Car Seats? What's your opinion?

Get an infant seat and then a larger seat later on?

Get a convertable seat?

Maybe you could explain your reasoning?


I am very confused on this debate and I have no idea what to get.

I didn't like the study that said that infant seats weren't safe in side impact tests (even if Baby Bargins thought that test was too stringent) and I don't like the idea of carrying a baby around in the infant seat. Honestly, I "think" I will just have the baby in my arms or in my Bjorn. So do I need an infant seat?

What your opinon on this choice?

TIA

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

For now I only got the infant seat. I figured things change constantly that there may better convertible seats by the time she is ready for it.

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

The infant car seat tests that came back bad were rescinded after it came out that the tests were run wrong.....if those are the results you're referring to? This was a big deal when I was preggo with DD. Infant carseats are supposed to be the safest place for small babies.

They outgrow them quickly (DD was out around 5-6 months), but in my opinion worth every penny. If you need to run errands it really is so much easier to just put the infant carseat right into the shopping cart or snap n go, rather than constant in and out of the carseat. You'll hold the baby a lot, but you won't be able to get much done with the baby in your arms. Additionally, we flew with DD twice when she was in the infant carseat and it was SO much easier than with teh big ol' britax.

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

We have both the infant seats (for making it easier to put them in the snap-n-go) and when they get bigger, convertible car seats.

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

we got a travel system and will be using the infant car seat for a while, then we also got a car seat for the next step (holds up to 90lbs I think). We'll use that afterwards.

P.S. all my friends swear by the infant carriers. They serve more than just a purpose to transport.

Message edited 1/3/2009 7:43:54 AM.

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

We only had an infant seat for the first 10 months of DS' life.

I am going to be honest and tell you that you are wrong you will love the infant seat b/c once DC is asleep in it, you do not have to move them. It makes life SO much easier when they are tiny!

We switched to a convertible seat when DS was about 10 months old and to this day (10 months later) I miss that thing.

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

I know when it comes time for us to register, we will get the infant carriers to make our lives easier with the snap & go (don't plan on getting a travel system) & then getting a convertible seat later on....

I found it a lot easier to get our nephews in & out of the cars when they were in the infant carrier especially if they fell asleep in the car

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

I would definitely get an infant seat and then a convertible. There are studies that show even though the convertible can be used in the beginning that they are not the best for infants. The infant seat is a BIG help. Yes it is a bit heavier - but it makes life much easier. It is easy to say oh I will just carry the baby to and from - but I found that wasn't very realistic when I had DD. The babies sleep a lot in the car seat - so you will be constantly waking up your baby every time you take a short drive, run an errand etc. It is nice to have seat when you go out to eat b.c you just carry the baby in the seat right into the restaurant and they can sleep and be comfortable. It depends on how quickly your child grows as to how long they will be in the car seat. DD was 9 lbs 4 ozs at birth - but used her seat until she was 11 months (snugride) she was only 29 inches and 20lbs 1 oz at her 12 month visit. Some babies will outgrow their seat at 4-5 months others around 10-12 months.

There was a lot of concern a year ago about the consumer report study however it was found to be flawed in several ways so they rescinded the report.

When I turned around my convertible seat recently I asked the safety guy what the current recommendations were and what seat he still recommended - his response was that the infant seat is still the safest for the infants and that the snugride was still his 1st choice.

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

I'm registering for the infant car seat that snaps into my stroller with a couple of bases. My stroller basically works like a snap and go for the beginning so I think this will be the easiest. If the baby is sleeping when we are out I think it's a lot easier to keep them in the seat.
Then I put two convertible car seats on the registry for later on. I've been advised by friends to put a couple on there because it can get really expensive purchasing them after the fact. Even if I just get one then I can use the 10% on the second one.

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

I registered for the Graco Snap & Go as the infant seat. I also registered for a britax convertible car seat and plan on putting another one on my registery for our other car and if someone gets it for us great but if not I can use my completion coupon.

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

Infant seat is amazing! I didnt carry it too much as DS was a big baby but the convienence of being able to not wake a sleeping baby, not having to use a heavy coat, etc. And the snap and go, I love more than any stroller I have found so far.
I miss the infant seat as you can see. If you are worried about side impact, the safest place (as long as the seat fits right is the center) so that should help alot!

I registered for both which I am glad I did as DS was out of his infant seat by 7 months.

I got a bjorn, but DS did a job on my back with all the lifting and such of a big baby and being 16lbs at 10 weeks I never used it. I also have friends that just never liked it.

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

What is the difference between the snap & go and the travel system? I am so confused!

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

I have the Graco Snugride Infant Seat and then the Britax Roundabout Convertible Car Seat

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

I couln't have lived without my infant seat...So much easier in the first few months, if the baby is sleeping, just click them right out of the car and you're on your way !

As for the 2nd car-seat they go in....My one mistake I made was that I bought the Britax Round-a-Bout ( which i loved) however, it only goes up to 40lbs...needless to say, my DS is 40lbs at 3yo. and I just spent another $250 for the Britax Regent ( which goes up to 80lbs) ...So basically I could have eliminated seat #2 and just got one w/ a higher weight/height capacity to move him into

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

Most infant car seats double up as an infant carrier. You won't have to wake up the baby to move him/her from the house - car and vice versa. We got something called an infant system from Orbit where the infant car seat also is used in the stroller so it is 3 in 1.

I've learned the convertible and/or toddler seats are for slightly older children (not sure the exact weight or height or age but it's when they start facing forward vs needs to face backwards). Since both the car seat and the actual child is bigger and heavier, you leave the car seat in the car. HTH!

We registered for the Graco convertible. It can be used as both a rear facing and toddler seat. Britax seems to be the favorite. I also believe Graco is the most popular travel system. DH and I tend to like novelty items so we went with the items that just came out so they are not necessarily the favorites.

Message edited 1/3/2009 11:13:03 AM.

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

Def get an infant seat...

Just think about it.... if you have a big convertible carseat rear-facing in your backseat, you have to unstrap and wiggle the little baby out everytime you leave the car. THEN you have to put him or her in something else. If they are sleeping or even awake, they may get very annoyed at this, especially if it is a quick trip. I'm thinking that something like running into CVS for a few minutes or the food store for a few things could wind up being a nightmare.

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

This is my third baby so from experience I think an infant seat is a total necessity. Babies fall asleep in the car all the time, you're not going to want to wake him/her up to carry or put in the Bjorn.

By the time they are ready for the convertible seat they aren't falling asleep as often in the car and it's no big deal to transfer them to the stroller or whatever.

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?

im getting the infant seat and the regular seat-

my sister loved that when the infant is a sleep you dont disturb them so muchgetting them in and out of the car

Re: Car Seats? What's your opinion?