there for a few years. Again there’s nothing worse than having to squeeze past the buggy everytime you go to the front door. Travel systems come in a wide variety of sizes so take measurements of everywhere you expect to put yours before you buy and … enjoy the flexibility and adaptability of your travel system as your baby grows!