travel system question

hi ladies... trying to narrow things down for baby to be

when looking at travel systems..
it seems the car seat goes to 30 pounds and yet the stroller goes to 50ish. ( typically)

so what happens when baby goes above 30 pounds ?(btw how old is that usually?)(also can you buy a travel system with an extra infant seat for hubby's car?)

do you then have a stroller....but then have to rebuy carseats?

economically it seems to make sense to get a travel system...but if i have to just rebuy carseats within a year....does it?

i posted about this earlier but i finally went to bbb in person and was STILL super overwhelmed.

i need two carseats and two bases for an infant right?
then one pretty decent stroller that can fit an infant seat...yet i would like a stroller to go to above 50 pounds bc i dont want to have to rebuy again.


what am i not "getting"? gah!

Re: travel system question

If you start with an infant seat (which typically goes up to 30 lbs.), you will need to buy a new carseat no matter what. If you start with a convertible, it will last longer, but it's not like a an infant seat that you can remove and carry with you.

As far as strollers go, I could be wrong here, but a lot of kids are out of them by the time they are 50 lbs. I'm thinking of the kids I work with in preschool, ages 3-5, and they typically range from 30-45 lbs, with some a little more. I think most kids are out of strollers by 3 years old, right?

Re: travel system question

DH and I were totally overwhelmed too. Too many options. Too many opinions on what is best.

Economically, DH and I decided to go with the travel system. We also registered for a carseat for his car which is a convertible one that will take our DS up to toddler age I think, if not older.

In addition, we registered for a lightweight stroller for walks around the neighborhood or whenever I get tired of lugging the travel system stroller.

I am guessing that eventually we will have to register for another car seat for my car, but I will worry about that when the time comes. One of the salespeople said not to think too terribly far in advance as these car seats have an expiration

We also chose the travel system because I wasnt crazy about the way the snap and gos looked. And I didnt want to have to buy a new stroller when the baby outgrew the car seat./carrier attachment.

Either way- I am just sticking to what we did, as I have noticed that one person will give me certain advice and then another will give me the exact opposite opinion.

Re: travel system question

I'm not a BTDT mom, this is my first. But I'm going by what I've been told by my BTDT mom friends. The car seat for the travel system is usually only used for like 6 months because it's an infant carrier and once they're too big for it you have to upgrade. I registered for a travel system and a separate convertible car seat for when I can no longer use the infant carrier. Also, I was told that I will probably want to switch over to an umbrella stroller when LO is bigger and those are usually inexpensive. HTH!

Re: travel system question

we received a system. We had to purchase an extra base for Dh truck as it only comes with one. We also registered for 2 carseats for when she out grows the carrier. One for each of our cars. Its just easier than transferring it each time and worrying whos car its in. We didnt think we would get both but we did. As far as the stroller, I think once they hit 50 lbs, thats a bit much to be in a stroller anyway right? At that point I will have my sun stroller that we also received if we need it.

Re: travel system question

if you get a travel system......can you take the infant car seat out and carry the baby or no? confused again! lol

Re: travel system question

so what happens when baby goes above 30 pounds ?(btw how old is that usually?)(also can you buy a travel system with an extra infant seat for hubby's car?)

When a baby outgrows the infant seat, you can transfer them to a convertible carseat which usually goes up to anywhere between 5 and 55-70 lbs depending on the seat.You don't need an extra infant seat for your DH's car - just an extra base.

do you then have a stroller....but then have to rebuy carseats?

Yes - you can use the travel system as a stroller without an infant seat and you will use the convertible car seats.

economically it seems to make sense to get a travel system...but if i have to just rebuy carseats within a year....does it?

You can use the convertible car seats from the beginning in most cases (many are good from 5lbs +) but, it is more convenient IMO to use the infant carrier - if they are sleeping, you don't have to disturb them - and it's easier to put them in their seat in the house.


i need two carseats and two bases for an infant right?

No- just one carseat and two bases in your case for an infant.

then one pretty decent stroller that can fit an infant seat...yet i would like a stroller to go to above 50 pounds bc i dont want to have to rebuy again.

Most strollers tend to go to 50lbs or so - from what I've seen (I think my Maclaren may go to 60). Most kids are out of strollers by that age or you may want to use a lighter weight umbrella stroller as your DC gets older.

Re: travel system question

ty! sorry what i mean is....after the infant car seats...... when baby is older and needs a regular carseat.....then it will be two carseats one for each car...? right? gah lol sorry!

Re: travel system question

Re: travel system question

thank you!! i think i need to go to baby college or something haha!

Re: travel system question

Your totally not alone!!! All of this is soooo overwhelming. All my btdt mom friends all have different stollers car seats and each one has an opposite opinion from the next! Lol its all soooo confusing!

Re: travel system question

Honestly i'd skip the travel system. We used ours all of twice and hated it. Too bulky, too heavy.

We had the snap n go stroller frame that the carseat snaps into. So you take the car seat from the car, snap it in (and it's MUCH lighter & quicker) and go. We used this for about 8 months.

Then we had a maclaren stroller that the baby can go in once they can sit up (around 6 months). Another light weight item, which was key for us.

Then after 8 months, we switched Jacen to a convertible car seat. The convertible you have to take the baby/child out of and into a stroller.

infant seat is for the baby up to 30 lbs. Convertible you can use right away but won't support the babies head as much as the infant seat.

And yes you need to bases. 1 for each car.

Also keep in mind that you can get free car seats (infant seat, convertible, booster) from the police stations that inspect car seats (or at least at my husbands they do).

Message edited 1/4/2012 8:18:45 PM.

Re: travel system question

We had the travel system and loved it for DS. We just bought 2 bases, one for my car and one for DH's car. You don't need two infant seats. I prefer the Graco because it is larger and the baby can stay in it longer. We kept DS in the infant carrier until about one. People complain that it gets too heavy, but it was always great if DS fell asleep in the car, I could bring him in the house or do whatever I needed to do without waking him. Once DS was older I would just leave the seat on the base in my car if I didn't feel like carrying it and use it like a normal car seat. DS didn't turn 30lbs until about 1.5. Also regular car seats have to be rear facing and take up so much more room in the car. Hope this helps!