Car Seat- First Time Mom!

dhueston

Hello!

I've been researching car seats, and I'm pretty sure we will register for an infant car seat first, and then get a bigger one down the road...Which car seat are you registering for or have you used that you would recommend? Also, once you select a seat do you get recommend getting the matching stroller, like the travel system?

So far I like the Chicco Key Fit 30 or the Britax brand? Also, is it weird to register for 2 car seats? Infant then converter?

 Thanks for your help! 

echo136

We registered for both but only ended up getting the convertible one as a gift. We used my sisters infant one to save money since she didn't need. Hopefully we can borrow one again. Otherwise we'll probably by the Graco Snugride 35. That's what my two sisters have and my SIL and they all love it.

WinsyWade

I have the Keyfit 30.  I really like it.  I bought it for my second baby DD.  My Ds2 was able to stay in it until 12mo (we left the seat in the base and did not carry the bucket seat around) because of the height and weight limit.  We are using it for this baby too since it does not expire until 11/14. 

chelle_chelle5487@hotmail.com

I had a Graco travel system and had no complaints with it. I think it is better to get the matching stroller so you know it is compatible with the car seat. Some strollers do not securely lock the car seat into place so if you think you are going to use the stroller with the car seat (which I recommend in those early months) then that may be your best bet. 

As far as the registry goes, I think you can register for whatever you want but I do think it might be a bit much. We didn't switch DD to a convertible till she was a year old. To me, that is plenty of time for you to be able to purchase your own and I wouldn't want to store a second car seat in the case someone actually got it for me. My personal opinion is a registry is for what you need for baby right away. Older child items like a high chair are not necessary for a new baby. We didn't get a high chair till DD was 5 months old. Again, something you can get on your own. I know some people may disagree on this but again this is just my personal opinion

mommabird77

Not weird to register for both. I did. We used an infant seat, it was a graco that came with a travel system. I actually lived having the travel system that came with the stroller. I still use the stroller with my almost three year old. We also got a convertible seat he is using now. It is an evenflo symphony 65 and I love it!

litzo27

I love our Britax both infant and convertible. The safety rating are fantastic. But the infant is relatively heavy. I never got the system because I wanted the Uppababy Stroller not compatible with britax, at least wasn't in 2008. Love that stroller amazingly maneuverable. With it and babywearing I never had need for a stroller which can snap in the seat. If I did I would just get the snap and go.

cnwilbur1030

I lived our keyfit! We got 2 bases, one for my car and one for DH.

halfthetree

For my DS we used a Peg Perego infant seat, and then switched at 6 months to the Britax Advocate which I LOVE. We will be buying an infant Britax Chaperone, it has the bar that goes against the seat and adds great stability. We will also be getting a Clek Foonf when this baby is a bit bigger, and of course rear facing until 3 or 4 years old.

LexGator

For DD, we used the Chicco Keyfit 30 and then switched her to the Britax Roundabout at around 9 months. I have been very pleased with both.

I don't see anything wrong w/registering for both.

mrsjenni

I had a travel system with DS1 and hated it.  Unfortunately, at the time, it was the only way to get a Chicco infant seat.  Now that they're sold separately, I wouldn't waste my time with the entire system.

If I could do it again, I'd get a snap-n-go with my Chicco (or Britax) infant seat and then buy a really nice stroller that I actually wanted (like a Bumbleride Indie or Baby Jogger, etc.)

That being said, my sister has the Britax B-Ready stroller and car seat and I really love it. 

Also, I highly (HIGHLY) recommend Briatx convertible seats.  We have a Roundabout and a Marathon and love both. 

insertclevername

For an infant seat I recommend the Chicco Keyfit. It is still top rated on Consumer Reports. We had DS in it until 10 months when we got rearended. DS was completely safe with no injuries. I registered for convertible seats and bought the infant seat but I don't see anything wrong with registering for both.

