For the Mothercare Curb Travel System, the car seat (suitable from birth to 13kg) doesn’t attach directly to the chassis (frame). The Curv remains in pushchair mode throughout and you simply fasten the car seat on top of it. The car seat sits easily on top of the pushchair by clicking into place before sliding straps in either side to secure it. You reverse this process and pull up on the red handle at the back of the car seat to release it.
This is good for the fact that you don’t have to faff about with swapping car seats for pushchair seats. However, this just means the system becomes a seriously heavy push.
In the car, the car seat is fitted with your car’s own 3-point seatbelt only, and there’s no ISOFIX option. You can buy an in-car base for the car seat, though, for £34.99. This has belted installation, too.
I tried out the Mothercare Curv Travel System with the help of a friend’s 8-week-old son Ethan as well as my 2-year-old daughter Esme.
What we love
Putting the Mothercare Curv Travel System together is straightforward and when complete, it looks the business.
It offers all the usual features such as lockable swivel front wheels, a 5-point safety harness, a lightweight aluminium frame, a raincover and a bumper bar. A cosytoes insert is a welcome addition, too. As for the brake, I love the easy push on/push off design.
The ergonomic handles are comfortable and the Curv steers well about town.
In a vehicle, the car seat was simple to install. Using it with the chassis was also easy - but seeing the car on top of the Curv buggy with Ethan onboard personally made me uncomfortable.
What to watch out for
The Mothercare Curv claims to have an easy one-handed fold mechanism, but it just isn’t that easy. And once it’s folded, fastening and releasing the clip that holds it together is difficult.
The Curv is supposed to have a multiple seat recline that functions by either pulling on the cord behind the seat (for sitting up) or pushing the seat the length of the cord (for laying down). This action was obsolete. I found the seat remained in one position, reclined at a 40-degree angle.
Because of seat recline issue, the basket that’s said to be accessible, isn’t. I had to physically push Esme forward and hold her up with one hand why trying to get my bag of groceries into the basket with the other.
The Curv is marketed as being suitable from birth, but from the perspective of having a lie-flat seat, this is really problematic and when newborn Ethan lay in it he was definitely on the tilt. If it hadn’t been for the safety harness, I imagine he would have disappeared all together.
The Curv buggy isn’t particularly light, weighing 10kg, so when you transport the car seat on the buggy as well, the whole unit becomes decidedly arduous.
Esme is quite tall for her age but even so, I was disappointed to find that she could not fit in to the cosytoes comfortably. There was certainly no growing room left and she is only just over 2 years old.
Style wise, the Mothercare Curv is only available in the one colour, black with a grey trim (called ‘Lightning’). The fabric, which is not very well padded, can only be sponge cleaned. The fabric is hardwearing and consequently rough. In the summer months I imagine it would be uncomfortable on skin.
Lastly, I know you wouldn’t really choose to buy this system if you wanted it for long walks in the country, so not surprisingly the Curv didn’t fare well off-road. The wheels didn’t cope and I had to keep picking it up and carrying it.
Who is the Mothercare Curv Travel System best for?
Parents on a budget.
The Mothercare Curv Travel System is inexpensive and built to last, but it is heavy to push. The easy-to-use step on/step off brake is brilliant. However the seat doesn’t multi-recline as it should, it can’t be folded one-handed as claimed and it’s not going to be ideal for taller toddlers.
