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October 2019 Moms
elle-0409
member
FTMs: when you look at car seats, what’s confusing? Ask away!
Product Spotlight: Car Seats
elle-0409
member
Stolen from April 2019:
Give us the pros and cons of what you have, or ask about what you want.
Are you starting with a bucket or convertible? Do you care about weight
limits (low or high)? Or the weight of the seat itself? Can you fit
three across? Does it fit in your car? Does it fit into your stroller?
How can you even tell about stroller compatibility? Where do you look
for safety info? Is there other relevant info?
FTMs: when you look at car seats, what’s confusing? Ask away!
TTC History
Me: 38 DH: 52
Started trying June 2018
BFP Jan 2019 DD born October 2019
TTC July 2021 BFP, ended in MMC August 2021
TTC October 2021
BFP January 2022
MMC March 2022
Beginning May 2022 under the supervision of an RE - Benched while undergoing testing
Re: Product Spotlight: Car Seats
1) depends on your price range and if you want more than one kid. It also depends on if you’re determined to go past age 2 for rear facing or are you fine switching at age 2 (this depends on laws, too. More and more states are moving to a RF only until 2 law with a harness until 4). The forever seats are dropping in price, but still pricey. If you want more than one kid, depending on spacing/timing, you may be able to get away with moving kid 1 to a booster and passing the seat to kid 2. Keep in mind there’s usually a 6-8 year expiration on the seat, as well, from date of manufacture.
2- we use graco. Make sure whatever you do, splurge on a a) no rethread harness on the convertibles (not as big of a deal with a infant seat, IMO) and b) a rapid remove cover. You’ll thank me later
3- it depends on the laws and standards of where you are moving. You can gate check the car seat or
maybe even take it on the plane (I’ve heard different things about a rear facing car seat).
4- I’m going to say this as gently as I can.. there will come a point that your child will get hurt (not necessarily in the car, but in general), but you can try to mitigate it. Make sure your seat meets the minimum safety standards. Check the crash rating on the seats. Don’t be afraid to trade it in if you don’t like it after a few months
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f9/4d/23/f94d23e1a08e9b1e0b685dd30e6d6bb0.jpg
Our convertibles are the graco size4me with rapid remove. Neither kid hit the height limits when I switched them, and it has really high weight limits. I cannot fit 3 across in my mid sized sedan, so we’ll be swapping them for the graco slim 3-in-1s in my car. I can fit 3 across in H’s pilot, though.
I find the rapid remove to be a must. So many times have our seats gotten covered in funk and not having to uninstall to clean it is a big thing. Cup holders are a big deal for us, too, but not everyone cares about this
I stuck with graco since they’ve been around for forever and are at a decent price range.
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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P.S. I come from an older family and had to fight the urge to call it a pumpkin seat, because I just realized that an infant seat and a pumpkin seat are different. 😮
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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HX
DSD: 17
DS: 4(Nov'14)
MMC:8/17
MMC: 1/18
BFP: 2/7/19 EDD:10/16/19
Tickers
So to answer your exact question @elle-0409 I'd recommend getting an infant car seat (we use the Graco Sung Ride) and then when Baby turns about one, depending on their height and weight, you will move them to a convertible car seat rear facing. We've used the Britax Marathon convertible car seat for both boys once they aged out of the infant seat. Now we are facing the three across dilemma for one of our cars. We just got a Diono, which is taller and not as wide and we LOVE it. It's also a 5-point booster, so will grow with DS1 until he's in just a booster. Will probably get another one for DS2 and put the infant car seat base in the middle.
I can't help with the relocating internationally question, but I would imagine that you could use your car seats anywhere.
Also, there are car seat-to-stroller adapters for almost all well known brands. So pick the stroller you like best and the car seat you like best and then get the appropriate adapter for snapping your car seat into the stroller.
Yikes, that was long!