Edited to add that we got the Keyfit as part of the travel system. DH loved how securely the seat snapped into the stroller. We didn't really use it a ton though. DS is not really a stroller kind of kid.

SweetPeaKate

We have the Chicco Keyfit 30 and I absolutely adore it...it is a little bit on the heavier side of the selection, but I still wouldn't use anything else. I would skip the matching stroller and get the caddy frame stroller to use until you are ready for a more lightweight stroller. I got the travel system and yes I used it, but I eventually got the Chicco Liteway and will never go back to that big bulky matching one.

I don't think it's weird to register for the convertible, except that people may stray away from it, because you won't need it for at least 6 months..and that's if you have a big baby. It can't hurt to put it on, but the other thing to watch out for is the expiration dates of car seats...especially if you want to use it again for future kiddos. You are essentially buying a car seat and not using it for roughly a year. Personal choice!

folkfemme

We had the peg perego infant seat for our baby, and we loved it. But I read really great things about the Chicco Key Fit too. I switched him to a Britax Boulevard, but am now putting it in my DH's car as a second seat and buying him a clek foonf to extend his rear facing time because he's such a big kid. I hate traditional travel systems, they are bulky and have poor manoeuvrability. We got a BOB with the swivel wheel and bought the infant car seat adaptor so our infant seat just clicked right onto the stroller securely. It's an amazing all terrain stroller that has 3 inch suspension so it absorbs every little bump and is a very comfortable ride for baby. (DH is a pro downhill biker, so the suspension was really important to him)

If you're considering having more children in the near future, a multipurpose stroller that can convert from a single to a double may be something to look into. It will save you money in the long run. Britax B ready and Uppa Baby Vista are great options.

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ach298

With DS, we bought a Graco Snugride 22/Snap n go stroller combo. We used that up until 9-10 months when DS was getting too heavy to carry around in it and then went to the Britax Marathon convertible car seat, which we also love.

halfthetree

lovelovelovelovelove:

We had the peg perego infant seat for our baby, and we loved it. But I read really great things about the Chicco Key Fit too.

I switched him to a Britax Boulevard, but am now putting it in my DH's car as a second seat and buying him a clek foonf to extend his rear facing time because he's such a big kid.

I hate traditional travel systems, they are bulky and have poor manoeuvrability. We got a BOB with the swivel wheel and bought the infant car seat adaptor so our infant seat just clicked right onto the stroller securely. It's an amazing all terrain stroller that has 3 inch suspension so it absorbs every little bump and is a very comfortable ride for baby. (DH is a pro downhill biker, so the suspension was really important to him)

If you're considering having more children in the near future, a multipurpose stroller that can convert from a single to a double may be something to look into. It will save you money in the long run. Britax B ready and Uppa Baby Vista are great options.

We looooove our BOB'

wiechs22

I'm different in that we went to BRU and played around with the different travel systems and chose based on that. We got a safety 1st and I love it. DS was in it till he was a year old. Convertible carseat wise we have the graco my ride 65. I like it but to fit two of them in my car....not going to happen. And the buckle sucks. We ended up buying another safety 1st for DH's car that is small enough to fit three across. I've used the Britax roundabout and DS barely had any leg room.

goodrichkell

I was looking at both also. The Britax is heavier so Im pretty sure I'm going to go with the Chicco Keyfit 30 for the infant seat, but the Britax for the convertible seat. I don't think it's bad to register for both car seats, I did!!
The Britax Ready and Go stroller is amazing also and you can get an adapter for the Chicco!! ;

gingerbabe

I have the chicco key fit 30 and love it! It was the most expensive thing I bought for DS, but knew a car seat was the one thing I wanted to splurge on. I don't have the travel system to go with it. But if you are getting that kind of stroller anyway, the price is better to get it together than separate. I ended up getting a lightweight jogging stroller on sale for $80, so I think I spent less than getting the travel system, plus I prefer the jogging stroller to the type that comes in the travel system.

 I also am doing the infant car seat then getting a bigger one down the road. It is safest that way.