https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 31 Jul 2026 14:22:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-1242301 Mon, 25 Nov 2013 15:39:25 +0000 illumina 1242301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have an infant car seat and a 2 door car. I was worried it would be a PITA getting it in and out, but it's actually really easy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-1242287 Mon, 25 Nov 2013 15:32:10 +0000 jhd 1242287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>bump! any updates? we are trying to decide what kind of carseat to get. we looked at some convertible seats this weekend and like the idea of purchasing one seat that can last through so many stages.<br /> DH works from home and I plan to be a SAHM so we won't have daily trips in the car for daycare etc. we don't eat out a ton etc. so aside from grocery shopping, the occasional restaurant outing, church will i really need an infant carrier? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-540404 Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:15:01 +0000 littlebittyhouse 540404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we have used the maxi cosi pria 70 since the day he came home from the hospital. it has a 'tiny fit' insert for newbies. what sold me on this car seat is that the harness height starts at 5 inches (most start at 9) so I knew that even if we had a peanut it would be a good fit. While out and about I either wore him in the moby/ergo or popped him in the stroller.</p> <p>i should also note that since LO was always used to getting in and out of the car, he stayes asleep during any and all transfers. we knew that we would babywear so that influenced our decision too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-540260 Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:54:15 +0000 MrsLilybugg 540260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: @2PeasinaPod: @Foodnerd81: Thanks everyone, this was all really helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-532536 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:52:02 +0000 mrsmate 532536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am all for keeping the baby purchases to a minimum but for me the infant seat is a must. DD stayed in hers, Graco SnugRide 35, till over 14mo. We also kept it in the car like a convertible when she got too heavy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-532442 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:53:44 +0000 immabeetoo 532442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have infant and my baby won't stay asleep when the car stops so it hasn't helped us there! It is nice to have a base in each car though and I wasn't sure if he'd be big enough for a convertible at birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-532378 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:20:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 532378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsLilybugg: When i've gone to restaurants with friends with their babies in carseats, they either place it on the bench next to them (like if we are in a booth) or put it in the upside down high chair. Or sometimes, it's in the stroller base and they wheel that up to the table. Almost every time the babies slept through most of our meal like that. </p> <p>I have also seen them put the car seat into the big part of the shopping cart-- like, not balanced on top, but all the way in the main compartment. But I haven't gone grocery shopping with friends with babies that much.</p> <p>I haven't had LO yet but I plan to get an infant seat. I'm of the opinion that anything that makes the first 6 months or so that much easier is worth it, even if it seems silly (like, bouncy vibrating chairs they will only use for 3 months but are a necessity for those months). I won't be driving all that much, but when I do, I'll want the seat to bring around-- like, going to pediatrician appointments and stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-532368 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:15:37 +0000 2PeasinaPod 532368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsLilybugg: I also can't imagine going without the infant seat carrier. For the grocery store, I have the click and go frame that goes along with my carrier. So I use that to grocery shop as it has a huge storage basin at the bottom of it. I've also used the cart and put the carrier in the top of the cart. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-532348 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:07:53 +0000 Mrsbells 532348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsLilybugg: most restaurants have a seat or sling that the car seat can be mounted unto. For shopping it depends on the cart. If the car seat locks into the cart then it cant tip over. But not all seats fit on all carts</p> <p>@septemberlove: I cant also imagine life without an infant car seat. we just switched our 9 month old to convertible about 2 months ago and I still miss the convenience of the infant seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-532336 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:02:19 +0000 MrsLilybugg 532336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OK 2 questions related to this:</p> <p>If you have the infant seat carrier, where do those of you that take baby in carrier to restaurants place the carrier?