Tell me about carseats...

JayandTay09

My dh and I are just starting to research all of our options and the costs associated. We are considering forgoing the infant carriers since logistically I won't be able to lug 2 infant carriers anywhere by myself....We are thinking of going with a 3-in-1 convertible right from the get-go...Any advice ladies?

sarahjane936

I wrestled with the too and ended up getting infant seats.  If I'm out with just one, I use take them in and out of the car in the carrier.  However, if I've got all three, I leave the carrier locked in and transfer them from the car to the stroller and back again.  There are times they are nice to have, but I don't use the carry feature all that often.

pea-kay

Oh, I think you will regret not having infant seats. Having multiples is even MORE reason to have them, IMO. Get a double snap n go, and the infant seats. That's my opinion.

babya2010

You'll be better off lugging 2 infant carriers than 2 squirmy infants, especially when they're too small to hold their heads up. Our Snugrides + the DSNG (double snap and go) have truly been lifesavers. I can't tell you how many times they've fallen asleep in the car and we have carried them inside (still sleeping) for another hour or so... Do you envision going out often with them? I see that you're from Canada. We're in Metro Detroit and this past winter the infant seats have been all too convenient. We'd go out at least once a week - Winter coat, nice blanket wrapped around their arms and legs...out of the car, strapped into the DSNG and they both stayed nice and cozy warm. I actually dread the day they outgrow the infant seats, which will be soon unfortunately (see my post below!) Good luck with your decision!

Lilystar82

I think you will regret not having the infant carseats. I cant imagine not having ours. We have the Chicco Keyfits that snap into the Chicco Double Stroller, and it makes going out by myself super easy.

2shihtzus

I don't know much about the 3 in 1 carseats but for me, the infant seats were worth every penny, what I wouldn't give for my boys to still be in them!  To be able to just snap them out of the car and into the stroller was SO nice.  If they were sleeping, no biggie - you didn't have to wake them up, you could just go on about what you were doing.  We were able to go out to eat, go shopping, etc. for months and months without any problems because of this.  We just fed them at home and then took off, we went out to eat all of the time and they were a dream because they would either sleep or just look around. 

You never know, you might think you won't be able to carry them by yourself to the car but you may surprise yourself.  I am very petite and not strong at all and I carried both of them in their seats out to the car by myself every morning until they were 9 months old and had almost reached the 22 lb limit for their Snug Rides.  Sure, the heavier they got, it got more and more difficult for me and there were many days that I didn't think I could carry them out one more day but I did it and I live in a condo so I had a decent walk out to my car.  If the 3 in 1's are like convertibles and you can't snap them in and out of the car, I say definitely don't do it.

RobynK

Get infant seats -- it's pretty much the only way you can carry them when they are tiny (before 6 months) and I promise it will make your life much easier.

Haven1

Another vote for infant!  I still haul both boys and both infant seats into daycare by myself every morning.  Otherwise, I'd have to leave one in the car.  I know the day is comign when I'm going to have to give them up, but I'm holding out as long as possible.  Oh the squirming...

jettagurl

Definitely get the carriers.  You can do the less-expensive of the Graco SnugRides for about $80ish (with coupons at BBB/BRU).  Then start looking on CL and in second-hand places for a DSNG (I've seen them as cheap as $25).  

Don't splurge on the higher weight limit carriers, IMO, because you won't want to carry two 30# babies plus the 10# seats.  A 22# limit seat will typically get you to at least 6-8 mos old, then you can look into convertibles.

Also, when they are little, the carrier has many purposes, if needed.....feeding 2 at once, sleeping, a seat at restaurants, rocking/soothing one handed.... definitely a must in my book.

 

MeggM1

We decided to go with the Snugrides and also register for convertible seats.  We had the same line of thinking as you did, but as you can tell from PPs it is overwhelmingly pro-infant carrier here, and we also read a lot about how dangerous it is to put smaller babies in convertible car seats, even though many of them start at 5 lbs.

I was really surprised when a family member of DH's bought us one of our convertible car seats off of our registry (I was planning on waiting and using coupons and or our completion discount), so we only have one convertible to buy which helps a lot.  The babies aren't here yet, but we're pretty happy with our choice to go with the infant carrier at first, and we got the car seat adapters that will hook into our stroller, which I think will be really handy.

nikinikinine

I lug two carseats EVERYwhere by myself. I honestly wouldn't forego the infant seats. Trust me when I say you do not want to wake up your sleeping baby every time you need to go somewhere. Taking them in and out of the seats will wake them up. There are plenty of double strollers that have car seat adapters, and there's always the DSNG which are easy to find on CL for cheap.

GL! 

SoldiersGreenBean

JayandTay09:

My dh and I are just starting to research all of our options and the costs associated. We are considering forgoing the infant carriers since logistically I won't be able to lug 2 infant carriers anywhere by myself....We are thinking of going with a 3-in-1 convertible right from the get-go...Any advice ladies?

Why not?

I'm on the get-the-seats bus.  You won't regret it.

MrsLnt

I have no upper body strength but I have managed to double-fist the carriers more times than I ever thought I would be able to.  It's amazing the things that you end up doing that seemed like such a big deal before the babies arrive that just become a part of your daily routine.

Ditto the PPs about getting the regular Snugride 22s.  Most babies reach the length limit before the weight limit and the higher weight seats are HEAVY.  My DS is 18lbs and I can still carry him in the Snugride 22.  Not easily but it's doable.  Also ditto re the DSNG.  They can be found secondhand cheaply (mine was $15 from DH's coworker) and are great when the babies are sleeping, or you just need to make a quick trip in somewhere and don't want to unstrap out of the seats and into a stroller.  

I have a MoM friend who feeds hers in the infant seats all the time.  It's a great, safe place where you can feed two babies at once. 

Leigh71

Lilystar82:

I think you will regret not having the infant carseats. I cant imagine not having ours. We have the Chicco Keyfits that snap into the Chicco Double Stroller, and it makes going out by myself super easy.

This!  Love my chicco stroller.

AGFaso

I asked the same question Tay, they talked me into it and I added the seats the next day to my registry.  I went to BRU and a friend got me both Baby Trend seats that fit the DSNG w/a $20 off $100 coupon.  So she got both for 180$. 

I also registered for the convertibles and someone has gotten me one already!