I hate the idea of carrying LO in a carseat...

drea_raye

But I found a situation where it just isn't possible to BW... What do you do with LO when you are alone (out) and can't hold/ wear them? We really didn't want to get a stroller, since we didn't see needing one, and I don't want to get an infant car seat just for this (we have the Graco MyRide65).

I may be a crazy planner, but I am glad this didn't occur to me when I got to my "annual" exam with a 6 week old LO. (I may just recruit a helper... sister or somebody...)

celiabwatson

I'm confused, why can't you hold your baby? Also, how old?

shaunna&chad

I love babywearing, and do it very frequently when we are out.  But we also have a travel system, and I'm really thankful for it.  DS is a TERRIBLE sleeper during the day, so on the occasion that he gets a really good nap in the car, I hate the idea of waking him up to get him into a carrier.  So he sleeps in the stroller, and when he wakes up I put him in the carrier.  In the next few months, he's probably going to outgrow the infant seat, and I'm not looking forward to it for that very reason.  And like you said, sometimes you have to put LO down for a few minutes.  It's not going to hurt your baby to not be held or in a carrier for a few minutes.  I think a stroller can also come in handy as a "cart" for carrying coats, diaper bags, shopping bags, etc  :-)  DS also likes riding in the stroller when we go walking outside.  Gives him a different perspective on things.  And it's one of the few times I'm hands free, and gives my back a break (babies get heavy, even in a carrier sometimes).  

This got kinda long, but you see I have a lot of reasons for finding a stroller useful.  Some mamas are lucky enough to get by without a travel system/stroller, but I'm definitely not one of them. 

Starfish113

honestly, i think a stroller is necessary. there are a lot of times i am out and riley is sound asleep (especially when she was a newborn). i didn't want to wake her up and put her in the carrier, so i would leave her in the carseat, and put the carseat into our snap n go. is the graco myride not an infant seat? if it is, i would look into a snap n go for it instead of a big stroller. trust me, sometimes when lo is sleeping, it won't be worth it to disturb them if you're set on BWing all the time (and i'm sure some people are) i would just bring a helper along to your appointment if you can! good luck

Sinafey

We have an umbrella stroller.  I wear her 95% of the time, but there are times when that just won't work for us, like if I'm clothes shopping for myself.  It's also nice to have a place to put all of her stuff and my bags even if I am wearing her.

Starfish113

also, riley haaaaaaaated being worn the first 2 months. she would scream like i was torturing her, and no matter what i did, she screamed more. so, as much as you may want to BW, you might also want to prepare for it not always working. sorry to be a downer!

someflower6

i agree with starfish. when LO was an itty bitty, she would constantly fall asleep in her car seat. it was so convinient being able to pop the car seat in and out of the car and go. we could hook it up to her stroller, or if at a store, just pop it on one of the carriages. very convinient. and i agree, i think a stroller is a good idea in and of itself... if LO was cranky, we'd put her in there and walk around the block with her and she'd fall asleep. she also did not like to be worn very much while she was an itty, she just started to really enjoy it within the past month or so.

WyoGal

celiabwatson:

I'm confused, why can't you hold your baby? Also, how old?

This.  For M's 10 day and 6 week check ups (and 3 mos, 9 mos, 12 mos etc.) I went by myself, as well as my 6 week check up.  I wore him in the Moby and popped him in and out as needed.  I also had a blanket in my bag so I could lay him down if needed.  Though I was fairly adept at using the bathroom with him in the carrier, there were also plenty of nurses willing to hold him.  For my check up I held him while the Dr. and I spoke and the nurse held him for the 3 seconds my check took.  She was thrilled to help:-)

If you're just looking for a safe place to put LO during your check up, you can wear LO and carry the carseat in for that part. 

drea_raye

Thanks all for the perspectives . We have been a bit reluctant on the stroller, since our home road is gravel, and so we would want a fairly high quality one, and since my back is not all that great for lifting heavy things.

To answer the questions... I expect to be able to wear LO, just not in every situation... the exam at the Dr was just the first situation that came to mind.

The Graco MyRide 65 is a infant/ child seat (rear facing to 40lbs, FF to 65lbs). Not one that ca be sapped on a stroller unfortunately. .

I have not really been taking into account the sleeping baby, since our house is about an hour away from everything, I just don't see LO not needing to be awake when we get somewhere. Then it occurs to me that from the ILs to the store isn't such a long drive. More things to consider!

Starfish113

drea_raye:

Thanks all for the perspectives . We have been a bit reluctant on the stroller, since our home road is gravel, and so we would want a fairly high quality one, and since my back is not all that great for lifting heavy things.

To answer the questions... I expect to be able to wear LO, just not in every situation... the exam at the Dr was just the first situation that came to mind.

The Graco MyRide 65 is a infant/ child seat (rear facing to 40lbs, FF to 65lbs). Not one that ca be sapped on a stroller unfortunately. .

I have not really been taking into account the sleeping baby, since our house is about an hour away from everything, I just don't see LO not needing to be awake when we get somewhere. Then it occurs to me that from the ILs to the store isn't such a long drive. More things to consider!

i used to purposely run all my errands and everything during naptime. scratch that, i still do. so i like to keep her sleeping in her car seat. and an hour isn't a long enough nap most days when they're newborns, just so you know!! sorry, hope i'm being helpful...

