All right, I have to ask...

[zeo2ski]

What is the point of higher weight infant buckets? I know everyone loves the SS1/SR32 and KF30 and was debating between the two if I need another infant seat, but is bigger really better? Do you still buy a convertible to RF after outgrowing the big buckets--how many kids actually make it past 2? Or even 18 mos for that matter, surely not more than half? Or do people go straight from the bucket to FFing?
If you're going to end up buying a convertible anyway, how long (how heavy) do you really lug that bucket around? And if you just leave it in the car then what's the point of a bucket? And then even when you have a newborn you still are lugging that big ole seat around.
And for the industry...if the point is to skip the RFing convertible (like the safe seat system) then most kiddos are losing out on a year or more of RFing in a convertible. Not that most people would RF past 2 but it's really discouraging ERFing in my mind.

What am I missing? I want to like these seats, I know they're great.
My opinion is biased since I don't love using infant seats even though I love looking at/playing with them. I ditched the bucket at 5.5 mos with my little guy and thought about putting him back in for winter jacket hassle but couldn't bring myself to use it again.

[TechnoGranola]

I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but all I can say is. TWO WINTERS BABY, TWO WINTERS and a detached garage. :thumbsup: (a 22 pound infant seat would have got me through one winter only)

ETA: and we didn't use it in a stroller or anywhere else but the vehicle, but it was SO nice to be able to buckle baby in INSIDE the house even it was heavy to haul her out

[christineka]

I think these seats are good for large babies who would otherwise outgrow the bucket at 4-5 months. Or for moms with muscles. Or those who use travel systems.

I have peanut kids who could fit in the 30 pound bucket to age 3. I hate lugging around bucket seats and have never desired to own a massively huge stroller, so I pass on those things. Of course, this time around I'm skipping the bucket seat altogether, but if I changed my mind I'd be getting a 22 pound bucket. I'd only want it for 2-3 months, but my baby could ride in it to age 1.

Oh and I've lived in freezing cold places. The first place was an apartment where our car just sat in the parking lot with no cover to shield from the snow. Now we live where it is a tad bit warmer, but still snowy and such. We have a car port only. I made my baby a poncho, so he's been fine to get to the van in cold weather.

[NannyMom]

I know several people that bought them so they could skip the convertible. Unfortunately, they are the ones with children that outgrew the bucket by height at 12-25 months :(

Sofi fit in the SS1 until 23 months.We stopped using it when she was 15 months because we had to send it back to Graco for replacement. WHen we switched to convertible, I wasn't happy. I didn't usually carry Sofi around in the bucket anymore, but it was handy to have when she fell asleep in the car and we were going somewhere (take bucket, put on stroller- baby sleeps. take baby out of convertible- baby wakes).

Baby S is almost 2 months, and at least 10 pounds. She is soooo heavy in the SS1! I'd forgotten how heavy it could be (lol, maybe because Sofi was 10 months before she was 10 pounds). Now I see why some people skip the bucket all together.

When you stop carrying the bucket, you can leave it in 1 car and buy a convertible for the other car(s). That could help space out the expense of buying new seats (and space out the DOMs).

I also really like the KF and the SS1 because of the lockoffs. They install so easily most of the time.

[Mommy0608]

I had a 22lb seat with DD, and she actually just hit 22lbs a few months ago (she's 2.5 years old now). I switched her to a convertible at 6 months when she was about 12-14lbs (can't remember exactly).

With DS, he started out in the same infant seat, but it was a PITB to use so I got the SS1 and LOVE it, but don't like how heavy it is. If it wasn't the dead of winter, I'd have just moved him to a convertible. However, we live in MI and it's just easier to take him in and out in the infant seat regardless of the weight (20lbs of kid + about 10lbs of seat = really heavy!!) Another reason for using an infant seat with him is that he's just now starting to sit up on his own, and our stroller isn't all that supportive, and I'm not ready to put him in a shopping cart. I'm also not really a babywearer because of my knees and back, so in the infant seat he stays for now. I have a Snap-n-Go stroller that I use with it.

