Quick, tell me about your carseats!

[TattooedMama]

So I wasn't going to have to buy a new carseat for this baby, but... the one I was buying from my friend her DH GAVE AWAY TO SOMEONE FROM HIS WORK this past weekend!!!! : That poor man will be in the doghouse for a while let me tell you! So now I have to make the painful decision on a new carseat. Rather quickly, I'm 38+ weeks and should go shopping today or tomorrow, don't ya think?
So, I am not a big fan of carrying the infant bucket seat around but getting a convertible sounds like a lot of work in the Midwest in the winter to switch it between DH's car and mine. UCK! And it will be pretty cold for several more months so just toting the baby while very AP, is not going to be that practical. So I guess I am already leaning towards an infant seat. What kinds are you using out there?

[bc1995]

I have a Peg Perego Viaggo from ds2 that I will be using. I will wear my baby when she is awake, but I love being able to leave them in the seat to nap if they are already asleep when we arrive at our destination. I usually switch to a convertible at 5 months or so. I have heard good reviews about the new Graco Safeseat since it can be used longer than the Graco Snugride, but that may not be an issue for you.

[prettypixels]

I got the Graco SafeSeat...
http://www.target.com/gp/browse.html...8&node=3579941
Really long URL there!
I can't review it for you yet as I have yet to install it... But there are a ton of reviews on that page. Or if you just look in the infant car seat section on target.com, a lot of the car seats have reviews to browse through. It really does help!

Good luck in the car seat search!

[sophiamama]

You are totally right, in cold weather, the bucket seats are a life-saver! I live in MA and can't imagine trying to snap a newborn into a convertible seat in the middle of the cold. Plus, at least for me, newborns just look TOO tiny in those big seats!

I have a Graco Snugride, the one we had with dd and it worked really well. Once she got a little bigger, I often took her out and just tucked her into my sling when we were going places. I've heard great reviews about their new seat, the Safeseat though!

[5thAttempt]

I got peg perego just to match my stroller; besides frind of mine gave me an extra base for it. However you probably better off with Graco since the base is so much cheaper and you mentioned that you want to switch it between 2 cars. I also recommend looking into car seat frame - much lighter than 'travel system' and it is $40-50.
One vote for 2006 Per Perego: they made car seat in such a way that you do not need a base when you are flying (one less thing to tote around), so if you plan to do some traveling while your baby is still very little - this might be a good option.

[carmel23]

britax roundabout....

[ATruck]

Well, we are just doing the convertible. Where I live it doesn't get cold very often, so the scenario where I have to pick her up in the cold wil probably only happen a few times. I had heard so many people complain about the travel systems, so we decided to skip it. So far I have not regretted it, though we have been to a restaurant with her only once so far.

We got a Britax Roundabout. The Marathon lasts longer (higher weight limit), but I had read that they are too big to fit into an airplane seat.

[niki_73]

We used the Graco Snugride for DS until he was 4 months, and then switched to a Britax Marathon. It is cold here so i like the carseat to be kept in the house so it is warm, and they look sooo tiny in the marathon's as newborns (ds was 8.9 so not a little one) we orginial thought we would use the marathon from the beginning with ds but it just look so enormous with him in it. Our snugride isn't that old so we are just reusing it again.

[LizaBear]

We're using our Snugride for a few months, then will have to move to a convertible of some kind. Not sure what we'll get as it's difficult to fit anything in a 3-across in the back of our Cavalier !

[rebyell]

I second getting a infant bucket just for the reason of being able to bring it in to warm it up! I can't imagine putting a newborn into a carseat that has been out in -10 degree cold, brrr, even if you warm up the car the back seat doesnt get that warm, with the seat rear facing. Plus then you just use more gas warming the car up!

I have the snugride from previous daughter and will use it for about 5-6 months or so with 2 bases.

[~*~MamaJava~*~]

We're going with the convertible this time. I *hate* carrying the buckets, and both my kids hated being in it. We still have it though so I can use it if the convertible bugs me. I didn't want to use the bucket we have because it's just a 3 pt harness (it's 3.5 years old) and that gives me the heebie jeebies.
I can't figure taking 3 kids with me alone anywhere if I have to carry the bucket and hold two hands.

I have a little insert for the convertible to help cradle the baby some more, and I'm planning on slinging it whenever we're out. It gets plenty cold here, but I try to preheat my car as much as possible, plus I will have it dressed warmly and will have a fleece bunting kind of thingy (not a big puffy loose thing) on it most likely.

It's an experiment, for sure!

[cornflower_3]

I used a Graco w/DS because of the cold here (he is a Sept. baby), an Evenflow convertible with DD2 (she is an April babe) and bought another Graco for this Dec/Jan baby. While I'm not a big fan of the bucket either, I also like to be able to keep the seat indoors when its cold, and I don't want to have to drag babe in and out of the seat just running in to pick DS up from preschool. I have to say of the three, the Evenflow was/is my favorite, even for an infant, but that just isn't going to work for this one. Oh, BTW, I bought our newest seat at a consignment shop for $45 and Graco sent me an owner's manual free.

[lexbeach]

We're using the Britax companion (infant seat) quite happily. I like the side impact protection and the anti-rebound bar. Ds seems happy enough in it! I don't ever carry the car seat with the baby in it (that would not be good for my body and I hate the idea of it), but I do bring it in the house so it doesn't get too cold in the car. I always carry ds in the Kangaroo Korner fleece pouch to and from the car and whenever we're out and about (way more than we should be with a 3-week old, unfortunately). It's the best for keeping babies warm!

HTH!

Lex

[steffanie3]

I went ahead and got another Alpha-Omega convertable. I was wondering about the cold too, but I managed in the blazing heat with DS, so I think it will work. I will probably get a cozy bunting too.

[TattooedMama]

Originally Posted by LizaBear

We're using our Snugride for a few months, then will have to move to a convertible of some kind. Not sure what we'll get as it's difficult to fit anything in a 3-across in the back of our Cavalier !

Yeah Liza, that's the problem with us too our second car is a 2 door sport Cavalier. AAACCCKKK!!! I swore after having ds#1 that I would never LEAN in the back seat of a car stepping over the seatbelt to strap a kid in and out of a car seat..... but here comes dc#3! Although whoever has the kids (almost always Mama) gets to drive the Sienna minivan which will have the kids primary carseats in it. So we will probably go to a convertible seat at the first hint of spring (here that's May, LOL!). I wish a Britax was in the budget, I know they are top of the line, but thanks for the recommendations all. I think I will look into the Safeseat for now.

[cpop]

We also have a Peg Perego Primo Viaggio from my dd1, and we bought another one (the newer model) for twin2.
Someone mentioned above that you don't need the base for the plane, and they actually say you don't have to use the base in the car either, which would mean that you could get away with not getting a second base for your second car.

[InstinctiveMama]

Where are you in the Midwest? I have a Graco bucket seat with three bases I am not using. I can attest the seat has never been in an accident. It only fit my son for 4.5 months so it looks new. It is 3.5 years old.

As for what I am using...a Peg Perego that fits in the stroller I rarely use. Go figure!

[TattooedMama]

I am in Iowa.... the middle of the Midwest! I wish we were closer, thanks for your consideration....