Look at the Chico Fit360. Also rotating, way nicer and better design/engineered than the Evenflo 360 (twin dad and we two of both…) and they sell a separate base.
https://www.chiccousa.com/shop-our-products/car-seats/fit360-cleartex-rotating-convertible-car-seat/79690.html
https://www.chiccousa.com/shop-our-products/accessories/car-seat-accessories/fit360-rotating-convertible-car-seat-base/087019.html
The base is easier to install
The seat attaches to the base in a more secure manner (needs the special tool attached to the adjuster belt to remove. Evenflo can be removed in middle of the rotation)
Seat feels more secure when locked
Seat harness is smoother when adjusting
We had the Chicco cleartex infant seat and now have the Chicco cleartex rotating seat and love it! If you decide to go with a jogging stroller, we are obsessed with our Guava stroller! Have used it twice a day for over a year and it is still good as new!
We went from a Y to an X and the X is just so much better for kids in car seats. My tip would be to go ahead and get a rotating base car seat (we have the Chicco fit360 and love it) so that you can retain easy access to the third row even with rear facing kids. I do not find the third row in our 6 seater to be uncomfortable in the least, I shared it with another medium adult behind two rear facing car seats and it was completely fine.
If you're the kind of person who can never have too much space then go ahead and get a mini-van or SUV, but the size is perfect for us. I bought a small travel stroller that fits in the frunk and that's great for day-to-day. We've taken a couple road trips in it and have yet to be really space constrained, but I did go ahead and get a hitch mounted carrier just in case we need it in the future.
We have had convertible seats since birth. Graco turn to me and Chicco 360. Our average sized baby did not fit properly in the Graco for the first 6 weeks. The Chicco is bigger front to back so leaves less room for the front passenger seat.
We bought used uppababy vista and yoyo strollers and they each have bassinets. We also have a few carrier options. There has been 3 times now that I really wished we had an infant seat. He’s 11 weeks old so 3 times isn’t bad.
We live in the south so we don’t have harsh winters.
Uppababy isn’t known for great car seats, I would choose a different brand. If we’d gotten an infant seat, we would have done Joie rue or mint with their travel stroller, I think it’s nutmeg.
If I was juggling two kids or had a busier schedule, it would have been harder to go without the infant seat I think. For the convenience.
CA_vv
