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June 2013 Due Date Club

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Car seats! - Page 3
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post #41 of 69
2/10/13 at 5:54pm

I haven't read the whole thread, so sorry if someone else has already posted this. 

i am Still using the same seat for my son since he was born (a convertible). He is over three and we have forward faced him at this point.

We did wait for a long long time (to forward face) and though he had to fold his legs a bit he seemed fine with it.

I will probably buy him a new one and use his for the new baby.

This site is very helpful and I recommend reading it if you are a first time parent or have any questions about car seat safety.

 

http://www.thecarseatlady.com/

Sponsored Links
post #42 of 69
4/6/13 at 4:21pm

Hi! Great discussion. I'm registering at Target and want to get a carseat that's in-store (not online) in hopes that someone will actually buy us one! :) (I don't think my relatives are big online shoppers.)

So I've narrowed the Target in-store options to Graco SungRide Classic Connect 30 (which is $130) and Chicco Keyfit 30 (which is $190). I suspect we'll be buying it ourselves with help of giftcards, so price is an issue but so is safety!

Does anyone know why there is such a big price difference between the GRaco and the Chicco? Any recommendations between the two? For now I'll go with the Chicco but may decide to downgrade to Graco later based on what I can learn.

Thanks!

post #43 of 69
4/6/13 at 6:23pm

The Chicco is the ONLY seat that goes down to 4 lbs, so when L was born at 4 lb 6 oz and left the hospital at 4 lb 6 oz 2 weeks later we needed the Chicco to bring her home.  No other seat was rated for such a low weight.  It really is a great seat and we've kept in it great condition so new baby will be using it as well.  My suspicions are telling me he'll be here well before our 36w c-section and probably weigh about the same as her, which means we'll need that again.
 

post #44 of 69
4/7/13 at 4:25am

We also have the Graco Snugride.  It's the third of it's kind that I have owned through 5 babies.  We had one car accident...and even though it was relatively minor the insurance company insisted we replace the car seats (and paid for it), so we did.  I also got a new one in 2011 becasue the previous one looked a little warn. 

 

I too am looking at carseats and boosters for my older kids.  We drive a Honda Odyssey and have 5 kids.  I'll have to look up safetly recommendations/requirements.  Right now our boys 7 and 8 are in boosters and our girls 4 and 2 are in car seats.  Now to add the bucket seat in and still all fit!

post #45 of 69
4/7/13 at 7:02am
I have an Odyssey too but my 3 oldest don't sit in a safety seat because. They're too big/old. My 4 and 3 y/o's sit in Britax Pavillion G-70's in the middle row and when baby comes we plan on putting the middle seat back in the middle row and putting the Britax side by side and putting the Chicco Key Fit 30 on the passenger side. We haven't tried it yet but I don't see why it wouldn't work like that ?!
post #46 of 69
4/8/13 at 7:05am

Thanks for the feedback - sounds like your personal experience with both Graco Snugride and Chicco Keyfit 30 have been good... so likely I can't go wrong with either. I guess if I don't like the one I get as I install it, I can exchange it, right? (Or not?)  I just out the Snugride on the registry - because Graco items are 20% off at Target right now.

 

However... a relative (who is full of "helpful" suggestions) just told me that her friend got her granddaughter a carseat that has worked from infancy through 4 years old -- so they never had to replace it. This sounds a bit dubious to me - in my research I didn't see a carseat that would work for these broad age ranges. What is my relative talking about and what should I tell her when she gives me sh*t (which she will) when she finds out that my carseat will have to be replaced when the baby is 1 year old or less? 

post #47 of 69
4/8/13 at 7:57am

OK now I am just overthinking this. I googled it and see there is such a thing as a "convertible car seat" (http://pregnancy.about.com/od/babysafety/ss/typesofcarseats_2.htm) which would work for infant to 2 years old-plus.

