I thought the same way you did but I was talked into the carrier system by my co-workers. It is vary convenient for going form car seat to stroller and from car seat to grocery cart; which is what sold me. The kicker is looking at the weight limit for the carrier. You want to get a light weight carrier with a height wait limit. We had a very large daughter who grew out of her carrier by 9 mo. So we got saddle with having to by a transitional car seat, rear to front facing. The carriers are also convent because you don't need the base for it to be as a car seat. Therefore if he/she goes with Grandma and Grandpa you don't have to take the base out of your car.

If you decide not to go with the travel system make sure you keep in mind a baby has to be rear facing until there 1 year birthday. That is why we got saddled with having to by the transitional car seat. When she was still in her carrier before we new she was going to grow out of it we bought, what we thought, would be her next car seat but it wasn't rear facing so she couldn't use it until she was 1 year.

Hope this helped.

Travel systems weren't available or popular with my older children, only the infant car seats so I have never used one. However,the infant seats are really convenient because most babies fall asleep in the car and you don't have to disturb them going to and from the car to the store etc. Also in restaurants and other places you need your hands free they come in handy. I also had large children and they did out grow their infant seats by 6 to 8 months. However, with this baby I found a travel system that I fell in love with. It's the 2008 Chicco cortina model. The car seat has been rated to 30 pounds and its the only infant car seat that goes that high. My baby will be in it until a year old easily. Also it's easy to use and the stroller is really light. I also like infant carriers like the baby bjorn, but I am trying a sling for the first time with this baby. You can get by with the basics but in all honnesty7 alot of this stuff just makes life easier.

cwilson wrote:

QUOTE:
I just don't like the idea of baby having to sit in a dang seat going from home to church, to restaurant, to home etc etc... obviously being in a CAR seat is necessary - but everywhere else?

I don't understand what you are saying, like you don't want to take the carrier inside every place you go? Or you don't want to strap her in to go from place to place?

I see parents walk into church with baby in baby carrier. the child NEVER leaves the carrier the entire time. They just carry it around like another purse or something. Wouldn't a sling work just as well in church or a grocery store? I don't mind having to strap them in the car seat each time.

Again - I have no experience with this yet - just asking.... THANKS!