Anyone want to talk carseats?

kmc1109 · January 2012

I'm trying to decide if we should get an infant carrier that goes to 30/35 pounds rather than a regular 22ish pound one. The 30/35 pounds one are about $60-$75 more expensive so I'm not sure it's worth it.....will I really use it when the kid is 25-30 pounds?

imimahoney · January 2012

The way I thought about it... do you really want to carry around a baby in an infant carrier that weighs 30/35 lbs? Also, at that weight, I can imagine that they would already be too long for the infant carrier.

Eta: I registered for an infant carrier that can hold up to 30 lbs but I didn't pick it because of the higher weight limit. I picked it because of it's safety features.

MelissaMiso · January 2012

We went to the store and got a feel for the car seats before deciding. we didn't take weight capacity into consideration, just sturdiness and safety.

mrskinsler04 · January 2012

With my other 2 I stopped using the infant carrier once they could sit up in a cart on their own. They weren't sleeping as much (i.e. not falling asleep every time they got in the car) so it wasn't a big deal. I would say they were 25 pounds, for sure. I'm not sure if they were under 20 or not. Hope that helps.

kmc1109 · January 2012

We looked at a whole bunch of carseats last night and I feel like BRU is almost trying to push the 30/35 ones on you, there weren't very many 22 pounders on the shelves. I have a hard time imagining putting a 30 pound baby in an infant car set, they probably would be too tall too.

mrskinsler04 · January 2012

I'm really short so that may have had something to do with it but, They killed my forearms. As a massage therapist I was miserable. The Hubby however, no big deal. They feel light in the store but you would be amazed how heavy it feels with a 10 pound baby. I would park as close to a cart return as I could so I could grab a cart right away and throw the bag in it. I was out of breath my hip hurt from supporting the carrier on it if I had to walk into the store from mid way down the parking lot. And YES! they got so pissy after awhile and enjoyed sitting up more in the convertible seat.

nicole0066 · January 2012

We will probably get the seat that goes to 30lbs, but I'm not 100% sure yet. I have to do more research on price differences. When we looked in the store they were both felt the same in terms of heaviness and I think that there's only an 1'' or two difference in the height cutoff.

Just because you don't want to lug the baby around in the seat doesn't mean you have to stop using that carseat anymore. Just leave it in the car and take the baby in and out like you would with a convertable.

kmc1109 · January 2012

nicole0066:
We will probably get the seat that goes to 30lbs, but I'm not 100% sure yet. I have to do more research on price differences. When we looked in the store they were both felt the same in terms of heaviness and I think that there's only an 1'' or two difference in the height cutoff.

Just because you don't want to lug the baby around in the seat doesn't mean you have to stop using that carseat anymore. Just leave it in the car and take the baby in and out like you would with a convertable.

This is where I'm torn. I'm just not sure that they'll still be comfortable in a seat like that. I'm just having a hard time equating pounds with age....

megank814 · January 2012

In my experience, it's not worth it. DD was way too tall for the infant seat at 20 pounds. Her poor little legs were all curled up in the seat because they were so long and there wasn't enough room! We upgraded to a convertible seat then that accommodates both rear- and front-facing babies and that worked better for her (it sat her back further in the seat so she had lots of leg room). I would say you should be fine with the one that goes up to 22 lbs. And like someone else said, you may want to consider how much you want to carry a 30-35 lb baby in a carrier too. Just a thought!

Radler · January 2012

Here was my experience with DS... We upgraded to the convertible seat when he was 6 months and 18 pounds. The seat+baby was just too uncomfortable to carry. FWIW, DS only weighs 27 pounds now at 2 years, 2 months. He's not the biggest kid around, but I think even bigger kids don't hit 30 pounds until 12-18 months.

blueshamrock7 · January 2012

nicole0066:

We will probably get the seat that goes to 30lbs, but I'm not 100% sure yet. I have to do more research on price differences. When we looked in the store they were both felt the same in terms of heaviness and I think that there's only an 1'' or two difference in the height cutoff.

