[lovelivvy]

Hi Everyone,
Just A Quick Question Before I Am Out The Door-knowing Now That We Will Be Picking Up Livvy At The 6 Month Old Mark-should I Return The Baby Swing And The Infant Car Seat? She Is Now At 16lbs. I Would Appreciate Any Advice.
Thanks!!!!!

[jennzyc]

Hello,

Well, you could use a convertible carseat (goes rear facing and front facing), but I liked the infant seat beacause it was easier when we went out. He was too small to sit in highchairs at restaurants and with the infant carseat when we were at a friends house he could sit and sleep in it. The swing on the other hand you could probably do without, although my son will be 9 months in a few days and still likes it once in a while Hope it helps

best wishes,
Jen C.

[Kimberj71]

I would definitely not return the swing. We used the swing until our kids were close to a year old, even with Jeremy who is our biggest baby. In fact, it's still sitting in my living room. I need to take it down!

The infant seat is a tougher decision. If you think you can carry 16 pounds in it and you know that she's less than the height limit (it's in the manual...usually around 27") then you might want to keep it. Especially, if she is unable to sit up on her own. The convience of an infant seat in the grocery cart makes it worth it even for a month or more in my opinion. If she's sitting up on her own this won't be a big of an issue cause she could sit in the cart.

Good luck!

Kim

[wannahave3]

The carseat is a tough call. If she is a confident sitter then you probably won't need it. If she isn't sitting well then going to restaurants etc is more difficult without the carrier since she can't use the high chair. IMHO, you will use it such a short time, can you borrow one? (make sure manufactured date is less than 5 years ago )

As far as the swing goes, I would definitely check out the manual that came with it. Some give an age limit (under 6 months for ours) and other models give a weight limit (25 lbs. for example) or even an activity level limit (can't put an active child in it - i.e. one who may climb out )

Good luck!

[cr653]

hi,
we are just going to get a convertible carseat, or borrow a newer infant carseat.
i am figuring on bringing home a 6 month old too, and those infant carseats really are useful upto about 4 months old.
after that, i wouldn't waste the money.

the swing...hummmm
your call.
she'll probably like it...

cris...who plans and hopes to bring home a 6 month old, but secretly dreams of sooner

[hibbard]

Don't know about the car seat but you might want to hang on to the swing. We brought our baby home at 7 months, 15 pounds. She is now almost 14 months old and still likes her swing!

[brookeinmn]

I guess I would say return the swing and buy that F***** P**** low to the ground swing thing that converts into a rocking chair for toddlers, all the major stores have them, you will get a lot more use out of that. I didn't use my infant carrier past 6months with my bio daughter, too heavy and she was always lunging forward to try to see everything. She could sit really well, and we used a converting seat after that which at 2.5, she is still in!

[smmars]

I would say to return the infant car seat and exchange it for a convertable one.

The swing... I like the idea above of exchanging it for the FP rocker thingy. We bought that and it is really neat. (I already put it together.)

My two bio kids hated being in the swing after they were able to sit up on their own. I think that you would get more use out of something else.

[KellyMigoya]

All three of my kids hated being in the swing once they could sit and I would rather have them doing an activity that they used thier muscles such as sitting or playing on the floor.
My Mia is 10 months and still in the infant carseat but that is becuase she is really small. Most average size babies outgrown it by about 8 months as their feet hang out of it. ALso if it is new it would probably be more economical to exchange for a convertible car seat. ALso once they start sitting up they don't want to be in that infant carseat very long. THat is the problem we are having with Mia now. However our doctor said because she is so tiny he wants her in it until she is a year old.

[Bonitabonita]

I'm facing the same reality -- the "home at 3-4 mos. old" baby has turned into the "home at 6 mos. old" baby. I have kept the swing. Most babies I've known & worked with LOVE swings. Plus, Maria is still under 14 lbs., so she can use it a little longer. Plus, again, the swing is borrowed from my brother & didn't cost me anything.

Regarding the carseat -- that decision was tougher. I opted for going with the Britax Roundabout convertible seat. I know it will be a hassle not being able to remove the "baby bucket", but I figure I can cope . . . not to mention, a seat that can be used from 5-40 lbs. is pretty enticing!

Boni

[shc65]

I was very fortunate about this issue in that my neighbor gave me both. However, I was about to return the infant carseat/stroller as I have a convertible seat and another stroller. Now I think I will keep them because of what I read.

Thank you for the insight.

[lovelivvy]

Thank you everyone for the valuable advice!!!!

[KyBarb]

I am going to buy the convertible one for now my friend gave me her infant one her little boy out grew and a swing.
I knew not to purchase the infant one because Nathaniel would be out of it in no time 14 lbs at 4 months now he is almost 5 months and looks like he will be 6 months by the time he gets here.

[allorton]

We brought our son home at 8 months/18lbs. and he uses the infant car seat. He could not sit up when he first got home, he can now (5 weeks later) but we still use the infant seat. I will use it until he is 20lbs. It is nice if he is asleep and then I don't have to hassle with strapping him in and out. We had a swing but I gave it to my sister before we brought him home because I thought he would be too old for it. But I think I could have used it for a little while. Now in his bouncy seat he sits up and tries to look over the edge and he doesn't like to be in it very long.

[maggie_va]

We packed up the swing when DD was 6 months - she learned how to grab one of the legs when she was swinging forward and stop the swing.

Something better to consider, is the FP Jumperoo. I bought that for her at 7 months and even though she is starting to crawl she still loves this thing!

On the infant seat, I brought my DD home at 3 months old and thought I would use the infant seat for a couple of months at most but at 9 1/2 months we are still using it and will probably use it longer. I did buy a Marathon convertible car seat but even on the lowest strap setting with the straps pulled all the way tight this is still too loose for my DD and we can't use it yet. This is true even though the seat is meant for a child starting at 5lbs!

Maggie