Baby transport choices, Bucket vs Basinets?

[~Adorkable~]

I'm expecting twins in January and working in equipment choices.
today's ponder is how to choose between a baby bucket that you can use on a stroller as well or a basinet for the stroller and just a normal car seat?

This is not about baby wearing for me, I would prefer this and I will do this whenever I can but I need to recognize that with twins I will need all the best options.

so here is some of my thinking:

My set up will include:
a good double stroller most likely the Baby Jogger City Select
Full size car seats, hopefully something that grows with them ( wether this is at first or after infant hood is the question.

My two options are to add

1. Two baby buckets to use as car seats when very young and attach to the stroller, removing the need for infants to fit in larger car and stroller seat and need of basinets

Or

2. Two basinets, use them on the stroller and forgo buckets for more long use car seats, basinets also double as save sleep space when traveling?


General thoughts:
-I hate those buckets! But I wonder if I just hate that folks never take their babies out of them and hold them? Maybe the buckets themselves have their use.
-I want to keep in mind that these babies are coming in January, in DC and I would really like not to stuck in the house till spring. I will be in a metro area and plan on doing walking and subway travel often as I can.
-I don't want to waste money on things I don't need, but will also make sure I can get whenever it is that I feel is really best for our family.
The twins will be flying across country at 5-6 months old and spending the better part of the summer there.


Anyway, since I'm new at all this, please help me think about what I'm not thinking of so far. Please keep in mind that this is twins, though I think most of the concepts remain the same.

[Knitting Mama]

I honestly hated my bucket seat, and that is with a 6 lb baby! It was just too awkward and heavy to carry around, so I never did. I would choose a convertible from the start, personally, and do baby wearing as much as possible (I know you can't carry both at once)!

[Heidi74]

We've used bassinets for both our kids until about 6 months of age, when they've started sitting upright in the stroller. (That said, we babywear a lot, so they were often worn while awake, and then transitioned to the bassinet when asleep.) I am from a Scandinavian country (married to an American and live in the US now), and in Northern Europe (Scandinavia and Germany come to mind) they warn against using car seats out of the car. Pressure on baby's back, potential breathing issues from c position, and flat spot on the baby's head (whatever the term for that is) are some of the things they warn against regarding car seats. Many baby books and pediatricians even go as far as to pull over and give the baby a break from the car seat frequently, when the baby is in the bucket car seat for more than 30 minutes or so. The recommendation is that when a baby is sleeping, he/she should lie on his/her back. Babies there usually take their naps in their bassinets (and later the reclined stroller) when asleep. Mine have only used their cribs (and coslept) at night-the stroller has been their napping spot.

Personally, I find myself wondering if these warnings are taken a bit to the extreme, considering that much of the rest of the world uses buckets to such a large degree. Here in the States they seem to be the norm, and I haven't heard of any widespread health problems because of them. That said, with our kids we've chosen to go with the European recommendations.

One thing you might want to consider is how much you will use your car vs. just walking with the stroller. I take public transportation (trains) a lot, and there it makes sense for the baby to nap in the bassinet. Our kids really only use their car seats in the car, and they are only in it a couple of times a week. Thus, a bassinet made much more sense for us. If you are mainly in your car and will be wearing the baby a lot when out of the car, you may just want to go with the car seat. If the baby falls asleep in the car a lot, it can be difficult to transfer him/her to the stroller. If you walk a lot with the stroller and don't use your car as much, the bassinet may make more sense.

Honestly, how much cars are used is probably one reason for the difference in the States and Europe regarding this-the US is much more of a car culture, therefore buckets seem more practical here. Good luck on your decision!

[~Adorkable~]

Yeah i can't see myself ever carrying a baby in a bucket except to get them from the back seat of the car to the stroller or possible to the front door of the house. Anything farther than that I expect to do some sort of combo of stroller and carry

[~Adorkable~]

Yeah that idea of letting the babies get out of the cramped looking position of a bucket is one reason I like the basinets and I do plan on walking around a lot. We have just moved to DC and have a lot to explore, my DH is also a big walking fan.

[Heidi74]

Originally Posted by •Adorkable•

Yeah that idea of letting the babies get out of the cramped looking position of a bucket is one reason I like the basinets and I do plan on walking around a lot. We have just moved to DC and have a lot to explore, my DH is also a big walking fan.

We're in the New York area, and here I've been really glad we used a bassinet. That said, we did also have an infant bucket that we used in the car and when he did fall asleep in the car (the few times we used it) we did carry him inside in the bucket and let him continue napping there. You may be able to do a sleeping transfer from a convertible though. Another small plus was that in the winter, we could put him in the bucket while inside and cover the whole thing with a blanket before going outside...no worrying about putting baby in a freezing cold seat. Honestly though, if I could make the decision again, I wouldn't have gotten a bucket at all.

