Can someone recommend a good car seat? Do they all have bases that stay in the car and do you have to buy a new one after the baby exceeds 22 pounds? Is it better to buy a car seat that has a higher weight limit (35 lbs)? What's your favorite car seat? Any to stay away from? My grandson will be arriving in September and I want to choose a good one - easy to use and safe. Thank you!

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Love the Britax. They are consistently rated well. They can be pricey though.

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Infant seats have bases that stay in the car, and the seat can be removed, while convertible seats stay in the car, and you just lift the baby in and out. You don't *need* an infant seat, but they're nice to have when dealing with a tiny baby, and they do give you a place to put the kid when you're out. We're still using one with a small 11-month-old.

Convertible seats are convertible because they can be front or rear-facing. Weight limits vary, but I'd choose a fairly high one, to avoid having to buy a new seat too soon. We have an Evenflo infant seat I like, that was given to us by friends whose daughter grew quickly, and hated it. It has a matching stroller which I find clunky to use. Not that you asked, but I'd stick with umbrella strollers or a mei tai-type carrier. So much less hassle. We also have a Graco (I think) convertible seat in my husband's car. I don't use it, so no reviews there. I think most car seats have washable, removable covers, but make sure you get one that does!

Baby Cheapskate tends to list car seat deals, among other things. Hope it's okay to post that site.

Infant car seats - usually attach to a stoller, very convenient with babies because you can lift them and the seat out and put them in the stroller without having to wake or disturb them. The seat just sits on to the top of the stroller and latches on. The carseat has a big canopy to cover the baby. Later, the stroller can be used by itself with the child sitting in the seat. I think it is worth it for the convenience of being easily to transport them. For example, you get home and baby is asleep in car seat, just carry car seat inside the house.

All this assumes you have a base for the car seat. The base is attached to the car and the car seat snaps on to it. The car seat can be used without a base but it would not be feisable to take it in and out. I don't remember if my carseat came with the base or I bought is separately. I know we did buy a separate base for my parents car to make it easy to use the car seat in their car. So you may want to coordinate with the babys parents and buy one seat and two bases.

My daughter rode in her infant car seat, rear facing, until she was two and weighted 26 lbs. I think it is good through 30 lbs.

She is now in a convertible seat, stays in the car, Britex Marathon. Called convertible because it could also be used rear facing for an infant.

I personally love the stroller that goes with my infant seat. I find umbrella strollers uncomforable to use.

A mei tai carrier mentioned by baby blue is a cloth carrier you strap on your body. I am actually listing mine on ebay tonight!ll

Congrats on your new grandbaby, how exciting!!

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All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

you should get a convertible britax carseat. I have one in each car for our daughter, and she loves it -- kind of like a mini la-z-boy for babies in the car.

They are expensive, but last until 65 pounds, and are always on sale at albeebaby.com

I know one thing. Those infant seats are HEAVY when you have an 18 lb. baby in them. I had my grand baby yesterday and had to bring my daughter to the gym. I could not believe what a struggle it was to get that seat out to the car!

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