Car seats

starzck82

Infant vs convertable?  What is your opinion?  I am a FTM here and I'm a little overwhelmed looking at all of the options.  I need to finish up my registry and I'm just not sure about the car seat.

nanabanana06

I did the infant seat until like 6-9 months and then switched to the convertible. I liked not waking up the sleeping baby. Plus it is much easier to keep the little baby warm when your not strapping them into the seat with your car door wide open. 

csells021383

For me personally, an infant car seat is a must. I would hate having to wake baby each time I go in and out of the house, or the store, etc.

SLHurst11

I went with the infant seat, same reasons as above.  I actually got a Graco travel system, which I loved.  It was easy to plunk the car seat in place on top of that stroller for a quick run to the store or something.

starzck82

Thanks for the info!!!!  Do you recommend registering for the infant seat only then?  Or should I register for a convertable or booster seat too?  I just don't want to seem greedy with my registry.

skyejo

I used my infant one for about six months then switched to the convertible.  When out and about I wore DD a lot but when she fell asleep in the car it was so easy to plop the infant carrier in the Snap n Go and be on my way. 

jenyjeny

Infant - so handy. You can keep them in the carseat and bring it with you in the store, clip on to your stroller, take them to mommy and me movies if you want... strap them in and make them cozy before you leave the house in the dead of winter... I love the infant car seat. So great!

HappyMama30

BOTH!  The infant seat is a must, because you can take a sleeping baby into your house... and they will continue to sleep... and you can have a pee, snack, stare at them dreamily (!), or whatever.  For that ONE reason the infant seat is necessary.  It is also convenient to get them in their car seat in the house (depending on the weather), and if you click it on your stroller that is also a nice option (don't need a "travel system" though.  Lots of nice - aka jogging - strollers come with an attachment bar for the infant seat or you can get one of those frames with wheels that is just for an infant seat).  Also, if you plan to got to a restaurant with your newborn (can defintely be done!) the infant seat is their spot at the restaurant too, instead of in your arms the whole time.  THEN, move up to the convertible at about 6 months when they can sit up on their own (or when baby outgrows their infant seat - by weight OR height).  Rememer: those first two months is the most portable your child will ever be.  An infant seat and a carrier (Baby Bjorn!) are your friends!

opaque1997

I can second the infant seat - but as far as registering for 'convertable / booster' - keep in mind a child shouldn't be boostered until at least 4 (best case 5+).

 

A convertable - I think is up to you- I've actually heard people that have registered for them and then return them and hold on to the gift card to re buy when they are ready.  I also know moms that moved to a convertible when the baby was under 4 months.. and others that didn't move until kid was 18 months.  ITs kind of a toss up.

(and I love the bjorn - but only for little small babies -t hen the ergo) 

kross605

Im with the majority...register for an infant seat. Id wait on the convertible for reasons pp mentioned but I dont think its greedy in any way if you want to add it to your registry.

Id also highly recommend the jjcole bundle me, or similar, carseat cover if youre in a colder climate (i didnt pay attention to your info). Technically safety experts would say that you shouldnt add anything to your carseat, so if youre in that camp, then forget I said anything! But for a baby born in mid november in the northeast, as dd was, that thing was a lifesaver. I initially thought it was a gimmick and I attempted to throw a blanket over the carseat for the first month or so and after having it whip up in the ice chilling winds and take extra time to situate layers of blankets and hats and winter gear prior to leaving the house, I just broke down and bought the bundle me and was extremely happy with it. I loaned it to a friend the following year and she loved it as well.

superned

I have an infant and used one with DD, but I don't think they're totally necessary.  I never used mine as a carrier - I would scoop DD up and tuck her into the Moby for outings, grocery shopping, eating out, etc.  I think for the most part, infants are very adaptable and even if they wake slightly, they will fall back to sleep once in a (good) carrier.

Yes, for some infants it might not work, but I never found it to be an issue.  My DD is fairly easy going, but definitely not the easiest baby ever.  I actually found her to be much more relaxed and easy-going when I was holding her or using a carrier.

sschwege

Amen!  I seriously pity the people I see using the Bjorn, I just think if only they knew the beauty of the Moby wrap and Ergo!  And yes I have used the Bjorn as a nanny so I know the difference!

g8trkim

We only used the convertible for 8 or 9 months but it was so worth it, because you can cart them around. And they sleep everywhere when they're little so it's nice. A lot of people use them up to a year. So I would say get an infant and when baby gets bigger get the convertible. If it's cost you're worried about, maybe you can borrow and infant from a friend or something as long as it's not expired.

futuremamabird

From the research I've done, and I've done a lot, I would recommend registering for the infant AND convertible seat. Yes, car seats expire. But that is usually 6 years after they're manufactured. 

Convertible seats are EXPENSIVE so you'll be grateful to have it when it is time. Plus, some babies outgrow their infant seats relatively quickly in length and/or weight.

I am registered for an infant seat and snap-and-go stroller, a convertible seat (heard great things about the Britax Marathon 70), and a lightweight umbrella stroller. Those should cover all my bases.

Hope that helps!

The most important thing to remember is that EVERY MOTHER will have a strong opinion on things like this. And they'll also be completely different. Go to the store, lift and buckle the seats, push the strollers...TEST DRIVE IT!  And of course look up safety information. Get what suits you. 

opaque1997

kross605:

Im with the majority...register for an infant seat. Id wait on the convertible for reasons pp mentioned but I dont think its greedy in any way if you want to add it to your registry.

Id also highly recommend the jjcole bundle me, or similar, carseat cover if youre in a colder climate (i didnt pay attention to your info). Technically safety experts would say that you shouldnt add anything to your carseat, so if youre in that camp, then forget I said anything! But for a baby born in mid november in the northeast, as dd was, that thing was a lifesaver. I initially thought it was a gimmick and I attempted to throw a blanket over the carseat for the first month or so and after having it whip up in the ice chilling winds and take extra time to situate layers of blankets and hats and winter gear prior to leaving the house, I just broke down and bought the bundle me and was extremely happy with it. I loaned it to a friend the following year and she loved it as well.

 

FYI (thank you for being so kind as to say some say its unsafe Love the way you wrote this without calling us crazys out )

So - I actually am a crazy super careful carseat ninja  and the 'shower cap' type of covers are more then fine!!    It goes over the top of the seat (jj cole makes one - like this one: https://www.amazon.com/JJ-Cole-Seat-Cover-Graphite/dp/B00511J6BM/ref=sr_1_5?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1340053801&sr=1-5&keywords=jj+cole

 

and honestly.. shh don't tell the really super psycho people - I'm using a jj cole bundle me but I'm cutting a big portion off the back so the baby sits against the seat and the straps don't touch it as seen here: https://thecarseatlady.blogspot.com/2011/01/bundle-me-everyone-uses-it-in-car-seat.html

 

I'm doing this because I don't like the shower cap types - for various reasons.  and I think this will stay on WAY better then a blanket.. So.. there are some options - even if you are really cautios - and yes - all techs will tell you not to use anything that goes behind the baby - but even the wackos approve of the shower cap types  

g8trkim

starzck82:

Thanks for the info!!!!  Do you recommend registering for the infant seat only then?  Or should I register for a convertable or booster seat too?  I just don't want to seem greedy with my registry.

I would wait. The do expire and features/patterns change so you would be better off waiting for the newer ones.