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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Basically, I can remove the need to be washed portion of the seat without uninstalling the car seat from the car
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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I'll go back to reading about squirrel babies now 😂
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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**speaking of bundling, gonna toss this out there too in case some don't know - you shouldn't put babies/kids in car seats with huge puffy coats. Basically, if you have to loosen the straps to account for the coat, it's too big to go under the straps. Just put a blanket over them or get a carseat canopy or something (carseat canopy should only go over/outside the infant seat, not under the baby).
Now, we use the chicco nextfit zip for DD in my SUV, and a Graco extend2fit in DH's car. I think the Graco is slightly smaller. We like them both. Also agree with whoever said to get one with easy adjust straps (vs having to thread them through the back of the seat). We have been lucky enough to never have a blow out or spill in the car, so while we haven't had to utilize the zip off cover yet, it was important to us, just in case.
Please please please do your research with regards to car seat safety. Car accidents are the leading cause of death in children. When in doubt, ask an expert. Your fire department should have people who can help you install a seat and show you proper use.
ETA link - https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/child_passenger_safety/resources.html
i don’t love the Chicco Nextfit. For some reason it’s really hard to pull the strap to tighten it, and I ended up with a weird forearm injury from pulling so hard to get the straps right. It was really easy to install though.
Another note - in many places, fire stations will do free car seat installations and inspections. I highly recommend doing that, especially for your first seat. Lots of people install car seats incorrectly (eg not tight enough) and have no idea. Our fire station also showed us how to properly buckle in a baby using a doll. A lot of people make mistakes with buckling, too.
HX
DSD: 17
DS: 4(Nov'14)
MMC:8/17
MMC: 1/18
BFP: 2/7/19 EDD:10/16/19
Tickers
Dont be like me and standing in the hospital room googling your manual because the straps are too loose for your brand new newborn at the lowest stage and you forgot about an additional adjustment spot in the back
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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im always happy to look at registries and bluntly tell you if it’s a waste or not 😂🙈
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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@junebabyh, I looked at the Lucies List you recommended, and the car seat section is amazing and SO helpful!! PSA for others so inclined, this is a link to the post specific to infant/bucket seats:
https://www.lucieslist.com/baby-registry-basics/infant-car-seats/
I was already leaning toward the Chicco Keyfit 30, but the Lucie's List post recommended the Chicco Keyfit 30 Zip, which is the same car seat but includes a couple extra perks for only $30 more (including zip-removal of the fabric part, so it has rapid remove like @cmbt2 recommended!!!) I feel like that is what we'll probably end up registering for/buying, but I do want to go see it in person at the store first just to confirm I like it.
Also, for @elle-0409, the Lucies List post I linked specifically said the Chicco Keyfit 30 (or Chicco Keyfit 30 Zip) is a great choice for those who are overwhelmed by the options and/or don't have the time or desire to do tons of research, because it's rated highly, is a popular choice, and is middle of the road as far as price point. PLUS, apparently it's compatible with most strollers. Bonus!
You guys. I am so ridiculously excited to feel like I have narrowed down the overwhelming amount of choices, done some productive research, and maybe even chosen one of the bigger baby items today! This place is so great! Thank you all for your help!! ❤
Target is having a car seat trade-in promotion right now: 20% off car seats and strollers, if you bring in an old carseat to recycle. As a FTM, I didn't expect to be able to take advantage of this, but my coworker happened to mention she has an old car seat she needs to get rid of, so check around with people you know! Between 20% off and an additional 5% off if you have a Target Redcard, this is a huge discount!
For STMs(+): Is the travel system worth it, or does it not really matter?
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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HX
DSD: 17
DS: 4(Nov'14)
MMC:8/17
MMC: 1/18
BFP: 2/7/19 EDD:10/16/19
Tickers
And for everyone, I'm with @cmbt2, Happy to share must-haves for your registry, things to skip, things to splurge on, etc. Maybe someone can start a Registry Must-Haves thread and STM/TTM+ can post their favorites. I know the list of stuff is endless though, so not sure how to keep a thread like that organized. Just a thought.