 

As noted in the article:

Convertible car seats are used from birth until your child outgrows a car seat. This means that you can get more use out of your investment. They can be used in forward facing or in rear facing positions, depending on the weight of your child. (Rear facing is used for infants up to 2 years, and forward facing happens after your child is two years old.)

The downfalls to the convertible car seat are that they are not portable and cannot be used as an infant carrier. They do not have bases and are not easily moved from one car to another. Some parents find these bigger seats more difficult to use for smaller infants.

 

So has anyone else looked at convertible carseats as alternative to infant carseat and if so what did you decide?

 

BTW - I don't think stroller compatibility with a carseat will be a big issue for us. We're not going to get a stroller right away anyway. When we do, it will just be something secondhand. We'll try babywearing instead of stroller to extent possible. We live in a rural area and sadly we're in the car to do errands anyway -- not walking down city streets.

post #48 of 69
4/8/13 at 12:37pm
Quote:

Originally Posted by Eilis View Post

 

So has anyone else looked at convertible carseats as alternative to infant carseat and if so what did you decide?

 

 


Yes.  The Car Seat Safety Tech lady (that I mentioned before) uses a Diono brand.  Radian I think, but I'm not sure which model.  She raved about it.  It can start with a 5lb baby and converts until the kid hits 100 lbs I think (or the max height). 

 

She totally sold us on them, but we decided to start with the bucket seat anyway.  We live in FL and I am not prepared to try and stuff myself in the backseat with a floppy newborn trying to buckle her in 95 degree weather.  I'd rather keep the seat inside the house, buckle her where it's nice and cool and then click her in and get the AC running as soon as possible.  I think this will also keep us from putting her in a seat that's been cooking in the car for hours.  I realize that we'll have to leave the convertible seat in the car, but it seems less stressful to do it with a one year old than a newborn (we'll see).

 

We ordered the Chicco KeyFit 30.  I signed up for Amazon Mom, which offered the seat at  15% discount (about $30 difference).  I paid for Consumer Reports, and it actually was not the highest rated for crashes, but it was the highest rated for ease of use, which the tech says is the biggest plus - the safest seats are the ones used consistently and correctly.  This one has a level on the side so you can check it easily on a regular basis.

post #49 of 69
4/8/13 at 1:18pm

that makes perfect sense - you need to think about climate of the car you're putting the baby into, if the carseat is sitting there static in the car rather than baby being carried and clipped into it. Thanks for this additional info! Great point about ease of use. ChiccoKeyFit30 sounds pretty awesome on that front.
 

post #50 of 69
4/8/13 at 2:22pm

You might also want to think about the stroller you intend to use.

 

We registered for the Britax B-Safe becuase it was highly rated and also fits best with the stroller we want, the Baby Jogger City Mini GT.  I am insistent on only having one stroller and it needs to be a hybrid with bigger wheels for the brick streets and uneven sidewalks in my old neighborhood.  It also needs to fold easily and be pretty compact. Other friends have strollers systems that include the infant car seat and an additional (huge) jogging stroller...we only have room for one stroller.

post #51 of 69
4/8/13 at 3:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eilis View Post

As noted in the article:
Convertible car seats are used from birth until your child outgrows a car seat. This means that you can get more use out of your investment. They can be used in forward facing or in rear facing positions, depending on the weight of your child. (Rear facing is used for infants up to 2 years, and forward facing happens after your child is two years old.)
Just as an fyi, many seats can be used far longer than 2 years rear facing and 2 years is now the MINIMUM recommended by the AAP. The longer you can rear-face, the better. You'll want to look at the weight limits of the seat you choose to determine when you would need to turn it forward-facing.
Edited by womenswisdom - 4/8/13 at 4:30pm
post #52 of 69
4/10/13 at 10:36pm
We got the Diono convertible seat and I am very excited about it. Plus it is (I think) the narrowest car seat available which is good for us because I've still got one in a full booster and one in a forward facing seat so not tons of room for us in the car. Supposedly you are able to fit 3 Diono's safely in the back of a sedan. We have a Ford explorer but still looking forward to the ease of a narrow infant seat.
post #53 of 69
4/11/13 at 11:15am

