Twins car seats? Normal? Preemie?

BeesKnees181

Did you buy preemie car seats?  Do you think that is the best option?  Or did you register/buy normal infant seats?  Just wondering.  It looks like it is only a one pound difference (4 pounds versus 5 between the preemie and and infant seat).  Any suggestions are appreciated.  Thank you!

cukimerrydoll

We're buying ones rated from 4 to 35 lbs. Standard of care in our area makes it extremely unlikely that they wouldn't be in the NICU at anything less than five pounds, so the 4 lb. rating is more for our own reassurance.

BeesKnees181

Good point...I will check with doctor/NICU before registering for/buying car seats.

cukimerrydoll

Plus, those are light weight, and I could easily manage two at once.

Mrs.Guz

We got a 4lb seat and DD was less than 5# at discharge.

I have a friend who had a preemie with no NICU time. SHe weighed just over 3# at discharge. But couldn't leave the hospital until she passed the car seat test. I believe she was able to rent a preemie car seat to be able to leave the hospital.

carrotcake06

Ours were rated to 4lbs - Chicco Keyfits. The infant seat we had from our oldest started at 5lbs - Graco Snugride (I think they make snugrides that start at 4lbs now).

The babies were just over 5lbs at discharge.

One thing to think about is if the seat comes with any kind if infant insert. Only inserts that come w the seat or are sold specifically for that seat are safe to use (strictly speaking). A 5lb baby in any infant seat looks small and while the fit may be just as safe, an infant insert, IMO, provides a better fit.

It's definitely not make or break, just something to think about.

cukimerrydoll

I know my hospital requires at least 1 night of NICU time for infants under 5#. We are going with the Graco Snugrides in case they are released weighing less than that.

PurpleIris30

We also went with car seats that were rated down to 4 lbs (britax b safe). I debated between those and the chicco keyfits, but the britax were a little narrower (and cheaper), so I can sit between the two seats in the back.

PurpleIris30

cukimerrydoll said:

I know my hospital requires at least 1 night of NICU time for infants under 5#. We are going with the Graco Snugrides in case they are released weighing less than that.

For the OP, if you do go with Graco Snugrides, as I recall, there's one model that goes down to 4 lbs, but the rest do not, so make sure you get the correct model if that feature is important to you.

chickaboo1974

If there are issues with low weight, there are such things as infant car beds.  You typically can rent them from a hospital until your child can use a standard car seat.

cukimerrydoll

Thanks for the heads up! I'm pretty certain it's the Snugride 35 that goes down to 4#.

ntdane

Graco Snugride 30's go down to 4 lbs as well.

pinkmickey24

We have Graco Snugride 30's and they go down to 4 pounds.

TheDairyQueenx3

Our NICU provided carbeds for preemies that were too small for car seats but ready to come home.

caden

My kids were 4lbs at discharge and no one at my hospital cared that my Snugride was rated for 5 lbs+. The alternative would have been a car bed like the pp mentioned.

bhendren

We bought the Chicco Keyfits for our twins, they had a better rating than the Graco snug ride

nblondheim

We also got the Graco Snugride 30 and it goes down to 4 lbs.

LegallyBlonde217

We have the Graco Snugride 30s.  One of my twins was just under 5lbs when they were discharged from the NICU and the other was just over 5 lbs.  Most NICUs aren't even going to let you leave until they are close to 5lbs. 

megs3084

I'm a nicu nurse and we usually recommend getting car seats that go down to 4lbs.

BeesKnees181

Thanks for all the insight!  This is great info

ceechie

Also, make sure the seat works with your stroller. We did the Britex b-safe because it goes down to 4lbs and worked best with our city select. Buy Buy Baby had great info and let us test everything out (like which seat fit best in our van) before we bought.

kgs0505

pinkmickey24 said:

We have Graco Snugride 30's and they go down to 4 pounds.

Ditto - and I really like the seat actually.  Way better than the Graco 32 we have from DS.

LegalLadyBug

We're getting 4-35lb ones. My mom works on the maternity floor and has seen many twins and premies and said we should definitely get the lowest weight ones, just incase.

katiebenes

I looked at hospital guide lines... My hospital said babies don't go home under 4 lbs. so I was able to buy the Chicco KeyFit 30. They ended up being over 6 anyways