[Maggirayne]

I'm trying to decide if we should get another bucket carseat or a convertible carseat. I use carriers a lot, I didn't have them when my first DD was little, but I use it a lot now, I can only imagine I use them tons with this baby.

So, I am debating the convenience of leaving her in it to sleep when going places. I know you have to be sure they can breath (chin not on their chests).

I currently have have an older Graco convertible (with the paperclip style buckle) which is very upright, and the Evenflo bucket seat seemed very vertical when DD was little. The Graco is even more so. I know Britaxes are popular around here. I haven't done much research on what we want next, I'm trying to decide what we want first.

Thanks!

 

[alegna]

Britax seats are still my top choice for convertibles, but they're not great for newborns. What I've done for my two is use a bucket (britax companion) for the first couple of months then move into a convertible (boulevard)

-Angela

 

[Smalls181]

I am not a fan of bucket seats. I probably wouldn't buy another one if we had another baby. I would look into the Compass True Fit, as it tends to fit newborns very well.

 

[sunnymw]

Yes, I have a True Fit and had a Radian and they both fit smaller babies really well. I like them both better than Britaxes for several reasons--of course there are things about a Britax I like better too--but the TF is my favorite seat

I use carriers all the time and I think this babe sleeps better because of it. He stirs while I put him in the carrier, then goes right back to sleep, then stirs when I put him in the carseat and goes back to sleep. With DS1 I had a lot of carry-the-bucket-and-the-screaming-baby scenarios, which got old quick. I didn't even bother getting the snugride out of storage this time around

 

[sunnymw]

Yes, I have a True Fit and had a Radian and they both fit smaller babies really well. I like them both better than Britaxes for several reasons--of course there are things about a Britax I like better too--but the TF is my favorite seat

I use carriers all the time and I think this babe sleeps better because of it. He stirs while I put him in the carrier, then goes right back to sleep, then stirs when I put him in the carseat and goes back to sleep. With DS1 I had a lot of carry-the-bucket-and-the-screaming-baby scenarios, which got old quick. I didn't even bother getting the snugride out of storage this time around

 

[Maggirayne]

Is this like the True Fit you all are talking about?
http://www.amazon.com/First-Years-Tr.../dp/B000YBIL4W

I read on one of the links I found that the lowest setting for the shoulder straps is 10 inches. That's small enough for a newborn? I read on one of the Britax convertible threads that 10.5 was too tall for a NB.

My first baby was 6 lb 7 oz, but of course who knows what #2 will be like.

 

[alegna]

Yep. That's it.

-Angela

 

[mbhf]

I use a bucket. I leave it in the car, there's no rule saying if you use a bucket you have to take it out! I went with a bucket (britax companion) because I felt it was the safest option for a newborn.

 

[Maggirayne]

Good point about leaving it in. I have forgotten how much of a pain those things are to lug around.

I think if we get a new carseat, I'd like one that lasts for a while. The True Fit really appeals to me.

Duh, my bug with the bucket I have, it's an Evenflo Embrace that we did get the repair kit for just after DD was born, the recall was 6 days after she was born! But I don't like how the handle looks like it is separating. I'll post a picture and describe where better, but we could use it and leave it in the car! Duh! :doh And then not worry about the convertible fitting.

 

[Maggirayne]

Okay, where the handle zigzags, there are two pieces of plastic, top and bottom. They are slightly separated so you can see between them when carrying it by the handle. I carried in both hands for a little while before switching, but that won't work while hanging onto a 25 mo this time around.

 

[sunnymw]

the infant padding raises a baby 2-3" easy on the tf, so i guess that'd make the bottom slots 7-8"

my 4mo is in the 2nd slots w the padding, 1st w/o.

nak

 

[sunnymw]

the infant padding raises a baby 2-3" easy on the tf, so i guess that'd make the bottom slots 7-8"

my 4mo is in the 2nd slots w the padding, 1st w/o.

nak

 

[Smalls181]

Buckets just seem like a waste of money, unless you have a very tiny baby that absolutely will not fit in any convertible. For me, I just dont see the point in buying an infant seat and a convertible seat and then another seat later on.

Thankfully, our bucket seat has been passed around a lot in our family. DD hated it, but my sisters baby loved it. Im glad somebody got some use out of that thing.

 

[Natsuki]

I would probably go with a bucket b/c they fit young infants better and you have the option of carrying it out if necessary for your convenience.

There are higher height/weight limit buckets out now that go to 1 year (or beyond) of age - 32 lbs/32" is the limit on the new Graco Snugride32.

We had the Graco Safeseat (30"/32") with DS and he was in that until 15 months - so we definitely got longevity out of it.

 

[mamazee]

If you live in a cold climate, and if your baby will be born or tiny during cold weather, it can be handy to keep the bucket inside, put the baby in a warm seat, and then put that in the car rather than putting the baby in a cold car. Otherwise, it's probably just as easy to skip them. Though I found it handy with my older daughter, who was born during warm weather, to get her situated inside too.

 

[ErikaG]

Whether you take the bucket out of the car or not, I'd still go with a bucket seat, unless you know you have really tall babies. My daughter went through a "hate to be worn" phase for a few months, too, and so having the bucket was invaluable-we'd never have been able to go anywhere with her without a bucket and a stroller from about six or eight weeks until six months.

My reason has to do with strap height. In a rear facing car seat, shoulder straps need to come from at or below the height of the shoulders. Since you can't tell the height of a baby before that baby is born, and buckets tend to have lower strap heights at their lowest point than convertible seats, most babies will fit better in a bucket seat than a convertible in the beginning.

 

[MichelleAnnette]

We have used only a convertible - Britax Boulevard. It fit ds fine from birth and he is still rear facing at 17 mos. I can see how a bucket might be convenient at times, but it wasn't worth the extra plastic and money for us. We have always had a noodle under our seat to make the line on the seat horizontal like it is supposed to be. It would not work for a newborn if the noodle was not there. We were confused about how vertical it was at first but then we got it installed by a carseat tech before ds was born and they put the noodle there.