6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

So my husband is anti infant carriers...we went to a baby safety class and they really spoke about how unsafe they are due to the “in and out of the car base” and the “in and out of the stroller” and the plastic handle that is used to hold the carrier with the baby in it. So i just wanted to maybe hear from other moms that used a regular car seat that is from 5lbs and up... just your experience with it…or even struggles with it.

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

Well I used an infant carrier but only for 2 months since both DD and DS got so hot in it I had to switch to the convertible.

I would say there are really only two things that annoyed me w/ using a convertible so young...

1. Having to carry such a small baby in and out of the house in my arms. I always like to make one trip so I found myself overloading my arms at times.

2. Having to move the baby when he was sleeping so peacefully in the carseat to take him out of the car.

Overall it's not that bad. I would just suggest that you get all the head and neck padding since I found that DS would sometimes flop around if his pads weren't in place.

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

I really hate that this class has turned your husband against these infant carriers why not tell him stories of the MILLIONS of people who use them safely and have no problems, rather than the handful of people who have had accidents with them.

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

I don't actually know anyone who hasn't used one!

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

IMO, the biggest issue with using a regular car seat so young is that if the baby falls asleep, you are probably going to wake them up getting back in the house. I can't tell you how many times DD fell asleep in the infant carrier, it was a god send!!

I have never heard of any negative stories associated with infant car seats. BUT - I have heard the opposite, that convertible car seats really aren't designed for babies that small, that there isn't enough neck control. Do you have the Baby Bargains book? If I remember correctly there is a whole section on this debate in there.

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

There was an infant carrier that was recalled because of problems with the handle. Other carriers are not made the same way.

If anything, the carrier itself surrounds the baby and there is protection. If anyone bumps into you, the baby is pretty safe in the carrier.

I just feel like we reviewed so many things about carseats when my DS was in the NICU and the issue of the carriers themselves did not come up.

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

Posted by InShock

I don't actually know anyone who hasn't used one!

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

i can't imagine not having it! DD was a little thing, still is, and would have just made the min. weight limit by a few ounces when coming home from the hospital. I wouldn't have been comfortable with her flopping all around in it. Plus, the add ons to position her in it would have made that seat less safe. Has your husband read the crash test data on the carriers? Or is he only concerned about the carrying/transferring?

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

I am curious what class you went to that gave you that advice. I know that baby bargains and consumer reports both recommend using an infant carrier first then investing in the convertible seat. A number of years ago there was a scare with I think one car seat but this was corrected and has not been an issue. I don't think I know anyone who used a convertible first.

I could be wrong - but from all the safety info I have read and heard the infant carrier is the best way for the infants to travel. I have actually seen that it is not the preferred method to put an infant into the convertible seats b.c the straps on many newborns are often too high and do not fit snugly enough. I think they also say that the angle that they are sitting can be too upright for them as well (depending on the seat).

Not sure where you live but maybe you could call safety Chris in Mineola/Garden city - he does a lot of instillations of car seats and he gives car seat safety lectures. You could ask him about the safety of the infant seats vs a convertible for a newborn I know he would be happy to discuss it with you and give you the pros and cons.

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

Honestly, I think that is nuts. The plastic is very hard and the infant carrier is not flimsy at all.

Besides the other good reasons the other ladies mentioned, you are having a winter baby, that seat is worth its weight in gold. The baby is SO much more protected in it than a convertible.

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

I agree with each and everyone of these posts. I cannot imagine NOT using an infant carrier for a newborn

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

We actually had a graco carrier but I never took it out, I preferred to just unbuckle my ds and carry him. I just couldn't get in the habit of taking the carrier out.

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

I used the carrier...I didn't know there was any safety problems with it. It is much easier to carry the baby in the carrier especially if the baby falls asleep.

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

Posted by InShock

I don't actually know anyone who hasn't used one!

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

I think 2 or 3 years ago there was one model of the infant car seat that had this problem. It was recalled...Like the other ladies said I think the infant car seat gives newborns much better neck and body support than the convertables do. I wonder whether the instructor gave your class outdated info.

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

OMG I cannot IMAGINE NOT using the infant carrier. I think either you went to a weird class or you misunderstood. I went to a few safety classes sponsored by certified safety people (whatever the official title is) and NO WAY would they EVER suggest NOT using the infant seat for a newborn!!

The infant seat is the SAFEST method to transport your baby, up to 22 lbs I believe.

A tiny baby in a convertible car seat?? No way, no how, ut-uh. NOT SAFE!!

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

Was it a Baby Tenda "safety seminar?" by chance?

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

I had the Snugride from Graco and it's one of the safest seat on the market.

Yes, somebody who had kids 20 years ago told me when I was PG that the handle was dangerous.

The carseats have changed. They are very safe. I am not sure where you took the class but a lot of us took classes too and NEVER heard this. I even had my infant carseat inspected and you would think they would tell you about the danger of certain carseats.

I could not imagine taking DS in and out of the car when he was an infant. Especially during the winter.

And not just because it was convenient. I did plenty of research on their safety.

The main problem with most convertible carseat is that the baby is more "upright" in them than in the infant carseat.

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

Well thank you everyone for your thoughts... my husband and i are thinking about maybe trying and see what happens. Its just so scary being a first time parent and hearing crazy stories...or go to these classes and they tell you differnt things. I am sure that my DH and i will make the best descion for our family...thanks

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

Posted by BlessedMommy

Posted by aliwnec10

There's risks with everything that you use. But trust me, the infant carrier is the way to go!

ITA! I can't imagine waking a sleeping infant up and disturbing them every time you have to get in and out of the car. They are alot safer than the car beds our parents had for us. We survived without carseats

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

Re: 6 months pregnant with a question for all you moms that did not use an infant carrier

I meant try the infant carrier... we agreed to register/get both and if for any reason we feel uncomfotable or it appears unsafe than we will make a descion then to change! We had done some research earlier on in the pregnancy and we have decided to register for that infant carrier as well as the car seat.