What’s the difference between a travel system and a convertible car seat?
Jillian Iris asked:
The car seat you get with the travel system, is that going to last and turn into a seat you can use as your baby grows or is that only an infant seat? I am a first time mother and am trying to get everything I need, but this one has kind of stumped me.
Can I covertible carseat be used as a rear facing infant seat?
Paragliding Gear
The car seat you get with the travel system, is that going to last and turn into a seat you can use as your baby grows or is that only an infant seat? I am a first time mother and am trying to get everything I need, but this one has kind of stumped me.
Can I covertible carseat be used as a rear facing infant seat?
Paragliding Gear
Tags: Car Seat, Infant Seat, Seat Car, Travel Car, Travel System
December 24th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
A travel system includes the stroller. The carseat in a travel system usually can only be used the first maybe 9 months, then the baby gets too big. A convertible car seat will last for years. But you have to buy a separate stroller.
December 26th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
The carseat with the travel system is an infant carseat. The convertible is a carseat that is used after the child outgrows the infant seat. Sometimes it’s a step between an infant seat and a toddler seat. Other times it can be used all the way up to the point where you need a booster seat (usually at age four).
Check your state laws. Some states require children to be in safety seats up to eight years old. If that’s the case use your infant seat and once the baby outgrows it buy a Britax. I know many moms who use this to meet the federal safety requirement.
Otherwise, wait to see how big your child is before buying the next stage up carseat. Those convertibles can be on the smaller side. My son met the height and weight requirements of a regular booster at one year of age. And, it has adjustable five point harness. GRANTED most toddler boosters cannot be rear facing – unless it’s a Britax.
You’ll need to start out with the infant seat. From there you get a convertible or toddler seat then a booster (no back). Or, use a seat like Britax rear facing until your state/federal safety requirements are met.
Yes, convertibles are rear facing. Check the height/weight requirements for the seat though. Most convertibles have weight limits that are larger than your average infant and more in tune to an infant around 10-12 months of age.
December 28th, 2008 at 9:44 am
A travel system is the infant car seat with a base and a stroller. The infant seat can snap into the stroller. Instead of putting baby in the stroller. Good choice for moms to be. They have a weight and height restriction for safety.
Convertible car seats are good as the child is older. Since an infant car seat can go almost until 25lbs. There’s no rush for a convertible seat. There wasn’t for me anyways. I used my son’s infant seat until he was almost 9 months. But with the convertible seat it was good from about 25lbs to 100lbs. The last one he’ll use.
Hope advice was helpful.
Good Luck!!!
December 28th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
ok i bought a travel system (160 $) because im picky like that and i wanted the winnie the pooh..BUT its only an infant seat..which last till their a year or depending on their weight. and we had to buy a differnt car seat when he turned a year old. but it was like 40 $…im glad i bought the travel system cause i use the stroller everyday.
hope that helps you.
December 31st, 2008 at 6:18 am
Hi,
Some people like the convenience of an infant seat, which will last for 8 to 12 months (depending upon baby’s size). Many strollers can accommodate an infant seat.
Travel systems that include both stroller AND infant seat are a single-purchase package.
However, keep in mind that many nicer quality strollers can ALSO accommodate an infant seat.
The upside of a travel system is the convenience and matching fabric for your baby’s first year.
The downside of a travel system is that within a year, you need to buy a second car seat, and you may find that your stroller by itself has suddenly become much less appealing (compared to other strollers).
The whole different perspective is to get a convertible car seat. MANY convertible seats CAN work from newborn (facing rear in the car) all the way through toddlers (facing front-ways in the car). You get much more use for the money out of such a seat.
The only downside of a convertible car seat is that you can’t easily carry your infant in it. It’s not designed to be very portable, like an infant seat.
I hope that helped!
For making a decision about car seats and strollers, here’s a guide that I found really helpful…
January 1st, 2009 at 2:34 pm
The seat that comes with a stroller is an infant only, rear facing only seat. Most infants outgrow their infant seat at 4-6 months, as most only go to 20-22lbs. and 26inches or so. The only one that is bigger is the Graco SafeSeat Step 1. Its made to hold up to 30lbs. They claim that 97% of infants will fit in the seat until their 1st birthday. A convertible car seat will do both rear and front facing. You ‘convert’ it front facing when the baby has reaches the limits for rear facing. NOTE: Keep babies rear facing AS LONG AS POSSIBLE!! Not just to 20lbs/1year. That is the bare minimum for when you can. Their bones are too fragile to properly withstand crash forces, and rear facing is the safest position.
The infant carriers are convenient, but quite frankly, a sling is a heck of a lot more convenient, and slings like the Maya wraps (and lots of look alikes) can be used in 4-5 different ways up to 40lbs! I HATE seeing babies constantly put in their carriers. Babies were meant to be held, not put in seats all the time. Also, infant car seats were meant to be used in the car or stroller – not everywhere else. Even the manual usually states: ‘not for use in the house, boat, or anywhere else besides a passenger vehicle’. So, if you use them correctly, they really aren’t all that convenient. I mean, have you ever tried carrying around a 15lbs baby in a carrier? UGH! Painful. A sling is easier and allows your hands to be free (much better for grocery shopping, dining, etc. you name it!) Also, babies like it better.
You don’t have to have an infant carrier. Depending upon the size of your baby, you could put him straight into a convertible. If you’re going to do that, spring for a convertible that has the infant padding in it, otherwise it may not work. That should be fine as long as baby is 5lbs or over. If you’re really looking to cut costs, I’d cut the infant seat out of your shopping plan. You’ll have to get a convertible when he outgrows the infant seat anyways, so an infant is an extra. The best convertibles are ones with high harness slots and high weight limits both rear and front facing. Here’s some to look at:
Fisher Price Safe Voyage, up to 33lbs rear facing, up to 55lbs forward facing, 17″ top slots. Made by Britax, without the bells and whistles at a fraction of the cost! $130
Britax Marathon/Decathalon/Boulevard: all 3 same shell, up to 33lbs rear facing, up to 65lbs front facing, 17″ top slots. Decathalon and Boulevard have the infant cushioning. Britax seats have built-in lockoffs so you never have to use a locking clip again! Wide belt paths make it easier to use, too. Many seats can cut and scrape your hands when you try and install them. They sound expensive, but they last longer than most other convertibles. $269 and up
Sunshine Kids Radian65 and Radian80. Both rear face to 33lbs, front face to 65lbs/80lbs. Top slots 18″. GREAT seat if it fits in your car. $199, I believe. Lasts a LONG time, saves on buying other seats.
So, if you’re looking to save money, actually skip Walmart, they’re seats won’t hold many kids long enough because of low weight limits and low harness slots. If you’ve got a tiny child, it’d be ok, but for average or big kids it won’t work. Kids should be harnessed AS LONG AS POSSIBLE! No 4-year-olds in boosters, please!