Infant carrier or convertible car seat?

[justineybean]

I think my DH wants an infant carrier even though they only last about a year. Last time we had the Chicco one with the travel system stroller. It was really convenient. We are going to get a new one though. We wore the hell outta that stroller. :giggle: What are you all planning? And are you reusing older sibling's carseat?

[shreck]

We bought a new Graco Snugride with the last baby, so we'll be using that again. I like the infant bucket seat type over the convertibles for a couple of reasons. One, it's nice to let baby keep snoozing if he/she falls asleep when we get somewhere instead of having to take them out and wake them up. And, two, in the winter when it's freezing cold it's nice to get them all bundled up and warm before taking them outside/not having to transfer them once we're at the car.

[Free Thinker]

I will be using a Graco that goes to aprox 30lbs and 30 inches, the Chicco and Graco (certain models) both go to a higher weight/height limit. My boys and my niece all fit in them til 18 months.

[Fashionably Green Baby]

I am torn on this issue as well. I don't want a bucket as my kids get like 5 months use out of them before they outgrow them in height (we never had one of the new ones that goes larger so with one of those we could get more use but I probably wouldn't keep a kid over 6 months in there anyways) and quite frankly I am 105 pounds so carrying around the extra weight of the seat is just way too heavy for me and I end up just putting baby in the moby instead of hauling them in the seat. However DH would like a bucket because he can carry baby in it. SO I have come to the conclusion that maybe we will put a bucket in DH's car and a convertible in mine (I mean we have to buy the convertible seat at some point anyways) and then we can take DH's car when he is with us but if it is just me and the kids I don't care about the bucket....seems like a good compromise.

[justineybean]

We bought a new Graco Snugride with the last baby, so we'll be using that again. I like the infant bucket seat type over the convertibles for a couple of reasons. One, it's nice to let baby keep snoozing if he/she falls asleep when we get somewhere instead of having to take them out and wake them up. And, two, in the winter when it's freezing cold it's nice to get them all bundled up and warm before taking them outside/not having to transfer them once we're at the car.

I agree! Those are all of the reasons I liked the infant seat too. I was thinking of trying the Graco one this time, mainly because it has a larger sun visor - I know that seems silly, but the Chicco one was awfully small and it was hard to adjust when the sun would suddenly be in baby's eyes in the car. They both seem perfectly comfortable and safe though.

I will be using a Graco that goes to aprox 30lbs and 30 inches, the Chicco and Graco (certain models) both go to a higher weight/height limit. My boys and my niece all fit in them til 18 months.

Wow! That is awesome that it lasted until 18 months. My son outgrew the height limit before he outgrew the weight. We had the Chicco Keyfit 35 and he was super chunky (around 25 lbs. at a year) but I'm not sure any 35 lb. child would not outgrow the height limit first. He is just now around 35-40 lbs. at almost 3! :giggle: Luckily he was able to stay RFing in the convertible seat that replaced his infant seat until around 18 months.

[wileycolt]

We went with the Chicco Infant Carrier. I don't really like the convertible carseat for the early months. It means waking them up to get in and out of the car and into either a stroller or the ergo. If already awake then you have choice. We have convertible carseats that DS is in now and we will use those later on.

[blondeviolin]

We love the bucket/infant for when they're really wee. We use a Maxi Cosi Mico and then a Quinny Buzz. Love it.

[Fishie Kisses]

My kids outgrow the infant seats before 6 mo old, so for me I feel like it's a waste. If I were having another winter baby, I'd probably consider it for the reasons already mentioned. But he'll be a summer baby, in VERY hot southern Cali. So keeping him bundled isn't a concern. And we really don't go anywhere anyway. So for us, we went with the MyRide

[armywife08]

we went with the combi coccoro and omg it's heavenly i can't wait to put him in it! we didn't need an infant because i'll be wearing him in the stores (i hardly go out alone with all the kids anyhow) and the other two will be in the sit n stand or cart. i could not see myself carrying an infant carseat and holding two Little ones' hands

[jenndoxx]

I'm re-using DS1's Graco Snugride that came with the travel system set. We've got 3 bases for it and well, I just want to get more use out of it. DS1 didn't outgrow it until he was close to a year, but we moved DS1 to a Roundabout when he was around 7-8 months old. When DS2 gets to be around that age, we'll probably get DS1 a seat with higher weight limits and move DS2 to the Roundabout.