With a bassinet you're not going to feel like you're shortchanging the baby's nap while you're out and about. He/She can nap just as comfortably there as in the crib at home. In fact, you may just want to use the bassinet as the baby's bed in the beginning. We did that with one of our kids, instead of getting a cosleeper/bedside bassinet.

[~Adorkable~]

Do folks that use a bassinet even find that having babies flat on ther back hen awake and out bothers them?

Do folks ever have a wedge of some sort in the bassinet to fix this?

[sunflower.mama]

We do use a bucket in the car, I have the baby in the middle between 2 older children though so it's a pain to heave the whole bucket in and out throughout the day. I am more apt to just scoop out baby. My baby is 3 months old (and I usually dicontinue the bucket around 5-6 mo) and she's still able to fall back asleep immediately if I take her out of the bucket and put her right into a sling or whatever. I forget when that ends...but you wouldn't have that luxury with twins. They would probably wake up if you put them flat on their back and that would get old quickly.
I think you have a different challange with twins though, as far as being able to put them down wherever you are when you are out and about. That is a big stroller and may not fit everywhere. I'd be afraid to forgo the buckets at the beginning because chances are you might want them afterwards and then you'd have missed the convenience at the beginning.
Sorry to ramble. Must go sleep!

[cristeen]

My question is, are your babes liable to big enough to use a convertible at birth?

[Dena]

I had twins in April, and until the last month or so, when they got too heavy, I wore them everywhere in my Moby. For me, that was by far the easiest solution. So, along with your stroller purchase, I would pick up a Moby - they are only about $40 new (I got mine used for $15), and can be used with only one of the babies later as well.

That said, here are my thoughts for your situation:

I used a bucket seat with my first, and really really hated it - so bulky, so heavy, and such a pain to latch on to the stroller, etc. Also, they are in the buckets for such a short time, I would think a convertible seat would be better.

You can get really good strollers for a really good price on CL. I wouldn't buy a car seat used, however. So, I tend to put my $ more into car seats that last longer.

I like the idea of being able to use the bassinette as travel sleep space, or just hanging out space. I would think with a long trip planned, you will need this, and it would certainly save you having to lug a pack n play on the plane.

I think by the time they are unhappy lying flat in the basinettes, they will probably be old enough to sit in a stroller anyway for out and about. Mine are five months old and have been just fine in the stroller for about a month now.

The other thought is, would it be possible for you to simply get a stroller that lies flat, that they could use from birth, and then sit up in as they get older? I am not sure what is made in that regard.

Good luck, whatever you decide! It is a great adventure!

[P.J.]

Originally Posted by •Adorkable•

Full size car seats, hopefully something that grows with them ( wether this is at first or after infant hood is the question.

I say go for the bassinetts for the pram. I would forgo the buckets altogether. After reading this forum for a few months now it is clear that many many babies HATE riding in the car and scream each and every time (my baby is in this group ) It seems many babies stopped the screaming and decided they like car rides once they switch into a convertible car seat, which is the next size up you would need to buy them as toddlers in any case, used w/an infant insert. I think they are more upright and physically comfortable that way. Of course your babies may be the classic babies falling asleep in the car every time, and some babies also hate the convertible seats, but if I had known then what I know now about how much agony my baby is in every time we go in the car, I would've got a convertible right from the start ~ we are getting one next week.

I also wish we had gotten a bassinett style pram. DS is now almost too big for that so we'll skip it, but I think lots of babies get lulled to sleep lying down and rolling so it's great for walks and going out and about. It may be more inconvenient b/c you'll have to transfer the babies from the carseats to the carriers or prams each time, but IMO it would be worth it to get the convertible seats. Just my $.02. GL!

[Ellie'sMom]

As a mom of twins, I have to say the buckets made it possible for me to get out and about during the winter months when they were tiny. I didn't even have a travel system. I just lugged a bucket in each hand (if babes were sleeping, or it was really cold), or put one babe in the sling and carried the other in a bucket. Keep in mind, this was just to get in and out of places. I understand people's visceral reactions to baby buckets but, to be honest, many ideals fly out the window when you have twins! In retrospect, I wish I had had a travel system, but I will say that I had some serious arm muscles when my babes were small.

For a stroller, we had a Peg Perego Symphony at first. I don't recommend it because it was of terrible quality, but it had the advantage of fully reclining seats and was also quite light weight. Once they could sit up, we got a BOB Duallie, which was awesome.

I think there is no right answer. I personally did not travel much when my twins were infants, so the advantage of bassinets as travel beds would have been lost on me. When we did travel, they slept with us, or together in one Pack'n'Play.

I suggest posting this question on the Multiples forum if you want some btdt advice. HTH!