So confused about carseats/carriers/strollers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also make sure you swing by a police station to check the car seat is installed correctly - most car seats are not. I've visited the one on K Street. They were super helpful and also gave me a load of safety tips about how the infant should sit in the car seat for it to offer maximum protection.

Some hospitals do this too. I think one day a week Washington Hospital Center has a trained person checking car seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks SO much for the helpful responses!

The stroller I got is the Graco Metrolite. I actually just got off the phone right now with Graco, and spoke with an astonishingly helpful woman about my stroller. I did double-check with them that my model # was not part of the recall that occurred with some older models of my stroller. This one is similar:

https://www.amazon.com/Graco-Metrolite-Stroller-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B000XHWKGW

My understanding is that the seat reclines into 3 different positions, including one appropriate for infants (I still need to figure out moving the seat). The Graco lady told me that the compatible carseat is the Graco Snugride, and that it comes with a base for the car, but goes directly onto the Metrolite stroller without an adapter.

So I think I just need to find this carseat and make sure it all fits. Do you all think it's safe to purchase a secondhand carseat? I have heard differing opinions on this.

Do not purchase a second hand carseat. It is not worth the risk the car seat could have been in an accident, improperly stored, etc. You can score a graco snug ride on Amazon for ~100 dollars (or target or wherever) and if you register at that store you usually get 15% off the price of the car seat.

[Anonymous]

depend on when your baby will be born, if after Thanksgiving wait until black Friday deals where there'll be tons of discounts on car seats. you might want to consider a car seat that can last almost forever with your kid not only infant car-seat where you'll not use it after a while at least 6 months after your baby is born (depend on how tall your baby will be)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:depend on when your baby will be born, if after Thanksgiving wait until black Friday deals where there'll be tons of discounts on car seats. you might want to consider a car seat that can last almost forever with your kid not only infant car-seat where you'll not use it after a while at least 6 months after your baby is born (depend on how tall your baby will be)

Even if your baby doesn't exceed the weight/height limits, around 5 or 6 months the benefits of the infant car seat over the convertible are limited. With a newborn it is great to be able to click the car seat in and out of the car. Now since DD is much heavier we just leave the car seat in the car, so it basically is the same as a convertible car seat (which we'll have to buy next), at least for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:depend on when your baby will be born, if after Thanksgiving wait until black Friday deals where there'll be tons of discounts on car seats. you might want to consider a car seat that can last almost forever with your kid not only infant car-seat where you'll not use it after a while at least 6 months after your baby is born (depend on how tall your baby will be)

Even if your baby doesn't exceed the weight/height limits, around 5 or 6 months the benefits of the infant car seat over the convertible are limited. With a newborn it is great to be able to click the car seat in and out of the car. Now since DD is much heavier we just leave the car seat in the car, so it basically is the same as a convertible car seat (which we'll have to buy next), at least for us.

My dd fit safely in her infant seat until 17 months old. I think they’re amazing to have if you travel a lot. So much easier to bring on a plane or train or Uber than a regular car seat. It of course depends on your lifestyle and the growth pattern of your kid but for me it was invaluable to have for well over a year.