Once it gets warmer out and he can sit up in the regular stroller well, I will probably leave the SS1 in the car. However, it's nice knowing I have the option of taking the seat out if he's sleeping and I don't want to wake him. He still always fall asleep in the car.

When people ask me about recommended infant seats, I tell them to consider the time of year when they are born (weather conditions) and how much they'd like the convenience of carrying baby in an infant seat. For some people, it doesn't make much sense to get the higher weight infant seat, but for others with big babies in the winter, it makes perfect sense. It all comes down to personal preference.

[BookMama]

I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but all I can say is. TWO WINTERS BABY, TWO WINTERS and a detached garage. :thumbsup: (a 22 pound infant seat would have got me through one winter only)

That's exactly why my friend wanted one for her baby. He was born in early March, they have no garage, baby goes to day care (or grandma's) a few days a week. And we live in Michigan. So she definitely wanted to be able to use the infant seat through the end of this winter if possible. He probably won't outgrow it for at least a few more months, so it did the job for her. :thumbsup:

[miraclebabies]

I have the SS1 and love it. I used it with DD1 for about 6 months cause she hated it so much. It was a screaming fight the whole car ride. I put her in a MA and had the infant seat in my trunk, I would take the infant seat into the store or just carry her in the Bjorn carrier. She liked that best cause she could look and watch eveything. It was alot easier cause I had more room in the shopping cart. I could have used the SS1 till she was about 18mon old. She has always been so tall, so she might not of made it that long. When she was about 12 moths I tried using it again to see if she fit and I would just leave the carseat in the vehicle and carry her, it is heavy and I couldn't imagine carrying her and the carseat all the time. I have her ERF in her MA's and she is only on the 2nd slots and loves being RF still, her legs dont dangle adn she sleeps better. With DD2 I am going to try and use the SS1 as long as possible, she is a preemie and fits in it prefect. Since she will be one in Nov, I am going to try and use it through the 09 winter cause it will be easier to bundle her up. If she still fits, if not I have a MA waiting for her. She will be ERF in that till the 35 lb limit. My older DD just turned 2 and is only 24 lbs, DD2 is right on track with the same growing patterns so she will be RF for awhile to. I hate when people think ok it goes to 35 # so lets use it till the child turns 1 and then we will by a Nautilus cause it starts at 20 #. I really love the eas of the infant seat, especially in the winter and cold season. There are some people that go straight to the covertable its all a matter of what you like and prefer.. Crazy... ok thats my input

[APmama2MAK]

I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but all I can say is. TWO WINTERS BABY, TWO WINTERS and a detached garage. :thumbsup: (a 22 pound infant seat would have got me through one winter only)

ETA: and we didn't use it in a stroller or anywhere else but the vehicle, but it was SO nice to be able to buckle baby in INSIDE the house even it was heavy to haul her out

DITTTOOOO lol. DS is almost 20 months old and is barely outgrown, technically he still has an inch but literally an inch left above his head. However, he also was born in the 2nd percentile and is still under 5th sooooo not most kids. If he had been born later though we could of easily gotten two winters out of it. Also, he has never since he was born been able to be set down after falling asleep so the infant bucket has saved us 20 months of him staying asleep after the car ride stopped lol, I will honestly be tempted to uninstall the convertible and lug the whole thing in now haha.

If he is sleeping I still will carry him around the store in it, but I dont hold it by the handle I put the handle down and hold it head to foot with both hands, so maybe thats why it doesnt bother me???

[zeo2ski]

I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but all I can say is. TWO WINTERS BABY, TWO WINTERS and a detached garage. :thumbsup: (a 22 pound infant seat would have got me through one winter only)

ETA: and we didn't use it in a stroller or anywhere else but the vehicle, but it was SO nice to be able to buckle baby in INSIDE the house even it was heavy to haul her out
Well it's pretty darned cold here, lol, but my DS fits in the SR no problem yet I don't use it--we don't have a garage or anything. I start the car, bundle up the kids, take em out and undress to get in the seat and in and out at every stop. PITA but I couldn't carry the bucket any more (mentally). I've never used a travel system but I can see how if you did that could make the "lugging" easier!