I bought a double stroller (Baby Jogger Summit) that doesn't take a bucket w/o a crazy $90 adapter, so I won't be using it that way. Plus, I hate lugging that big thing in/out of stores, so it'll probably just stay in the car unless we go to a restaurant (yeah, right!) so I'll have somewhere to sit him before he can sit up.

[cococomey]

I got a Graco Snugride for YDD and we will be using that again
I also got the Snap N GO stroller frame for the seat so I am super excited for that :)
Seems so much convenient that just lugging that seat everywhere

[chippybug10]

We have a Chicco infant type that we used with DS, but I'm not sure if we're going to use it. DS always got SOOO hot in it (in the dead of winter) and I'm worried that for a summer baby it will be torturously hot. We have a First Years True Fit that we use as a spare for DS so that may just end up being what we use. Like pp said, for summer babies it's a lot easier to go straight into convertible since you don't have to worry about the baby freezing.

[chapmanrl6]

Infant Carrier till 6mo or so. (When baby becomes too heavy to carry lol..), then DD's Britax Convertible cs until she outgrows that. DD was rf until 2.5, so hopefully, YDD will be able to do the same. ODD is still in the Britax, but she is getting kind of tall so we are considering a switch to a 5-point booster.

[OrangeBananas]

I am re-using DS5's Graco bucket seat. It is the adorable elephants print that I love, and I don't want to re-buy a seat when it was only used for a year.

[Mama4Ways]

I have NO idea. I have 3 bucket seats that are less than 2 years old, and 4 convertibles that are less than 3 years old. Being that she will be a late May baby, I will be comfy pulling her out of the seat and strapping her into a sling through her first 4 months when the convenience of the bucket and keeping her warm in the MN winter would be needed. By the time the cold comes, she will probably be too big to carry around in a seat anyway, so...

I guess Ill figure it out when the time comes, bringing her home in a bucket (since we need to show the hossy staff we can use it and she fits) but after that, we will go with whatever works in each of our cars. This kind of stuff is where the OLD Mama in me goes "We will see when the time comes, and know no one will pass out if we dont know until then..."

[justineybean]

I have NO idea. I have 3 bucket seats that are less than 2 years old, and 4 convertibles that are less than 3 years old. Being that she will be a late May baby, I will be comfy pulling her out of the seat and strapping her into a sling through her first 4 months when the convenience of the bucket and keeping her warm in the MN winter would be needed. By the time the cold comes, she will probably be too big to carry around in a seat anyway, so...

I guess Ill figure it out when the time comes, bringing her home in a bucket (since we need to show the hossy staff we can use it and she fits) but after that, we will go with whatever works in each of our cars. This kind of stuff is where the OLD Mama in me goes "We will see when the time comes, and know no one will pass out if we dont know until then..."

:giggle2: This is a good way to be! We don't have a seat at all right now though so I guess that's why I am thinking about it.

[mamamaggie]

I don't understand the bucket if you are planning to babywear a lot. I always just took DD out of the convertible and into the sling and she would settle down again right away. If I had known what a tiny girl she would end up (she is still under 30 pounds and 30 inches at 2) maybe the infant seat would have been more convenient and worth the money only because we have a Honda Element and rear facing carseats are a big big major pain. For the new guy we just got a Combi zeus 360 which means I can put him in FF and then just spin him around.

[Julesboch]

We have the phil and ted so we will more than likely be putting the baby in a wrap and the two girls in the phil and ted. If ODD wants to walk then we can fully recline the stroller for baby. I have a maxi cosi priori and love it since it is so comfy. My DD's hated the bucket seat by 3 months so it was a waste for us.

[Free Thinker]

As for babywearing and carrying the bucket, I don't plan to carry the bucket at all. I haven't ever really used them to carry babies in often for any of my babies, I always found a sling was better and for my twins I used a stroller at the grocery store (picture a train of a double stroller, a cart, a 2 and 4 year old w/ hands held, I was quite a site!). That said, I feel like the bucket seats do fit small babies a lot better those first 2 months or so. I doubt I take this baby in anywhere in a bucket b/c it's too big and bulky and I have 3 year old twins who will have to hold my hand. I know I need a good easy to use baby carrier that allows my hands to be free. I still think the bucket seat is worth the extra if you can swing it and get the bigger one that will last the vast majority of babies at least one year. My boys are smaller but my niece was a bigger baby, and like I said before, all 3 used their bigger buckets to 18 months, and my nephew is 14 months and still using it right now (my sister has mine borrowed, need to get it back soon!). All had enough head room and never reached the 30 (or maybe 32?)lb limit until they were 2+, but they outgrew the height around 18 months. After that all of them went into Britax seats rear-facing for a while longer (and my nephew has one ready for when I take my bucket seat back!).

