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J. K
This is DH & I baby #1. I'm not very far along with my pregnancy but I feel super overwhelmed at everything that has to be done before baby arrives. So I'm researching early as usual. lol With that being said I've had many friends that have used those traveling systems and said they loved them however when the baby got a little heavier they would complain the entire time carrying it saying it was too heavy and that their shoulders, back, etc. were starting to hurt frequently. So my thought was to get one of those convertible car seats and then buy a stroller with no traveling system but now those same ladies are saying 'no no no you are being silly.' My Mom is with me and says to get a convertible car seat and save the money in the long run.
I just want to know the opinions of others.
And if you used a convertible car seat what did you do with the baby when you went to a restaurant because as of right now thats the only way I think the travel system would be better.
Thanks everyone! :-)
Answer
Skip the travel system. This isn't a popular answer, but it's the truth. Travel systems encourage unsafe use of the car seat.
According to studies done, until babies are 3-6 months old they should be laying flat or being carried upright in someone's arms (or a baby carrier.) When they are put in a car seat, bouncer, stroller with an incline, swing, etc, their oxygen levels dip. The more premature they are the more danger they are in, and if they have any breathing issues the more danger they're in. The recommendation is that car seats are used for travel in cars, not for sitting, riding, being carried in, going in the stroller, being put on shopping carts, as a feeding chair, etc. And most dangerous of all, don't let the baby SLEEP in them. That's also why they are so adamant about a 45degree angle recline in car seats for infants, it helps them breathe. Some of the best strollers for newborns (like the Chicco, it lays fully flat and puts their feet up too so it's like a little bed) come with car seats to hook into them, basically negating the safest way for the baby to ride, and encouraging the parent to leave them in the seat.
Basically when you see a baby riding in an infant seat, sitting in one during dinner in a restaurant, that baby is in danger for the parent's convenience. I never felt comfortable leaving my daughter in a car seat in a restaurant... we actually bought a travel-high chair that reclined very well and used that, or just held her. Oh, the travel-high chair was so much better than a normal one as well. Perfect to take to a friend's house, or to a BBQ, and didn't take up as much room for us to use every day. See the second link, that's basically what we have.
So for safety reasons it's better not to use a travel system.
Add: Never, never, never under any circumstances put a infant carseat on a shopping cart! Not only is it bad for their breathing, it's not how shopping carts are designed and has been consistently warned against doing for years now because of the number of infants injured or killed from having their carseat put on the cart.
Skip the travel system. This isn't a popular answer, but it's the truth. Travel systems encourage unsafe use of the car seat.
According to studies done, until babies are 3-6 months old they should be laying flat or being carried upright in someone's arms (or a baby carrier.) When they are put in a car seat, bouncer, stroller with an incline, swing, etc, their oxygen levels dip. The more premature they are the more danger they are in, and if they have any breathing issues the more danger they're in. The recommendation is that car seats are used for travel in cars, not for sitting, riding, being carried in, going in the stroller, being put on shopping carts, as a feeding chair, etc. And most dangerous of all, don't let the baby SLEEP in them. That's also why they are so adamant about a 45degree angle recline in car seats for infants, it helps them breathe. Some of the best strollers for newborns (like the Chicco, it lays fully flat and puts their feet up too so it's like a little bed) come with car seats to hook into them, basically negating the safest way for the baby to ride, and encouraging the parent to leave them in the seat.
Basically when you see a baby riding in an infant seat, sitting in one during dinner in a restaurant, that baby is in danger for the parent's convenience. I never felt comfortable leaving my daughter in a car seat in a restaurant... we actually bought a travel-high chair that reclined very well and used that, or just held her. Oh, the travel-high chair was so much better than a normal one as well. Perfect to take to a friend's house, or to a BBQ, and didn't take up as much room for us to use every day. See the second link, that's basically what we have.
So for safety reasons it's better not to use a travel system.
Add: Never, never, never under any circumstances put a infant carseat on a shopping cart! Not only is it bad for their breathing, it's not how shopping carts are designed and has been consistently warned against doing for years now because of the number of infants injured or killed from having their carseat put on the cart.
Should i buy a normal car seat or a travel system?
McKenzie J
i am a first time mom with not many friends who have had children and i am completely lost in what is the best thing to buy! i know with a travel system the car seat is limited and with a normal car seat it is rear and forward faces which means i can us it longer, what should i buy?
Answer
Well, leaving a baby in an infant baby seat outside of the car is a risk for SIDS. It can tilt their head forward and lower their oxygen levels, also it can curl their back and isn't as good for them. The recommendation is a flat surface, or in your arms (in a baby carrier that emulates that position.) So it's not recommended to put a baby in an infant car seat in a stroller and push them around and let them sleep there. So... what's the point of a travel system if you aren't really supposed to do that? There are strollers that lay flat, or just buy a Moby wrap or nice chest carrier like the Beco. (Like 2 and 3 are places that rent carriers so you can try them out without spending a lot of money and decide what works for you.)
