I know, I know. you're not supposed to. but I did with DD1, and I really didn't feel like it was any thicker than the fleece jacket we eventually switched to was!
I'm tempted to with DD2 because she's due to arrive mid-January. and we're in the Northeast. So it's gonna be frickin freezing. But that nagging guilt..
for the poll - please vote based on the idea of it/safety, not your weather 
I'm trying to get an idea of who would use it regardless.
82 votes
grapefruit / 4079 posts
We used this and I loved that I could zip him in when walking out to the car and in to day care.
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts
@ladybee: that's what I'm considering buying - I already have two though that go under the baby, too! I only need one (we received the other as a gift and couldn't return) so I'm trying to sell the second. We used the other in the infant seat and then in the stroller and it worked well til she was about a year old.
pomegranate / 3872 posts
We used the cover version posted above. It just made me feel better than using the other one.
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts
We didn't. But it's never very cold here so there wasn't a need.
pineapple / 12793 posts
We only ever used it in the stroller. We had a few wool baby blankets that we used in the car seat and DH would warm the car first on really cold days.
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts
I should have clarified in the post - if people are posting we didn't use one, or won't, I hope they vote based on the idea of it and not the weather nearby lol!
I'm interested to find out who doesn't care so much about the whole "can't use a bundle me in the carseat" thing.
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts
I found that blankets were easier to use. I did consider one for the stroller only, but decided it would be a pain to get on and off. I didnt use jackets with the carseat either when he was very little. I found the blankets and a hat worked just fine
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@sorrycharlie: we'll be using the cover version ^ with A this winter. We get way too long and cold of a winter to not use anything. M was born at end of April and we used used the JJ Cole Bundleme Lite which does go in the car seat. It's super thin, thinner than sweatshirts or fleece jackets so I'm comfortable using it.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
I used to cover posted above in the car too. On really cold days I could later a blanket under the cover but over the baby, but we have a garage so our car wasn't usually too cold. I had a hand me down regular bundle me that I used in the car seat for stroller walks but not in the car. I'm just too paranoid about car safety so it was worth it to me to get the safe one even though I had the had me down "unsafe" one ("unsafe" in quotes bc I don't really think it is that bad).
grapefruit / 4823 posts
With DD we used the cover one. I just didn't feel comfortable putting a thicker one behind her. Also in the northeast, so it's cold here too, and it did the trick new also put a blanket over it when it was really cold.
honeydew / 7687 posts
@ladybee: we had the same one and it worked great. I don't feel like it's worth the risk, personally.. I think your car seat warranty is invalid if you use one as well. We had a handmedown one that was supposed to go under and got rid of it. I also think besides the safety it's easy for baby to overheat in it if you leave them in the car seat while asleep and go inside. Then the cover is easy to take off.
pomegranate / 3791 posts
We used the cover type. I also got the other kind as a gift, and I did not use it - I'd rather spend the extra money and not compromise the safety of the car seat. I hate that so many stores sell them when pretty much every car seat manufacturer out there explicitly says that they do not recommend them and cannot promise baby's safety if you're using one.
honeydew / 7909 posts
We used the car seat cover that was posted above. Your car seat warranty is voided if anything is placed into the seat that isn't from the manufacturer.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@sorrycharlie: I have to say its kind Of funny that everyone responding is saying they would not, yet I do see them used ALL the time. I'm guessing many users just aren't speaking up, but also hb-ers are a little more conscious if these things. I also hardly know anyone irl who rear faces until two but it seems to be very common on here.
That said I stand by y answer that I would just pay up for the cover. Use the regular one for walks since it does seem a little warmer.
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts
I'm also very, very well versed in carseat safety - I know it's a no-no, the warranty stuff, etc etc. My older daughter is rear-facing and two this week. So I'm not totally clueless 
but the fleece jacket that we were told was good for carseat use is seriously just as thick as the back of the bundleme, which is why I just can't get on board with the "it's horrible!" issue. But, I'll probably order the cover anyway.
The top of the bundle me also easily zips off, just like a cover could be removed
@Foodnerd81: that's exactly why I added the poll - I figured no one would want to say if they DID use it!
pomegranate / 3980 posts
I've never used that kind, we got the cover kind that was mentioned above because the biggest issue here is the wind so we need the whole carseat covered. Then we just tucked a blanket in around lo to keep her nice and warm.
pineapple / 12793 posts
I'll add that I may have been tempted to use it if we drove more often but DD was in her bassinet on the stroller 5-6 days a week and in the car 2-3 times a month.
squash / 13764 posts
I guess I just don't see how either of those is warmer than just using blankets? Which is what we did. We just put him in a very thing fleece footed bodysuit from zutano, and he was very toasty with a blanket over him. Honestly, babies are exposed to the cold for like 5 seconds going to and from the car, so I really don't think it's that big a deal!
pear / 1531 posts
We just used blankets too. You can modify the bundle me to make it safe for the car seat. http://thecarseatlady.wordpress.com/rear-facing/cutting-a-bundle-me/
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@hilsy85: if you are parked outside somewhere, not at home, you might not be able to warm the car up before bringing baby out. But I agree they aren't necessarily warmer than blankets just more convenient and less likely to blow off or get kicked off.
eggplant / 11824 posts
We used the kind that @ladybee posted, and would do it again. We live in the northeast, the wind is cold and nasty and it snows a lot. When LO was born the condo we lived in didn't have an attached garage, so she was out in the weather for several minutes walking down flights of stairs and over to the car. My work is also on the same campus as her daycare, so the car doesn't get time to warm up between when I leave work and pick her up.
