[amazing_love]

This might be a silly question but i'm new to all of this so bear with me ladies.

What's the point of getting an infant car seat when most convertible seats i've seen fit babies as light as 5 lbs.? Why not just skip the infant seat altogether? A couple of you said you're going to use a Recaro. Well the Recaro Signo says it fits babies 5-35 lbs. rear facing and 20-70 lbs. forward facing. So why not just use something like this from the start?

[*Amy*]

It's more of a convenience thing than anything. When they're sleeping you just grab the car seat out of the car and take them where ever as opposed to having to wake them up or disturb them. I was dead set against an infant seat up until I got pregnant and starting thinking about it. I'm going to get one that goes up to 32 pounds so I don't feel like it's such a waste of money.

[ANGWife]

Definitely the convenience. It's easier to bring htme in and out of places, especially shopping. And it's nice when they are sleeping and you don't want to wake them. Also IMO it's a guaranteed seat for baby when you take them out ANYwhere, even just to places where you don't want them on the floor but you are too tired to hold them the whole time.

Now that DS is almost outgrown the seat, it makes me mad to have ot buy another seat. But we took that kid EVERYwhere and it was totally worth the infant seat. Also if you have kids close enough together, you can reuse the seat.

You can remove an infant seat out of the car when going places with the baby. If you plan on wearing the baby every time you leave your car, or putting the baby in a stroller by themself, then this isn't a feature you would necessarily need. But a lot of people like this feature. I esp like using Jack in his infant seat in his snap and go lightweight stroller when I am shopping or browsing through a store b/c it is easy. He can sleep or play with a toy, and I can just shop without worrying about bumping him or what he can grab (which I would worry about if I wear him in a store now that he is more active). And if he gets grumpy, I just move the stroller a bit. He is going to use that infant seat as long as possible, b/c even though I often take him out and carry him in stores now, for shopping it is the easiest! Plus, if you plan on going on walks when they are small it is the easiest way to do that too. Just snap in the seat and the baby is secure, so you can walk the mall/park whatever to you hearts content.

I have a rearco and it sits pretty upright. The infant seat is more like a bucket seat. So there is that but I am not sure if it would really matter with the right head support. Seriously, I recommend the infant seat. In the grand scheme of things, they are not that expensive. It is so true that it is a built in seat so your baby doesn't have to either be attached to you the entire time, or on the floor when you have to put him down. I mean, when I had to go to the Dr. by myself, what would I have done then? Brought my pack n play? I know others do just dandy without the infant seat, but I am glad I didn't have to think about it too much and could just carry him in his own little seat with his toys and blankie on his lap with no worries.

edited b/c one part made no dang sense

[**Jenn**]

I'm not a fan of infant seats and felt they were a waste of money. I've never used one and just started with a convertible. Liam used it, Lochy is using it now, and Lila will use it when she is born. I have a Britax Roundabout (5-45lbs) and it's worked out wonderfully. Even if I had an infant seat I wouldn't leave the baby in the seat while it was sleeping, I prefer to wear my babies and never had an issue with transferring my sleeping baby from car seat to sling. Just personal preference.

[SandKmommy]

I agree its more convenient when the baby is younger

If you have the money though, I would get it. Your baby may not like being worn (Jack didn't at first and still is not a fan of facing forward - he has always loved to see what is around him from day one). You may have a c section (prob. not, but still). You may want your DH to take the baby to the store by himself and feel comfy doing it, and some men don't feel comfy taking a baby out and putting that baby in a sling by themselves. I got a safeseat that has some ridiculously high weight limit, so it won't be wasted. Even if I mostly take him out of the seat now, there are still times when I don't (like at the bank), and it was worth it for the convenience and options I had from the beginning. The rearco I just got was on sale for $150 buckeroos, and that sucker will be used a long time too. Both are/will be used extensively, and are not wasted.

[SandKmommy]

Originally Posted by MomToJack

If you have the money though, I would get it. Your baby may not like being worn (Jack didn't at first and still is not a fan of facing forward - he has always loved to see what is around him from day one).