Baby S is almost 2 months, and at least 10 pounds. She is soooo heavy in the SS1! I'd forgotten how heavy it could be (lol, maybe because Sofi was 10 months before she was 10 pounds). Now I see why some people skip the bucket all together.

When you stop carrying the bucket, you can leave it in 1 car and buy a convertible for the other car(s). That could help space out the expense of buying new seats (and space out the DOMs).

I also really like the KF and the SS1 because of the lockoffs. They install so easily most of the time.
Was Sofi really 10 lbs at 10 mos?
I hadn't factored in the second car. DH has a company car with no back seats.
Yeah good point about the lock offs...if I had to put a bucket in certain seating positions in my car I'd buy one just for the lock offs!


Another reason for using an infant seat with him is that he's just now starting to sit up on his own, and our stroller isn't all that supportive, and I'm not ready to put him in a shopping cart. I'm also not really a babywearer because of my knees and back, so in the infant seat he stays for now. I have a Snap-n-Go stroller that I use with it.


... It all comes down to personal preference.
Hmmm, so babies that hit 22 lbs before sitting up, that makes sense then.
Yes personal preference determines most of this stuff! Your when-to-recommend is a good summary though, thanks.


The reason I'm so torn about this is that I really don't care for buckets but it would be nice to have the versatility to fit a toddler (this will be for foster care placements infants/toddlers). I just can't see carrying it around in the first few months though when the baby is small and the seat is big.

[TechnoGranola]

Well it's pretty darned cold here, lol, but my DS fits in the SR no problem yet I don't use it--we don't have a garage or anything. I start the car, bundle up the kids, take em out and undress to get in the seat and in and out at every stop. PITA but I couldn't carry the bucket any more (mentally). I've never used a travel system but I can see how if you did that could make the "lugging" easier!LOL, you must not have the -40 stint that we get here. :) We don't do the travel system either, but having a seat that is warm on baby's body was AWESOME! The base of our SS got so cold sitting in the vehicle that it transferred through to baby's back, and that was through the bucket that was kept in the house. I really couldn't imagine the coldness of a convertible at a young age.

[tanyaandallie]

I have tiny kids so have no need for a bigger bucket seat. I also live in a warm climate and am ready to move to a convertible by 6 to 8 mos. However, I still would seriously consider the SS1/SR32 and the KF30 b/c they are great seats!

[APmama2MAK]

I also really like the KF and the SS1 because of the lockoffs. They install so easily most of the time.

I know they do! After I found out some seats actually dont have lock offs I was just :eek: Then I had to start installing my friends daughters seat and it drove me off the edge I just said okay were not going anywhere unless we can walk lol. And now with an efta coming with no lockoffs I think Im going to cry if I have to return it just because of that. I really really really dislike seats without them. :twocents:

[zeo2ski]

DITTTOOOO lol. DS is almost 20 months old and is barely outgrown, technically he still has an inch but literally an inch left above his head. However, he also was born in the 2nd percentile and is still under 5th sooooo not most kids. If he had been born later though we could of easily gotten two winters out of it. Also, he has never since he was born been able to be set down after falling asleep so the infant bucket has saved us 20 months of him staying asleep after the car ride stopped lol, I will honestly be tempted to uninstall the convertible and lug the whole thing in now haha.

LMBO about carrying the convertible. I saw someone in walmart bring in a 2 year old in a convertible...wide awake, lol.
My DS is below the 3rd percentile at 16 lbs, but I stopped using the bucket months ago because it was getting to be more of a pain then a help (although he was 16lbs then too...maybe I should give it another shot? Hadn't thought of the weight thing until right now. He hasn't gained in 4.5 mos).

The sleeping hasn't been an issue here because YDS wakes up when the car stops moving but now that I'm thinking about it ODS did stay asleep in the bucket coming in and out.