[Salidwyn]

We're going with the Combi Shuttle 33, which is suppose to be good up to 33lbs. It also snaps into a really light stroller that matches so I'm kind of making my own travel set for about 20lbs less, since the travel sets we tried out in BRU were way too heavy for me to actually work. I'd love to get a convertible seat, but I drive a Toyota Corolla wagon and there's just not enough room for them to RF in that car. The Combi Shuttle isn't the lightest seat in the world, but I plan on mainly leaving the seat in the car and baby wearing. DH plans on taking the seat out more but he can lug it around if that's what he wants to do.

[luvnmyfamily]

We have used the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite, and loved it! It's a convertible that goes from 5-100lbs. We got one for this baby, too! Everyone has their preferance, but personally, I think my babies sleep better being worn in the Moby when they're tiny!

[sh0rtchica]

As for babywearing and carrying the bucket, I don't plan to carry the bucket at all. I haven't ever really used them to carry babies in often for any of my babies, I always found a sling was better and for my twins I used a stroller at the grocery store (picture a train of a double stroller, a cart, a 2 and 4 year old w/ hands held, I was quite a site!). That said, I feel like the bucket seats do fit small babies a lot better those first 2 months or so. I doubt I take this baby in anywhere in a bucket b/c it's too big and bulky and I have 3 year old twins who will have to hold my hand. I know I need a good easy to use baby carrier that allows my hands to be free. I still think the bucket seat is worth the extra if you can swing it and get the bigger one that will last the vast majority of babies at least one year. My boys are smaller but my niece was a bigger baby, and like I said before, all 3 used their bigger buckets to 18 months, and my nephew is 14 months and still using it right now (my sister has mine borrowed, need to get it back soon!). All had enough head room and never reached the 30 (or maybe 32?)lb limit until they were 2+, but they outgrew the height around 18 months. After that all of them went into Britax seats rear-facing for a while longer (and my nephew has one ready for when I take my bucket seat back!).

i'm with you here. DS wasn't very big and grew slowly (he's just now hit 25lbs at 2 years) so we were able to use the infant seat for a while. we still have it so that's what we'll be using for the newbie. it snaps into our jogging stroller, which was a Godsend when i couldn't babywear after my c-section and subsequent infection (i was on an 8lb lifting restriction for 2 months PP).

now that i'll have two, i'll probably do walks with one in the stroller and one in a carrier - and depending on the day the baby may be the one in the stroller.

[Mommy2Zara]

We"ll reuse DD's Chicco bucket for the first few months. I like being able to keep a newbie asleep when we run in somewhere quickly or if we go out to eat. Other than that I prefer to use my Baby K'tan.
Still debating on a convertible for both DD (don't like the fit of her current EFTA) and the newbie on the way. Leaning toward the Radian or MyRide.

[justineybean]

We're going with the Combi Shuttle 33, which is suppose to be good up to 33lbs. It also snaps into a really light stroller that matches so I'm kind of making my own travel set for about 20lbs less, since the travel sets we tried out in BRU were way too heavy for me to actually work. I'd love to get a convertible seat, but I drive a Toyota Corolla wagon and there's just not enough room for them to RF in that car. The Combi Shuttle isn't the lightest seat in the world, but I plan on mainly leaving the seat in the car and baby wearing. DH plans on taking the seat out more but he can lug it around if that's what he wants to do.

We have a smallish vehicle too (Toyota Prius) and after DS outgrew his infant seat, we got a convertible and were able to put it in the center seat rear facing so you might be able to do that...? You're right though, it can be cramped if you have to put it behind a seat. I think I remember this is your first LO so I thought you might be planning to use the center seat anyway. :)

[felixgirl123]

I'm using an infant carrier but only because my sister in law is giving me hers. I already have two little ones so I will be babywearing this one. If I wasn't given the carseat I would get a convertible because I know there is no way that I am going to fit three little ones in a cart.

