I wasn't going to... but I can't help myself. Car seats.

[belfie]

Ok so I was determined to get through car seats on my own... no posting... I'm a big girl now, I can do it! But... as always... I have questions!

So had a look at all the safety stuff & older threads... and sounds like Safe'n'Sound is the way to go. LIked the look of the convertible seats (birth to 18kg) and ultimately came down to Meridien versus Compaq Deluxe. The Compaq actually seemed to do slightly better in the safety testing last year, so I'm leaning towards that. While the Meridien raves that it has more, I'm not sure how much difference it makes..? Happy to be enlightened tho!

But I'm still confused about something else. I've read that some people hire a baby capsule to start with... easier to travel with bubs & not disturb sleep. So that sounds logical... but... all the sites say don't buy a car seat that's second hand/history unknown/coulda been in a crash etc. So if you were to hire a capsule, how do you know it's been looked after? Which way would/did you go? straight to a convertible seat, or get/buy a capsule first?

Thanks!

[catherinemoses]

Hi There!
I was going to go for a capsule (we got given one but it was too old and didn't have a 5 point harness). In the end I decided to get the convertible car seat and it works well for us. Some people rave about having a capsule, but most mums say they are just too darn heavy with a bub in them! (After Flynn was born and even now, 2 months later, I feel very weak and have trouble lifting heavy stuff, plus you're worn out and sleep deprived!!)
In regards to hire, I'm sure that hire companies would be very strict about knowing the safety history of their equipment, so I wouldn't be worried about that. HTH
Catherine

[Janie]

We were lucky enough to be given a capsule by friends, we knew it hadn't bee in an accident. I would highly recommend using a capsule for newborn bubs, I loved it. And everyone I know who uses one loves them. I am pretty sure also that they are recommended safety-wise as being the best option for a newborn. So for me, that was the number one reason to use one. But I also loved that I didn't have to wake DS to get him in and out of the car. It was winter when he was little, and we would just rug him up, and if he needed to go to sleep not too long before we went out we'd just put him in the capsule, and then in the car when we were leaving. Likewise when we arrived home, if he was still asleep, we'd just leave him in the capsule until he woke up (unless it was late at night). If I needed to nick into the shops quickly, I would just carry him in it, which makes things alot easier.

I miss using it actually! Though I don't fancy carrying around 10kgs PMSL! Look, people will say 'yes get one' and others will say 'no don't'. I know that plenty of people survive just fine with a convertible car seat from birth.

ETA About the hire, I'd say they are pretty strict about having stuff in good condition. My mum hired a capsule for six months for her car, and it was brand new! Was nicer than ours LOL.

[Lolli]

Definately go a capsule hire, I couldn't live without mine, for the same reasons janie posted... at 7 kilos we are still using it to carry him back and forth and I think it was my favorite piece of baby equipment. And it just felt *safer* when he was so tiny. I'm sure the hire company would have very strict standards but maybe question them when you're checking out prices and what not?

[~breeze~]

We have the safe n sound meridien & were happy to use that from birth but when DD was about only 1 week old we went & purchased a capsule mainly for the convenience of leaving DD undisturbed while getting in & out of the car as it was a bit of a pain while she was tiny getting her in & out of the rearward facing carseat. It was also great having her rugged up in the capsule from before we left the house (especially if going out at night) & not needing to worry about blankets coming off etc as she was tucked in nicely.
I also agree that I think it is a safer option & I've heard it's not too expensive to hire so maybe look into what it will cost??

I highly recommend my safe n sound meridien, we still use it now & DD has just turned 3. Once our next bubs grows out of the capsule he will be using DD's carseat & she will go into her safe n sound booster we already have for her.
I love the way the side protection is a) there in the first plae & b) grows with your child up until approx 4 yrs! My DD is tall & it's still got room to grow with her.

I think car seats / capsules are one of the most important things to make sure the safety standards are high as its not only your driving that could cause an accident it's the people around you on the road.

I think it shows great parenting asking this question about recommendations on car seats as it shows you know the importance of the safety & your thinking entirely of your baby.

Good luck choosing, I hope I've helped

[Janie]

We also have the SnS Meridian, which I think is great. But I read somewhere recently that a car seat, any car seat, can only do it's job if installed and used correctly (I know, that seems obvious ). So yes, do your research on which seat to buy etc, but then do your research as to where/how to install it, and then make sure you know how to use it properly

[~breeze~]

We also have the SnS Meridian, which I think is great. But I read somewhere recently that a car seat, any car seat, can only do it's job if installed and used correctly (I know, that seems obvious ). So yes, do your research on which seat to buy etc, but then do your research as to where/how to install it, and then make sure you know how to use it properly

Great advice!

[JellyBean]

I hired a capsule from the red cross (a bargain $50 for 3 months), which was fabulous for the purpose of not disturbing bub when asleep- especially in that first month when they sleep heaps and are little enough to carry in the capsule easily. However it was an old model and rather awkward- therefore we took bub out of it before he reached 3 months and put him in his safe n sound car seat. He is much more comfortable in his car seat, but I quite regret not spending the extra on a new plush capsule. My sister-in-law has one and they are fantastic. Of course they also double as a mini-rocker/seat when you visit family and friends houses.
We try really hard not to wake bub when getting him out of his car seat- but to no avail. Then of course we have to go to the hassle of getting his pram out of the car as he needs something to fall asleep in when we visit others. For the next bub I will definitely be buying a new capsule and will utilise it for as long as possible.