Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

James will hopefully be in his convertible seat by tomorrow evening (I say hopefully because DH was SUPPOSED to do it today, but never got around to it - my damn back is KILLING me from throwing the infant seat into and out of the car). Yes, I know, he will be rear-facing .

Anyway - I'm having some anxiety about not having him in the infant seat anymore. It's so convenient for when he falls asleep in the car - which is almost always. He falls asleep when I pick him up from the sitter and I just take him in the infant seat into the house and leave him in it in the dining room until he wakes up. I'm just worried how it's going to affect his napping.... Also - what do you do when it rains? It it a PITA? Oh - and in the mornings, I get him ready and put him in his carseat while I finish getting ready. What am I going to do with him now? I guess I can use the infant-to-toddler rocker... The carseat was just so EASY, but he's getting heavy and my back can't handle it anymore.

Jeez - you would think no one else before me has ever done this. Help me out here and tell me that it will be fine!

Re: Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

It's definitely an adjustment. DD outgrew her seat when she was 5 months old, and I think the hardest part for me was not being able to use the Snap N Go anymore

You'll get used to it. Ryleigh doesn't really nap much in the car anymore, and when she does, she wakes up as soon as the car stops in the garage. She doesn't transfer. That basically means that if I want her to nap well, and for any length of time, we have to be home. It takes getting used to, but it's not a bad thing.

As for the rain--I'm kinda spoiled since I park in the garage. But if we're out and about, I've gotten really good at maneuvering an umbrella with one hand and picking her up with the other!

Re: Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

You're still carrying him in and out of the car in his carseat? I stopped that at around 5 months, she was just too heavy for me! She's still in the infant seat though and i'm hoping to keep her in it for a while longer (she's 8 months).

DD always falls asleep in the car too when I pick her up from MIL's house and most of the time she wakes up as i'm pulling in the driveway but if she doesn't I usually just sit in the car until she wakes up (or just wait 15 mins or so).

Does he sit on his own yet? We always put DD in her PnP to play in the morning while we get ready for work.

When it rains I just use an umbrella over us... i'll take the diaper bag and whatever else I have to bring with me and put that in the car first then get DD in.

Re: Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

it takes some getting used to but it will be ok!! definitely sucks when it rains!!

Re: Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

I am hanging on as long as I can!! He can go to 30 pounds in our seat or no less an inch above his head and he's got some time left. I also am not ready to give up the snap n go either! And I'm dreading the life adjustment of not having him buckled safe in the carseat while I load some things in the car or whatever. I just got the hang of running my errands during nap time. When we switch, I'll need to do reverse!

It will be an adjustment but you'll get used to it. I hope I will when the time comes!

Do you have a snap n go? Or could you borrow one just for another month or two? Just to get through "April Showers". I've used it just to go from my mom's driveway to in her house. It just helps with the load and holds all yer cr@p too! So easy to pop open and closed. It's a thought.

Re: Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

I switched last week and haven't missed it once!

I hated that tiny seat & having to carry it in & out. Wasn't a fan of the snap & go either, I felt like she got soo heavy that it slowed down the snap & go.

If she falls asleep, I just pick her up & carry her in. Sometimes she wakes up, sometimes she doesn't.


I usually put her in the exersaucer when I am getting ready.


Good Luck!

Message edited 4/12/2010 7:44:30 AM.

Re: Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

Thanks guys!

I don't know why I'm freaking over this - maybe because it means he's getting older? I'm trying to hold on to my baby as long as I can.....

Re: Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

It was an adjustment! In the mornings I usually let him play in his room on the floor until I am ready, then put him on the floor of the foyer with a toy while I put on his coat.

The rainy mornings are the WORST--I haven't mastered the umbrella while holding him and putting him into the seat. I usually try to put a raincoat on him, and try to put him under my coat. DH sometimes helps and holds the umbrella, but I have the same issue when I drop him off.

If he falls asleep and is really exhausted, I can usually take him out (he'll wake up for a second) and put him in his crib where he keeps sleeping. He buries his head into my shoulder and I run him into his crib.

GL!

Re: Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

Oh I feel ya on this one. Jack was out of the seat at 2 months. Tyler will be 6 months this week and still in it. I don't know how I will manage the two of them once I stop using the seat. I have started to use the snap and go more (when I used to just carry it in) because the thing is just so damn heavy.

Re: Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

Posted by nov04libride

It was an adjustment! In the mornings I usually let him play in his room on the floor until I am ready, then put him on the floor of the foyer with a toy while I put on his coat.

The rainy mornings are the WORST--I haven't mastered the umbrella while holding him and putting him into the seat. I usually try to put a raincoat on him, and try to put him under my coat. DH sometimes helps and holds the umbrella, but I have the same issue when I drop him off.

If he falls asleep and is really exhausted, I can usually take him out (he'll wake up for a second) and put him in his crib where he keeps sleeping. He buries his head into my shoulder and I run him into his crib.

GL!

Re: Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

we changed DS over yesterday & today was the first time I ventured out alone with DS. It definately was an adjustment especially getting out of the house with the diaper bag & him. It definately was easier though then the weight of the infant seat & him.

Now coming home, he refused to fall asleep in the seat (usually he does if its around nap time), so he screamed a bit & as soon as I got him in the house, he fell asleep! I am hoping he learns to sleep in it quickly though as we are going on a 7 hour car ride in 2 weeks!

Re: Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

I switched over at 10 months. They never really would transfer, even in the infant seats.
If its raining, I put a hood on them.

Re: Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

It is an adjustment but I personally liked the change. DS rarely slept in the infant seat and sleeps better in the convertible seat. He loves looking out the window in the car too.

As for going out to the car, all of his jackets have hoods. I find I can carry more when I bring him in now (like his bag, my bag, etc...) DH does the morning drop off and he puts DS's bag in the car and then brings DS out to the car.

I put DS in the excersaucer a lot when I need to get ready or do something whe nI need him in one spot. GOod luck!

I actually love the convertible seat!

Re: Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

man up and just do it already

i like it better. He's much more comfortable, sleeps well, likes to look out the window, etc.

If it's raining, I throw a blanket over his head and it covers his whole body. We switched at 4mos, so he's learned how to hold on while I lock the door, carry him down the stairs and out to the parking lot. Sometimes, if it's nice out, he flies to the car like Superman ....complete with soundtrack.

Re: Retiring the infant seat and having panic attacks about it!

I dreaded the switch also, but she's sooooo much more comfy in the new seat that I think I should have done it sooner! And now that the weather is nicer I'm not concerned with bundling her up before we leave. I make sure the car is packed before I bring her out and sometimes have her play in the living room (her play area) while I'm preparing.

The only downfall is the transfer to the house. She was a good car sleeper, and now she wakes up on the transfer. Maybe she'll learn to keep sleeping!