Quazel

shaunna&chad:

I love babywearing, and do it very frequently when we are out.  But we also have a travel system, and I'm really thankful for it.  DS is a TERRIBLE sleeper during the day, so on the occasion that he gets a really good nap in the car, I hate the idea of waking him up to get him into a carrier.  So he sleeps in the stroller, and when he wakes up I put him in the carrier.  In the next few months, he's probably going to outgrow the infant seat, and I'm not looking forward to it for that very reason.  And like you said, sometimes you have to put LO down for a few minutes.  It's not going to hurt your baby to not be held or in a carrier for a few minutes.  I think a stroller can also come in handy as a "cart" for carrying coats, diaper bags, shopping bags, etc  :-)  DS also likes riding in the stroller when we go walking outside.  Gives him a different perspective on things.  And it's one of the few times I'm hands free, and gives my back a break (babies get heavy, even in a carrier sometimes).  

This got kinda long, but you see I have a lot of reasons for finding a stroller useful.  Some mamas are lucky enough to get by without a travel system/stroller, but I'm definitely not one of them. 

Much better put than I could have!

DS fell asleep in the car every single time we went somewhere, he still does most of the time.  If we didn't have the travel system, we would have been very limited in what we could do, where we could go, etc.  I have had many times since moving out of the travel system that I have sat in the car for well over an hour because I didn't want to wake DS after he had fallen asleep.

Also, it is super nice to put a baby in the seat inside your house where you are warm, comfortable, not as rushed, etc.  In the cold you then throw a nice blanket over them and you don't have to worry about a cold car seat or jackets coming on and off.

SteelCityBride

Quazel:

Also, it is super nice to put a baby in the seat inside your house where you are warm, comfortable, not as rushed, etc.  In the cold you then throw a nice blanket over them and you don't have to worry about a cold car seat or jackets coming on and off.

This was my biggest reason for wanting an infant seat.  Especially when they are really small & you're first learning, it's a little tricky to get them in the seat correctly & get everything snugged up right for them to be safe, it's nice to do it inside your home instead of sideways next to the car.  I see you're in CA, so maybe weather is not a factor, but I'm in PA & it gets very cold here.  Unfortunately DS has outgrown his infant seat, but I really wish we could still use it because it would be nice to get him all snug in the seat in the house & cover him & just pop him in the car instead of having to buckle him in the cold!

We had the Chicco travel system with our infant seat & I will be honest, I used the infant seat in the stroller twice.  But some of that is because DS outgrew his infant seat at 3 months & had to switch to a convertible.

And now we don't use that stroller at all.  All that being said, I'd recommend an infant seat and maybe a snap & go.  I love babywearing. I love it so much I've become one of those weird preachy women about it. But it is REALLY nice to leave them in the seat if you've just got to run into the store for a minute.  Especially if they hate the car like my DS did & they struggle to fall asleep. It never fails that they fall asleep just before you get to where you're going.  Why disturb them when you can let them continue to sleep?  Some babies would stay asleep during the transfer from seat to wrap, mine wouldn't. 

Anyway, sorry this got so long, that's just my 2 cents on the subject!

drea_raye

It's actually NL, Canada... so it does get pretty cold here Although this winter has been very mild so far... not sure we will stay this lucky.

Again I appreciate all of the perspectives! Since we decided on the convertible car seat DH really didn't see the point of the infant seat. As time goes on, the more advice I get, the more it seems to me that we will want one... even if it is only for a couple of months. (My cousin may actually be giving me hers, but her sister is due to have twins in June, so maybe not...)

 

ncbelle

While I certainly don't think it's bad to use a bucket seat, I do think it's possible to go without - I never used mine out of the car.  If kiddo was asleep, he'd always go right back to sleep when I wrapped him.  And I wore him at my doc appt.  I can definitely potty and even try on clothes (well bottoms anyway) while wearing ;-)

Not to say that you should get a bucket if that seems like it would be more convenient at times - just that I never found it to be personally ;-)

Quazel

drea_raye:

Again I appreciate all of the perspectives! Since we decided on the convertible car seat DH really didn't see the point of the infant seat. 

A very important factor to keep in mind is that infant seats are safer than convertibles when they are young.  They are designed to protect a smaller child, not a huge range of size and weight.  For us, the point was all about safety, we didn't even realize the usage benefits until we were actually using it.  DS fit in his until he was about 18 months although we gave it up at 13-14 months because it got too heavy.   Unless you have a preemie, it is a safer seat.

drea_raye

Quazel:

drea_raye:

Again I appreciate all of the perspectives! Since we decided on the convertible car seat DH really didn't see the point of the infant seat. 

A very important factor to keep in mind is that infant seats are safer than convertibles when they are young.  They are designed to protect a smaller child, not a huge range of size and weight.  For us, the point was all about safety, we didn't even realize the usage benefits until we were actually using it.  DS fit in his until he was about 18 months although we gave it up at 13-14 months because it got too heavy.   Unless you have a preemie, it is a safer seat.

Thanks... we did a lot of info on this as well. The Graco MyRide 65 is one of the few convertibles that is supposed to fit a NB. In any case we have to get a second seat for a second vehicle anyway... so DH will have to live with the fact that it will be an infant seat (and we will move the base at first as needed.)

Overall, since our regular commute is so long (1hr/ 56 miles) we really wanted a very safe seat...