After a mindfield of choosing which pram / travel system to buy we opted for the Jane Power Track 360 with the Matrix. I was a bit concerned that we were getting value for money at first, and that the Matrix would last well for our baby in the lying down position. However, once our baby arrived and we started using the system we were really happy with it.
The Matrix car seat can be used as lie flat or upright. So far we have only used as lie flat, following the recommendation of health professionals (for baby's development). This means our baby sleeps on most journeys which is nice and quiet! We also use the matrix as a carry cot for walks with the pram or day time snoozes, which our baby seems to find nice and snug. Infact when she was very young and didnt take well to her crib she seemed to settle better within the security of the matrix!
The buggy part of the system does lie flat too, but we wont use that until she grows out of the matrix. You pay £100 (or £150 if you shop where I shopped!) for the Matrix so you are as well to get your monies worth.
The Jane is solid built, but light and easy to manouver, particularly if you have the 360 swivel wheel on front (great for nipping round the shops, or in the house). Adjustable handle which is good if you and other people pushing the pram are different heights. The suspension is soft too which makes any off road walks comfortable.
The covers can be washed (but they do take a while to dry out).
We have used the matrix on the upright position in the house, as our baby is too small for her high chair but likes to be upright for sometime to see around her. Handy for having in kitchen while doing dishes / bottles etc. The straps adjust to many positions to keep baby safe.
The only improvements I could suggest to this are
1) make matrix slightly wider as I feel baby's arms end up rising up due to lack of room
2) the brake on the handle bar (like a bike brake) dosnt always stay on that well, this isnt too much of a problem as it isnt the main brake and I only use it to slow the pram down while going down hills
3) the basket under the pram isnt easy to access and doesnt hold much.
4) fitting the matrix in the car takes a bit of practice. Make sure you practise this before baby arrives, unlike me!
5) the clips on the chassey can stick when you lift the matrix off (which means they can jam the matrix on when you put it back on the chassey). Be gentle when lifting the matrix off the chassey and this wont happen - you dont need to use much force. It just takes a bit of getting used too. This pram doesnt come cheap, but compared to traditional 3 in 1's it will last longer (as the buggy part will do the baby until 4, instead of 18mths) and the car seat is larger. In my opinion worth every penny spent, but shop around as there are internet deals, or local pram centres which do this cheaper rather than the specialised dealers.
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Advantages: Baby can lie flat, adjustable positions, versatile, good quality finish Disadvantages: Adjustment/fitting to car can be tricky, takes up the whole rear seat when flat
dmacalpine 12.02.2006 (12.02.2006)
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Review of Jane Matrix
Jan 20th, 2004
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