[mamabean]

Okay ladies!!! I need your help...I do not have a baby yet, but I am looking at infant carseats as well as strollers. I am looking for recommendations for carseats..

is an infant carrier/carseat better than a carseat that can be forward facing after using it for rearfacing? or is it best to get an infant carrier/seat then a regular car seat?

what brands do you like?

travel system?

lightweight stroller better than travel system?

how important is it to have a stroller that accommedates an infant carseat?

any other advise you can think of??

Thanks for your opinions! I am driving myself crazy looking at strollers and carseats!!!

Much love,
Melissa

[Daisy1339]

EEEE GAds!! I'm wondering all of this myself! I can't wait to see the responses!

I've actually stopped moms in the supermarket if I've noticed the baby is in a carrier. I've asked them, " Do you like that system or do you hate it and wish you had a different one?"

I saw a woman with a Chicco travel system and she said she loves it.

[JustCourtney]

First, you really do want an infant carseat that you can carry - big plus while they are tiny. You can just tote them anywhere, and they have a place to sit/sleep! Plus, when they crash out in the car, you can just carry them into the house to finish their nap!

I did not go with a traditional travel system. I got a car seat and a lightweight stroller that would accept it (both britax). It collapses like an umbrella stroller and takes up very little room - even when the carrier was attached, it took up lots less real estate then the graco or chicco travel systems my friends had, and was super easy to navigate in stores or crowds. Loved that! It is still great to keep in my trunk and I use it for everyday stuff, and anytime I am indoors or in paved areas. Later, I ended up buying a jogging stroller to use on walks, and for trips to the park, etc. It has 12" tires that take curbs, grass, and mulch like nobody's business!

I know lots of people who love their graco and chicco travel systems - LOTS! I just took a slightly different approach, and in the end am glad I did. It all really depends on how you end up using your stroller, and it is hard to tell until your baby gets home - what time of the year also can play into it! I have a friend who is due the end of October, and probably won't be outside much at all with a stroller until spring. I told her to get the carrier frame thing that accepts all kinds of infant seats, and then research strollers for the spring, when she won't have to worry about the carrier. Then she can just get a great stroller that fits her needs.

Good luck! I know it is overwhelming!

[mamabean]

JustCourtney,
What type jogging stroller do you have? I have been looking into those as well!

Thanks for the advise!!! Very appreciated

[JustCourtney]

Well, let me first say that I am in no way a jogger! I enjoy a good walk, but let's not get carried away!

I have a Baby Trend Expedition - it can be used for jogging (the front wheel locks), but it isn't really made for serious runners. I like that it folds easily and has 12" spoke wheels that make it easy for me to travel anywhere, on any surface. It is great in the neighborhood, too because it minimizes the the cracks in the sidewalks, and makes curbs no big deal.

Here is a link: Baby Trend Expedition Jogger Deluxe - Everest - Baby Trend - Babies "R" Us

Oh, and I friend who is super sporty and jogs everyday - she has a BOB, and loves it! Hope this helps!

[mrskt]

I had a Graco Snugride and a Metrolite stroller with it. I absolutely LOVE the combo, and it was perfect for us. Now Anya's in a Britax Marathon rear-facing convertible, and I'm very pleased with it as well. I'll go exactly the same route when the new baby gets here.

We do have a Maclaren Quest in DH's truck, and like it as well for a lightweight umbrella for around the neighborhood and stuff like that, but I don't like that it's tippy (I mainly use my stroller shopping in the mall), and it didn't have a cup holder (another must for me at the mall). The Metrolite fits that bill very very well!

[aclee]

I still stand by the Chicco as the best around...it's an amazing system and there is ONE (ONE!) thing I think could be improved on it. The infant seat doesn't "lock" into all shopping carriages. That says a lot since half the strollers I've used, I would settle for "doesn't fall over into the dirt when you fold it up"!! I've used a million systems as a Nanny, and this is what everyone needs to have!!! The only problem I have with it right now is that I left in VA when I went to see my Mom I'm taking another 9 hour drive back there much sooner than I expected, just to get that thing back

I really did love the extended weight and height that the chicco keyfit offered too. Ty was in it till a year, and it makes the purchase of an infant carrier that much more worth it. We were able to wait on buying the next size up seat a lot longer than most

[hopingforachild]

I've been doing lots of research. We hope to be bringing a baby home in a couple weeks. I am going with a similar approach as a previous post.

