First stage car seat-what do I get?

[RuthK]

This is my first baby in Australia.

when my baby is born what options do I have with car seats?

In Ireland, where my other 2 were born, you buy are rather inexpensive baby capsule that lasts for the first 7 months and then a proper car seat (more expensive) until about 3.

What do people here recommend. I have the option of a car seat that will do my new little one from about 8 months, so want to spend as little as possible.

R

[jamb]

I'm not sure but you may be able to hire something to get you through to 8month mark. There was an option through our hospital in Sydney to hire baby car capsules etc and from memory it was pretty reasonable. Otherwise if the car seat you have already has a capsule as an accessory you could do that. But thinking about it I don't think a bub would fit in a capsule for much longer than 4 months.... mmm I'm not being much help really, sorry

[xkwzit]

Hi Ruth
You can buy baby capsules (although most people I know who used one hired it, as babies often outgrow them by 4 months). You hire them from places like St Johns Ambulance and some baby stores.

You can also buy a convertable car seat that faces to the rear when baby is little and then forward when they're bigger. The one seat will see your kiddie through until 3 or 4, but they are more expensive than the non-convertable kind.

Hope this helps

[Kamaikia]

i bought a 0 - 3yrs car seat was only $120. I also would reccommend you contact your local ambulance, they hire and fit baby capsules. They charge $50 for six months hire and if its needed for longer it doesn't cost more. The car seat will probably be cheaper but the capsule is great to have with a new baby

[RuthK]

Kamaikia

I like the idea of buying our own now, having had a look at the basicness of the ones you hire. It seems you have to buy woolen inserts for them anyway, which ups the price even more.

Where did you gete yours for $120, and what brand is it?

R

[willsmum]

We got a Safe&Sound convertible seat. This takes them from birth right up to 4 y.o. Cost approx $300 but I'm sure you can get cheaper, esp Target/Kmart sales time. Probably works out the same as having to buy a new seat for when they get bigger.

[draught]

Ruth
We hired a capsule, including the liner, from Kidsafe (they are in every state) for about $50 which saw us through the first 5 months or so but that was because both my girls are big. I have friends with smaller babies who have used capsules until the babies are 7 months old.

We then used a reversible car seat that we bought from K-Mart - Babylove brand - which cost us about $150 and is still going strong with baby no 2. Kidsafe, who you can hire capsules from, also hire out seats and sell seats and fit them for free (even if you didn't buy from them). Someone also told me that RACQ (or the equivalent if you aren't in Qld) have the best prices on car seats, so it might be worth checking them out.

[kailensmum]

hi, i hired a capsule from qld ambulance for 6 months for about $50. then brought a safe-n-sound maxi-rider seat. it does from 8kg-26kg, he went in it at 3.5 months. he's rather long and hated not being able to see. they codt about 299, or 269 if on sale.
spelling errors curtesy of cranky kittle 4.5 month old boy!!
:D

[Ana Gram]

have a shop around at places like Kmart and Baby Target and buy a seat that will last until they are 3. You may have to fork out a couple of hundred but you will save in the end by having a seat that will last for a few years and more than one child if you plan on having more.