</p> <p>And same for grocery shopping? I keep seeing these dire warning photos circulating regarding the dangers of placing your carrier seat in the shopping carts at stores. They say it can tip or something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530409 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:24:02 +0000 mrskc 530409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have the infant seat and I kind of regret it. We end up just taking him in and out of the seat because he hates being in his car seat! But how would I have known that ahead of time? When we go places, I put him in our beco carrier. You can always get a stroller with bassinet to use when you go shopping or out. It's been pretty rare occasion that he's fallen asleep in his car seat and we're able to transfer him into the house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530406 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:23:26 +0000 matador84 530406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a five month old and I can't imagine life without an infant carrier. In theory it sounds unnecessary and as if it would be so easy to put in a sling or something else..but in practice not so much in our case! I hated having two car seats but when he was a newborn we were in and out of hospital and I can't imagine having to carry him with all the germs. We have a Chicco key fit and love it. Britax marathon is waiting but I'm pretty sure we'll get at least a few more months out of the carrier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530390 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:16:52 +0000 MamaMoose 530390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter is two months and I couldn't imagine not having the infant seat. It would be such a PITA to have to buckle and unbuckle her and wake her up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530383 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:12:17 +0000 Bao 530383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have an infant car seat and she is 5 months and she is still in it. It is so easy to just pop her in and out of the car seat base, especially in the cold winter we have here. Plus, going into a store there would be no where to put her because she can't sit up very well on her own. Running into the bank I can just set her seat on the ground and do my business and then go, instead of trying to hold her. The downside is, carrying it around gets heavy and lugging it up 3 flights of stairs. I can't imagine having her in a convertible car seat in the beginning though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530374 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:07:05 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 530374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't imagine life without the infant seat first! It was no nice to be able to tote him around in that when he was snoozing and not have to worry about waking him. They can be kinda heavy, but you're usually only going from the house to car, so no biggie. And get a stroller frame for it for strolling around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530308 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:12:30 +0000 erwoo 530308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went the infant car seat route b/c it's easier the first few months when they sleep so much. As they get older is it a lot heavier to carry the car seat with an infant around but I still do it b/c when it's 30 degrees in the garage I'd rather bundle him up in the house rather than put him in a cold car seat in the car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530306 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:08:35 +0000 rachiecakes 530306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, we had an infant seat first. He was in it for a long time, 11 months.<br /> In the beginning it was awesome, we could bring him places and let him snooze in it. I can't imagine waking up a sleeping infant over &amp; over.<br /> When he got big, we used it like a convertible seat, left it in the car and buckled/unbuckled. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530302 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:03:16 +0000 BananaPancakes 530302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: Same exact thoughts. Not having the infant seat would have sucked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530300 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:00:50 +0000 shopaholic 530300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're starting with the convertible. We live in a huge suburb area and drive A LOT! I cannot imagine how many times we'd have to wake a sleeping baby to go places and eat out, etc. Plus, it works with the stroller for walking around, shopping, eating, etc.<br /> I picked the Maxi Cosi Mico because it was one of the lighter-weight infant seats and seemed easier for me to maneuver by myself. We also don't expect our baby to outgrow the infant seat that quickly since we are not big people. She was last measuring at 38 percentile in size. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530298 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 18:59:06 +0000 Cole 530298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a little one rear facing in my two door car in a convertible for a short time and I have to say it was pretty tricky, it was usually easiest to get into the back seat of the car with her and then buckle her in. </p> <p>It might be worth going to a place like Buy Buy Baby because they will let you try the seats in your car, try a carrier style and a convertible style and see what works best for you. An odd thing to consider is depending on what type of car you have and how the seats work-- if you have a hatch back style where half of the back seat can fold down you can actually put baby in through the trunk if you will (does that make sense? I don't mean put baby in the trunk :) ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530261 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 18:12:34 +0000 oliviaoblivia 530261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went with only the convertible. We live in a very urban area and hardly ever drive. LO is 18 days old and has been in the car once, to come home from the hospital. Like @plantains: we have the UBV and use the bassinet. Waking a sleeping baby isn't much of a concern for us because we don't ever really have her in the car.