See, this is why I had to post these questions, just needed you all to talk me through it:o
I guess since I already have an 08 SR if I get a KF30/SR32 I can just choose which baby goes in what seat depending on their size and needs at the time.

[zeo2ski]

LOL, you must not have the -40 stint that we get here. :) We don't do the travel system either, but having a seat that is warm on baby's body was AWESOME! The base of our SS got so cold sitting in the vehicle that it transferred through to baby's back, and that was through the bucket that was kept in the house. I really couldn't imagine the coldness of a convertible at a young age.

Well no not quite. -35 is the lowest I've seen, and this year I'd say it hasn't been below -10 (other than at night). But I warm up the car before going out anyway since my toddler has to have his coat off to get in his convertible anyway.

[bobandjess99]

I agree..either the ability to bucket through TWO winters, or else to just get through one year forthose ofus with ginormous kids ( dd was 22 lbs at 4 months old, 31 pounds by 8 months old, so even the 30 lb bucket would not have lasted us a full year, but at least it would have got us to the point where she could sit up without help, like in a shopping cart, etc, you know? !!!)

[APmama2MAK]

LMBO about carrying the convertible. I saw someone in walmart bring in a 2 year old in a convertible...wide awake, lol.

Wow Ive had it happen where DS woke up after we got in the store but not often lol and def wouldnt actually carry the convertible in the store hehe maybe the house if he was sick or something and had a tough day though.

The other day I carried him around circuit city in it and he woke up I made a FAST trip out to the car 25 min of lugging it around and I was glad he woke up lol. I have really bad back problems and am used to being in moderate to severe pain most of the time so I dont notice much of a difference until its been like a half an hour of carrying it around.

I *HAVE* really worried that the snugride 32 is going to give parents the excuse of "its only 3 lbs" when the child outgrows it. Ive been thinking about it a lot and it is just bothering me. If they could just get those 3 lbs out of an infant and they CANT turn it around @ 20lbs (with a taller shell and easier to install more upright) maayyybe it will get through that hey this is how its supposed to be! Even if a lot of kids would still outgrow it before that weight SO maybe parents think it HAS to be infant bucket, forward facing. (or they will be like SOME people weve seen and just turn the infant seat around...ya know because thats totally in the manual :rolleyes:)



Sry for blathering on, Im in a talkative mood :D

[LISmama810]

For me, it's all about the installation.

Even if the KF30/SS1/SR32 only went to 22 lbs, I'd still love them and recommend them just because they are SO easy to install and use.

As for the higher weight limits, we don't have freezing weather, but we'll be going on a trip when this baby is about 7 months old, so I like knowing that I'll be able to use my infant seat (SS1) on the plane/rental car instead of lugging a convertible or wondering if another infant seat will still fit.

But still, all about the installs. :thumbsup:

[bobbysgirl7103]

Also, you never know how fast the baby is going to grow. My DS was 20 lbs at 3 months so I got a SS1 for DD just in case. It would be nice to keep them in the bucket until they can sit up in the shopping cart. But now she is 20 months and only 23 lbs. :rolleyes:

I am happy that I got it though. It is one of the easiest car seats I've installed.

[NannyMom]

Was Sofi really 10 lbs at 10 mos?
I hadn't factored in the second car. DH has a company car with no back seats.
Yeah good point about the lock offs...if I had to put a bucket in certain seating positions in my car I'd buy one just for the lock offs!



no, she was more than 10 pounds at 10 months (but certainly not 20 pounds). She's just tiny so it seemed like she took forever to get to 10 pounds :) I remember wondering when she would ever outgrow the preemie clothes (and she wasn't a premie!) and then when she'd ever outgrow the newborn diapers :)

[zeo2ski]

Easy installs are always good, and I would consider one simply for the lock offs.

