Carseat Question

We are planning on driving from Florida to Arizona at the end of May (yes we are a little bit crazy :crazy:!) We will be staying there for about five weeks. The girls will be 7 months old.

Should we upgrade to convertible car seats for the trip? Would it be more comfortable since they will be bigger? Or would the convenience of the carriers be better?

 

I think they will be more comfortable in convertibles. My guys were in them at 6 months and we took a long drive to PA when they were 10 months. They slept a bit in the car seats and were able to see things. Also, we could pass them things easily, like sippies.

Have fun!

 

I definitely would. We did a 12-hour road trip (short compared to yours!) when my two were 7 months, and they were very comfortable in their convertibles -- but they're both really tall. I think being stuck for hours at a time in an infant seat wouldn't be much fun at this age, even if your munchkins still technically fit.

The only thing is, you need to take the double stroller out every time you stop and take them out of the car....

We had to do some creative configuring of the carseats in the minivan, too. What kind of car will you be driving? I can tell you what worked for us.

Good luck -- you guys are brave!

 

I would say convertibles for sure. My guys love looking out the windows and watching the world go by. The infant seats are so small!

When we drove from DC to FL we didnt have to use the stroller. We just each carried one. It was ok for the most part.

I would suggest getting them and yourself used to the convertibles ahead of time. It can be a bit of a logistical nightmare until you get everything right!

 

I would say to change also. we are about to, to make them happier even without the road trip.

 

We changed right before our first big road trip. They LOVED their convertibles, so I was glad we did! It was a bit tricky when we made stops, since we did not bring our double stroller (no room), just two umbrella strollers, and they were not sitting up yet so it wasn't like we could stick them in a high chair. But, we managed just fine!

 

We are going on a 4 hour road trip next weekend and we will be using our convertible car seats. My girls hate their carriers, so I am hoping they are much more comfortable in them. I will probably switch back to the carriers when we get home for convenience reasons. Good luck with that incredibly LONG road trip, you are more brave than I am.

 

I know most everyone suggested the convertible and i think that probably will work the best. We took a 14 hour trip when the boys were 6.5 months old and they were in their infant carrier seats and did just fine. Of course, my boys are on the smaller side too. It also made it very easy to get them in and out of the vehicle. My boys were swimming in their convertible seats when we changed them over at 9 months (due to height not weight) but the convertible seats do appear to be quite comfy.

 

If you have room, I'd suggest switching to the convertible seats but throwing your infant seats in the back of the car. That way your kids are comfortable but you also have seats to carry them in if necessary. I kept our infant seats in the back of my car for about a month after we switched to the convertibles. That way if we were going out to lunch and I wanted the girls contained, I could put them in the infant seats rather than having to hold them or put them in high chairs.

 

We are doing a 12 hour road trip in May and my boys will be 6 months adjusted then. I hadn't even thought of switching to convertibles. I'll have to think about this now!

 

If they're comfortable in the carriers, then I'd still use those. I don't think the convertible seats make THAT much of a difference. We moved when the guys were 5.5 mo and they did just fine in the carriers (and we have BIG boys.) Plus, it makes going out to eat SOOOO much easier if you can keep them in the carriers vs. having to put them in high chairs at restaurants.

 

I'm on the fence. If the girls still fit okay in the carriers then, I would take those. First, because they will be able to lay back more and not sleep twisted like my boys do in their convertibles. Second, there is nothing worse than getting the babies out in the rain! This happened to me on my road trip and the only thing that kept the boys from getting soaked were those covers on the carriers.

If you do the convertibles, I would test drive them (and the stroller) for about 2 weeks. My boys used to sleep in their car seats (carriers) when in the stroller, but now that they sit upright, they won't sleep in the stroller. It may make a difference during those 5 weeks.

 

I'd keep them in the carriers if they are still small enough, they are way more convenient for in and out of the car. I guess I never saw the convertibles as being that much more comfortable.

 

For such a long trip - I'd go with comfort..........definitely the convertible seats.

 

Do you think there is any chance during the 5 weeks you are gone that they might outgrow the carriers? If so then I would go with the convertibles to start. I am unsure on the comfort thing, it is easy for us to say we don't see a difference but we aren't the ones sitting in them. A tough call but one that might be made easier than you think if they have already outgrown the carrier by then.