A frame type stroller that is only used with the car seat. (friend is loaning me her Britax companion infant seat) and then will also purchase a Bob Revolution. The front wheel will lock or swivel so it is good for power walks or jogging if you are so inclined and you can take it into stores and it will turn easily if you unlock the front wheel.

I also found a lightweight Chicco off Craigslist. Its brand new in box. They sell at BRU for $70 that I purchased for $40. I hope that the combination of these will see me through all situations.

Be careful on Craigslist. Carseats expire after 6 yrs I think and you are not supposed to use after an accident so don't purchase or borrow from someone you don't trust.

BTW, I am 41 and have an arthritis diagnosis, although you wouldn't know it to look at me, so my choices were also made with the consideration that I wanted something lightweight. I think the travel systems are so big and bulky.

We will probably purchase a Britax marathon once the baby is ready for a new car seat based on friend's recommendations and my research.

Good Luck!

[emtb79]

I loved my Graco metrolite before they re-did the reclining mechanism. Before it was a squeeze and release now it is more of a zip cord cord of release and it didnt hold up with a heavy toddler needless to say I returned it. My first one died when I put it down behind the 12 passenger van and ran it over.

I love, love, love the Graco infant car seats.
I like the CHicco car seat base and the newborn insert but thats about it. The sunshade doesnt come out far enough to block out the sun.
I dont like the Evenflo.

I have to say I follow up alot with Graco comfort sport or Britax Marathon.

The Marathons are used for rear facing, the comfort sport is only forward facing. But that is what's in the 12 passenger van.
I have had alot of iinfant car seats come through the front door with all the daycare kids.

[godzooky]

Travel System: Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Infant Car Seat + Peg Perego Pliko P3 stroller

Jogging Stroller: BOB Revolution

Lightweight Stroller for Toddler: Graco Ipo Stroller

Car Seat: Britax Decathlon

[mnmomma]

I bought my carseats knowing that we were open to foster placements from 0-1, so I didn't want to buy infant systems because they are so short-term. There were times that the portability would have been nice back when she weighed 5 lbs, but my 17 mo old is still in the same convertible seat from birth and it works just fine. I usually just held her or put her in a carrier at the store and such when she was really little.

[slugbug0930]

We had a Graco system when DD little. Loved it! I think if I were to do it again though I would buy the Graco Snugfit 32 instead though
Graco SnugRide 32 Infant Car Seat - Lemon Grass - Graco - Babies "R" Us

DD outgrew her carseat in length (at about 8 months) before she even got close to the weight restrictions and the 32 allow for taller and heavier infants.

The carseats with the bases are the way to go IMO as all you need for a second car is a second base. We had a base for my car, a base for DH's car and a base for the nanny's car.

We did get the full out travel system. I really like the stroller but it is big and bulky and takes up the entire trunk of my car. We ended up buying a smaller lighter weight Combi (after she outgrew the Graco seat) to take with us as it fit better in my car and was easier to pack around.

[ocracoke]

Just a suggestion, if you are getting a jogging stroller (which I do suggest for a more comfortable ride for the baby) then make sure to get one with a movable front wheel. Some are stationary and it makes it hard to turn. The movable front wheel will make it easier on you to get around corners and tight spaces.

Samantha

[Vogi2002]

Chicco all the way. BTW - it is VERY dangerous to lock a carseat in a shopping cart. Shopping carts tip over and it creates a very unstable cart. Always put them IN the cart. That's why the don't lock in. I LOVE My chicco Cortina travel system, the carseat (with the extra base), base, and stroller are all wonderful and I don't have one complaint!

[OakShannon]

Originally Posted by mnmomma

I bought my carseats knowing that we were open to foster placements from 0-1, so I didn't want to buy infant systems because they are so short-term. There were times that the portability would have been nice back when she weighed 5 lbs, but my 17 mo old is still in the same convertible seat from birth and it works just fine. I usually just held her or put her in a carrier at the store and such when she was really little.

Me too. I was reading this thinking, "WOW! I didn't have anything like that much stuff!" We got the convertible seat for the same reason you did. And I carried him in a baby carrier until he was big enough to ride in a cart. Actually, he still usually goes places with me riding on my back. (He's 17 months old, too.) I like not having to worry about the bulk of a stroller unless we're shopping on foot and I need the basket to hold some groceries or something. It's just another possible way to go. Probably a personality thing. (Or a space thing if, like me, you live in a small house!) It worked fine for us though. I would do it the same way again.