[NightFox]

In preparation for the arrival of our MCS in September and our second child in October (busy autumn), and after wading through this forum, I decided to go down the Mamas and Papas Aria route as the all-round best solution to the “getting a pram in the boot” problem. However, that was until the staff at my local baby stuff superstore (Two Left Feet in Bedford) introduced me to the BébéConfort Loola.

You’ve REALLY got to check this 4-wheeler out if you’re trying to get a pushchair that’ll fit in the boot of a Mini, expecially as it also works as a full travel system in conjunction with the BébéConfort Creatis car seat (or the Elios) – it really is quite cool and is in about the same price range as the Mamas and Papas alterntive, but looks loads, loads better.

Down side is, the thing is new to the market and you’ll probably have to order one and wait for at least a few weeks, so much so that it doesn’t even seem to appear in the BébéConfort web site (though it does appear in their printed material for 2004).

If you want to take a look, try:

http://www.twoleftfeet.co.uk/acatalo...ort_Loola.html

for the pushchair/pram, and

http://www.twoleftfeet.co.uk/acatalo...t_Creatis.html

for the seat.

[Rakey]

it certainly is a different looking product with some real interesting design features, I saw it last September when it was launched in Koln, this also worries me as it has taken a lot of time to finally get it to market. This normally means there has been development problems or manufacturing issues when there is a delay

Just to share a couple of my thoughts on it, if you are interested

The thing that concerned me when I saw it was that the way the two tubes push against each other, I have seen products like this in the past, and when they are made from Aluminum the tube in time will start to 'banana' and go out of shape, stopping it from folding smoothly and eventually jamming. Also if you look at the part that ends the top tube, there is a bursh that runs along the bottom tube, this shouts to me that it has to be kept constantly clean and clear of anything in the two tubes or that will stop it from working.

But like you say it is new to market and I certainly hope that nothing like this happens to the product, as it is nice to see something that looks a little different, and trys to do its own thing rather than copy other products on the market. Might be worth sticking with something that is proven and seeing how this goes, as we all know how new products can get teething problems

[Wave]

Thats th emost innovative stroller, Ive seen. How about car seats for the back that keep the keet off the seats?

[Rakey]

oh the reason this product hasn't been seen for sale yet, its still not gone into production

[NightFox]

Two Left Feet (www.twoleftfeet.co.uk) in Bedford have one of these in their showroom, and I spent some time this weekend playing with the Loola and a number of car seats in a Mini (that Elms of Bedford kindly lent us), so we could get a couple of car seats sorted out before the arrival of our MCS and second child in mid October.

So, the score is:

Can confirm that the Loola definitely fits in the Mini boot without needing to remove the parcel shelf. HOWEVER – it is still a pretty close fit and needs the full width of the boot, so if you’ve got the CD multichanger it won’t go. You may still get it in if you take the parcel shelf out, but couldn’t be sure.

Also tried a few car seats:

Bébéconfort Creatis (fits the Loola to make a travel system) – Fits OK in front and back, though in the front you’d need to remove a plastic loop that fits round the seatbelt (not an integral part of the seatbelt itself though). Obviously you’d also need the airbag deactivating and back is better than front for kids.

MaxiCosi Priori / Priori XP - Fits OK front and back, though XP version is better option in the back as it’s got a built in ratchet system that makes tightening it easier, especially as getting hold of the seatbelt to pull it tight isn’t easy without back doors.

Bébéconfort Iseos – OK in the front, but couldn’t get a good enough fit in the back due to the shape of its base and the “bump” in the middle of the Mini’s seat where the seatbelt clips live.

Bébéconfort Iseos TT – like the MaxiCosi Priori XP, this has got a ratchet system that makes tightening the seatbelt easier. Apart from that it’s the same as the Iseos. However, the ratchet system might allow it to be fitted securely in tha back, compressing the centre “bump”. However, Two Left Feet didn’t have any in yet, so going back this weekend or next to give it a go, as I think this is the seat I’d like to go for to match the Creatis.

Obviously you should try these for yourself before committing, but hopefully my experience may be of some help.

Big thanks to Annie at Elms Mini and Richard at Two Left Feet for all their help

***Just to add, the Loola is definately now available, as we received ours along with our Creatis car seat yesterday (29th July). Now just waiting for the baby and mini... ***

[NightFox]

Just to update, the Iseos TT does fit the Mini OK. Note that the normal Iseos (i.e. not the TT) doesn’t, as it wasn’t possible to get enough purchase on the car seatbelt straps to tighten them enough to pull it down over the bump in the middle of the rear seat. The TT version has a ratchet system though, so you can pull the seatbelt taught without any major effort.

As with many of the other toddler-size seats, you have to do some fancy manoeuvring to actually get the seat through the door and into the back, as well as having to raise/remove one of the rear headrests, so you probably wouldn’t want to be regularly swapping any of these seats between 2 cars.