Do I Need A Travel System: Baby Registry: 101

The year was 2009. I was pregnant with my first baby and inundated by all of the gear options. Blogging wasn't "big" back then and I didn't have eleven Pinterest boards dedicated to the best baby products on the market. Resources were few and far between and most of them a bit antiquated. I did, however, have the Welcome to Motherhood checklist that came with the registry sign up at Toys R' Us and as any new mom in the early 2000's would do, I followed it to a "T" when I began registering for everything I would need as I began my foray into motherhood. 
Fast forward 6 years (or 1 Kindergartner, 1 Preschooler and a toddler later) and I can't even begin to comprehend how much has changed on the baby gear front. There are so many incredible and amazing products out there on the market today that I would almost, almost have one more baby just so that I could justify purchasing and enjoying them all.
If I had to pick one product to have been completely revolutionized in the last several years, it would undoubtedly be the "travel system" or infant car seat/stroller combination. What was once bulky, lacking significant storage and without variable positioning options is now sleek, stylish and wildly versatile. 
Take a look at what I was using back in 2010. Not only was it hardly available in a solid color and incredibly difficult to maneuver on any surface that wasn't as smooth as a tennis court but it was also supremely difficult to clean. Folding it basically required a degree in engineering and good luck if you wanted to attempt to do anything one-handed; steering, folding and reclining all required the luxury of two hands. Speaking of luxury, nothing about this travel system screamed "luxury" at all. 

Nowadays, the travel systems available to parents rival the style, class and luxury of my very first car. While this baby-making factory is closed down for good, one of my very best girlfriends recently found out that she's pregnant with her third after having given away every last shred of baby gear in her home. I won't say that this baby necessarily caught her by surprise but...did I mention that she gave away every last shred of baby gear in her home?
When the opportunity arose for me to collaborate with Evenflo and review the Pivot Modular Travel System, I knew it would make an excellent gift for my best friend who is quite literally starting over in the land of newborndom. Since writing this post, I've gifted her the stroller and car seat in exchange for the promise of unlimited baby snugs once the newest member of our village arrives at the end of the summer. Sure she gets some amazing new baby gear but I cannot wait to sniff some freshy baby head...
While I'm not the least bit jealous of the sleepless nights and sore nipples that await her, I am definitely envious of the fact that she'll get to stroll around in such comfort and style. With three reversible strolling modes including (a). Carriage, (b). Infant Car Seat with Stroller Frame and (c). Toddler Stroller, the Pivot travel system allows numerous configurations when on the go with the most precious of cargo. With its Cruiser wheels, ergonomic handle and adult cup holder, not only is baby comfortable while strolling but mom is too. 

One of my favorite features of this stroller is the bassinet or carriage mode. When my youngest was brand new, this was my favorite way of strolling the neighborhood with him. As a freshly minted family of five with three boys under the age of 4 at the time, we didn't miss a single opportunity for fresh air. Rather than have to shove my fresh little newborn into his infant bucket seat, I could keep him safely and snugly swaddled while laying comfortably on his back in the carriage mode of the stroller. What's even better is that once your babe is old enough to ride like a big boy without the infant car seat attachment, the carriage mode simply transitions right into toddler mode. No extra pieces or attachments to fuss around with, it's all right there on the original basket of the stroller. So amazing.
The second greatest feature of the Evenflo Pivot is that totally rad over-sized canopy.  Its three panels not only offer fantastic protection from the sun's harsh rays but also extra privacy to keep inquiring hands (and germs) out of baby's face. 

Storage on a stroller is what location is to real estate. With the size of diaper bags these days not to mention all of the accouterments that tiny babies and their growing siblings require on any given outing, a stroller without adequate storage is basically a waste of money and wheels. The Pivot travel system has a generously sized storage basket located beneath the stroller that's big enough for a diaper bag plus big sister's full-size backpack. In my case, it's big enough for my 2.5 year old to curl up in. It's also very easy to access with the stroller in both Carriage and Infant Seat modes.

Speaking of the infant car seat, Evenflo has quickly become one of my favorite car seat manufacturers on the market. Did you know that Evenflo designs and tests their seats for structural integrity at energy levels TWO TIMES the federal crash test standard? Additionally, they also test their seats to simulate side impact and rollover events. The SafeMax infant car seat featured above has an anti-rebound bar that limits the amount of rebound movement experience in the event of frontal impact. My middle child currently rides in an Evenflo Symphony convertible car seat and for a couple years now I've been nothing but pleased with its performance. 

If you're asking yourself "do I need a travel system?" Is it worth the investment? Am I really going to use it? The answer is yes, absolutely. While I wouldn't ever recommend the travesty that I was cruising around with back in 2010, I would highly recommend the Evenflo Pivot Travel System with SafeMax Infant Car Seat. Safety, style and comfort all rolled into one that will grow with you and your baby starting on day one!

Thank you to Evenflo for kindly sponsoring this post. 

All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own.