UPPAbaby Universal Carrycot Stand, Grey (2015)

Product Information

The second way of ventilation in a carrycot, usually found in better/more expensive models, is through its base. Using a lever or a button, you can open and close the vents on the bottom of the carrycot. Thanks to such an air circulation system, the temperature of the mattress and the inside of the carrycot are kept at an optimal level. Apart from Italian brands (such as Cam, Chicco, Peg-Pérego) boasting a flip-out ventilation system, you can find them present in many Polish brands and robust, oval-shaped prams, too. The depth of the carrycot is not too significant unless you need to use a footmuff or feel like buying an extra mattress. The depth of the carrycot doesn't add to the overall comfort for the baby - a shallower carrycot actually may provide a better view. The stroller systems with a 2in1 seat and carrycot in one part are usually quite shallow and, therefore, more suitable for spring/summer, but acceptable in winter too - with the right protective accessories. The mattress The canopy of the carrycot, the seat unit, and even the car seat is for sure an important detail to look at. The rule applying to the carrycot canopy is that it's always better to have more of it (and not to use it) than to get less (and struggle with not-protective-enough sun coverage).

It is highly unlikely that a baby born in spring will need a carrycot over the following winter. In spring and summer, the baby will still be tiny, so the inner dimensions of the carrycot are not that important for such a baby. You should focus on a quality seat unit, in this case, much more. There is always a chance you'd like to take the child out of the carrycot to feed him or just to show him the surroundings - it will need to be nice and warm even when outside of the carrycot. Talking about a wind blowing through the carrycot part right on your child is, therefore, absolutely irrelevant, even if the carrycot was made out of thinner materials. It is simply not happening like that 🙂 Some carrycots have a safety mechanism to keep them fixed in the car, and therefore, they may be used instead of the Group 0+ car seats. Such carrycots provide maximum comfort for a child as the baby lies flat instead of sitting arched in the car seat, but unfortunately, the degree of safety is lower, which will mainly be evident in a serious accident. So far, none of the carrycots proved to be extremely safe, so they should be used more for occasional, short journeys only. Lying on the mattress inclined underneath the baby's head, the baby often slips down. Even worse, the head may be pushed closer to the chest, making the child's breathing more difficult, which is another bug con of inclining carrycots. Moms often say that the baby wants to have a better view. I disagree - if the baby is big enough for an inclined position, it is time to switch for the seat unit offering a more natural body position while providing your kid with a better view (even when fully reclined). I just can't see the need for an inclining carrycot, where the baby has no other choice than just kind of sit clumsily without any safety belts. So much better to rather use the seat unit. The last argument against the inclining of the carrycot mattress is that the mechanism often gets damaged or broken, mainly in cheaper models.

A large hood is crucial in summer when the sun can be fierce and sharp, as well as in winter, as partial protection against the elements. When the low sun in the mornings and afternoons is preventing your little one from having a good nap, you will certainly appreciate the option to extend the hood. I also had a carrycot on the pram which was used A LOT as the baby seemed to only sleep when moving (or being held). The most common system for moving the carrycot is a handle that is either integrated into the hood or situated just above the hood. Such a handle offers the most stable and most comfortable manipulation. There are also carrycots featuring side straps, but because you have to hold onto and balance two objects in one hand, this system is slightly less comfortable (although still manageable). The third, rather rare option involves using fixed attachments on the side of the carrycot, where you have to use both hands, which makes the manipulation even less comfortable. The most common way of **providing airflow is through the hood*. It could be a zip-open mesh panel, a closable viewing window with a net, or a fabric part that you can pull aside, opening a mesh section. It is, however, an advantage if the hood can be fully covered even - as opposed to the situations where there is a mesh-only panel, which could be a problem when you need to extend the hood in cold weather without bringing extra cold air into the carrycot. Having said that, even a mesh panel is always better than having no means of extending the hood at all. There is a number of ways of providing ventilation to the carrycot. It is always beneficial if some kind of special ventilation system is present, but of course, you can live without it 😉

Another - and a rather good - approach is to choose the stroller system with a seat unit you like and just survive any carrycot that' fits it for those first few months, no matter how large or functional it i In the end, unlike the carrycot, you will use the seat unit for much longer, and most of the disadvantages of the carrycot are bearable or easily resolved anyway. There is, of course, no accounting for taste, and I am sure many moms enjoyed having an inclining carrycot. The hoodAll iCandy carrycots are suitable for overnight sleeping because they adhere to the following criteria in addition to the relevant standard (EN1466):

With the carrycot facing forward, you wouldn't have a chance to see if, for example, they threw up a bit or an uninvited insect entered the carrycot. A baby's sight is rather short-ranged, so the argument about a better view doesn't apply for the smallest children needing a carrycot. Later, when they are old enough, they will have an opportunity to enjoy the view and all its advantages with a forward-facing seat unit.