The majority of the infant bucket seats left at daycare had bundle me's on them all through winter, and I see them all the time around here.
coconut / 8472 posts
I used the shower cap kind pictured above. I would not use the other type of bundle me, but I see them a lot. I just don't think its worth using something that voids your car seat warranty. We tucked a blanket around him and used the cover on top and he was fine b
pomegranate / 3577 posts
@sorrycharlie: I can't answer the main question, because I don't even know what a bundle me looks like, but we used a hot water bottle and put it in the car seat while we were in the grocery or Target. It kept the seat nice and warm, but not too hot! (We almost always put E in the Ergo when we went shopping.)
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts
We didn't use either. I wouldn't be opposed to using the cover kind, but would not use the kind that goes under the baby and voids the warranty.
honeydew / 7303 posts
We never had a bundleme, but I used the shower cap kind like posted above and it was perfect. Sometimes if put a blanket in there too after she was buckled in.
nectarine / 2173 posts
I took care of an infant who fell out of his car seat, even though strapped in, because they were over bundled under the straps. He felt from several feet up and hit his head on the pavement. It really isn't safe to bundle under the straps.
pomegranate / 3411 posts
we did use it with LO the first winter because i was gifted it and didn't know any better. It worked great although he also sweat a lot in it and it's wasn't like you could remove a layer. Now that i know it is not recommended safety wise, i definitely won't bother with it in the future.
Also, for the first month that LO was born, i hadn't bothered to insert it in the car seat and we used blankets, which were fine and not a hassle at all. And apparently safer! I only switched because we had it in our possession already, i don't think i would have went out and bought one to make my life easier.
pomegranate / 3411 posts
the second winter, i bought this for babywearing over my coat and it is supposed to work good for car seats too. We just had LO in a winter coat by then so didn't need it much, but i will probably use it for a future winter baby in the car:
http://www.amazon.com/Jolly-Jumper-Snuggle-Cover-Carriers/dp/B001P1VBH4
cantaloupe / 6086 posts
@ladybee: agree this one is awesome! I had a January baby in Boston. depending on level of cold, I would put various blankets underneath. we were in the city where I had no car day-to-day (DH drove it to work) and was walking everywhere with the stroller using the car seat attachment. this was always plenty warm and I never used a jacket or anything when she was still in the infant bucket, just sleeper + blankets and put this on top. I liked that is protected from wind too.
if I was only taking to/from a car though I probably wouldn't bother and would just use a regular blanket. I really saw the benefit when out for extended periods.
persimmon / 1331 posts
I got one from a friend like lady we posted. I never used it. I found a blanket and car seat canopy easier!
squash / 13764 posts
@Foodnerd81: but even if you can't warm the car up, I still don't see how a bundle me is warmer than a fleece blanket tucked around baby? Unless there is a weather proof lining on top that also protects from wind, but again, if it's cold enough that you're worried about that, I don't see you taking the baby out for an extended period of time anyway (not you you, just general you). I don't know, I guess I don't really see the point of any of the bundle mes for little babies, when they're not really moving around. Older kids, I totally get it--my LO would kick off a blanket now! So we use a bundle me in the stroller in the winter.
ETA didn't mean to be judgey of anyone at all! I don't care if other people use them, I personally just probably would just use a blanket
grape / 77 posts
We used this one last winter (baby was born in Feb): http://www.amazon.com/Jolly-Jumper-Arctic-Sneak-Infant/dp/B005LVNS4S/ref=br_it_dp_o_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2JF6IMR3I3TFZ&coliid=I7XU0RWHTFCH5
It's like the other shower cap ones but it also has a built-in fleece blanket underneath. It was awesome!!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@hilsy85: I'm with you. Seems like a blanket would work just as well!
We live in the northeast and Xander was born in February and baby #2 will be born in December. I will not use a bundle me or anything else you're "not supposed to" use in the car seat. We just used fleece pjs and a blanket for Xander and we'll do the same for baby #2!
watermelon / 14467 posts
We didn't use one and I don't plan on it for the next one. We used a large fleece blanket that we could snuggle up around her or drape over the car seat when we were going into a store. She stayed toast warm and I liked being able to adjust the blanket.
apricot / 313 posts
We have one and we used it and will use it again. We just cut the back so she was snug right to the car seat. It's way to cold here We used blankets at first but the wind kept catching them and blowing everywhere. We wanted to keep lo hidden from the elements going to and from places. I will do the same with the next baby.
squash / 13208 posts
I used a bundle me light - it's super thin so I felt fine using it- then I stuffed it with blankets and zipped it up!
pomegranate / 3768 posts
DD is a December baby so yes we used it and I will use it again if we have another Winter baby.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Truth be told, I had purchased both, the kind that is the one that goes between the seat and the baby as well as the shower cap kind. We used both, largely because i used the fleece one when I would go for walks with the stroller/car seat (not in the car). I used the cap one when we used the car seat in the car.
grapefruit / 4079 posts
@bhbee: we did blankets too. Matt was born last year with the polar vortex so it was perfect!
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