Multiple Car Seat Question

lcwed

DH and I are trying to decide whether or not to get car seats for both our cars or just one car seat and multiple bases.  I won't be starting back to work until August, but when I do, one of us will be dropping off at day care and the other one will be picking up. 

I was thinking of getting a travel system with the infant car seat and then a convertible car seat.  We'll keep the infant one in the car that's used most and then have the convertible seat in the other vehical.  We'll have the other seat when LO outgrows the infant seat and get another car seat if needed.  If anyone else has any experience with convertible car seats, ideas or advice on how to make this work, I would appreciate the helps.  TIA and Happy New Year!

traversity773

We plan on doing multiple bases, no need to have extra seats when we can just use the travel system with both cars. 

Monicagail1

ctygrl773:

We plan on doing multiple bases, no need to have extra seats when we can just use the travel system with both cars. 

This.  Eventually you will need a convertible, but in the beginning it's more convenient to use the infant seat, IMO.

Also, you don't have to have extra bases.  You can strap the seat directly into the car with the seatbelt.  It's just easier and faster to snap it in the base. 

Luvmy2sons

Yes, I would do infant seats with multiple bases. It's really the easiest. Then when baby grows out of it, move onto Convertible seats.

JoeysLady

Definitely get an infant car seat with multiple bases.  When you drop LO off in the morning for daycare, you'll just cart him/her inside in the infant car seat.  Trust me, it is so much easier to carry the carseat and diaper bag than it is to carry a tiny smooshy baby and the bag. The infant seat is great if it is raining since all you have to do you is flip up the visor on the carseat to protect LO from getting wet (rather than juggling a blanket that could blow off).  If you bring LO into daycare in the infant car seat, when your DH comes to get him/her at the end of the day, then you'll have to take the infant seat back to the car and then transfer.  So not worth the hassel IMO.

spunkyprincessmande

I'd go with the travel system and extra base.  It's a lot easier to tote a newborn around in the infant carrier.  Plus, if the less-used car is your DH's and he has the convertible seat how is he going to carry the baby around if he is at the grocery store or something and too little to sit up in the cart?  Eventually you'll want two convertible seats, but I'd do the travel system for as long as you can.

jesscullen

With our first we were just going to do one car seat and an extra base.  I always dropped off DD and usually picked her up because DH had to coach after school.  But, when his season was over --his work day ended before mine so he wanted to start picking her up.  We never had an extra base so he would just strap her in to his car using the seat belt thingys.  This worked fine.  

BeerBeck

jesscullen:

With our first we were just going to do one car seat and an extra base.  I always dropped off DD and usually picked her up because DH had to coach after school.  But, when his season was over --his work day ended before mine so he wanted to start picking her up.  We never had an extra base so he would just strap her in to his car using the seat belt thingys.  This worked fine.  

Are you talking about doing this with an infant carrier?

Our system specifically said that the seat belt straps were to be used WITH the base underneath, and only if you did not have the anchors in your car to secure the base to the underside of the main seat.

Is yours different?  If so, which kind is it?

soapymk

WHy not just get 2 bases and whoever drops off at daycare drop off the car seat too for whoever picks up

mrskinsler04

BeerBeck:

jesscullen:

With our first we were just going to do one car seat and an extra base.  I always dropped off DD and usually picked her up because DH had to coach after school.  But, when his season was over --his work day ended before mine so he wanted to start picking her up.  We never had an extra base so he would just strap her in to his car using the seat belt thingys.  This worked fine.  

Are you talking about doing this with an infant carrier?

Our system specifically said that the seat belt straps were to be used WITH the base underneath, and only if you did not have the anchors in your car to secure the base to the underside of the main seat.

Is yours different?  If so, which kind is it?

Mine had little notches in the top of the seat and the belt would slide down into them. So the belt went across the top of the car seat, almost like a lap belt. So worse case, that's what we would use but that was few and far between.