[kgmama]

We're reusing DD's seat. It's a Graco Snugride 32.
I thought you couldn't use a convertible seat from birth?? I have a marathon and the lowest setting is pretty high even though the manual says birth to 35 pounds rear facing I really don't think that those straps would be at or below the shoulders at birth.

[Salidwyn]

We have a smallish vehicle too (Toyota Prius) and after DS outgrew his infant seat, we got a convertible and were able to put it in the center seat rear facing so you might be able to do that...? You're right though, it can be cramped if you have to put it behind a seat. I think I remember this is your first LO so I thought you might be planning to use the center seat anyway. :)

I did some inspecting and it looks like it will be easier on everyone if the infant seat is actually behind one of the seats rather than in the center. It's a '93 so I don't get any of the new LATCH technology in my car and it's a wagon on top of that. The tether for the center seat is in the very back of the car, about where the latch for the wagon door is for some reason, which means we would never be able to use the full trunk space for something large because the tether would be in the way. With either of the side seats, while the tether is still all the way in the back of the car, it's in the corners so the back would still be usable. Not the most thought out car design I've ever seen but not much I can do now :)

Judging by the size and growth rate of all of my siblings and DH and his sister, we should end up having no more than a 7lb x ounce baby that grows slowly and stays tiny for a while, so I'm hoping that seat lasts at least a year or as long as is safe! Good to know though! That does give me an idea of where we could put a convertible seat and still rear face for a while longer and just figure something out with the trunk situation.

[Greenebean214]

We will be getting the Chicco Keyfit 30 to use with the Snap 'n Go stroller base. I want to babywear later on, because I am so short with stubby arms that carrying the bucket with a 3 month old is going to be HEAVY, awkward and dragging on the ground probably. Good thing DH is tall and has long, strong arms!! LOL

I'd like to get the Combi Corroco convertible CS as well, but it would only work in DH's truck. I have a 2 dr Celica and besides it fitting in the bucket backseats, getting our baby in and out of it will be close to impossible!

[justineybean]

I did some inspecting and it looks like it will be easier on everyone if the infant seat is actually behind one of the seats rather than in the center. It's a '93 so I don't get any of the new LATCH technology in my car and it's a wagon on top of that. The tether for the center seat is in the very back of the car, about where the latch for the wagon door is for some reason, which means we would never be able to use the full trunk space for something large because the tether would be in the way. With either of the side seats, while the tether is still all the way in the back of the car, it's in the corners so the back would still be usable. Not the most thought out car design I've ever seen but not much I can do now :)

Judging by the size and growth rate of all of my siblings and DH and his sister, we should end up having no more than a 7lb x ounce baby that grows slowly and stays tiny for a while, so I'm hoping that seat lasts at least a year or as long as is safe! Good to know though! That does give me an idea of where we could put a convertible seat and still rear face for a while longer and just figure something out with the trunk situation.

If you're using a rear facing seat, you won't be using the tether anyway. :) That's not until forward facing. We have LATCH in my car but I can't use it for the center seat - just the sides - so we just attach with a seatbelt which is just as safe, just more of a pain to install! :giggle: Yeaaa... it's funny to me how some cars are made with features that seem obviously impractical! But it sounds like you will definitely be able to use your seat for a while - my DS was 9 lb. 4.8oz. at birth and grew quickly!

[justineybean]

We're reusing DD's seat. It's a Graco Snugride 32.
I thought you couldn't use a convertible seat from birth?? I have a marathon and the lowest setting is pretty high even though the manual says birth to 35 pounds rear facing I really don't think that those straps would be at or below the shoulders at birth.

We have the Marathon also but didn't start using it until a year... but supposedly that is the purpose of a convertible seat so you can just use one seat from infancy until a booster is required. That's good to know though. I never really considered our Marathon for an infant because I assumed we would probably get an infant seat.

[steph_mommy2olivia]

After much research on car-seat.org I chose the safety 1st onboard air 35, I was a peg perego girl but they are so expensive for how long I use them and so they directed me to this one and I got it for $110 shipped..we shall see when it arrives how I feel about it but you can't beat that deal on a new one. It won't fit into my valco twin stroller but the seats in that go completely flat so I wouldn't use it too much that way anyway.

[kimmy659]

I've got a Graco Safeseat, that I bought with my second son and will be reusing this time. It lasted well over 18 months so i bet it will this time too