Carseat Confusion

prettybrwnbish · April 2016

Prayerfully will soon be a FTM of a baby boy & I'm super confused as to which I should choose: convertible carseat or the carseat with/travel system. I'm not that busy & so sure I will not need a stroller everywhere I go but I know it will come in handy. However, if I go with the convertible carseat from Graco

prettybrwnbish · April 2016

.......I didn't get to finish my post (ugh) but pretty much my question is to the moms out there: which did u prefer? Thanks ladies!

bananers · April 2016

You don't necessarily need a travel system, per se, but I would highly recommend getting an infant seat you can click in and out of your car without taking a sleeping baby out. Some people go straight to a convertible (which will last several years, versus an infant seat that's usually grown out of by around a year), but most get an infant seat for the beginning.

Instead of a whole travel system, we just got a simple click and go style stroller frame, and then purchased a nicer stroller for when he was older.

karlimonster · April 2016

I registered for and was gifted a convertible car seat and thought that was what I wanted. However, my in-laws bought the travel system for us and it is more convenient than I realized. It is nice when the baby crashes, running multiple errands, a place to set them when you're out to eat, etc. I definitely recommend the baby seat that clicks in and out, it makes things a lot quicker.

elaur42 · April 2016

I'm also a FTM but I just wanted to offer my opinion after research! Although pricey, I've read that the infant seat is well worth it. It makes sense just for those first 8-10 months to bring the baby into the house or other people's houses from the car. It also gives baby a place to sleep if you go out to dinner or are just out and about! I'm registering for an infant seat and a convertible and if we don't get one, we'll just purchase the other. The other thing to consider is some convertible seats can't be used until a certain weight point (although I think most are 5 pounds) but it could feel a little large for your newborn.

prettybrwnbish · April 2016

I really appreciate the feedback ladies.....I will register for both and go from there (:

mamaqdubu · April 2016

Here's what I did, just to add another option:

i decided on the uppababy car seat, but refused to pay the $500-$800 for the stroller system (snap in bassinet, seat, car seat all separately, which is a really nice feature). So, I started looking at craigslist daily and found the stroller system used for $250. The car seat adapter changed over the last few years, but uppababy will provide you a free adapter when you register a new car seat.

Good luck!!

DressageDarling · April 2016

I registered for both. We'll primary use the infant car seat, but put the convertible one in my husband's truck. That way we don't need multiple bases and he can still take the baby somewhere if my car is not available to him for some reason.

SkiChic626 · April 2016

You actually don't NEED an infant carrier/seat, people just find them more convenient when babies are small. You can put a baby right into a convertible seat from birth (as long as they're at least 4 lbs). We got both and used both. The carrier was easier when she was a baby in the winter because it was so much quicker to get in and out of the car, BUT that thing gets heavy pretty quick.

Also, PSA here.....while it's OK to let a baby sleep in the infant carrier while you're out and about and in the car, please DO NOT use these as a normal everyday place for baby to sleep. And, if baby does fall asleep, you must keep them buckled in the proper way otherwise they can strangle themselves or slip down in the seat and constrict their airways. Too many babies die sleeping in infant carrier. *stepping down off soap box*

smilormarie · April 2016

Babies are so floppy those first two months you will find it practically impossible (unless you buy a baby carriage where they lay down) to push them in a stroller anywhere unless you have the infant car seat. You can choose the whole system (I did because it was cheaper for the car seat I wanted) or you can pick up a simple frame stroller to click the carseat into. Once baby is 3-4 months or older they should do okay in a traditional stroller. Once they are 6-7 months or older, they may do ok at the front the cart with some support like a boppy pillow.

bearsandbeets7 · April 2016

I don't think we would've survived the first few months without the infant carrier. We had DD in hers until she was 6 months or so and then we switched over. DD was a big baby too so we may have even used it longer if she was smaller.

mooncusp22 · April 2016

STM here and had an infant carseat and then got the convertible when DD was almost a year old. Will do the same with baby #2. When they are so tiny it's tough to take them in and out of the carseat, so much easier to either carry the carseat if you are just running into a store or a quick errand (especially if they are sleeping). I have the UppaBaby Vista stroller and can just pop the carseat into the frame if I am walking around more. My DD didn't fit well into the stroller (even with the infant insert I got for my stroller) until around 3 months. Step 1 was infant carseat and frame, Step 2 was toddler seat stroller, Step 3 was Umbrella stroller.

Want a personalized experience?

Carseat Confusion

Re: Carseat Confusion

Choose Another Board

Search Boards