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3rd Trimester
car seats
are you getting an infant car seat or a convertible one? why?
i can't decide which route i want to go. just wanted to hear everyone's reasoning 
thanks in advance
This discussion has been closed.
Re: car seats
i have an infant one in my car - i wanted something that i could use a travel system with....
we are having the same debate for my SO car - whether we should she get another base, another seat or a convertible one....
We have an infant seat, and then will go to convertibles when baby is old enough...just like we did with my daughter. The infant seats cradle a baby more than convertible seats and just seemed safer to me, IMO. A lot of the baby books will say the same thing. Honestly, I think an infant's head would bop all around in a convertible seat.
Also, you can take the infant seat in and out of the car without having to disturb your baby. Trust me when I tell you that you will be happy you are able to do this! If your baby is sleeping soundly, you can just carry the seat in your house and let baby finish napping in the seat without having to wake them up.
We're going with an infant seat so we can carry her around and won't have to wake her up when we take her out of the car. Plus, I think infant seats are a little safer than convertibles. She'll be in a convertible rear-facing once she outgrows her infant seat.
We just got a convertible seat, the Alpha Omega Elite. I don't really see the need for the convenience of carting her around in the carseat, and I don't really like the travel systems so it was just the best choice for DH and I and our lifestyle. We got a baby bjorn for DH to carry her in, and I have a moby wrap, and we chose the baby jogger city mini stroller for many reasons, including that it reclines flat for an infant to lay in.
That being said, I was warned by the carseat inspector that many of the convertible car seats have shoulder straps that are to high for newborns, even at the lowest setting. So we've decided to just see how our LO fits in it and if when we try it out in the hospital she doesn't fit properly, DH can just go out and buy an infant seat that we'll use for a few months until she fits in the convertible seat. If I had known this information before buying the carseat I'm not sure how I would have gone about deciding which seat to buy. I'm really happy with the carseat we chose and hope we don't have to buy an additional one that will only be used for a few months, but we're obviously going to do whats safest for our LO.
good point!! i'm due on nov. too
that's a good point too.... i had always thought i wanted 5 kids! so i better re-use!
this exactly
http://i41.tinypic.com/111ov4j.jpg
2007-Sept 2008: TTC the old fashioned way
Sept 2008 - Jan 2009: Clomid 100mg
Feb 2009: 200mg Clomid = BFP! on March 20, 2009 - It's a BOY!
Nov 26th 2009: Aidan Michael, 20.5" 7lb12oz
Feb 2010: Start TTC again, the old fashioned way
Mar - June 2011: Clomid 100mg
July 2011: Unmedicated cycle = BFP! on August 29th, 2011
Nov 6th 2011: m/c due to subchorionic hematoma
Dec 2011: Start TTC again, unmedicated
February 12th, 2012: BFP! EDD 10/23/12
Mar 12th 2012: diagnosed as blighted ovum
Trying again..
both, but starting with an infant & then moving him to the convertible when he's bigger.
We purchased the Chicco Keyfit 30 for the infant; the Britax Marathon for the convertible.
this was my reasoning too. you can get one of those little cover things and not worry about bundling up the little guy.
EDIT: this was supposed to quote the comment about the cold weather.
This exactly
?
Ditto this.
I had an infant seat last time. And I am not getting one this time. (I had borrowed it from my BFF so I no longer have the one I used before)
I don't like to leave a baby in the car seat for too long, personally I prefer to hold the baby or at least put the baby someplace new. Just a personal choice, but because of that I tend to not use the carseat as much, don't use a travel system, etc. I used a wrap or sling with DD a lot.
Also, infant seats are incredibly heavy. DD was 8lbs. She was 12lbs by the time she was a month old. The carseat weighed 9lbs (snugride). Carrying 21lbs any distance really isn't easy, especially when it's bulky and off to one side of your body. I have a bad back and can't carry it off to the side at all. I have to carry it in front of my with both hands to keep the weight centered. It was awkward at best. This time, I need to be holding hands with my 2yo, so carrying it that way is not an option.
When it's cold or raining, get in the car. Sit down and then put the baby in the carseat. No sense standing out in the weather. Of course this only works with one kid (or a minivan maybe).
I have a stroller that reclines flat for the baby to ride in on longer outings. My worries about not having a carseat are for going grocery shopping and out to eat. A sling will work for grocery shopping, and I've certainly eaten plenty of meals while holding a baby already, but both are nicer without holding a baby.
So, considering that I can't carry it very well, my problem areas will only happen 1-2x a week, and that it's only used for 6months.... I just can't justify it.