Travel system? Stroller? Car seat? Convertable car seat??? Help!?

Question

My husband and I are overwhelmed with choices. We are both graduate students and expecting our first baby in August. We need a stroller and we need a car seat, but we are puzzled. Is the travel system a must have item? Can we just buy a stroller and a convertable car seat? Do we have to bring a car seat in the hospital when the baby is born? Then, does it have to be a car seat for babies or we can use a convertable car seat? I hope I'm making sense. :) Thank you so much for your help!!!

Answer 1

Hi, I bought my pregnant daughter a travel system by chicco.com

It was probably too much, but I want the little one to be

as comfortable and safe as possible. The carseat  goes

up to 30 lbs and the stroller up to 50 I believe.

(The maternity nurses in our area of upstate NY do a recall

check and safety inspection of the carseat.)

My daughter has already told me that she plans to buy a smaller stroller since the travel system stroller is bulky.

I bought a 'mei tai' carrier from Babiesrus today as another option for carrying the baby.

Think about how you will carry the baby when you take him/her for pediatric appointments etc... It would be really nice if a convertible carseat was available as a travel system. My daughter will have to buy a convertible carseat.

The poster suggesting Graco Baby is right. Graco has some cute stuff! I don't regret buying the Chicco brand though.

Answer 2

Most convertible carseats are rated from 5 lbs, but not all fit newborns very well.

We had a Graco Snugride Travel System.  It was fine, but if I had it to do over again, I would get a carseat a I like (with 5 point harness and front harness adjuster) and get a stroller frame.  Then later on get a great convertible carseat (we now have 2 Britax Marathons and LOVE them!) and a stroller that fits my needs.  

Definitely start reading around on car-seat.org.  There are great carseat techs (CPSTs) and parents on there who can help you with so much.  I wish I had found it when I was pregnant.

Answer 3

You can buy whatever you like - it doesnt have to be the travel system - its just they normally work out cheaper.  You do have to have a car seat to take baby home from hospital and it has to be a proper one for new borns x*x

Answer 4

First off let me say go with GRACO no matter which type of carseat u choose!!! They have a great selection, super safety ratings, and nice prices!

I always had the infant seats for my babies because u can take them out and  into stores or any other place u need to go. U can set them down and have both hands free, plus u can move the baby without waking them! As far as travel systems you can get the set if u really like the pattern and save a little money too. U dnt have to buy a travel system though just get a car seat now cause u DO need one to leave the hospital (convertable or infant it dsnt matter). U can always get a stroller later.

Convertable car seats are nice but just don't offer the versitility that the infant seats do,  plus when u take the baby out of the car you'll have to hold her because u have no where to set her. U can use the infant seats on store carts but their not the cleanest and sometimes the don't even have them! U could get the infant carrier and use it until the babys around 10 or 11 months then switch to a convertable one, just make sure u keep it facing the rear until ur little one is a year old.

Good luck with ur new baby!!! If go to gracobaby.com ull find all the info that u need, that's where I got mine!

Answer 5

hony let me help you out the travel system is the but and you must have the proper car seat for infants and bring it to the hospitol. also the one at burlinton coat factory for $150.00 carseat and stroller for infant.

Answer 6

I have a 9 month old daughter, I will share my experience. We got a travel system for my shower. I used the system together, probably 2 times. The fact that the car seat is easily removable from you car when the baby is tiny, is REALLY nice. The convertable car seat, might be a better financial choice since some, like the one we just bought, go from 5lbs-100lbs. You can get away with that. You don't have to take the car seat into the hospital, but someone from the staff will likely follow you out to ensure you have one. I would have to say I personally recommend an infant car seat, then a convertible for when the baby is bigger, though you don't have to do it that way. As for the travel system, do you see yourself using a stroller that often? Do you like the idea of an infant only car seat? If so, get the travel system, you get both cheaper and you can use them together or separate. Feel free to email me for more info if you like.