car seat question..

AussieAbbie

so... this may be a stupid one.. but do the convertible car seats just stay in the car all the time and accomodate a newborn (rear facing) up to a certain weight and then can be turned around for a larger size infant??  As apossed to a car seat in a travel system where you can take the seat out of the car? I'm sorry I really just haven't heard a whole lot about a convertible seat.. the only car seat I've seen is a newborn one that goes up to about 25lbs.

l_elizabeth

yes, convertible carseats stay in the car and can be used from birth to 50 or so lbs, though most people get an infant seat for the first few months. So you'd start with the infant seat until baby is 6 months- 12 months (they are said to be much safer), and then switch to a convertible.

You can get a travel system which comes with an infant seat, or just buy an infant seat seperately as many strollers accept these (Graco, Chico for example). Hope this helps!

madameprimm

I'm only getting a convertible car seat because you never have to buy more than one for your child. The one I'm getting keeps converting enough to suit an 100lb kid.

I personally think that infant car seats are a waste of money because if your baby grows out of it too quickly you'll have to go shell out money for a new sooner. I also hate travel systems because they only have the infant seat with the stroller, and they are heavy and bulky.

jmrussell03

Convertible stays in the car and infant seat can snap in and out. I know people say the convertible is the best b/c you only have to buy one, but what do you when you go out into the world? Where do you put LO at the grocery store and Target?  What about when you go visiting? You hold them the whole time or lay down on the flood? Don't you end up waking them unloading from car to house? Am I missing something?

SuperCuteBenz

Yes, a convertible stays in the car and go forward/rear-facing. We have 2 Britax Marathons and they rear-face until 35lbs and forward to 65lbs. However, most children will outgrow their seat by height way before weight.

The seat that the pp mentioned (that goes to 100lbs) isn't recommended because it has a short harness height, so it will be outgrown early on. Yes, it goes to 100lbs, but it won't harness that long, and your child will outgrow it before they are even close to being ready for an unharnessed booster (which is what it turns into).

These are recommended convertibles:

Evenflo Triumph Advance

Britax Marathon, Boulevard, and Roundabout 50

Graco My Ride 65

Sunshine Kids Radian

Cosco Scenera

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not recommended:

Alpha Omega Elite

Graco Comfortsport

Eddie Bauer 3-N-1

Britax Roundabout

** My DD still rides rear-facing (at 23 months) in a Britax Marathon. She is still on the lowest harness slot as well, so she has plenty of room to grow.

SuperCuteBenz

madameprimm:

I'm only getting a convertible car seat because you never have to buy more than one for your child. The one I'm getting keeps converting enough to suit an 100lb kid.

I personally think that infant car seats are a waste of money because if your baby grows out of it too quickly you'll have to go shell out money for a new sooner. I also hate travel systems because they only have the infant seat with the stroller, and they are heavy and bulky.

This is definitely not true.

ETA: Check this out:

https://community.babycenter.com/post/a12994095/newborn_in_convertible_car_seat?

Although many convertible seats claim to be used from 5lbs+ this is simply not true.

MrsMoe07

SuperCuteBenz:

madameprimm:

I'm only getting a convertible car seat because you never have to buy more than one for your child. The one I'm getting keeps converting enough to suit an 100lb kid.

I personally think that infant car seats are a waste of money because if your baby grows out of it too quickly you'll have to go shell out money for a new sooner. I also hate travel systems because they only have the infant seat with the stroller, and they are heavy and bulky.

This is definitely not true.

ETA: Check this out:

https://community.babycenter.com/post/a12994095/newborn_in_convertible_car_seat?

Although many convertible seats claim to be used from 5lbs+ this is simply not true.

This was my understanding. While most convertible seats say from 5lbs to 100lbs my understand they were not safe until about 20lbs.

For me it's not worth the risk or savings. My niece just turned 1 and is now ready for a convertible car seat. So I don't think that was a short period of time.