Last night I was seriously thinking about trying the SR again for the rest of winter but I realized this morning the reason I decided not to: the cocooning. There's a RFing convertible in the third row center and baby is 2nd row center so if it cocooned to the back of the seat, there's the top of the convertible right there to smack into. So I'd have to put one of them outboard or switch and put the baby in the third row. Hmmm maybe I'll put the SR outboard and just use it to bring baby in and out but put him in his BLVD for the ride...(that's tethered so the cocooning into the other seat doesn't apply). I wonder if I should look into an infant seat with ARB for the next seat so I'd be able to put it in front of another RFing seat.

[An Aurora]

Honestly I have no idea what the appeal is. I mean, I can see it, I'm just not an infant seat person at all. My oldest didn't hit 30 pounds until well after her 3rd birthday, and my 2nd is a runt and I doubt she'll hit 30 pounds before age 4. I do however have TALL kids so I like taller shelled seats.

My BFF had a baby in November and used the Snugride for 2 weeks before she discovered how well he fit into the EFTA. She has a 3.5 year old with autism and a 18 month old and a baby, and had no problems with a convertible (in Alaska no less).

That said, I am getting this baby an infant seat. STBX and I hand off the kids alot--I meet him and hand off the kids on my way to work at night when he's on his way home from school, and in the morning on my way home from work we meet again when he's on his way to school. It would be WAY easier to just hand him a bucket and go instead of unbuckling and re-buckling all 3 kids, especially in the morning when they are sleeping. I'll get a 22-lb limit Combi though, since the 30 lb weight limit is a waste and they have nice tall shells. DD2 fit into hers until well over a year, granted she was only about 17 pounds at that point.

[fyrfightermomma]

I needed them for height. Both girls outgrew the normal bucket around 4 months by height.

That being said, they are great for height. And for when you still want the convienence of a carrier before they can sit and walk (i am not a baby wearer). I couldn't put them in a cart or high chair becuase they couldn't sit.

I stopped carrying it around at about 7 months when they could sit. But it was still nice to have and I still used it. I just used it as a normal car seat and didn't take it out. But it was sooooo nice if your baby finally did fall asleep in the thing you could have the option of taking them out in the seat. It was worth it to lug the heavy thing around that very rare time they did fall asleep. Usually for me it was just into the house. After 7 months, I'd say it happened a few more times and I"m thankful I had it for those few times

I stopped using it completely around 11 months. And they went to a RFing convertible then.

My 3 1/2 year old JUST outgrew it by height at 39" and 25 lbs. My younger one outgrew it at about 20 months (and she's HUGE) at 35" and 26 pounds. Again by height.

While some do outgrow it early I would think atleast half should get to around 16-18 months. That seat is huge.

[Splash]

Ease of installation for one... the SS1 and KF are the easiest infant seats around to install.

Just because you CAN take it out and carry it, doesn't mean you HAVE to. That's what I keep trying to tell people. You don't HAVE to carry the kid around in it. I don't with Sam. I did with Charlie, often, because he had severe skin issues that caused him great pain and damage to be picked up and carried (why I never used a sling or anything either). So it was good for him not to have to touch him.
Height as well... some people have really tall babies.
Ease of travel... I took an SS1 to NYC when Charlie was 15 months old. I hadn't used the seat in months, but he still fit, and it was wonderful!

As for the RF issue.... most parents are not going to RF for any significant period of time. I know we all want the world to be puppy farts and dandelions but it really isn't, and the vast majority of parents are going to turn at or before a year. Even those who know better plain don't care. I've got one friend who knows everything there is to know about car seats, who consults me every time she needs one, who knows upside down adn inside out that RF is the only safe way to go, yet she turned her son at 15 months- as soon as her outgrew the baby basket. She bought a convertible, loves it, but refuses to use it RF because "he wants to see" and "everyone thinks I should turn him." Stupid, selfish reasons, but.... it is what it is. But she held out for 15 months because the basket lasted that long. Had he outgrown it at nine, she probably would have turned him at nine.
Most people take the path of least resistance. You have a seat that fits, you use it until you don't, then you buy something else. Most people won't take a kid out of a fitting infant seat and buy something else just because they hit a year. However, the ones that WILL do that are mostly the ones would would have turned the kid around as soon as he outgrew the bucket.

