Car Seat Gift?

[ctbcleveland]

Our niece and DH's god-daughter is turning one in December. Rather than buying toys or clothes...we are considering getting her a convertible car seat.

She is around 19 lbs and around 29 inches long today (mid-Oct) - she is currently riding in a SS1.

I was thinking about the FPSV since it is currently on sale at Albee Baby. We cannot afford to get her a Britax, but I figure this is close enough. So, here are my questions.

Do you think it is wrong to pick out the car seat - should we just give money instead?

Based on her height/weight stats, is this a reasonable car seat to buy?

Is it a bad idea to buy one soon - or should I wait until closer to her B-day? I know this could impact the DOM, but I thought these were being discontinued anyway?

Any thoughts or pieces of advice would be appreciated.

[scatterbunny]

Someone on this board posted about getting a September 2007 DOM recently (I don't know if it was from Albee Baby, though).

I think it's great to get the carseat, to make sure they get a "good" one that will not be outgrown very soon. The FPSV should last most kids to 40-50 pounds and 4-6 years old. Hayley would have been too tall at about 4 years, 9 months and 46 pounds. The ones Albee Baby had a few months ago were all summer 2006 seats, so they would expire when this baby is 5, so even if you do get an older DOM, it *should* work until she's ready for a booster, anyway.

[laurenrachey]

My answer totally depends on the parents. Are they going to spend the money on a good seat? If you give them recommendations, will they listen? Are they going to do their research and get a HWH seat? If so, I would just give them the money (or a gift card/prepaid visa would be good for non store specific), and they could put it toward a britax or recaro or something if they wanted. But if they are the type that won't research, and will just run by target on the way home from work and pick out a color pattern they like...go with the FPSVD...we really like ours! ;)

[SusanMae]

I've given carseats as gifts.

I gave my BFF a Marathon at her shower(i know) and then I gave them a Scenera at the child's first birthday.

Susan

[arly1983]

I give carseats as gifts!

I gave my sister a marathon and several people Sceneras and just included gift receipts. Around here you are lucky if you can get the kid in a Scenera instead of just going strait to a seatbelt. I just recently gave one of my cousins a booster as a birthday gift.

The FPSVD sounds like a GREAT first birthday present.

[ctbcleveland]

I think the parents are willing to buy a good quality seat. My thought in getting this seat is that it can be used for the second car if they want to get a Britax or Recaro as their primary, or if they don't want to spend money on those, this is obviously a good primary seat. I don't think it is in their budget to get two higher-priced seats - so this is meant to help with that issue.

My hesitation about giving money (or a gift card) is that I want them to actually use it for a car seat, as opposed to clothes, etc...we gave money for another event and pushed to have it put in the baby's college account. I am honestly not sure that happened. I know I sound crazy on this issue - but I am only willing to spend this much $$$ on a car seat. We bought her infant seat for her too. I'd be pissed if I gave them $100.00 for a car seat and they get her a Scenera and pocket the rest. Nothing against Scenera's - we've got two.

[Stretchy Glue]

I buy a Scenera for all of my friends that have a baby. If they already have a seat or are planning on buying a more expensive one, then they just got a good seat for a back up. In the last 6 months I've gifted 6 car seats!

[My Sweet Blessings]

carseat as a gift is a fabulous idea. i wish someone would do that for us. instead, i plan to return the toys and clothes my son will get for christmas if they give a gift reciept to put towards a seat since we are broke. sure he would appreciate the toys and having non- hand me down clothes, but he needs a carseat since his snugride only goes to 20 lbs. i envy those that can afford to give a seat as a gift!

[skaterbabscpst]

A car seat is a fantabulous idea. but I'd suggest the Evenflo Triumph Advance over the FP seat because the Evenflo has a higher RF weight limit and the infinite, no-thread harness.