Car Seat help please.

soImarriedAnerd · #1 May 11th, 2009, 07:12 AM

I need some opinions. (I will probably keep coming up with more questions in my search so please check back!)

The car seat-----Harness vs Shield (pull over flap with harness)-which one do you like better and why?

Is it worth getting an infant seat or should I just get a convertible one?

Resi · #2 May 11th, 2009, 07:21 AM

I like my infant seat and we are still using it. I think we will be able to use it for a few more months before switching over. It has a five-point safety harness. We have been happy with it.

This is the one I got:
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 Infant Car Seat - Moka - Buy at Diapers.com - Fast Free Shipping

IamMom · #3 May 11th, 2009, 07:22 AM

I think we had another thread about this.....cause I was asking about Britax and whether I should get a new infant seat or a convertible...blah blah blah. I am sticking with the infant seat we used for DS...I love having the infant seat cause you just grab it and go and don't have to get the baby out.....I can't imagine putting a newborn in a convertible even though they say it works and I'm sure it does!!! I bought Harrison a Britax frontier (still haven't installed it)and I will buy baby girl a convertible Britax when she hits a year!

My vote is the infant seat....its worth it to me. Fits good in shopping carts etc. Plus you can just have a base in each car and don't have to buy two seats right away, or switch it back and forth from car to car.

I'm not sure what a shield vs. harness means? Sorry

soImarriedAnerd · #4 May 11th, 2009, 07:36 AM

The shield vs the Harness-----some car seats have that piece that folds down over the baby with a pad on it and clicks in, and others just have the Harness.

Shield example:
Amazon.com: Evenflo Tribute Overhead Shield Car Seat Small Bridgeport: Baby
Harness example:
Amazon.com: Britax Roundabout Convertible Car Seat - Bridgeport: Baby

*I was looking up pictures for examples when I got TONS of info on why they don't recommend Shield ones anymore---so I guess that answered that! LOL*

How about material---better to go dark or light colored? Do most have seat covers you can remove and clean--or can you buy them?

Angelaosaurus-rex · #5 May 11th, 2009, 07:52 AM

Amazon.com: Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat Onyx: Baby

This is the one I have and I love it! The seat cover does come off to wash and they also sell them separate. Landen grew out of his infant car seat by 4 months but it made things so much easier at the time so I do recommend one!

Oooo And this car seat is airline approved!

~*Bethy*~ · #6 May 11th, 2009, 08:03 AM

Almost all car seat covers can be taken off and washed. They come separate in a bag when you get the carseat, and you have to assemble the harness and seat cover. Honestly I would recommend the infant carrier - yes I did have a big baby the first time, but I doubt your baby will be almost 10lbs. A lot of the new infant carriers go up to 30+ lbs, that wasnt even an option when my almost 3yr old was born!!! Light vs Dark covers - Id say go with what you want, if you wash it, its not really going to matter. Speaking of you just reminded me to pull the covers off our carseats and wash em

~Beth

Mars · #7 May 11th, 2009, 08:20 AM

I got an infant seat and I love it. I think it will work for Amara for a few more months and it's convenient for me to use and maneuver since I have a 2/3 door SUV.

I think most car seats now have covers that can be removed and washed and you can buy covers as well. I have a Chicco Keyfit and I think it's removable. Either way, I prefer the darker colors.

#8 May 11th, 2009, 08:46 AM

I dunno, I just got a Graco safeseat to be done with it. It's green and I like that. And I will buythe Britax for him to transition to later. Works for me.

~Jess~ · #9 May 11th, 2009, 09:23 AM

Random facts stick in my mind. It's a strange talent of mine (I guess, lol).

Anyway, for some reason, I have it stuck in my mind that the shield-type carseats are less safe than a standard 5-pt harness. Now, I don't remember where I heard/read that or if it was even accurate, but it's stuck in my mind so I've avoided them.

Since you're going to be using a baby carrier a lot of the time, I'd go with a convertible carseat from the get-go. I rarely used my infant carseat carrier because I liked carrying her in a front carrier.

Mod-LadyCoconut · #10 May 11th, 2009, 09:29 AM

My thinking for you is that if you're going to be traveling all over the place... even when you 'stay' somewhere -- how often are you driving? I don't picture you guys driving much so it seems like it would make the most sense to get the convertible seat.

#11 May 11th, 2009, 09:47 AM

I dont know whats best for you, but I got the travel system that comes with the infant seat. Well be getting a convertible for m moms car though..and I have no idea about whats safer..

#12 May 11th, 2009, 10:01 AM

Even though it seems like a waste of money, I personally reccommend an infant seat. It makes it sooo much easier to run errands with baby without waking them. You can buy one of the strollers where the seat just snaps in. Super easy. Or, you can just carry the seat. It's kind of bulky, but it's not so bad once you get used to it.

We moved Reid into his Britax Marathon around 6 months.

That shield thing looks odd to me- I would stay away from it. I have been pretty picky about my carseats- I will only buy Britax. We are in the car A LOT. I wouldn't mind getting a different/more affordable brand for DH's care (which Reid isn't in that often) or my moms car. I loooved our Britax Companion. He looked so safe and snuggly in it!
Britax Companion Infant Car Seat in Aqua

LaLaRose3 · #13 May 11th, 2009, 10:22 AM

I am a huge fan of the one I got... it is a Graco Snugride Travel System and I LOVEEEE it. I can click the carseat into the car, take it out and carry it, or snap it into the stroller. LOVE IT. Never wakes Alice up when we are out, it is easy to get her in and out of, it is light and easy to carry... So I would for sure recommend that set-up.

IamMom · #14 May 11th, 2009, 11:28 AM

ok - now that I see the shield thing I say no way.....I haven't seen a shield car seat in a long time.....I have a feeling they'd be less safe and unnecessary!

Even if you're not going to be in the car alot the carseat does make for an easy place to put baby just to relax.....most of them rock like a bouncy seat and you can hang toys on them etc. I am getting a carrier this time around but I still think for errands and in and out of stores etc. the infant seat will be preferable! We have an evenflo travel system - seat fits into the stroller like Bre mentioned!

Good luck deciding.

Adriana's Mommy · #15 May 12th, 2009, 05:59 AM

I would get both infant car seat and a convertible car seat..

If you want a AWESOME convertible carseat, consider the Recaro Signo.. The brand Recaro has been around for 100 years, just recently the past 2 years they just started making convertible carseats.. In case you didn't know, Recaro makes car seats for Nascar, airlines, car seat for vary expensive cars like porche,etc. after market seats, etc.. You should check it out..

I have the Recaro Signo in Blush.. I can't wait to find out if I'm having a boy or a girl because if it's a boy, I'm getting the blue one..

RECARO Signo convertible car seat | Parent Reviews & Free Shipping

Here's a video of a Recaro agent talking about the Recaro brand in general..

YouTube - 2007 SEMA Show - Recaro Booth

Oh, one thing you have to watch out for about the Recaro, is that it's a BIG seat.. It's about 2 inches taller then Britax seats..

Augie · #16 May 12th, 2009, 09:03 AM

I didn't read it all, so forgive me if this has been said, but they don't even make the shields any more. Any you find like that will be expired or very close to it. They are not considered safe!