Need car seat help! I'm lost.

holly820 · October 2013

I'm a first time mom and this whole car seat thing is very overwhelming. I have seen the travel systems that fits the baby carrier/car seat into the stroller. But now i have been reading about convertible car seats. What are they and do you use them for newborns through their toddler years? I feel so dumb but I am completely lost and have no clue who to ask. Thanks for your help!

BoogieMonster629 · October 2013

Convertible seats can face backwards and forwards, you can use them from nb until the child outgrows it if you like but make sure you check the weight/height requirements for that.

Gramsey831 · October 2013

You can use a convertible from birth if you want to. The carrier is for convenience and the baby will outgrow it and you will need a convertible eventually.

VineyardMel · October 2013

As others have said, the carrier is really for convenience. You pop them in and out of the car, in and out of the stroller, restaurant high chair--you never have to disturb the baby if they're asleep. They are wonderful! They have a weight/height limit and almost always the baby will outgrow on length before weight. I have the Chicco KeyFit30 and it maxes out at 30lbs or 30in. That said, we switched my DD out of hers at 6mo because she was getting uncomfortable--she weighed 20lbs and was 26in (she's very big for her age). It was just too heavy to carry and she needed more room.

The convertible seats can be used for newborns (most of them) and they go up to 45-75lbs. There's a lot of variability. I expect DD will be in hers for several years until she reaches booster seat size. You can definitely just do a convertible and skip a carrier, but it's a major PITA to wake up a baby to put them in a stroller, and you have to have a stroller that can safely accommodate a newborn (usually a much more expensive option).

I'm in the camp that travel systems tend to only be used for as long as you're using your carrier--the strollers are generally much heavier and most people are looking for something light and nimble for the long haul--but there are definitely people who love their travel systems. I used a snap and go to drop the carrier into and then we switched to the City Mini when she moved into a convertible seat. This worked perfectly for us.

Mcsweets · October 2013

I was at this point a few weeks ago and this is what I've learned:

Infant car seat is the kind with the handle that allows you to carry the baby around. It easily snaps into/out of the car seat bases. These are usually birth up to 30-40lbs.

THEN you buy another car seat that is the convertible car seat. You can use this from birth if you don't care about carrying the baby around in the car seat when they're smaller. They stay in the convertible car seat rear facing for a while, and then you turn it to front facing. These are "permanent" in your car - harder to unconnect/connect - and you dont carry the baby around in it

Hopefully that helps!

dannie2011 · October 2013

I still use the stroller from my travel system. I like the infant seat for many of the reasons the others listed.

Now if you want to skip the infant seat just be aware that many hospitals will not allow you to leave with baby without and infant seat. Look into that before you make your choice. You could borrow an infant seat for that day if you really want.

My youngest actually hate her seat and would scream bloody murder till she was out. We would just carry her, I still preferred it to going to the convertible.

ring_pop · October 2013

Mcsweets said:

I was at this point a few weeks ago and this is what I've learned:

Infant car seat is the kind with the handle that allows you to carry the baby around. It easily snaps into/out of the car seat bases. These are usually birth up to 30-40lbs.

THEN you buy another car seat that is the convertible car seat. You can use this from birth if you don't care about carrying the baby around in the car seat when they're smaller. They stay in the convertible car seat rear facing for a while, and then you turn it to front facing. These are "permanent" in your car - harder to unconnect/connect - and you dont carry the baby around in it

Hopefully that helps!

This exactly!

I'll just add: Due to the height and weight limitations of the infant seat, most people find that it lasts anywhere from 6-12 months before the baby outgrows it. Some people prefer to skip straight to the convertible seat which will last well into toddlerhood, BUT lots of moms find it very convenient to grab the whole seat out of the car. Especially if it's winter and it's cold.

You don't NEED the travel system stroller to be able to do the stroller + car seat combo. Lots of strollers are car seat compatible or have adaptors, and are much lighter and more convenient than the travel system stroller. I've been using the Peg Perego Si since DS was born, it's actually an umbrella stroller.

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Need car seat help! I'm lost.

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