We didn't skip the infant (aka bucket) seat BUT we did not have a stroller that it clicked into. My SIL gave me her used bucket seat so we trusted that it was in safe condition, but it's an Uppa Baby and we didn't want to buy the corresponding stroller. Even so, we did still find the bucket seat really handy and i would not recommend skipping.
- handy when visiting people. Easier to be able to enter a house and put her on the ground in the seat for a sec while we unload etc. Gave her a moment to adjust as well before being handed off to someone.
- handy when in offices and appointments; didn't necessarily have to disturb her by hauling her out when she was comfy/calm or sleeping.
- easier to get her buckled in safely inside our home during summer heat and winter cold, rather than trying to do it outside in a parking lot. Just logistically easier to do this in the comfort of your own home, particularly in the early days when we weren't confident about the straps and took a little longer to get it right. Also in winter we knew we could bundle her up well inside our home and then just hustle to the car and click her in. No faffing around.
- easier for quick errands like picking up a pizza or the like. Could bring her into a store in the seat, she was calm but got a little change of scenery rather than having to haul her out and then strap her back in. It takes like 5 mins to get a tiny floppy baby out or in, and they don't usually like it. It can get really flustered and reducing that stress is valuable.
The bucket seat can be clunky to haul around but you get used to walking with it for the short distances you need to (home to car, car to store, etc). We had a lay-flat stroller (Bumbleride Indie) and I used a carrier alot for our June baby but nonetheless the bucket seat made a world of difference.
Congrats! I’m due in May as well, my second baby. With my first, we got the UppaBaby Cruz stroller which we LOVED and used so much. The stroller is light, compact but has a lot of storage space. And we got the UppaBaby Mesa baby car seat that clicks directly on the stroller. I could not recommend it more.
Then for the longer term car seat we got the Graco4Ever which we’re still using for my first (he’s 7yo).
Interesting, the cpsts are always saying how compact it is. We had the mesa but a bigger car. If I could go back in time I would have gotten a smaller, cheaper seat though.
My baby hates being in a car seat outside of a moving car - we have the Uppababy car seat that snaps into the stroller. In hindsight I’m happy I didn’t purchase the Doona since the baby would’ve hated it.
I think the rate of people getting car seats and strollers destroyed is not as high as the internet would have you believe. I also notice it’s always people with pricey gear (Nuna, uppababy, etc). I’ve flown all over the country and to japan many times with my 1.5 year old and my graco travel stroller always makes it out fine.
You could get the babytrend trooper for ~$100 and check it, or bring it on the plane for the baby to sit in if you buy them a seat.
ETA: just read that baby isn’t here yet, so would prob still be in a bucket seat. I’m sure baby trend or safety first has some cheaper ones!
hoping556677