Seamus couldn't be worn, the only things I knew about 3.5yrs ago were slings and snuggi carriers, he could go in those but I can't use them with my shoulder, but he couldn't be in a sling because of his bad torticollis.

[sara~b]

I'm thinking we will get a convertible and an infant carseat. One will go in my car and one will go in Shane's. I will probably put the infant seat in Shane's because we usually take his truck shopping on the weekends. I will probably just wear the baby (if it's okay with that) most of the time otherwise so I will keep the convertible in my truck.

[Frozendesire]

I prefer an infant seat to a convertible because it's made ONLY for a tiny baby. It seems to lay them back/reclined better and just has better positioning. Also I like that you can take the whole seat out and keep baby sleeping in it or whatever.

[amazing_love]

Okay that makes a lot of sense. I think we'll probably end up getting an infant seat. It seems worth it to me.

[misfitinmn]

I highly recommend the Chicco Keyfit 30 - we had Ben in that up until he turned a year old! Granted, we didn't carry him around much in it when he was bigger, but especially during the winter...I SOOOOO miss that seat - I could just put a cover over it and not have to deal with bulky winter clothes.

I might not have used it so much if I could have ever mastered the transfer from seat to sling while keeping him sleeping - my kid REFUSED to stay sleeping if we even so much as touched him. And he really wasn't a fan of being worn, either. Sadly, because I really wanted to wear him more.

[fromGirltoMommy]

I definitely think the infant seat is worth it. Im kinda not looking forward to when she outgrows her! Its great if shes sleeping just unclip it and go. Dont have to bother her at all!

[Resi]

Everyone else already answered your question. I just wanted to say that for me it was nice for when it was cold out. I think it's mostly nice in the winter because you can keep baby nice and warm without taking them out of the seat. If it's going to be warmer when your LO is born you might want to skip it. I think if I had to do it over again I would have just skipped it. With baby wearing and a stroller there isn't a big need for it.

[amazing_love]

Originally Posted by Resi

Everyone else already answered your question. I just wanted to say that for me it was nice for when it was cold out. I think it's mostly nice in the winter because you can keep baby nice and warm without taking them out of the seat. If it's going to be warmer when your LO is born you might want to skip it. I think if I had to do it over again I would have just skipped it. With baby wearing and a stroller there isn't a big need for it.

With my baby being born in April, they would mostly be using it when it's warmer. Maybe it's not necessary then? Man how confusing! I guess it just depends on preference. I would hate to not get one and then wish i had though.

[**Jenn**]

Well you can always get one after the baby is born if you feel like you'd really like to have it or could really use it.

My Mom had one in her car for when we were visiting when Liam was a baby but I still never unclipped the whole seat and brought it with us, I always took him out. My convertible seats have different recline positions too so they go back quite a bit for the newborn/infant stage.

[SandKmommy]

Originally Posted by longing4baby

With my baby being born in April, they would mostly be using it when it's warmer. Maybe it's not necessary then? Man how confusing! I guess it just depends on preference. I would hate to not get one and then wish i had though.

Kieran was born in April and up here in Northern Idaho it can still be cold well into June, and shes only 8months old now and its December and its awesome to have, again to keep her in without her geting out to get cold.

[LaLaRose3]

I love our Graco infant seat! When Alice is sleeping, I can just take her out, put her in stroller and off we go! She never wakes up when we do this, and it really helps out. Ours was not that expensive at all, and it has definitely been worth its weight in gold!

It is worth it. Just get it! If you regret it - sell it on craigslist. I doubt you will though I think it increased my freedom. I went on park walks with other moms using it (still do!), ran quick errands using it, I have mentioned the doctors office already. And here in AZ in the summer it was very helpful. I could pop him in his stroller in the seat and draw the seat shade down so he didn't get burned. Plus, he would have been so hot on me (and I would have been too), had I wore him outside in the summer.