https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:01:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2699407 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 16:12:01 +0000 snowbaby 2699407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone. I definitely won't plan on lugging the convertible into daycare. Two seats it is! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2699405 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 16:08:21 +0000 Adira 2699405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've seen parents leave convertible seats at our daycare at times in the lobby, but it's definitely frowned upon because they're in the way. We ended up getting two car seats - one for each card. And now we have four car seats since we have two kids! But it's worth it that we both can easily transport the kids at any time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2699397 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 15:55:39 +0000 MrsSRS 2699397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our daycare has bucket seats left by parents but only in the two infant rooms. There is literally nowhere to put it in the toddler rooms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2699059 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 19:30:09 +0000 KT326 2699059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We aren't allowed to leave our car seat. We will be switching younger DS to a convertible in DH's car and leave the bucket seat in my car once he starts daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698957 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:15:04 +0000 avivoca 2698957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We leave our infant seat at daycare all day. It's a PITA to carry it in though, but my baby is small and it's cold right now so we deal. They have an entire "car seat parking lot" for any seats that need to be left. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698948 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:04:13 +0000 yoursilverlining 2698948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most parents leave bucket seats at our daycare - there is a whole "bucket seat wall" with cubbies for the seats where they can be left every day. </p> <p>I'm also in the group of being surprised your LO is still in a bucket seat - my LO is small too but was long out of bucket seat at 19 months; but if yours is still under the limits, then I guess keep on keeping on! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698933 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 14:43:17 +0000 alphagam84 2698933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had separate car seats so this was never an issue. I do see infant car seats lining the halls at our daycare though so I'd say it is common practice. But a 19 month old should not be in an infant seat past one year and should be in a convertible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698896 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 13:45:19 +0000 RonjaL7 2698896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our youngest is still in the bucket seat and we leave it at daycare. The convertible one does not get left at daycare, so we have one in each car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698893 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 13:40:08 +0000 Mommy Finger 2698893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You've gotten a lot of responses on what car seat to use but to answer your original question, when my kids were in the bucket seat, we did leave it at school. They had a closet in the gym that we could all use. And our daycare is crazy strict on everything so it never concerned me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698833 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 12:27:10 +0000 littlejoy 2698833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you talked to the daycare? Ours strongly encourages us to not leave any seats or strollers at the school. Two parents leave bike trailers, but they are outside all day (rain or shine). </p> <p>It sounds like you're going to do two carseats, which I think is a really good call. Not only will it be a PAIN to install the carseat twice per day, it increases the chance of a poor install - which has safety implications. </p> <p>There's a group on FB called Car Seats for the Littles. It's a little intense sometimes, but you can share a photo of your current setup and people can help you determine if you need a new seat, and even recommend great options within your price range. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698793 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 12:07:04 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2698793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: I think I had the same reaction. When my six month olds have outgrown their infant seat how is it possible for a 19mo to still be in one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698728 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 10:57:43 +0000 snowbaby 2698728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for the great tips! LO definitely still fits in her bucket because she's on the small side, so we'll go forward with the plan to buy one convertible now, for my car, and depending on how well we like it we can then decide what kind of convertible to buy for DH's truck once LO has officially grown out of the bucket. You all are awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698659 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 09:27:29 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2698659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowbaby: Also just to follow up, my kids were big so the idea of a 1 year old in a bucket is foreign to me. </p> <p>Make sure to check your "shell height". Even though total length wise you fit the printed limits, it really depends where their head sits on the shell for protection. My kids seemed to have really long torsos so even though they were under the height "limit", their head was too close to the top. </p> <p>We did something similar with DH. It was a nice way to purchase 1 seat, try it out and see how we liked it and then decide if we wanted to purchase seomthign different. We haven't found a seat we absolutely love so we have 4 different convertible seats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698656 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 09:25:31 +0000 pwnstar 2698656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowbaby: I would transition your LO to a convertible seat as soon as possible. </p> <p><a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/convertible-car-seats/why-you-should-buy-a-convertible-car-seat-sooner-rather-than-later/" rel="nofollow">http://www.consumerreports.org/convertible-car-seats/why-you-should-buy-a-convertible-car-seat-sooner-rather-than-later/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698622 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 08:31:12 +0000 hellobeeboston 2698622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another vote for multiple car seats. It's so worth it to pay the extra to have two seats instead of lugging them in &amp; out of the car constantly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698536 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 21:48:25 +0000 Kemma 2698536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: @snowbaby: I believe the test they did to come up with this recommendation was pretty flawed because the dummy they used wasn't actually within the height and weight limits for the seat tested.