S+TMs: Convertible vs. Infant carseats

hollydenton

As a FTM, I have no idea what kind of carseat to start out with. I have read some great things about the convertible seats and their ratings for infants but I have very few people to ask real life advice. They're haven't been many babies in my family in quite sometime.

I wanted to get your thoughts on starting your infant out in a convertible seat as opposed to an infant carrier. It just seems more practical budget wise to me but I'm not sure about comfort or ease of use with an infant.

TIA ladies!

BackseatDriver

We will do the infant seat to start. It is nice if your baby is sleeping (and if he or she will stay sleeping). Even better if you live in a cold climate. Just put a cover on the seat and they stay nice and warm. No bundling necessary.

Of course my son never ever stayed sleeping in the infant car seat and I would have to put him in a carrier once we got in a store. He didn't like the recline. We switched to a convertible at 4 months and he was much happier. Still going to give the infant seat a shot this time since there are times when it is very convenient. We will switch to the convertible at a young age if the infant seat isn't working out again.

aks01

FTM, but we're starting off with the convertible. My plan is to wear him whenever we go anywhere. It just seemed to make more sense budget-wise and I really didn't want to have to carry an infant seat around everywhere. Those things get heavy.

BookitBoo

We had an infant carrier with DS and gave it to my cousin when DS outgrew it.

This time we're going with the graco snugride click connect 40 because it rear faces to 2.

Maebb

We did the infant car seat - I think Graco Snugride 35. I found it easier to put him in it in the wintertime when we were still inside and then just click it into the base when we got to the car. Also it was easier in stores and restaurants because I could just keep him in it and put a blanket over it if he was asleep.

I heard that our hospital will only allow the baby to exit the hospital if they are in an infant car seat, but I didn't research it.

Then we did the Britax Marathon for my car and Graco MySize 70 or something like that for DH's car, and those should last him a while.

Mom2anAngel2

As a PP mentioned, I liked the infant carrier because it was easy to keep DS bundled up (we had a very snowy winter the year he was born). I did switch him to a convertible seat when he was 6 months because he would sweat so badly in the infant carrier once the weather was warm that I would have to change his outfit as soon as we arrived somewhere.

If you are looking to avoid buying 2 seats, a convertible is probably a smart way to go.

4littlebears

We're doing convertible to start to save on $$. The other kids started in the infant carrier which was nice if they were sleeping, they could stay sleeping. That car seat has since expired so we won't be using it this time. I'm planning on baby wearing when not in the car seat this time so we'll see how it goes. I'm sure it will be worth the $$ we're saving.

longcat07

DS stayed in his infant seat till he was 7mo.  even then, he hadn't outgrown the length or weight, but the top of the seat was kind of narrow so it was started to squeeze his shoulders a little.  he didn't like being worn so it was easiest to have him in the seat where i could just put it in the cart when grocery shopping, or click it into a stroller when going places that required a lot of walking.

hollydenton

Thanks for the input ladies. I also plan on baby wearing as much as possible. So it sounds like convertible will be the way to go for us.

Pips09

We used an infant seat at first, then switched to a convertible. The infant seat is so great for when they are sleeping, and also when it's cold out. You can buckle them in, cover the seat up and just click it into place. So much more convenient than having to buckle a tiny baby in and out of the car seat every time you get in and out of the car.

mmooki

We used the infant seat for a year. Dd never outgrew it but we stopped taking it out of the car around 10m because she got too heavy to carry around. At 12 months she was only 18lbs.

GromMom

We did a convertible with ds and have never had trouble taking him out of the car seat while he was sleeping. We carried him in a cocoon from Phil and Ted if we were going to use the stroller and I used a carrier for all other outings. I would not have been able to use the infant carrier style seat for long because ds was in the 100th percentile and would have aged out weight wise very early. I did usethatseat with ds when visiting my sister and I found out just caused issues like no one checked if he was bucked in when he ride with my mom and dh, because they assumed I buckled him in the restaurant before I got into my sister's car and he had a blanket on him. You never make that mistake with the convertible seat!