Just because you don't want to lug the baby around in the seat doesn't mean you have to stop using that carseat anymore. Just leave it in the car and take the baby in and out like you would with a convertable.

Exactly this. It is highly recommended to keep the baby rear facing as LONG as possible. I chose the Chicco Keyfit 30. I hope the baby can stay in it as long as virtually possible until she is almost 30 lbs, if not 30 lbs. The only thing that would stop me from keeping her in it is if she gets too tall and is really uncomfortable. I want to check with the police department when we go to check our installations to find out what exactly the "rule" is for that (I don't think there is a real rule, which is why I used quotes). Once she is old enough to just get in and out of the seat, we can do that instead of lugging it around.

Mamasaurus · January 2012

I am getting a convertible. Kids should be rear-facing until about 2 years of age, and an infant carrier for 15-20 lbs is not going to cut it at 1, let alone 2. The one I want is good from 5 lbs up to 30 lbs, and then you can also turn it forward and use it to 40 pounds. Sounds a lot better to me to spend the $135 on it and have it for 2+ years than to buy an infant one at $60, use it for six months, and then buy a bigger seat for $100. Infant-only seats are mainly useful for parents of preemies or babies who are otherwise born under 5 lbs, the way I see it, or people who are going to use the hell out of a travel system stroller (since convertible seats don't always work with those, but infant seats almost always do).

mrskinsler04 · January 2012

blueshamrock7:
nicole0066:

We will probably get the seat that goes to 30lbs, but I'm not 100% sure yet. I have to do more research on price differences. When we looked in the store they were both felt the same in terms of heaviness and I think that there's only an 1'' or two difference in the height cutoff.

Just because you don't want to lug the baby around in the seat doesn't mean you have to stop using that carseat anymore. Just leave it in the car and take the baby in and out like you would with a convertable.

Exactly this. It is highly recommended to keep the baby rear facing as LONG as possible. I chose the Chicco Keyfit 30. I hope the baby can stay in it as long as virtually possible until she is almost 30 lbs, if not 30 lbs. The only thing that would stop me from keeping her in it is if she gets too tall and is really uncomfortable. I want to check with the police department when we go to check our installations to find out what exactly the "rule" is for that (I don't think there is a real rule, which is why I used quotes). Once she is old enough to just get in and out of the seat, we can do that instead of lugging it around.

The problem tends to be with the recline of the seat (IMO). Covertibles tend to have better and more adjustments in them. Once they baby starts to have more control over the tummy muscles they tend to want to sit up more. You'll find that they fight you to the chest snaps together and they try to hold their head up. It makes for difficult car rides with a crying baby in the back.

cookies+milk · January 2012

kmc1109:
We looked at a whole bunch of carseats last night and I feel like BRU is almost trying to push the 30/35 ones on you, there weren't very many 22 pounders on the shelves. I have a hard time imagining putting a 30 pound baby in an infant car set, they probably would be too tall too.

Just for reference, my DD is very tall and heavy for her age (97th and 90th %), and at 16.5 months, she is 27 lbs and 33.5", so there is no way an infant will weigh that much! We just got the Snugride 35 for DD2 (DD1's carseat was a hand-me-down from a close friend and just expired so we had to get another) and when DD1 climbed into it to check it out, she looked ENORMOUS. There is no way she could safely ride in there, so OP, unless your infant is huge, you won't need the 30/35. FYI, we got it because it was a really great deal...just a bit more $ than the 22.

kmc1109 · January 2012

cookies+milk:
kmc1109:
We looked at a whole bunch of carseats last night and I feel like BRU is almost trying to push the 30/35 ones on you, there weren't very many 22 pounders on the shelves. I have a hard time imagining putting a 30 pound baby in an infant car set, they probably would be too tall too.
Just for reference, my DD is very tall and heavy for her age (97th and 90th %), and at 16.5 months, she is 27 lbs and 33.5", so there is no way an infant will weigh that much! We just got the Snugride 35 for DD2 (DD1's carseat was a hand-me-down from a close friend and just expired so we had to get another) and when DD1 climbed into it to check it out, she looked ENORMOUS. There is no way she could safely ride in there, so OP, unless your infant is huge, you won't need the 30/35. FYI, we got it because it was a really great deal...just a bit more $ than the 22.