Argh, so we have the Britax Roundabout 55 for DS, which we have had for about a year and a half now and were hoping to keep him in for a while longer, but it's totally falling apart.  I'm kind of disappointed, since Britax is typically rated so high.  Just thought I would throw that out there...

post #54 of 69
4/11/13 at 7:52pm

I'm thinking of getting a Radian this time around. A friend wrote this post on them and she has three. I currently have a Britax (not sure what the model is but can get info if anyone is interested in a proper review) It's what we got when our little guy was born and we've had it for over three years. I really like it, but the Radian has a smaller footprint (takes up less space so you can fit more). Anyone else have one of these?

 

the post my friend wrote if anyone is interested in more details and perspective from the mother of 3

 

https://wefindeachother.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/parenting-why-i-bought-a-radian-car-seat-and-then-bought-2-more/

post #55 of 69
4/12/13 at 10:10am

The Diono Radian is what I have and was talking about a few posts up... we haven't used it yet but I really like it so far.

I actually have an appt set up with a car seat tech at the end of April to look at all our seats and how they're installed in our vehicle to make sure they are all as safe as can be. We have an SUV with several different seating options and three kiddos in seats so I'm hoping to get some good advice on what will be best. With all the changes in car seat rules and the option of LATCH (among other things) there's SO much to keep up on! I just want my kids to be as safe as possible within my ability while in the car.

 

I have seen a carseat tech before and really recomend it for parents- even if you're an old pro at the kid thing.  It is estimated that 80% of people incorrectly use their carseats or buckle their children in wrong. Scary thought!!

post #56 of 69
4/12/13 at 10:26am

Good advice shanna-cat.  I googled and was able to find a few places that will make sure your carseat is installed properly.  One is AAA.  Another is a local medical center.  I think the highway patrol may also have that resource.

post #57 of 69
4/12/13 at 10:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pokeyAC View Post

Good advice shanna-cat.  I googled and was able to find a few places that will make sure your carseat is installed properly.  One is AAA.  Another is a local medical center.  I think the highway patrol may also have that resource.

 

Often times hospitals offer car seat techs every few months or so. There are a ton of FREE resources for this... don't pay for this service!! Many places ask you to make an appt and bring your kids with you as well as the seats so they can make sure you are both installing and buckling in correctly.

post #58 of 69
4/12/13 at 3:12pm

oh thank you for that! I though the fire department was to only place that did that and our fire department is not convenient, though I'm sure my son would like to check it out. AAA would work nicely. I will go do that as soon as I get the new seat.

post #59 of 69
4/14/13 at 5:36pm
Thread Starter 

I ended up getting the Diono RadianRXT Convertible Car Seat to use in my Forester. I love it! It's pretty heavy. I still didn't have enough room for my 10 yo with that for my 5 yo and the newborn bucket seat, so we just sold my Subaru and bought a minivan. lol Its a 04 with 120k miles,but it was an even trade for my Subaru

post #60 of 69
4/15/13 at 8:31am
Finally got our bucket car seat for the baby. Huge relief. We went to babies r us to get the seat and I was surprised to see that they don't even carry in-store, the Graco snug ride original that only goes up to 22 lbs. They only had the snug ride 35 in stock. Which goes up to 35 lbs. They said it was their most popular seat. I know that my baby won't be 35 lbs while still in that seat, so I knew all I needed was the 22 lbs one. My son is 3.5 and still hasn't passed 30 lbs.

Carrying the 35 seat with a 10-15lb baby would be too heavy for me. The 22 lb seat is only like 8 lbs or something alone. So I figured that would be the best bet for me.

We ended up having to order online through the store, and they waived the shipping. (Yippee!!) plus it gets delivered right to my door. Another bonus. So I'm happy that I'll finally have the car seat!!
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