</p> <p>OP - providing your LO is still within the max limits of your infant seat then she's perfectly safe! You could always get a cheap second seat to keep in your DH's car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698489 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 20:41:55 +0000 snowbaby 2698489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wheres_c: That is a really helpful, practical tip. Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698419 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 19:22:18 +0000 wheres_c 2698419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just one other thing to consider, that I didn't - if you're planning a second or third child, make sure the convertible and the infant seat fit ok together in the backseat in an arrangement that works for you.<br /> I didn't realize this part and had a fabulous top of the line convertible, but when #2 came around they didn't fit together in our backseat properly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698398 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 18:44:09 +0000 tinyperson 2698398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowbaby: that sounds like a great plan! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698378 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 17:43:41 +0000 snowbaby 2698378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Very logical of you! That's a great point. </p> <p>I think my plan will be to get a nice convertible for my car (which DD spends the vast majority of her car time in), and continue to use the current bucket seat in DH's truck for the short daycare pickups, until LO hits that height max. The daycare is only about .5 mi from our house and the drive is basically through neighborhoods the whole time, so I am comfortable with this. We'll then probably swap the bucket for a less expensive convertible for DH's truck when the time comes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698375 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 17:34:47 +0000 catgirl 2698375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowbaby: also, since she does still fit the infant seat, one of you could keep using that and you would just need one convertible seat to start. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698358 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 17:09:29 +0000 snowbaby 2698358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Thanks! She is around 30" currently, and as you know, kids shoot up like weeds overnight, so time to research convertibles... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698356 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 17:07:53 +0000 catgirl 2698356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowbaby: it goes to 32" and she also needs at least 1" between her head and the shell. If she fits that is great but at her age definitely important to keep an eye on it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698352 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 17:03:14 +0000 snowbaby 2698352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Interesting. We have the Britax B Safe 35, and LO is only 20 lbs (small for her age), so she's well under the weight limit for her particular bucket seat. She's quickly approaching the height limit, though, so I guess we'd need to consider switching from bucket to convertible anyway, regardless of whether the consumer reports that PPs mentioned were accurate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698346 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 17:00:53 +0000 snowbaby 2698346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: That makes sense! I feel like I've been living under a rock - the car seat transition wasn't even on my radar until just now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698343 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 16:59:01 +0000 catgirl 2698343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: if you are referring to the consumer reports findings they have been found not accurate. They used the average one year old dummy that was in fact above the limits for many bucket seats, thus why the seats "failed". If a child is within the limits of their seat they are fine. </p> <p>Now at 19 months it is very likely a child has outgrown the bucket seat. So I agree getting two convertibles would be a good idea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698338 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 16:55:17 +0000 macintosh 2698338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Multiple car seats, you will have them for years. This may sound silly but I have 3 car seats for one kid. 1 for the family van, 1 for the nanny's truck, and my mom bought another for when she visits from out of state. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698329 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 16:45:37 +0000 Mrsbells 2698329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowbaby: our daycare gives us the option to leave it there, but we dont because we have two different bases and car seats </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698328 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 16:45:16 +0000 snowbaby 2698328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meadow: Great tip, I had not heard about this! Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-just-leave-car-seat-at-daycare#post-2698325 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 16:43:01 +0000 meadow 2698325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowbaby: and you have a couple days left of the trade in event at BRU!! Perfect timing! </p>