If you have the money, an infant car seat is convenient in some conditions. For instance, in bad weather or very hot weather it's better to have the seat in the house rather than put a baby in a hot seat in the car (unless you take the time to cool the seat using freezer packs or something like I used to.) Also it's nice that they can transfer from one car to another with little problem (my sister left her son to be babysat for instance and his seat stayed with him so we could drive him home later. A convertible seat is more permanent in your car and so harder to do that with.) Also infant seats fit newborns and smaller better than a convertible seat. With my first and second we did use an infant car seat and then moved to a convertible.
Having said that, with my next we're planning on buying a convertible and using that from day one. The Britax seat we're looking at rear-faces to 40lbs and forward to 70lbs, and you have to put an insert in for a newborn to fit snugly, but they're not cheap ($230-300.) The Cosco Scenara is available only at Wal-mart and rear-faces to 40lbs (forward to 50lbs) and runs $39. Then there's seats everywhere inbetween. For me, I like the fact that because it's going to 70lbs it will last us probably until the seat expires in 6-7 years, and I like the new technology Britax has for forward facing children to limit head movement, but there are MANY great seats.
Just make sure you get a longer rear-facing weight and height limit so that you keep them rearfacing at least to 2 years old (it's 5x safer.) That means if you DO get an infant seat that goes to 22lbs (normal weight) then you'll probably have to buy a convertible in a year anyway. If you buy an infant seat that goes to 30-35lbs (Chicco, Graco Snugride 30 and 35, etc) then it may last you for 2 years but I've never known a baby who liked to lay back in the recline needed for a newborn seat once they can sit up so you'd probably want to buy a convertible in a year anyway.
Add: Just for fun, the fourth link is talking about the G3 Britax line that will come out in July, but at the bottom it talks about how in July, if you are wanting to buy the stroller they have out you can get one of their car seats for free. It's a $500 stroller (not in my price range) but if you were looking at travel systems, it would be a travel system (again, not what I'd recommend, still, sort of fun to find a sale to share.) Rather than a seat you can always get the 'bassinet seat' for free instead, which would make the stroller into a nice little bed/bassinet (which you could use around the house as a bassinet if you don't already have one as well as a stroller.)
Well, leaving a baby in an infant baby seat outside of the car is a risk for SIDS. It can tilt their head forward and lower their oxygen levels, also it can curl their back and isn't as good for them. The recommendation is a flat surface, or in your arms (in a baby carrier that emulates that position.) So it's not recommended to put a baby in an infant car seat in a stroller and push them around and let them sleep there. So... what's the point of a travel system if you aren't really supposed to do that? There are strollers that lay flat, or just buy a Moby wrap or nice chest carrier like the Beco. (Like 2 and 3 are places that rent carriers so you can try them out without spending a lot of money and decide what works for you.)
If you have the money, an infant car seat is convenient in some conditions. For instance, in bad weather or very hot weather it's better to have the seat in the house rather than put a baby in a hot seat in the car (unless you take the time to cool the seat using freezer packs or something like I used to.) Also it's nice that they can transfer from one car to another with little problem (my sister left her son to be babysat for instance and his seat stayed with him so we could drive him home later. A convertible seat is more permanent in your car and so harder to do that with.) Also infant seats fit newborns and smaller better than a convertible seat. With my first and second we did use an infant car seat and then moved to a convertible.
Having said that, with my next we're planning on buying a convertible and using that from day one. The Britax seat we're looking at rear-faces to 40lbs and forward to 70lbs, and you have to put an insert in for a newborn to fit snugly, but they're not cheap ($230-300.) The Cosco Scenara is available only at Wal-mart and rear-faces to 40lbs (forward to 50lbs) and runs $39. Then there's seats everywhere inbetween. For me, I like the fact that because it's going to 70lbs it will last us probably until the seat expires in 6-7 years, and I like the new technology Britax has for forward facing children to limit head movement, but there are MANY great seats.
Just make sure you get a longer rear-facing weight and height limit so that you keep them rearfacing at least to 2 years old (it's 5x safer.) That means if you DO get an infant seat that goes to 22lbs (normal weight) then you'll probably have to buy a convertible in a year anyway. If you buy an infant seat that goes to 30-35lbs (Chicco, Graco Snugride 30 and 35, etc) then it may last you for 2 years but I've never known a baby who liked to lay back in the recline needed for a newborn seat once they can sit up so you'd probably want to buy a convertible in a year anyway.
Add: Just for fun, the fourth link is talking about the G3 Britax line that will come out in July, but at the bottom it talks about how in July, if you are wanting to buy the stroller they have out you can get one of their car seats for free. It's a $500 stroller (not in my price range) but if you were looking at travel systems, it would be a travel system (again, not what I'd recommend, still, sort of fun to find a sale to share.) Rather than a seat you can always get the 'bassinet seat' for free instead, which would make the stroller into a nice little bed/bassinet (which you could use around the house as a bassinet if you don't already have one as well as a stroller.)
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