</p> <p>One thing to think about is whether your baby will be big enough for the convertible. The weight limits are usually about five pounds but I think the length is higher. We were expecting a monster baby so I didn't really worry about that. Now that she's here I'm happy we didn't get the carrier because she's already 11 pounds and would probably have grown out of it by next month anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530251 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:58:30 +0000 Dandelion 530251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're getting a convertible. The infant seats are just too heavy for me. I hated it when I had my son and switched when he was 3 months or so. This time around I'm not wasting the extra money on an infant carseat.</p> <p>We don't go out to eat, much, but when we do, she can sit on our laps. I'll carry her in a sling and use a stroller for times I'll need it. It's not a big deal. It's only for a few months, cause then they can sit up and sit in highchairs and grocery carts just fine.</p> <p>Plus, when you're holding the baby, less strangers will touch your baby's face when you're grocery shopping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530245 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:50:23 +0000 lawbee11 530245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are planning to go with an infant car seat. The ease of just being able to transfer the seat (and not having to wake the baby) outweighs the pros of a convertible for us. I think the only time we'd consider a convertible is if we lived in a city where we mostly walked/used public transportation and would rarely use the car seat. We live in the 'burbs, though.</p> <p>ETA: DH will most likely be doing daycare drop-offs and I will be picking up. He can leave the car seat there and I can get it when I pick up. If we had convertible we'd have to get 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530244 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:49:39 +0000 plantains 530244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, for reference, I live in NYC. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530240 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:48:41 +0000 plantains 530240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't bother with the carrier, went straight or convertible carseat because I didn't feel like forking out dough for two seats in one year. Seemed like a huge waste. Got the Combi Cocorro and it is amazing! It came with an infant insert and my baby loves it. I also avian Uppababy Vista so I used that with the bassinet when she was little and now that she is 7 months ,d she faces me in the toddler seat. </p> <p>It has worked perfectly for us. I usually just leave her in the stroller at restaurants although she is just starting to try high chairs out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530234 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:45:48 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 530234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I couldn't imagine having a convertible first.</p> <p>That means when your newborn baby is sleeping in the car, you would have to take them out of the carseat and wake them up in order to go anywhere! It is way easier to have a carrier and take it places, like shopping or to church or to a restaurant. What would you put LO in when you went out to dinner if you didnt have an infant seat?<br /> Also, an infant seat snaps on to the stroller. Makes sense just to be able to quickly transfer rather than unbuckle and rebuckle...</p> <p>I don't know how the person who wrote the article did it without an infant seat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530230 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:43:21 +0000 MaisyMay 530230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got a travel system so that we could take baby out and about in her stroller quite a bit. We also have a snap'n'go. My husband and I have found that it is harder putting her in and taking her out of the carseat while it's in the car than it is just taking her carrier into the house. He's so tall that it's not comfortable for him to bend into the car. Also, when it's raining, we just toss her blanky over the carrier and dash into wherever we're going. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530222 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:22:39 +0000 autumnlove 530222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used an infant seat for 7 months then we used a convertible car seat. Chicco Keyfit &amp; Britax Boulevard! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530221 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:22:21 +0000 MrsLilybugg 530221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for asking this! I too think I'm just going to keep a car seat in car because it just seems too cumbersome to load/unload carrier. I was planning on getting a stroller that faces me when newborn, and can recline like bassinet, and then when older faces the world. I'm interested in these responses!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-car-seat-carrier-or-convertible#post-530212 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:13:41 +0000 lomom 530212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd been totally certain that I'd get car seat + base until I read an article about the convertible car seats... I didn't realize they could even be used for infants! The author went the route of the convertible because she knew she wouldn't use the carrier. The carriers she'd looked at in store were already pretty heavy and bulky, she said she couldn't imagine trying to carry an infant around in one of those.</p> <p>Have any of you used the convertible car seat for infants? I'm really thinking of going this route, considering we have a 2 door car and I think it'd be a serious pain to pull the carrier in and out of the backseat, rather than just reaching in and unbuckling baby. BUT, my concern is, what do I put baby in if not for the infant carrier? I suppose I could use a baby bjorn, but that limits me to wearing the baby, whereas if I were to have the carseat carrier, I could sit in the baby on a table or upside down restaurant high chair...</p> <p>So many things to think about! What route did you go? </p>