BeerBeck

mrskinsler04:

BeerBeck:

jesscullen:

With our first we were just going to do one car seat and an extra base.  I always dropped off DD and usually picked her up because DH had to coach after school.  But, when his season was over --his work day ended before mine so he wanted to start picking her up.  We never had an extra base so he would just strap her in to his car using the seat belt thingys.  This worked fine.  

Are you talking about doing this with an infant carrier?

Our system specifically said that the seat belt straps were to be used WITH the base underneath, and only if you did not have the anchors in your car to secure the base to the underside of the main seat.

Is yours different?  If so, which kind is it?

Mine had little notches in the top of the seat and the belt would slide down into them. So the belt went across the top of the car seat, almost like a lap belt. So worse case, that's what we would use but that was few and far between.

Ours had that too but, according to the manual, it is specifically to be used WITH the base, for those people who drive older vehicles and do not have the anchors under the seat for the straps to harness in.

AprilAngie

we have a car seat in each vehicle for each baby/child.  this # 4 when baby is an infant there is only need for one car seat-  I would do the multiple bases.  I see at some childcare centres you can leave the car seat there.  If you are at home- I would wait and buy a second base right before you need it why spent the money now?  even look for a second hand base to save money

lcwed

Thanks for the advice.  That's what I was wanting to know.  Was it worth it to have both of those or use the multiple bases.  The input helps make our decision much easier.

TaylorandMel

I read the Chicco car seat manual online, and it says on the last page that you can strap the car seat into the car without the base; and that the base is for convenience. 

We are planning on going with Chicco, in the beginning we will see if we can go without the extra bases (because we need to buy two car seats), however we will buy extra bases if this is a hassle.

iuplori

We had a very similar situation, but just had one car with the base and a convertible seat in the other.  Unless a friend is giving you one, I personally couldn't see spending the $50 for a second base when I could just put that toward a much nicer convertible that would be good for long term use. 

bellelamb

BeerBeck:

jesscullen:

With our first we were just going to do one car seat and an extra base.  I always dropped off DD and usually picked her up because DH had to coach after school.  But, when his season was over --his work day ended before mine so he wanted to start picking her up.  We never had an extra base so he would just strap her in to his car using the seat belt thingys.  This worked fine.  

Are you talking about doing this with an infant carrier?

Our system specifically said that the seat belt straps were to be used WITH the base underneath, and only if you did not have the anchors in your car to secure the base to the underside of the main seat.

Is yours different?  If so, which kind is it?

Almost all Gracos are set up to be used with or without a base they have a place to strap the carseat in with the seat belt.

To the original poster I would deferentially recommended two bases with the infant carrier! I hated having to move ds to his big car seat it made it so much harder to take him shopping! Plus it's so much nicer to be able to strap lo in the seat in the warmth of a house not with your butt hanging out of the car in the cold.

mrskinsler04

BeerBeck:

mrskinsler04:

BeerBeck:

jesscullen:

With our first we were just going to do one car seat and an extra base.  I always dropped off DD and usually picked her up because DH had to coach after school.  But, when his season was over --his work day ended before mine so he wanted to start picking her up.  We never had an extra base so he would just strap her in to his car using the seat belt thingys.  This worked fine.  

Are you talking about doing this with an infant carrier?

Our system specifically said that the seat belt straps were to be used WITH the base underneath, and only if you did not have the anchors in your car to secure the base to the underside of the main seat.

Is yours different?  If so, which kind is it?

Mine had little notches in the top of the seat and the belt would slide down into them. So the belt went across the top of the car seat, almost like a lap belt. So worse case, that's what we would use but that was few and far between.

Ours had that too but, according to the manual, it is specifically to be used WITH the base, for those people who drive older vehicles and do not have the anchors under the seat for the straps to harness in.

I just pulled the manual out and it said make sure the ball is in the green zone (the little level thing) and fasten with seat belt using both the lap and shoulder strap.