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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!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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.

Yep, we had an infant seat first. He was in it for a long time, 11 months.
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 & over.
When he got big, we used it like a convertible seat, left it in the car and buckled/unbuckled.

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.

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!

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.

@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

@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.

@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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.