Infant Car Seats

I am due with twin boys on 7/11. We are registered for Chicco KeyFit 30s. Grandma talked to some people who advised a convertible is better. She now has it in her head that the hospital will turn us away if the twins don't fit in the infant seats.

My mom is stubborn, but all of our research indicates the Key Fit is great for smaller babies. Please reassure me that infant seats are best in this situation.

Re: Infant Car Seats

Congrats! Did grandma talk to twin moms?? I believe the infants seats are good from 4 lb. They won't be coming home if they are any less. As a twin mom I say get the infant seats!! That snap n go stroller is the best in the beginning when you are running around. We switched to a regular stroller around 6 mo but still used the the infant seats in the car. We could bring them in the house with them if they were napping. We eventually kept the infant seats in the car and took the girls out of them. We only moved to a convertible around 15 mo.

Re: Infant Car Seats

We used the Keyfit 30. The minimum weight is 4 lbs. the minimum weight for the convertible is 5 lbs, but for us it's something we will use when dd is done with her infant seat.

The other major thing to consider is the convertible seats stay in the car whereas the infant seats click in with the base (or seatbelt). The babies are sleeping so much that it's nice to leave them in their seats when they're sleeping and click them into a stroller or bring them in the house in their seats.

Re: Infant Car Seats

I would say the infant seat. It is meant for a little baby. You can take it in and out as needed. A convertible stays in. You do not take it in and out. I only had one baby and I cant imagine taking a sleeping baby in and out of the car seat while running around. Now that being said. If grandma is looking for seats for her car, I would say if you dont want to get the extra bases that a convertible is good because she will not have them as often and she can put them in the car and leave them for 2-3 years.

Infant Car Seats

Thank you! I just needed written evidence to further my point.

Infant Car Seats

On Facebook there is a group called ' Car Seats for the Littles' which is run by certified car seat technicians. If you join and ask any question they will answer!

Btw, Keyfit 30's are typically great for smaller babies because the lowest slot for the harnesses is low.. when a baby is rear facing (no matter what the seat) the harnesses must come out from at or below the babies shoulders (something to keep in mind) A lot of convertible seats have higher harness slots placing the harnesses above the babies shoulders which for rear facing is a big no no.

Re: Infant Car Seats

Infant seats for sure, especially with twins. Even though convertible seats fit babies that are 5lbs I couldn't imagine putting them in one when they where first born. They are so little. Not sure why or who told her they wouldn't fit into an infant seat. That is what they are made for. Wait til you see how small they are in them.
The covience of them is terrific. You can take them right out of car, leave babies sleeping. Use a snap in go which is fantastic and highly recommended. Plus I hear Chicco key fit is a great choice for smaller babies and I know many times twins are a little smaller then singleton babies.

My kids usually where switched to convertible seats at around 11-12 months.

Re: Infant Car Seats

I also used the keyfit 30 with DS. It is great for when they are very little because you can just take them in and out of the car with them in the seat. I switched him over to the convertible when he was about 8 months and started to get too big for it.

Infant Car Seats

I used a Snugride 35 with DS. He was a preemie and came home weighing under 5 pounds. But there was no problem at all leaving the hospital. He was so tiny, but the car seat was perfect. He had to pass a car seat test before he could leave the hospital (because he was a preemie) and it had to be done with the actual seat. The hospital had no problems with it.

Infant Car Seats

You're not going to be able to take the babies out of the convertible car seats from the car and carry them into wherever you're going. You won't have a place to put them! With the infant carriers, they snap into the frame stroller (I had the Joovy Roo... loved it) and you can go anywhere. I used them for a LONG time, and instead of 2 huge separate swings in my little house, I got the metal frames that turned the infant seat into swings! they fold up flat and saved so much space.
I also really feel that the hospital will give you a hard time to the contrary if you Don'T bring in an infant seat. My twins had to weigh 5 lbs before they left the hospital, and they both had to pass the car seat test, where they were put into the infant carriers and given a test to make sure their little heads didn't flop over and that they could breathe. I can't imagine dragging 2 britax boulevard car seats into the hospital and having the test done
I think you're on the right track, mommy. And definitely check out the car seat safety experts too

Re: Infant Car Seats

I also just realized I haven't congratulated you yet! How wonderful and exciting and inspirational you are!!!!!!!!! Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Infant Car Seats

Keyfit is great for newbies and especially smaller babies. They generally fit preemies and smaller newborns quite well. It's also a rather lightweight carrier and narrow. Install of the bases is also very easy

Most convertible seats tend to not fit newborns well even with the inserts. You can do convertibles from birth so long as the baby fits well in it.


I was a tech until my cert expired last April.

Message edited 4/14/2014 11:15:12 AM.

Infant Car Seats

Joanne I forgot one thing- get the lightest ones you an find in your safety rating comfort zone. Sometimes you have to carry both- oof!

Re: Infant Car Seats