I think Graco has a GREAT system going. Really, really great. SR32-> Nautilus will get almost every child past the "bare minimums" in an extremely easy to use, safe seat. Real world conditions tell us point blank that most kids will not ERF, no matter how much the parents are educated about it. So if a kid gets to 15 months in the basket, and then goes to a GN that lasts until 6 in the harness and then a great booster for the rest of their years, I think that is a-okay and a fabulous goal to shoot for. Especially since most people go from convertible->booster without a HWH. So I would waaayyyy rather a kid turn at 13 months into a GN than RF to 20 months in a ComfortSport and then go from the CS to a booster at age 3.

We're not dealing with a "best practice" society. We're dealing with a "everyone's doing it" and "that's too expensive" and "it's too much work" and "she screams in the car" and "I lived without carseats" society. That kind of society benefits greatly from extended use infant seats.

[joolsplus3]

Have NOT read all the other responses, but... due to the extreme ignorance of the general population about the safety of rearfacing and the rules about how long to rearface, this is the only chance some kids are going to get to rearface. I'd rather sell one of these to every single new parent knowing that they will think they have to use it for a year, and KNOW that kid will FIT in the thing (yes, I've seen giant huge babies stuffed into tiny infant seats because parents think they have to do that for a year).
Most parents go straight from the infant seat to FF, this is IT, this is the ONLY chance I have to get them to rearface to at least a year safely.
You guys who will go out and buy a new seat every time you know you need one? I don't care what you buy...start with a Flex Loc, move to a Combi Zeus Turn, then a Roundabout, then a True Fit.... you'll keep your kid RF as long as possible no matter what seats you buy :D (http://carseatblog.com/?p=140 Marvin's 12 steps for safeness comes to mind..., lol)

[An Aurora]

Splash and Julie have good points, but what freaks me out is that people will see the 30 lb max on the SS1 and the 30 lb min on the Turbo and go from infant seat to booster. At least with 22 lb limit seats they will buy one in between.

[joolsplus3]

I haven't seen that happen yet (knock on wood)...since most kids are well below 30 when they outgrow the infant seat by height.

[Melizerd]

I wished I had something bigger than a Snugride. My DS is so tall that he outgrew the Snugride by height at about 4 months old even though he was only 15 or so pounds.

[bobandjess99]

Splash and Julie have good points, but what freaks me out is that people will see the 30 lb max on the SS1 and the 30 lb min on the Turbo and go from infant seat to booster. At least with 22 lb limit seats they will buy one in between.

yes, but sadly, it will be a cosco highback booster, so they might technically harness for a little bit longer, FFing of course, but then have an AWFUL booster for the remainder of their time until an adult belt. I'd honestly almost rather the kid outgrowing the bucket be in the turbo, to be honest. I don't know. Tough call.

[AustinsMommy]

I bought one for ds thinking he would be a big baby and outgrow the others early. Guessed right. He is just about outgrown the SS1 now at 7 1/2 months. He is about 31" and 26lbs or so and in the 95% percentile in both height and weight. About the size of an average 12-18 month old. I pretty much quit using it when he was 5 months unless I rode with my mom. It was great for that, but stopped carrying it along time ago. Just too heavy. It was good to have it in my car, as I sometimes would take my nephew with me and he did fit at 17 months.

[ShannaLeah]

I have a KF that I still use for my 1 year old. He still has a couple of inches torso room left as well.

I don't take it out of the car often anymore, but it is priceless when he's asleep and I don't want to wake him to get him out of the car. Last time was this morning after dd's gymnastics actually. It's also great when it's really cold out. I can bring the seat in the house and it will be warm and then I can drape a blanket over it to keep the wind off him.

He'll use it until he outgrows it.

[flutie128]

I would have loved a SS1 with DD but we had a snugride that went to 20 pounds and money was tight. It was not expired so DH said use that and I did. She outgrew it at 7-8 months. DS however out the same seat at 4 months being 19 pounds and too tall for it height wise. I like being able to take a sleeping baby in the house and letting them be able to sleep longer. I also find it easy for DS's preschool drop off instead of having to take her out of the convertible and than put her back in again 3 minutes later.

