Convertible Car Seat for Infants??

alliapistor · April 2011

I was considering registering for 1 infant seat with base and 1 convertible car seat now, so that we would have 1 for each car and not have to buy 2 convertible car seats later.

A PP indicated that the Britax convertible may not work for infants despite the 5lb. rating (which is the convertible we were considering). Can someone please explain?

Are convertible car seats viable options for infants?

vansgirl68 · April 2011

Personally, I would just get the infant seat with the base for now. LO will be good in that for about a year, then you can decide later to get a convertible. I wouldn?t recommend using a convertible seat with LO?s under 6 months, even though it says you can use them starting at 5 lbs. It?s much more convenient to go to stores/restaurants with the infant seat rather than taking them in and out of the carseat.. especially if they are sleeping!

SuperCuteBenz · April 2011

Here is a pic of my DS in my DD's Britax Marathon. He was around 2 weeks old, I believe. He was 7lbs 7oz at birth, so he was definitely an average size baby.

For rear-facing the straps need to be AT or BELOW his shoulders. As you can see in the pic... that is not possible.

If you really want a convertible for an infant, then I would look into the First Years True Fit, Evenflo Triumph Advance, Safety First Complete Air or the Sunshine Kids Radian. The Cosco Scenera will also work.

ETA: Britax does sell an infant insert now, but I have not see any reviews on whether it works or not.

orangecurls · April 2011

I have read that the Graco My Ride 65 fits newborns pretty well.

SuperCuteBenz · April 2011

orangecurls:
I have read that the Graco My Ride 65 fits newborns pretty well.

I don't know why I always forget this one.

SuperCuteBenz · April 2011

https://carseatblog.com/7148/britax-convertible-infant-positioning-insert-and-cupholder-review/

I did just find this.

atoz625 · April 2011

To the PP, it's unlikely that LO will fit in the infant seat for a year, unless they're super petite. Our DS is average- 18lbs now at about 6 months, and the Chicco infant seat we have is getting too heavy to carry around. We are currently planning to get a convertible soon.

I will say though that the infant seat is worth it- it makes them super portable, and the most of them snap into many strollers.

I personally think registering for both is a good idea.

Quizzle · April 2011

I used a convertible from birth with DD. No problem, and we don't regret it. It's a lifestyle choice, and it worked well for us. Now granted, DD was a big baby (9 lbs 11 oz) and she's pretty low key. We were prepared to go out and buy an infant seat if DD proved to be the kind of baby that freaked when taken out of the car seat. But she's not. I have never had the 'never wake a sleeping baby' worry, she's used to being moved around and I can get her out still asleep.

The only difficulty was when going out to eat, and we solved that when we realized we could take our Space Saver high chair to restaurants with us. One of us wore her on grocery store trips or shopping, or we put her in the stroller (we bought a stroller that was suitable from birth.) We have a First Years True Fit and an Evenflo Triumph Advance

Frankly, theres no way she'd still fit in an infant set. She's almost 22 pounds and 29 inches!

snansley · April 2011

vansgirl68:

Personally, I would just get the infant seat with the base for now. LO will be good in that for about a year, then you can decide later to get a convertible. I wouldn?t recommend using a convertible seat with LO?s under 6 months, even though it says you can use them starting at 5 lbs. It?s much more convenient to go to stores/restaurants with the infant seat rather than taking them in and out of the carseat.. especially if they are sleeping!

All of this. DS is probably 18ish lbs and almost 8 months. He still fits in his Snugride. We have Britax Blvd and it would have been waaay too big for him as a newborn.

LittleApple · April 2011

Here is a pic of my 10 lb. 2 month old in the Britax Boulevard 70 (newest model).

She just barely fits correctly. The straps should be at or slightly below her shoulders. Clearly she has a couple inches of wiggle room here. I would not feel comfortable with her using this seat yet.

MarMat · April 2011

vansgirl68:

Personally, I would just get the infant seat with the base for now. LO will be good in that for about a year, then you can decide later to get a convertible. I wouldn?t recommend using a convertible seat with LO?s under 6 months, even though it says you can use them starting at 5 lbs. It?s much more convenient to go to stores/restaurants with the infant seat rather than taking them in and out of the carseat.. especially if they are sleeping!

This, DH still misses the infant carseat for the portability. Really you can survive without it, but we love to hop in an out for everything.

slwprincess · April 2011

atoz625:

To the PP, it's unlikely that LO will fit in the infant seat for a year, unless they're super petite. Our DS is average- 18lbs now at about 6 months, and the Chicco infant seat we have is getting too heavy to carry around. We are currently planning to get a convertible soon.

I will say though that the infant seat is worth it- it makes them super portable, and the most of them snap into many strollers.

I personally think registering for both is a good idea.

Just a quick question- why move to the convertable now? Why not just leave the infant seat in the car and take the baby out as you would with a convertable anyway. But you would still have the convenience of the infant seat a little bit longer if you needed it like if you were going out to eat and didn't want to wake the baby to take them inside. Sure it's heavy, but carrying it for a short distance is totally worth the convenience IMO. And yes, I agree with registering for both. If someone wants to buy you the convertable- let them!

Mystery2B · April 2011

The First Years True Fit really does fit an infant - C was 6 pounds coming home and the NICU staff approved her fit in it.

For us skipping the infant seat was a lifestyle choice, and that I don't like LO's spending hours in the bucket seat. I preferred to wear her out and about than have her in the infant seat.

SuperCuteBenz · April 2011

I am the odd one out here. I am still carrying my DS in his infant seat, and he is over 19lbs now. Every now and then I will leave it in the car and carry him, but usually I still take it out and carry it.

You will have to pry that thing from my hands. I love it.

CrazyToast · April 2011

alliapistor:

A PP indicated that the Britax convertible may not work for infants despite the 5lb. rating (which is the convertible we were considering). Can someone please explain?

Are convertible car seats viable options for infants?

I know others have already answered - but simply put the Britax doesn't offer the proper strap adjustment (or really the support around the body/neck) for a newborn.

We started with the Evenflo Triumph Advance Convertible seat - and we were frustrated with how hard it was to use with an infant. We ended up with an infant seat at 4weeks, because we needed the convenience (we never had a snap and go or anything, though).

If you want something that works with a newborn - the Evenflo Triumph Advance is good.

Megan.10.06 · April 2011

The infant seat is a convenience. It's personally one I love, but it's not a necessity. Infant seats kind of 'idiot proof' installation, which was a major plus for us. Newborns need at least a 45 degree angle in a car seat for proper breathing. If you can make sure there is enough recline and your seat straps fit low enough, there is no reason why you can't skip the infant seat.

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