the great car seat debate..

UnexpectedlyMom11 · August 2010

So I have been doing quite a bit of research on car seats, but really have not come to a decision whether or not do purchase an infant car seat or a convertible car seat.

Both have good safety standards, and price is not an issue since this is for the health and well being of my kid. I just really can't decide what to do and would like to know what you ladies are considering.

Thanks!

SBear12 · August 2010

Although technically most convertible seats are made to be used with infants too, I think an infant would be really uncomfortable strapped into the bottom of Lyla's huge Britax Marathon. And I wouldn't compromise and get a smaller convertible, because I want it to last as long as possible, particularly in the rear-facing position.

And that's not even taking into consideration the convenience of being able to remove an infant seat from the car without waking a sleeping baby, which happens a lot in those first few months (unless you're like me, and lived in a city and rarely used a car... but we actually got an infant seat so we could use it in cabs when necessary).

If price isn't an issue, definitely get an infant seat and then invest in a convertible when your baby is closer to 6-12 months old.

KeriMac · August 2010

It's a tough decision since you will ultimately get a convertible eventually, but I LOVED having the infant seat, and I think with winter babies, it will be especially useful.

#1 - you can't put a LO in a carseat with a big heavy jacket. The straps don't fit properly and it's a safety risk. When DD was in the infant seat, I would layer her in the cold and put on a sweater, and then we had a cover to sheild her from the wind, etc. When she switched to convertible she was carried or walked to the car with her coat and when we get inside, I have to take it off, strap her in and repeat the whole process when we get to our destination. PITA.

#2 - LOs sleep a lot in the beginning, and when I would run errands or bring DD to daycare, it was nice to just pop out the seat and not disturb her - she could continue sleeping in her stroller (carseat pops in) or in her seat on the floor of my house or dcp's house.

#3 - DD always went grocery shopping with me (from about 4 wks old) and I put her in her seat in the cart for almost a year before I started sitting her in the cart. I see lots of moms wearing their kids, but I am super uncoordinated and this worked better for me. Plus, in the winter, I didn't have to worry as much about germs because I didn't need to touch her very much. We also took the car seat carrier into restaurants and church, etc.

#4 - If you are going to use multiple cars (DH and I both drive her, plus dcp needs a seat) it was nice to just buy the $30-$40 base for everyone instead of multiple carseats. We now have 2 Britax - one in each car for DD, and DCP has a Graco that I bought on clearance at Walmart for $40 since they had discontinued the pattern (awesome find!!)

HTH!!!!

ffejsGirl · August 2010

I agree with previous poster. I can't tell you how many times it was so nice to just leave DS in the car seat and stick it in the shopping cart when we ran into stores with him still sleeping or even not. It's just a nice place for them to be when they are still tiny and not sitting up on their own. Our convertible seat we have now is supposedly fine for 5lbs and up but I honestly don't think it reclines enough to be safe for an infant. And even though you didn't ask I vote for the chicco key fit.. love their infant seat and think it totally stinks they don't make a convertible seat too.

UnexpectedlyMom11 · August 2010

great points! thanks so much for your insight.

honey740 · August 2010

I am getting the Chicco Key Fit 30 and from my research, it has gotten the best reviews and safety ratings.

houndbaby · August 2010

We have a Graco snugride that was ds's we are using again and ds is in a Brtiax roundabout right now, when he outgrows that seat around 2 years we will buy him a FF seat and save the Roundabout seat for the new LO. We moved ds from the snugride to the Roundabout around 6 months and plan to do the same again. The snugride is ok. I found the straps a little difficult to adjust sometmes. We have been really happy with the Roundabout, I love the latch connectors on it and the straps are really easy to adjust even while RF.

skoogirl · August 2010

I'm going to use a hand-me-down infant seat from my friend who bought it fewer than 5 years ago and get an extra base for my husband's truck, although I don't want the baby in the truck very often. We are also going to accept a hand-me down convertible for his truck, but register for a new convertible for my car (Safety first one with removable headrest so that it will fit in my little civic). If we don't receive it as a gift, we'll purchase it.

darlene'smommy · August 2010

What convertible car seat are you looking at? Some are not made well for infants so if one of them is one your looking at then I would go with a infant car seat.

The infant seat is nice that way you can just take the car seat out when the baby is sleeping have a place for the baby when eating out or at someones house things like that. Its also great for winter so you dont have to take baby out in the cold then can stay nice and warm in the car seat. I wanted a convertible for all our cars but dh pointed out if I take dd to the park for a play date then the baby is out in the wind in a stroller in a sling rather then in the car seat where I can keep the wind off the baby. My dd had problems with wind causing her to have to do breathing treatments so we are going to keep this guy out of it as much as we can in case he has the same problem.

We are getting a infant car seat for my car and a convertible car seat for my husbands car and truck. We dont use dh's cars to often. The truck is used for camping once or twice a year and the car is only used if I have my car and he needs to go somewhere.

starsmaycollide · August 2010

I chose an infant car seat, the Snugride. I feel it makes the most sense in terms of comfort for a teeny infant as well as convenience for us in taking him out while still in his seat. I also chose to get the Snugride stroller frame, so it snaps easily right into it and will be easy for me to use on my own when he's here. It'll be great to get him out of the car and just put the seat right on the stroller frame.

UrbanHippieMama · August 2010

SBear12:

Although technically most convertible seats are made to be used with infants too, I think an infant would be really uncomfortable strapped into the bottom of Lyla's huge Britax Marathon. And I wouldn't compromise and get a smaller convertible, because I want it to last as long as possible, particularly in the rear-facing position.

And that's not even taking into consideration the convenience of being able to remove an infant seat from the car without waking a sleeping baby, which happens a lot in those first few months (unless you're like me, and lived in a city and rarely used a car... but we actually got an infant seat so we could use it in cabs when necessary).

If price isn't an issue, definitely get an infant seat and then invest in a convertible when your baby is closer to 6-12 months old.

This, except my kid never slept in the car. She just screamed. It was awesome.

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