Britax for Newborn?

I used one for all three of my kids from birth and loved it. I am not the type to carry my baby around in their carseat though so it worked for me. Instead of using one of the carseat carriers when at the grocery store etc and putting it in the cart I either put the baby in the Bjorn or my husband and I went together and I would carry the baby. I just hate it when babies spend so much time in their carseats and get those nasty flat heads. I also like to cuddle my babies when they are little...it doesn't last long. It hasn't made any of my children too dependent on me either...holding them instead of sticking them in a carseat carrier all the time. Good Luck.

Our son grew out of his Chicco Keyfit30 infant car seat at around 8 months, so we decided to make the switch to the Britax Marathon at that time. Compared to the infant seat, our Britax causes the baby to sit much more upright. When sleeping while the car is moving, his head seems to bob forward very easily (obviously, more when the car is accelerating) so that when I sit in the back seat with him, I often have to hold his head still during turns, acceleration, etc. Even a rolled-up blanket under the foot-end of the Britax doesn't really recline the seat sufficiently.

I would wait to use the britex later. When they are that little, it's nice to just pull them out. Especially if they are sleeping, or what not.

My understanding is that it is perfectly safe and effective - my only concern is for you ... sometimes it is convenient when the baby is sleeping to just grab the infant carrier and go, rather than waking up the baby when taking him out. Just a thought.

Gosh, wouldn't you just rather use the infant carrier? I almost cried when my kids outgrew the infant carrier and I had to put them into the "big" carseat. I loved the freedom of picking up the whole carseat with the sleeping child inside and going to the grocery store while she napped (or where ever)

Britax makes a newborn seat the Companion. clicks in and out of a base just like other newborn carriers. It also has an inflatable side impact guard.

We have used the Britax for our son since day 1. We absolutely love it. Our close friends also have used it since day 1. We used a snuzzler when he was little but how quickly he grew out of that. They are great car seats!

I've looked at several convertible carseats which claim to be approved for 5lbs, but I can't even imagine putting a baby that small in one--it's too big for their size. My daughter is in one with the 5lb claim, but she is 13 months old and still using the lowest shoulder strap position!

Besides, as several others have mentioned, you can't beat the convenience of the infant "bucket" seat. I think the Graco Snug Ride is awesome (I was still using it until just a week ago!), so worth spending $$ on one if you don't still have the one from your daughter.

Or if the one from your daughter was a *girly* color, maybe you can purchase a new cover for it.

I have a Roundabout, Marathon and two Regents. My first child stayed in her Graco baby carrier for over one year. My son just never seemed comfortable in it so I moved him to the Roundabout at a few months. He loved it from day one. Of course, it's not a carrier, so I couldn't just carry the carseat in to a store or home, etc.. but he transferred well in to a sling/pouch. I too thought 5lbs seems so small for those big seats but I guess if that's what they say then that's what they can accomodate.

Congrats on your upcoming birth!
M.

I agree with the other posters for the most part... I have a couple of Britax models and they are probably the safest seat on the market for any child over 5 pounds (up to the limit of course!). However, like the other moms have stated, the carrier-style seats are much more convenient when baby is small enough to use them.

The drawback of the carriers is that many moms leave baby in the carrier too much. The child never has the chance to move around and the head is against that sat all day long. If you want a baby with a flat head and no cuddle time I guess leaving them in the seat all day is fine, but I know I for one wanted more interaction and a nice round head! Holding baby is best for baby. If you're not holding baby, a mommy-worn carrier of some sort is best.

Personally, I wouldn't even consider not starting with the infant carrier car seats for the sheer convenience. Otherwise you will be disrupting their sleep and breaking your own back getting them in and out of the car, not to mention the convenience of the carriers for restaurants, grocery shopping, or any other place you want to go with a new born. I just moved my 10 mo old to the britax marathon (rear facing) and its like she is in anther room. We cannot see eachother and I cannot make contact with her. I think anyone who acctually usses the large car seats for new borns is making traveling harder than it needs to be for everyone.