Stroller and car seat or a travel system? Infant car seat or convertible.?

Question

I am due in three months and looking to get a stroller. I am wondering what ones you have, what you think of them, and what do you suggest. Also is an infant car seat better than a convertible? I am thinking an infant because of convenience. Thanks

Answer 1

I liked the infant seat over a convertible. The convertible one was much larger (since it could hold up to 40 lbs) and the infant seat could double as a carrier seat in a pinch.

As for the travel system....I didn't buy one. I got a regular single stroller. More for the convenience because they are lighter, and also the travel system (IMHO) was bulkier, heavier, and more expensive.

I do know that a lot of women buy the travel system or a convertible seat and loved them just the same. I think it's more a personal preference.

I do suggest that you don't buy the first one you see just because it's cute. Test them in the store...with how easy it is to set up, fold up, pick it up and imagine how hard it will be to squeeze into your trunk. (even take measurements of your trunk so that you're not guessing. My first bulky stroller wouldn't fit in my trunk so I had to put it on the floor in the back). If you go for an infant seat and regular stroller...make sure the ones you choose will work together (a lot of strollers will tell you which infant seats will lock on). And again...take measurements.

Good luck.  

Answer 2

Your baby will be much more content if carried in a parents' arms rather than in some plastic-and-metal thing. My advice is to get a convertible car seat -- and leave that in the car -- and a baby sling or other soft carrier, and leave the stroller purchase until baby is actually heavy enough for you to require it.

"The crying pattern of normal infants in industrialized societies is characterized by an overall increase until 6 weeks of age followed by a decline until 4 months of age with a preponderance of evening crying. We hypothesized that this "normal" crying could be reduced by supplemental carrying, that is, increased carrying throughout the day in addition to that which occurs during feeding and in response to crying. In a randomized controlled trial, 99 mother-infant pairs were assigned to an increased carrying or control group. At the time of peak crying (6 weeks of age), infants who received supplemental carrying cried and fussed 43% less (1.23 v 2.16 h/d) overall, and 51% less (0.63 v 1.28 hours) during the evening hours (4 PM to midnight). Similar but smaller decreases occurred at 4, 8, and 12 weeks of age. Decreased crying and fussing were associated with increased contentment and feeding frequency but no change in feeding duration or sleep. We conclude that supplemental carrying modifies "normal" crying by reducing the duration and altering the typical pattern of crying and fussing in the first 3 months of life. The relative lack of carrying in our society may predispose to crying and colic in normal infants."

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cg...

See also

"Car Seats are for Cars"

http://www.mothering.com/articles/growin...

Answer 3

Well, in the begining I bought a travel system. I think it was a good choice because he almost always fell asleep in the car, and instead of waking him up by lifting him out of the car seat...I could just take the car seat and put it on the stroller, or take the car seat into the house and let him continue sleeping. I did this A LOT.

The thing is... his infant seat could only be rear facing until 22lbs. He hit 22lbs at about 10 months. You cannot have a child forward facing until 1 year old. So I ended up buying a convertible seat at about 10 months. I bought the Britax which is almost $300 (because the weight limit for rear facing is the highgest out of any seat) and kind of wished I had just bought that in the begining since it's so expensive, but if I had, I wouldn't have been able to take the seat in and out when he was sleeping.

So, I guess it's your call. If I have another baby, I think I'd probably still have a travel system in the beginging, and a convertible seat in the end.  

Answer 4

My baby only cries when she's hungry or tired.  We're often told she's one of the happiest babies ever seen, and I don't doubt it for a second.  She's loved by everyone, but no one loves her more than her mommy or daddy.  

With that said, we use a Graco traveling system, and it works really well.  My daughter is 7 months old, and she still fits in it and enjoys it a lot.  The car seat fits right into the stroller, so if we're out and about and she's napping, she's not disturbed by taking her out of the car seat and into a sling, mommy's arms, or another stroller.  I also don't have to worry about the car seat buckles getting too hot in the car while we're out if it's used in her stroller.  Every now and then we'll go for walks with her sitting up in the stroller itself (without the car seat), and she likes that too.  She's still too small to see well over the tray, but she likes the change of scenery it gives by being able to sit up.  It's also super easy to use, because you just strap in the base and not the car seat itself.  The car seat clicks in easily to the base, easily into the stroller, and sometimes even easily to shopping carts.  It makes using different cars a lot easier, because we just keep the bases in the car and use the one car seat.  If I have more kids, I plan on buying another traveling system should this one not hold up until then.  They're so incredibly convenient that I feel bad for parents who had to do without them.  :)

Answer 5

i've had quite a few strollers by now. i believe i am on number 7! and my son is 14 months.

the first one was a traditional pram and it was good for the first 6 weeks. we had a car but it wasn't reliable and was only there in case of an emergency. i'm not a fan of travel systems as i don't think it's good for a baby to sit in that position for long periods all the time. i understand you have to take a long drive sometimes but it's not necessary when you're just going for a walk in the park.

anyway, got a new car after 6 weeks and the pram didn't fit as it was huge. i then got a forward facing chicco london winter stroller. it was ok for what you pay but it only lasted 3 months and then it went in the bin.

thinking back i think i should have bought a pram system like this one:

http://www.mothercare.com/gp/product/B00...

that way you have the pram for the first few weeks, you can put a carseat in it if baby happens to be asleep and later on it converts into a push chair (facing both ways in some cases).

an infant car seat is good for those times when baby is sleeping and you don't want to disturb them. once my son was about 3 months old though he'd wake up if i tried to get the seat out of the car. but they are good for those first few months.

one good advice i wish someone would've given me is that it is worth getting a good push chair that will last. it's part of everyday life with a baby and you'll use it daily. i'm never buying chicco again as it didn't last long enough. i have a quinny zapp at the moment and it is great for a toddler but i wouldn't get it for a baby.

hope that helps!

Answer 6

I have a 9 week old and i opted not to get a travel system because they are very bulky and HEAVY. What I did was get an infant car seat and a snap and go stroller (baby trend and graco make them). You simply snap the car seat into what looks like a stroller without the seat and you're done! It's very light and convenient. It works great for me and I use the stroller A LOT. Its also more cost effective, the snap and go is only like 60-70$. Then when you're child outgrows the car seat, you get a regular stroller. Because i dont dont know if this your first baby, but its mine, and I was so confused about so many different kinds of strollers before he was born that i didnt know what I wanted. Now I have a better idea and when the time comes i will be able to make a more educated choice.