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Car seat advice for two car family

tarheelgirl8tarheelgirl8 member
in 2nd Trimester
Hi Everyone.  We are first time parents, and starting to plan for all the things we need to buy (and all the things we can do without).  I'm interested in opinions on car seats for two car families.  I will probably be doing most of the daycare drop offs and pick ups due to my more flexible work schedule.  However, my husband definitely needs the ability to pick up/drop off if needed.  Also, hubby drives a rather large truck, so if we go somewhere together we always drive my more fuel efficient car unless there's a specific reason we need to use the truck.  So my question is: for the truck, should we get a second infant base or go ahead and invest the money in a convertible car seat?

I appreciate your thoughts!
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Re: Car seat advice for two car family

  • mom3babiesmom3babies member
    I would probably go with the convertible instead of the infant base.
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  • lilitaliangirllilitaliangirl member
    My personal opinion is to get the 2nd base. We rarely used DH's vehicle, but if we did, and baby was still little, it was easier to keep him in the car seat when getting in and out of the cars (like for shopping, restaurants, etc). Plus, it was nice to have a second base to use if there were times grandparents or aunt/uncle needed to help us out. That way I always had one in my car. At a year old we did have to get each car a convertible car seat. So I guess it also depends on your budget.
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  • knwilliams01knwilliams01 member
    We have the same situation except reversed between myself and my husband. We are going with a convertible car seat in my larger car, and an infant base in his car - which will be used much more frequently.
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  • orangecurlsorangecurls member
    edited February 2015
    Does your childcare allow car seats to be left at the facility? Not all day cares do. If so, I would just practice installing the infant seat with a seat belt (no base). Or else I would just get a convertible.
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  • rklinge0rklinge0 member
    I bought an infant one for my husband, it came with a stroller. I am planning on a convertible one for my car ( which will be used a lot more). For me, I would rather spend a little more and use the one in my car for a longer period of time.
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  • nilveronilvero member
    We bought a convertible for DH's suv. His trunk was big enough to hold the stroller and the infant base or we would just use our Ergo. We did the same with my mom's car, because she watches him.
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  • Frogger5Frogger5 member
    orangecurls said:

    Does your childcare allow car seats to be left at the facility? Not all day cares do. If so, I would just practice installing the infant seat with a seat belt (no base). Or else I would just get a convertible.

    We got our seat the other day, and as I was pouring over the manual, I saw that it seems to be just as easy to not use the base as it is to use it (even in the primary car). It's just like using the seatbelt normally. So why do people bother with the base? Am I missing something? Is that not possible with all models?

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  • tarheelgirl8tarheelgirl8 member
    orangecurls said:
    Does your childcare allow car seats to be left at the facility? Not all day cares do. If so, I would just practice installing the infant seat with a seat belt (no base). Or else I would just get a convertible.
    We are still looking at day cares so I'm not 100% sure.  Great question though--as I just kind of assumed they all allowed you to leave the carrier.  Also, I had no idea that infant carriers could be installed without the base, so that might be an even better option.  Thanks so much for your reply!
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  • Lalala2326Lalala2326 member
    We preferred having the second base just out of convenience. It is a lot easier to just pop the car seat into the base than to have to actually install it every time despite what the manual says. For us the extra like $30 it cost was well worth it. If your daycare does not allow a car seat to be left there, then I would go with a convertible for your husband's truck.
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  • BigboobsmcgeeBigboobsmcgee member
    I didn't want to spend $80 on a second base so if we need to use our other car, I just move the base from one car to the other. It's really easy.
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  • SmrBrd2012SmrBrd2012 member
    Isn't the base mostly for convenience? Isn't it possible to install the car seat without the base if needed?
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  • Frogger5Frogger5 member
    SmrBrd2012 said:

    Isn't the base mostly for convenience? Isn't it possible to install the car seat without the base if needed?

    That's what I was asking about too - it doesn't seem that convenient, though! At least, not any more than just pulling the seatbelt out each time. I do that for myself every time I get in the car, no big deal :)!
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  • Lalala2326Lalala2326 member
    Frogger5 said:
    Isn't the base mostly for convenience? Isn't it possible to install the car seat without the base if needed?
    That's what I was asking about too - it doesn't seem that convenient, though! At least, not any more than just pulling the seatbelt out each time. I do that for myself every time I get in the car, no big deal :)!
    Its trying to get a good install each time at the proper angle particularly if you are parked on a slope somewhere when trying to install. It is also a pain if you end up needing a pool noodle or towel to get that proper angle. Not every car seat is an easy install. Some are a complete pain. We needed a rolled towel every time we installed our infant seat without a base, and it was difficult to get it secure in there without it slipping. I would have hated not having the base if it was more than a couple times a year that I had to do it.
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  • Frogger5Frogger5 member
    edited February 2015
    Lalala2326 said:


    Frogger5 said:

    SmrBrd2012 said:

    Isn't the base mostly for convenience? Isn't it possible to install the car seat without the base if needed?

    That's what I was asking about too - it doesn't seem that convenient, though! At least, not any more than just pulling the seatbelt out each time. I do that for myself every time I get in the car, no big deal :)!

    Its trying to get a good install each time at the proper angle particularly if you are parked on a slope somewhere when trying to install. It is also a pain if you end up needing a pool noodle or towel to get that proper angle. Not every car seat is an easy install. Some are a complete pain. We needed a rolled towel every time we installed our infant seat without a base, and it was difficult to get it secure in there without it slipping. I would have hated not having the base if it was more than a couple times a year that I had to do it.


    --------quote fail!----------
    Ah-ha, thanks @Lalala2326‌. I guess that makes sense - since I haven't tried to install it beyond the one time right after it arrived, I guess I should try a few more times and see how it goes. We were just hoping to not have to buy another base, but we will if we have to!
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  • MeeeowMeeeow member
    We've always had 3 cars and when DD was an infant, we had bases in 2 and would use the car seat without a base in the third (I think she was in that car maaaaaaaybe 3 times total).  When she outgrew the infant car seats, we got 3 different convertible seats since all 3 cars are very different.

    Now that we're expecting twins and DD is still in a convertible ... and only 1 of our 3 cars seats 5 .... well yeah, we're screwed.  :P 
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