| I remember very clearly the first day we brought our | | | | Us and insist I try out an Eddie Bauer model. Still others |
| oldest daughter home from the hospital. Lucky for me | | | | looked at me and laughed when I told them I wasn't |
| my husband is a car seat technician, so I had no | | | | going to buy a travel system that came with a car |
| worries that we had installed our Graco infant carrier | | | | seat and stroller. Others suggested starting right off |
| correctly. Interestingly, my husband procrastinated | | | | the bat with a convertible car seat. And everyone, I |
| installing the seat until the day I was scheduled to go in | | | | mean EVERYONE was positive their opinion was the |
| for my induction (my baby was a week overdue).I | | | | best.Eventually we decided to stick with the Graco |
| think until that point the idea of having a baby wasn't | | | | infant carrier because it was convenient. Of course, |
| real. Reality sure struck like a hammer however a few | | | | we had a porky 8 pound baby that outgrew her seat |
| days later, when we packed our bags up and | | | | within 8 months. Actually, technically she probably |
| prepared to bring our bundle of joy home. The nurse in | | | | outgrew it closer to seven. After that we decided to |
| the maternity ward was insistent about checking to | | | | go with a convertible car seat. While many parents |
| make sure our baby was nestled safely into her | | | | suggested starting out with the convertible seat, I am |
| carseat. She took great care to coach me about how | | | | actually glad we did have the infant carrier to start |
| to put the baby in the carseat and support her head. | | | | with. For a few months anyway, I started developing |
| She also told me of the steps I should take to make | | | | enviable biceps from carrying around my large, |
| sure the straps weren't too tight and adjusted properly. | | | | bouncing baby girl. I sort of missed that once we |
| Of course, she knew of my husbands experience but | | | | changed to the convertible.There are many things to |
| still walked down to make sure we had installed the | | | | look for when deciding the right carseat. Here is what I |
| car seat properly. She wanted to make sure the seat | | | | learned from my car seat shopping adventures: |
| was in the middle of the backseat.My husband and I | | | | You may change your mind midway through. We |
| smiled at each other. Once we got in the car however | | | | thought the infant carrier would last us at least a year. |
| we realized how terrified we were. That was the first | | | | As it turns out, we had to shop for another carseat |
| time I have ever seen my husband drive 20 miles an | | | | much sooner than expected. If you think you will have |
| hour down the highway back home. Normally the drive | | | | a large baby (hint, your size or your partners, or even |
| was about 25 minutes to the hospital. It probably took | | | | your mothers history might clue you in) shop for an |
| us close to an hour to get home that day. Looking | | | | infant carrier with a higher weight range. Some only |
| back, we are lucky we didn't get into an accident for | | | | carry a baby to 20 pounds, while others go to 22 (and |
| driving too slow!Selecting The Perfect Carseat | | | | two pounds is a world of difference for a baby). |
| Of course, that was the fun part of the story. Actually | | | | Keep in mind the advice of others, but remember you |
| finding a car seat was a mindboggling task. As first | | | | know best when it comes to your lifestyle and |
| time parents, everyone and their mother had an opinion | | | | preferences. You should select the carseat you are |
| about the best type of car seat for us to use. There | | | | most comfortable with, not the one someone insists |
| were loads of fans of the Graco brand (which we | | | | you buy because they like it. |
| finally settled on). I had one friend drag me to Babies R | | | | Consider a convertible seat. |