Car Seat For Twins

[MandaM]

I need some help ladies. A friend of mine is having twins and I recently gave her all my car seat info that I had. She is really wanting to get the Graco Safeseat, but apparently it only starts at 5lbs, and she cant guarentee that the babies will be over 5lbs when they are born. Is there another car seat that is good for less than 5lbs babies? I am pretty sure she is wanting an infant seat, but I dont think she is super stuck on that.

Thanks in advance

[hipmaman]

Uh, the lowest limit for carseats in Canada that I know of all starts at 5 lbs. For under 5lbs, we get into 'premie' seats and that can be harder to order, take longer to receive or more expensive.

Is she 1st time mom and anxious and think that twins are not going to be small/premie? Or is there history that all her little ones are really little and twins would most likely be even littler?

Let me poke around and get back to you.

[Allport]

There are 3 seats out there that start at 4 pounds - Chicco KeyFit, Cosco (DDC) onBoard/SureFit and the First Years Via (can only get at WalMart with a stroller combination). See if she can find any of those.

[hipmaman]

Thanks Allport. The First Years Via is also available at Zellers. But also only as a (single) travel system.

[T.O. Twins]

I'd bet she could wait until she hits 35 or 36 weeks to buy the car seats. If her twins are born earlier than that, then most likely they’ll be in the hospital for a little while and she will have time to buy seats (or send someone to buy the seats) while the babies are growing in the NICU. If she makes it as far as 35 or 36 weeks, then I'd imagine her babies would be in the 5 pound range and she could then go ahead and buy the seat she wants.

Another alternative to explore is whether her local Parents of Multiples club may have some sort of preemie seat loaner program. I know the club in Toronto has a clothing bank for preemies, so perhaps they would also have car seats. (I know people frown upon used or rental car seats, but I'd imagine that since families use the preemie seats for such a short time and it's in a controlled situation, maybe it would be OK).

When I was pregnant with my twins (born at 38 weeks and 5 days – 5lbs 14oz and 6lbs 7oz), I was very worried about them being born early, but I had no idea about the car seats possibly being too big for them. I guess I got lucky that they fit into our snugrides!

[featherhead]

Even if her twins are 5 pounds by the time they leave the hospital, the Safeseat is not the best choice. It does not fit tiny babies very well. I would say look at the 3 seats that Allport suggested. Of the 3 I would choose the Keyfit (well, I did choose the Keyfit:)). I haven't used mine yet, but it appears to be a great seat for tiny babies. It is also quite tall, so it should fit most babies till 22 lbs. My 19 month old is only 20 or 21 lbs and she would still fit (just barely).

[canadiangie]

Here's the Keyfit for $199, free shipping.

http://tummiestotots.ca/entry.aspx?entryID=100006&catID=268&subcat=97&sID=68554

sears also has it for $249.


Even if the babies are 5lbs, having the newborn inserts on the KF will be wonderful. The KF is top notch in terms of newborn friendliness. I'd scoop two up in a hot minute of twins were in my future.

I've brought a 3lb 8oz baby home, and would have given anything for a KF. :twocents:



ETA: If she was leaning towards the SafeSeats b/c she's wanting a Quattro Duo stroller or something, maybe suggest she goes with a double snap n' go for the first while. Keeping in mind babies should lay flat in a stroller whenever possible (not left in their car seats). Then down the road, maybe look at something compact and lightweight like a Maclaren Twin Techno.

[MandaM]

Thanks everyone.

She wanted the safe seat because of the high limits on it.

She is a first time mom, but it took a lot and then fertility treatments before she got pregnant, so she is just anxious...i think

[amyd]

I know at the hospital I delivered at, babies are not released until they hit 5lbs, partially because of the carseat issue.

[Mommy2Three]

When I delivered my twins a year ago, they were 4lbs 6oz and 5lbs 10oz and they stayed in the hospital for a couple of weeks. (I delivered at 35 weeks)

But what my hospital did because they were born early and were premature (most cases in multiple births I think), they do a car seat test before they can leave.

They have them all hooked up to monitors and then put them in the car seat they will be going home in. They make sure it fits them properly and they have to stay in it for quite a while, in the meantime they watch the monitors to make sure they do okay....Not sure if all hospital do this when babies leave the NICU??

We had ours in two Graco SnugRides and it's been wonderful for them for almost a year now.

[Misty-Bug]

Even if her twins are 5 pounds by the time they leave the hospital, the Safeseat is not the best choice. It does not fit tiny babies very well. I would say look at the 3 seats that Allport suggested. Of the 3 I would choose the Keyfit (well, I did choose the Keyfit:)). I haven't used mine yet, but it appears to be a great seat for tiny babies. It is also quite tall, so it should fit most babies till 22 lbs. My 19 month old is only 20 or 21 lbs and she would still fit (just barely).

I agree with this. The safeseat really won't fit tiny babies all that well. The buckles are huge on them...

I am NOT a tech but here is a question for a tech...what about the radian? Does it fit that small? But that is also not a bucket seat. I can imagine that being a pain to load and unload twins. I would do the Chicco myself.

[Pixels]

I agree with this. The safeseat really won't fit tiny babies all that well. The buckles are huge on them...

I am NOT a tech but here is a question for a tech...what about the radian? Does it fit that small? But that is also not a bucket seat. I can imagine that being a pain to load and unload twins. I would do the Chicco myself.
The Radian has a 5 pound minimum.