Using the car seat without a base?

manna1212

What are your thoughts on using the car seat without a base? I didn't realize they aren't required until talking to a friend of mine the other day. Does anyone not use a base? Do you feel it is just as safe?

usernewname

Kimbus22 said:

They're for convenience so you're not constantly reinstalling.  They're safe without the base if you install correctly.  It's just too annoying for me to bother.

This. They aren't necessary.

spinsoffresonance

I use it without the base all the time in MIL's car, in taxis and when traveling. Once you practice with the seatbelt a few times it is super easy to install and only take a couple seconds. It is perfectly safe, the base is only there for convenience but is not any safer than the seatbelt install.

Jennyinheaven

I use it without the base when going out in someone else's car, I had no idea it could be used that way until my brother who is also a father of two showed me how one day when we were taking my neices and the baby out together. So easy once you know how

Helmink0804

We've used it without the base a few times.

apinkpelican

Had no idea u could use them wo the base! Duh. Good to know grandparents don't have to buy one!

whitehousem

We have always done it while traveling. It's super easy once you know how.

pistolpackinmomma

The base is a convenience. Also, the more times a seat is uninstalled/installed the more likely someone is to make a mistake so the theory is that if you only have to install the base once then you can pop the seat in and out multiple times and not worry about it.

Ladiebug710

I do it when I take LO with me in someone elses car.  You just have to do it correctly and it is equally safe as with the base.

Kaylee524

Not all car seats are made to be used without the base. We were going to give a ride to a family at church and they had an infant car seat - they didn't have the base with them and there was no way to install the car seat securely without it. They ended up having to stay home. As long as it's meant to be used with or without the base it's perfectly safe though.

pistolpackinmomma

Kaylee524 said:

Not all car seats are made to be used without the base. We were going to give a ride to a family at church and they had an infant car seat - they didn't have the base with them and there was no way to install the car seat securely without it. They ended up having to stay home. As long as it's meant to be used with or without the base it's perfectly safe though.

What seat did they have?

momthatlifts

Yep, we don't use the base in other cars.

skyrockets

It was comforting to me to have my sister show me how to belt the seat in without the base. YouTube videos made it seem very intimidating.

jenb_99

It's perfectly safe. We've even taken trips without the base. It's just not as convenient and you have to be extra careful to do it correctly each time.

frasey

whenever we go in DH's car (often!) we use it without the base. its just less convenient.