Moses Baskets

With your baby on the way, there surely will be a point when you finally start looking for the right stroller (system). It is also very likely that your search will begin with the right carrycot since it is the first place providing the little one with sweet dreams while being outside. The tiny, vulnerable newborn will need a comfortable and cozy spa - giving many moms a reason to focus, at least at the start, on the carrycot more (compared to other parts of a stroller system). Another extreme sometimes, of course, takes place as well - not considering a carrycot at all... I would consider getting a carrycot suitable (and certified) for overnight sleeping if you do overnight stays a lot with your child - no matter if it's visiting friends, family, or on trips. Otherwise, the feature is not really a thing I would use at home, where a normal crib is present. 0+ Carrycots usable instead of car seats (Car seat / carrycot hybrids) If you travel a lot and like the idea of carrycots with auto-kit usable instead of a car seat, but at the same time, you want to prioritize the safety of your child the most, you may want to look into lie-flat car seats. I know - this is not a carrycot per se, but it is still important to mention this option for parents often traveling with their young baby. Look at those that can be reclined while traveling, not only on the pushchair frame. The price of such a car seat is obviously at the higher end of the market, but you possibly won't even need a conventional full-featured carrycot if you're always on the go. I talk more about choosing the right car seat in this guide.

Things may get more complicated for a summer baby, depending on whether you are insisting on using a carrycot through the whole winter or you are open to a switch for a seat unit. Two of my sons were born in May, and we had switched an average-sized carrycot (approximately 73.5 cm long) to a seat unit somewhere in December / January (when they reached circa 7.5 months of age). Both of them were big boys with a birth weight of over 4 kg, and we, naturally, used a winter footmuff too at the end of bassinet-use! What is essential when it comes to choosing a suitable carrycot? Do I even need a carrycot? Read all about bassinets in Strollberry's ultimate guide. The apron is a functional accessory, and you are going to need it (not only) in winter. Thanks to creating shade and protecting the child not only against the cold, the apron comes in handy during the whole year, including some summer days. I want to add a short remark regarding the protective sheets and other rubber covers we use to keep the mattress clean. From the point of health and safety of a newborn baby, and to prevent SIDS, it is not recommended to put the baby on any non-breathable materials. Such a young baby can't regulate its body temperature properly, and therefore, it can get overheated, especially in summer. The inclining function you still prefer to use the carrycot for your summer baby throughout winter, go for the inner length of 75-77 cm minimum. That's because you will need to accommodate your growing baby as well as the winter footmuff._ An excellent alternative for your summer baby is also a stroller with either a soft carrycot, a cocoon, or at least some head hugger. This option is not too costly and saves some storage space later since you don't need to find space for the full-sized carrycot that is not in use anymore. The seat unit is usually more open and better ventilated than the carrycot, and therefore more appropriate for hot summer days.A new baby comes with lots of equipment, some of it essential and some an added luxury. So, what do you really need when it comes to somewhere safe and comfortable for baby to sleep in those first few formative months? From bedside cribs to moses baskets and sleep nests in between, there is so much choice for you and your baby. Yet, the great news is every iCandy carrycot is suitable for permanent overnight sleeping and here's why... Your little one will be ready to move from a flat carrycot to a pushchair seat when they can sit upright unaided and can lift and support their head. For most babies, this happens around six months of age, but every child is different. Some babies reach this stage a little earlier, some a little later. How to put a baby in a carrycot pram? As I already hinted in the previous part - the total size (length, width) doesn't equal to the size of the mattress (= the inner measurements ~ length and width of the carrycot). Quite often, the difference is remarkable. Be aware of some Polish and other, predominantly cheaper brands, as they usually use in their descriptions the larger number to get your attention. The measurement is often taken over the top of the carrycot, in some cases even over the outer 'shell', while in reality, the dimensions of the mattress are considerably smaller. If you consider the real measurements of the mattress important, I would advise you to get it out of the carrycot and take the measures for yourself. The ventilation, as well as the apron, are function-wise closely related to the hood, and thus deserve more attention. Ventilation every child is different and all that... for my first I lovingly prepared a moses basket next to my bed, which the baby pretty much never slept in. It made a great dumping ground for blankets, muslins etc i suppose. She was too big for it by about 4 months anyway (and she was a dinky baby) but technically too young for her own room and cot yet.