[*Spoiledinmyhouseofblue*]

I got my friend the safeseat, because i knew she and her hubsband had long torso's ;-)! I am glad I did because at 5 months she is on the second to top of the safeseat and close to needing the highest slot! :eek: She is skinny too! LOL!

I have one for my daycare kids, because I love the convience of carrying them if they are sleeping.

[tcottawa]

For me personally, my kids hated the bucket, and they were both out by 4-6 months. Because I could install the convertible a little more upright, they were much happier (they could sit up at an early age, so it must have really been irritating to lie back like that)

It is freezing here, but I think we made it through March with both, which was good enough for me :thumbsup:

[Jennifer mom to my 7]

Add me to the long torsoed kid department. 3.25 year old dd outgrew the 20 pound snugride at 4 months (she was 27.5 inches tall) probably before that:eek: Had to switch her to her convertible in Feb in NY. ANd she was only 22 pounds at a year, but 32.5 inches long with a 14,5 inch torso. My 2 year old would have lasted at least 9 months in the keyfit, even with his longer torso, he is at least average overall. My 4 month old on the other hand, fit in the keyfit at 3 months like my ods did at 7 months:eek: He had over an 11 inch torso at 3 months, and is on the top slot, with only 2.5 inches over his head. We don't take the seat out of the car much, but it is nice to get him to the car in it. Still trying to decide what convertible to go with.

[CTPDMom]

When people ask me about recommended infant seats, I tell them to consider the time of year when they are born (weather conditions) and how much they'd like the convenience of carrying baby in an infant seat. For some people, it doesn't make much sense to get the higher weight infant seat, but for others with big babies in the winter, it makes perfect sense. It all comes down to personal preference.

:yeahthat:

[cpsaddict]

I got both of my sisters the Safeseat for one reason: so they wouldn't be stuck buying a new seat in 4-5mths if their kids outgrew the infant seat. The other big reason was ease of installation. My MOTHER can install a SS in no time and perfectly. Both of my sisters can, too. My 10mth old nephew is on the top slots with about 2-2.5" above his head. The kid is all torso. He is just now getting a Marathon because they are tired of switching seats back and forth. The Safeseat will go in BIL's pickup and in my moms car. She hasn't carried him in it in months and months, since he has been sitting up anyway. My other nephew is ~7mths old and has a LONG time left in his Safeseat. He is in a Marathon in mamas pickup because they needed another after he outgrew their spare Snugride at FOUR MONTHS. Now they have a base in BIL's pickup and her MIL's car, plus my mom has the base. The Safeseat goes with whoever has baby(sister was working until two days ago when she got laid off). My also got the Safeseat because everyone knows how to use it. That is a big plus to me. It's so very easy to use and very convenient. My mom has no desire to learn to use a different seat(I explained that she has to at some point, but she's in severe denial. LOL!). So, long story short, it lasts a long time and is user-friendly.

[Kat_Momof3]

it's all about convenience and preference... as well as size your baby normally is at birth.... and at different ages.

I would have done ANYTHING (short of murder) for a 30lb infant seat for Jeffrey... he was chubby and had tons of room for height to go in his 20lb limit snugride when he outgrew it by weight at 4-5mo.... when he had rsv at 7mo... and the only place he was sleeping well was in a carseat, I would have given ANYTHING to be able to safely just pop the seat out and carry him in (heavy as that is), or pop that on a stroller (I had a graco duoglider at the time, so that actually could have been done, though I wouldn't have wanted to take a double in the ER.)

All the times after that, from 9mo-1yr, where we were going almost every week for an asthma attack, he could have been continuing to sleep, instead of waking when I unloaded him (while he typically would sleep through anything, this was just not the case when his asthma was at work) and in the hospital waiting room and in the exam room.

Now, otherwise, I'm more of a babywearer, and since he's been my only one to get sick like that, and he was my biggest baby, and the only one to hit 20-22lbs before 1yr, I doubt I'd go that round.