Ok that helps, knowing that they won't be over 20-25 pounds until they're at least a year. I'm going to go with the 22 and then get a convertible one. To the PP that said that once they can hold their head up they won't like the confinement of the infant seat that was totally what I was worried about. So thanks for the input!

IsaacA · January 2012

DS is almost 1 & 1/2 and weighs 23lbs. He wouldn't want to stay in an infant seat.

DS has been rear-facing since he was born and still is. He's in a convertable car seat that can still be rear facing. You can use convertable carseats from 5lbs up (birth+), but it's would be a pain to take them out all the time.

DS out grew the length maximum of the infant carseat way before the weight. I would check into the length maximums first, but I wouldn't spend extra money to lug around a toddler in an infant carrier seat.

lovetohike · January 2012

blueshamrock7:
nicole0066:

We will probably get the seat that goes to 30lbs, but I'm not 100% sure yet. I have to do more research on price differences. When we looked in the store they were both felt the same in terms of heaviness and I think that there's only an 1'' or two difference in the height cutoff.

Just because you don't want to lug the baby around in the seat doesn't mean you have to stop using that carseat anymore. Just leave it in the car and take the baby in and out like you would with a convertable.

Exactly this. It is highly recommended to keep the baby rear facing as LONG as possible. I chose the Chicco Keyfit 30. I hope the baby can stay in it as long as virtually possible until she is almost 30 lbs, if not 30 lbs. The only thing that would stop me from keeping her in it is if she gets too tall and is really uncomfortable. I want to check with the police department when we go to check our installations to find out what exactly the "rule" is for that (I don't think there is a real rule, which is why I used quotes). Once she is old enough to just get in and out of the seat, we can do that instead of lugging it around.

My son rearfaced until 5 YEARS OLD! He still could in his seat at 5 1/2, but I decided to flip him this summer. He was 100% happy rear facing and he had no comfort issues. He'd just sit criss crossed or with his legs to the sides.

lovetohike · January 2012

blueshamrock7:
nicole0066:

We will probably get the seat that goes to 30lbs, but I'm not 100% sure yet. I have to do more research on price differences. When we looked in the store they were both felt the same in terms of heaviness and I think that there's only an 1'' or two difference in the height cutoff.

Just because you don't want to lug the baby around in the seat doesn't mean you have to stop using that carseat anymore. Just leave it in the car and take the baby in and out like you would with a convertable.

Exactly this. It is highly recommended to keep the baby rear facing as LONG as possible. I chose the Chicco Keyfit 30. I hope the baby can stay in it as long as virtually possible until she is almost 30 lbs, if not 30 lbs. The only thing that would stop me from keeping her in it is if she gets too tall and is really uncomfortable. I want to check with the police department when we go to check our installations to find out what exactly the "rule" is for that (I don't think there is a real rule, which is why I used quotes). Once she is old enough to just get in and out of the seat, we can do that instead of lugging it around.

My son rearfaced until 5 YEARS OLD! He still could in his seat at 5 1/2, but I decided to flip him this summer. He was 100% happy rear facing and he had no comfort issues. He'd just sit criss crossed or with his legs to the sides.

PurpleSnapDragons · January 2012

If you are looking at Graco Snugrides, be aware that most 22 models currently you have to adjust the straps from the BACK. The 30 and 35 you can adjust from the front (you can tell from a picture because you can usually see a little button between the legs and a strap hanging down from the front/middle of the carseat. The graco snugride 30 is about the same weight as the 22 but more styles are FRONT adjustable.

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Anyone want to talk carseats?

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