Flexible recommendation for non car owner

[mimi55]

Hello Everyone,

It looks like this question hasn't been asked recently, so I'm hoping to get some up-to-date recommendations on specific car seat models.

I do not own a car and plan to mainly walk or take the subway with my baby.

I expect to use taxis infrequently but would want a seat that is easy to install without the base (using a seat belt?) for those occasions.

For traveling outside of the city, we would likely to rent a compact car, so I'm looking for a seat that could fit in a wide range of cars.

Since we will be using cars so infrequently (I'm estimating less than a dozen times a year), I'm not concerned with stroller/travel system compatibility.

I've heard that infant seats are the safest choice for young babies, but if there are convertible car seats you feel are viable options for infants, I would be interesting in hearing those recommendations.

Finally, I'm hoping to purchase a seat that is on the less toxic spectrum. However, I'm willing to compromise on this point since we'll use the seat so infrequently. Ease of installation and ability to work in a compact car are our main priorities.

Thanks for your help!

 

[bree]

Hi and welcome!

I'm not familiar with the current infant seats on the market, so I wanted to bump your thread. I know that a convertible seat called the Combi Coccoro is sometimes recommended for non car owners, because it has a unique seat belt path with a seat belt locking clip that could potentially make it easier to deal with for frequent installs, but it's a fairly short convertible, so it won't last as long as other options.

 

[Cnidaria]

I take it your baby is not yet born?

 

[mimi55]

Bree, thank you. I've seen the Coccoro mentioned on a couple NYC parent blogs.

Cnidaria, correct. Baby is due at the end of April. This is my first so I'm finding all of the research to be useful but also a little overwhelming

 

[T4K]

You said you would infrequently take taxis? In what types of situations? Would they involve much walking?

My all around favorite, simple, easy to install seat is the Britax Roundabout 55. It will fit an averaged sized newborn (and fit even better with the newborn wedge) and last a long time. It will install well in a variety of vehicles. The one HUGE downside for your situation is that it's not exactly portable. It's not huge but it's not super small either. If I wasn't doing a ton of walking when taking the taxis then it would be totally doable.

 

[Cnidaria]

I've heard that infant seats are the safest choice for young babies

As long as it fits the baby well and is properly installed and used, infant seats and convertibles are equally safe choices. (If one has a truly tiny (premature) baby, the only choices that fit acceptably might be infant seats, but we will certainly cross our fingers that that doesn't end up being the case for you!)