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cocojack10
member
Infant seats vs convertible car seats
cocojack10
member
So, my mom and I were discussing major items on the registry, and boy are there a lot! I want to be as frugal as possible, and not register for unnecessary things (even though I know I should prob register for more and then return for more practical).
Starting to research different options for car seats, and am beginning to think that an infant seat may be a waste of $ since babies only use it for a few months, right? I know it is nice when they fall asleep to be able to take them out of the car w/out waking them, but doesn't it just make more sense to buy one seat that will last a few yrs from the get go?
Opinions please. Also, if you have a convertible, can you please recommend yours (or provide any feedback if possible)?
THANKS!
-- Jackie
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane" -- Jimmy Buffett
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane" -- Jimmy Buffett
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Infant seats vs convertible car seats
Hi Jackie! I totally understand how you feel. You described me in the first paragraph when I was starting my registry. I tried to register for practical things that were in reasonable price ranges yet still had good reviews. It's still a work in progress b/c I make changes here and there when I read more about a certain product. Justine mentioned I should check hers for ideas and that's exactly what I did. I have 7 baby showers this year (some 2nd/3rd time moms), so I checked all their registries thoroughly to see what I was missing that was an essential. You can check mine for ideas, too, if you want.
As for the car seats, I registered for both an infant car seat and an all-in-one converitble/booster. The car seat I registered for, which MIL is purchasing for us, is the Chicco KeyFit 30 b/c they can use it up to 30 lbs (about 1 year) then, I will switch her over to the Evenflo Symphony All-in-one Convertible which can be place rear-facing from 5 to 35 pounds, then forward facing for up to 65 pounds, and then it has additional pieces that extend for more height for up to 100 pounds.
I figured I'd use the infant car seat A LOT within the first few months because I will be using it with the City Mini. IDK if I feel that comfortable putting a newborn straight into the City Mini, even though, the description says that you can since it reclines. If I don't get the convertible car seat, I won't purchase one until I need it since something better may come along from here until she's 1 year old/30 pounds. Also, from what I've read, the newborns don't seem to fit well in the convertibles. People do it with the extra body support and they are a little more snuggly, but they say it's too big for an infant.
I guess it all depends on what you feel more comfortable with as far as car seats and strollers. In your case, I understand why you'd just want 1 car seat to last for several years b/c if not it would mean 4-6 different car seats within the next couple of years. If you do decide to go with one from infancy to toddler, then I'd probably recommend a Britax over the Evenflo since they are rated higher for safety.
HTH
Thanks! Yeah, if it were only one, I'd def splurge and buy both car seats, but with having to buy 2 infant seats (and potentially 4 adapters), then later on 4 convertibles, OMG that's a whole lot of money on just transportation of kids! then add the stroller, PNPs, bouncers, nursery furniture... as you know, it is very overwhelming.
I also posted on the Multiples board to see what those exprienced MOMs did/are doing.
I too would think babies are too small for convertible when leaving hospital, even though rated from 5 lbs. I guess lots of neck support thingys to help out? No se!
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane" -- Jimmy Buffett
I've been planning on moving Adrianna into Nicky's convertible carseat and getting him a booster seat very soon. I hate lugging the infant carrier around, but the other day I realized something....
Until she can sit up in the shopping cart seat on her own, I need to keep her in the infant carrier, otherwise I will not be able to go shopping in stores where I definitely need to use a cart. Some people use slings, but there is no way I am carrying an already 14+ lb baby around that way.
So that realization killed my plans, since Nicky couldn't sit up really well in the cart until he was about 8 or 9 months old.
I have to move Sarah to the conv car seat now, since she's too freaking long for it.
I would suggest you get the infant car seats, just because with 2, it's going to be really hard to get the babies out of the car and into a stroller as newborns. It's hard enough with 1 lol You can always look on craigslist or at the consignment shop at Aventura for inexpensive, slightly used carriers. We're going to be selling our travel system soon (it's a graco stroller with a snugride) so that we can buy a convertible carseat for Sarah! Like andrea said, it's better to wait until they can support their heads to move them, but in our case, there's no way. I can barely get her in the carseat anymore!
Andrew used the Graco Safe Seat (30lbs and 32 inches) until he was about 14-15 months old. He's always been in the 50% for weight and close to 75% for height. They figure double the birth weight by 4-6 months and then triple the birth weight around 12 months. After that the growth slows way down. We stopped using it as an infant carrier when he got too heavy.
You can probably find a double snap and go stroller frame about for the price of buying two car seat adapters. I would definitely consider buying a used stroller frame from MOM or some where. You can get the extra bases for the infant seats for around $40 if you need to use multiple cars.
We then bought a convertible True Fit from woot.com for $105 and a convertible Britax Marathon from albeebaby.com for around $150. Both seats have similar safety ratings. Amazon sometimes had deals too.
GL with your decisions.
When Sebastian was born the snugrides only went up to 22lbs, which Sebastian reached at 5 months (but he was HUGEEEEEEEEEE) so I had to switch him earlier.
Now , like Tracy said, they go up to 32lbs, which is reall big.
I would highly recommend getting infant seats because you will most likely end up using them longer than you think and it will be much easier.
If they are preemies for example, I can't imagine them being in convertible carseats.
jackie, b/c you're having twins, you won't go to 40 weeks, right? so odds are, they won't be 8-9 lbs? Abby was 4 weeks early and she was 6 lb 12 oz... she was "small" (compared to a lot of other full term babies) and there's no way I would've been able to put her in a convertible right off the bat!