In fact, I love some of the less expensive (or at least lighter weight) seats out there... current love is the Combi Shuttle... love that anti-rebound bar.

However, since they fit newborns so well, I'd probably just skip the infant seats, get an Evenflo Triumph Advance or First Years Truefit (the new one with the ARB) and spend the money on some great fabric for wrap slings that I'd be needing more.



Now, for twins, where you're looking at two of everything, and where convenience is key, every twin mom i've met swears her double snap n' go is the best thing since sliced bread. Paired with snugrides or other 22lb limit seats, eh... it's okay for a few months (longer if you start with preemies), but pair it with two 30lb limit seats... and you can use it until your kids can use any old stroller seat style. (and forget the snap n'go... you can just get the kolcraft double that takes two infant seats on the frame with the purchase of an additional carseat adaptor... and then has stroller seats... closest thing to a double bugaboo you'll get)

And then we get to the typical parent... the typical parent thinks the infant seat is it... you rearface in it... then you get a toddler seat that goes in forward facing.

With a 22lb seat,they are left feeling a mixture of being ripped off... and also they are more likely to put that baby, who could be as young as 4mo old, ina forward facing seat.

with a 30lb limit infant seat... they will just keep baby in there... and wait... might as well get the use out of there seat... so for smaller babies, this means they will extended rearface.... and for the stockier set... we're still doing better than before.

Granted, we'd still love all of them to go into rearfacing convertibles... but that just isn't always going to happen.

[tanyaandallie]

Have NOT read all the other responses, but... due to the extreme ignorance of the general population about the safety of rearfacing and the rules about how long to rearface, this is the only chance some kids are going to get to rearface. I'd rather sell one of these to every single new parent knowing that they will think they have to use it for a year, and KNOW that kid will FIT in the thing (yes, I've seen giant huge babies stuffed into tiny infant seats because parents think they have to do that for a year).
Most parents go straight from the infant seat to FF, this is IT, this is the ONLY chance I have to get them to rearface to at least a year safely.
You guys who will go out and buy a new seat every time you know you need one? I don't care what you buy...start with a Flex Loc, move to a Combi Zeus Turn, then a Roundabout, then a True Fit.... you'll keep your kid RF as long as possible no matter what seats you buy :D (http://carseatblog.com/?p=140 Marvin's 12 steps for safeness comes to mind..., lol)



lol, Julie! I had not read that blog entry. VERY funny.

[jerenaud]

For me, the appeal was travel. We'll be flying a lot in the first couple of years of this new one's life, and I'm hoping that the flight attendents will be less likely to give us trouble about installing the infant seat rear facing than a convertable, simply because the SS1 *can't* go forward facing. But otherwise, I agree that the main reason is for winter!

Erica

[ChristyJoelnSosi]

For us we knew Sophia was going to be tiny at birth, she is estimated to be maybe 4lbs at 36-37 weeks and very very tiny. So we needed a good seat that could hold that tiny of a baby.

We aren't big carrier people, but are planning on using the Keyfit 30 until it's outgrown. It will just stay in the car.

Also I really liked when Joel would fall asleep in the car and just be able to unclick him to bring him inside to continue sleeping. Joel outgrew his 22lb seat at roughly 4 months old by weight.

[skaterbabscpst]

For us a 30 lb infant seat would have been great for a few reasons.

1. we like to get the most "bang for the buck." So while the SS1 is slightly more pricey than a 22 lb SR, it would get used a lot longer, giving us that much more time beore we HAVE to buy a new seat.

2. When Joy was a baby we were all over the place all the time for the boys' activities, and Joy was a terrible sleeper. If she fell asleep in the car I sure as heck was NOT going to get her out because she would never sleep through that.

3. We often ride with my MIL on outings. Being able to quickly install the infant seat meant that it took no time at all to get going. Seriously - about the fastest install on the planet is a Snug Ride in an automatic locking retractor lap-only belt. :love: A 30 lb limit would have given us another year before we needed to move seats around.