[duckduckduck]

Hi, I really need some help making a decision on whether to get the BJCS bassinet or the Maxi Cosi capsule for our second bub.

I like the different functionalities of both - the bassinet for comfortable sleeping when out and about/visiting, and the capsule for easy transfer from pram to car without disturbing baby.

My friend swears by the bassinet but she walks everywhere and rarely uses the car. We only walk occasionally whereas I am often out and about with DD in the car, which is why I'm leaning ever so slightly towards the capsule... however, I'm worried the capsule won't be as comfortable for a baby to sleep in for extended periods (say, more than an hour at a time).

For those that have used one of these or both, please tell me why you preferred the bassinet/capsule, list pros and cons, and help me choose!

I should mention that I have weighed up the option of getting both (as I believe you can easily swap between the bassinet/capsule), but obviously this would cost a bit and we may end up using one a lot more than the other and will have wasted our money...

Advice, please!

[lozoodle]

I don't have that pram but opted for the capsule for my strider plus. Getting the newborn in and out of the car was SO MUCH EASIER! I wish I had a capsule with my first. It made life much easier.

We were out and about all the time with DD1 when I first had DD2. It just made life easy. I could just click her in the pram and off we'd go, and she would just sleep wherever as a result.

I think pram bassinettes are a waste, just use the normal seat reclined or the capsule!

This post has been edited by lozoodle: 14/04/2012, 10:04 AM

[duckduckduck]

I think pram bassinettes are a waste, just use the normal seat reclined or the capsule!

Unfortunately you can't use the standard BJCS seat for a newborn due to the design. It does make it a bit of an expensive endeavour, having to get the bassinet or capsule, but the pram is awesome in every other aspect

[lozoodle]

Oh that's annoying, I didn't realise that. But either way, I'd get the capsule. You need a car seat anyway lol

Plus some babies hate laying flat in a basinette, whereas the capsule provides that slight angle.

Edited to add - just had a look at them online. Why can't you just recline the normal seat? It doesn't look that different in design to the strider plus seats, I never had an issue with a newborn in that?

This post has been edited by lozoodle: 14/04/2012, 12:06 PM

[Ruby'sMum]

I'm starting with the capsule when DS arrives in 7 weeks. I'd thought about buying the bassinet too but seeing as DD was out of the bassinet by six weeks, really don't think it's worth the $. If #2 turns out to be significantly smaller than #1, I can always buy the bassinet once he's arrived.

[duckduckduck]

It's the way the straps are positioned - basically impossible for a newborn to be strapped in while lying comfortably (the seat can't flatten completely as it has a rigid bottom 'shelf' design).

I know some people just make do with the seat and don't bother with the straps, and use pram liners and whatnot to make it more suitable for a newborn, but I still think it would be uncomfortable for a little one.

[lozoodle]

Yep that's fair enough, you'll probably find its fine though - the strider plus seat is very similar and a newborn strapped in that and reclined was no drama.

But my vote is for the capsule - it will make your life SO easy to get out and about with your older child

[ali-song]

I had both (with a different pram), and really liked having the option of using either one. However, if I had to choose, I'd choose the capsule. While the basinette was terrific when DD was a newborn, DD wasn't much interested in lying flat beyond about three months. We're still using the capsule at seven months.

[futureself]

The BJCS is on our short-list of prams. If we go with it, we will be getting both the Bassinet kit to convert the seat to the Bassinet as well as getting a capsule. It's not just that the flat Bassinet will be more comfortable for extended sleeps; it's safer. It's recommend that small babies not be scrunched in capsules for long periods as it could comprise their airway so we see the Bassinet as being a portable bed for when we're out, visiting, that is the safer option. BUT we also want the portability of being able to scoot the capsule from the car onto the pram for short visits into shops, Drs etc.

As an aside, the 2012 CREP results were leaked online before their official publication in October and I wasn't happy with the one star rating of the Maxi Cosi so will be going for a Peg Perego or Chicco Capsule instead.

[Jillian_10]

I only have a bassinet, not a capsule, but it is worth every cent so far. My bub gets wheeled around the house in his pram a lot of the day and we cart it upstairs for him to sleep in at night since a few pushes calm him almost every time.

Just my experience but I LOVE having the bassinet for my pram.