Car Seats & Capsules...

[Butterfly_Princess]

Heya!
This may seem like a question that has a obvious answer, so im sorry if its a bit silly, but its totally got me confused.
DP and i were looking through the 'Buying for baby" magazine we got in our bounty bag, and we came across the car seats and capsules, to which DP commented he didnt like the capsules.
I've always thought that a newborn HAS to be in a capsule for x amount of time because it provides the best protection for the baby. BUT DP seems to think you can put a newborn in a car seat, just reverse it so its not facing the front, and with the attachment for newborns.
So what is the deal with car seats and baby capsules?? Do we need to buy one of each, or just a car seat, or are there ones out there that can be used as both??

[Shellbelle]

You can buy a car seat that is reversible and can be used for a newborn. Capsules are recommended because they provide the best protection for babies. is an individual choice whether you go for a capsule (which can normally be hired) or a reversible seat!! Good Luck!!

[mgm]

Your best bet - safety-wise - is probably to hire a capsule for the first 6 months (ask your local council), then get a car seat. You may still need to use that seat in reverse position for a while; i think that's what we did because it's safer that way. You will still get years of use out of it.

I've always found that the guys who install the seats (there are a few specialised businesses here in melbourne, don't know about QLD though) give really good advice as to which kinds of seat are best.

[*Ali*]

The red cross here in WA hires out capsules. I think it is each to their own, babies can go in car seats that are reversible from birth. Capsules may be more convinent for a newborn because you dont have to wake a sleeping baby lifting them out of the car. A capsule is a big exspense espeically if they grow out of them in 3 or4 months, but if you are planning to have more babies then maybe it is worth it.

[Mum0809]

I brought a car seat that is reversible and can be used for a newborn.

[mrscricket]

We got the car seat that can be turned around and i had my time over i definiately would have hired/purchased a capsule.
We find it impossible to get DS out of his seat if he is asleep without waking him up. If you are going out somewhere and bubs is asleep, they tend to stay that way in a capsule.

[melly777]

Hmmm I am also tossing up between a Safe'n'Sound convertible car seat..the Meridian or going for the capsule option as well. Don't know whether to hire a capsule for the first 6 months and have it installed and then have to buy another car seat and again get it installed or just go for the convertible one to start with?!?! Ahhhhhh

[Erin_25]

We bought a car seat that can be used from birth, just switch it around...but we too hired a capsule for the first few weeks. DS looked some uncomfortable in it, we took him out after a couple weeks. If I thought about it more I wish I had bought one of those capsule that can be attached to a pram. They are more modern & more comfortable for bubs, you don't have to wake them when taking out of the car - but don't have to carry the capsule around either. If you are having more than one bubs I figure it's a reasonable expense.
But in answer to your question, YES many carseats are suitable from birth.

[Snacks]

We have a reversable seat, and I'm glad we got that one because DD is still rearward facing at 11 months - she's still a littley. They have an insert for newborn babies, and when they get a bit bigger you remove it.
Having said that, there were times when I woke DD when taking her out of the seat and wished I had a capsule. Sometimes, if she was tired enough, she'd transfer from the seat into bed just fine, but mostly she'd wake. Hiring seems like a good option. (I'm not sure about the capsule attachment to a pram option? I was told by the antenatal nurse that having them in the capsule all the time was bad for their back? )
Anyway, if I were you, I wouldn't buy both a reversable seat and a capsule - I'd hire a capsule or just not bother with it. Reversable seats and capsules are expensive items... But of course it is your call They are both safe options.

[leebee81]

You can get a reversible seat or a capsule for newborns. We have opted for capsule and base first - its good for up to 13kg, at which point we will get a forward facing seat which goes to 18kg and the capsule will be used for baby number 2.

We have a two-door car and I wanted to be able to load bubs into the seat first and then put the seat into the car, especially when bubs is tiny and has no head control. The car seat can also snap onto the pram we bought which is convenient.

[JordieC]

We bought a care seat that can go both ways and we love it. Most of my friends have those too. I would however think about a capsule next time just because ti would be easier to get bubs in and out while sleeping. Also that way MAckenzie can keep her car seat for a bit longer before we get her a booster style (that' assuming we have another kid after she's at least 2 - 2 1/2 years!

[MrsBump]

I was thinking about getting a capsule this time around but DF talked me out of it and just said to buy a carseat 9kgs and up for Jett as he is 9kgs now and we have had the convertable carseat for both the boys so we thought use it again for bubby. I dont like waking them up when they are sleeping BUT apparantly they are much better for babies backs.
Goodluck!

[Janie]

Here is another thread on this topic

Baby Capsule vs Reversible Car Seats

Thought it might be helpful to you. For me, safety is the biggest issue, which is why I'll use a capsule again next time.

[Taia's Mum]

I bought a reversible car seat for DD but next time around I will get a capsule! She slept a lot in the car and with a reversible car seat she was woken each time I moved her in and out of the car. With a capsule you can just take that out of the car and carry bubs without waking them! As we already have the car seat we would prob. hire the capsule.

Goodluck with your decision making!!

[Artechim]

You can buy a set of wheels that the capsules can attach to that makes it really easy to transport them around while sleeping in a capsule. They don't seem to be very common here, but in NZ capsules are more popular than reversible seats and the wheel sets are handy. They are just a frame on wheels and the capsule fastens on top. They are very light and easy to get in and out of the car and bub doesn't have to wake up.

I don't know why they aren't used here but I get stopped nearly every time I go out by people asking me about them.

[Karina]

We have reversible car seat. Its got extra padding and stuff that you put in for a newborn and then you can take the extra padding our when bub is bigger. In hindsight though, I would hve liked to get a capsule becuse then I could just take the basket bit in and out without waking her.