It is a bigger pain in the butt than you think to get a baby in and out of a car seat. Especially in the pooring rain and blowing snow. Besides if Morgann fell asleep on the way to the restaurant that was a good thing and if she stayed asleep while we were there that was a good thing too. You can always take the baby out if you want to, but it is nice to not have to take them out if its raining, snowing, or their sleeping. Or if they fall asleep you have a traveling bed/car seat.

Besides Morgann was such a big baby there is no way I could have carried her everywhere. And yes slings/carriers do work for carring but they are not the easiest thing to take a baby in and out of, I usually needed help getting her in/out or adjusting it once I got her into it. Plus imagine trying to do that in the pooring rain or snow, not fun.

My daughter didn't learn to walk until she was llmo. old. so for two month my husband and I had to get her in and out of her car seat (rear facing). We did a happy dance at her 1 yr. birthday just because we got to turn her car seat around. It was still several months before she was walking stable enought to even attempt to get out of her seat by herself and we still have to put her in it at 19 mo. Also there were times after she grew out of her carrier when we were out and she would fall asleep and then we'd have to wake her up to get her out of the car, talk about a cranky baby.

It is your decision, but I recommend the travel system. And take "silversky32" advise about the 30lb. weight limit. I wish I new about that before I had my daughter.

I completely agree with Cariann, if the baby is happy then don't stir anything up lol. You may see babies in seats alot out in public but it doesn't mean they aren't being held alot. Its just a matter of convenience, you can always take the baby out when it wakes up, or gets fussy. However, having the option of being able to lay the baby down in its own secure little nest is really nice. I liked that my kids never had to touch any public surfaces because I could always place them back in their seat. They get to see everything if they are awake or you can shield them by draping a light weight blanket over the seat. This helped prevent grubby hands from touching them when they were newborn. Plus alot of carriers can be very hard on your back, difficult to get the baby in and out of, and offer limited weather protection. I think using both is a good idea, and each has the appropriate circumstances. Hope this helps

I think anything for your baby is worth the money. When you have a baby you expect everything to be perfect.
My first child had everything i spend £500.00 on a pram and now thinking about it i think it is absolutely ridiculous and i can't belive i actually spent that much on a pram which i only used for 1 year. But then with my other children i done the exact same thing only because of my step-grandmother she pressured me into it really by saying that i would'nt be treating them the same and it's like you are favouring the obne child. Which i was definatly not.

its so not worth it. my boy will be 3 months tomorrow and is already too tall for the infant seat. you're better off getting the convertible seat and a seperate stroller.

I loved my travel system because it was so easy when he feel asleep that way I wouldnt have to wake him up to transfer him to place to place. I only really took it out when he was asleep or a newborn because when your in the store with a newborn you cant just put the newborn in the basket thats when the seat is nice to have same at resturants if you have a newborn a sleep or awake what would you do with the baby while your eating besides newborns sleep all day anyway you dont want to bother them to wake them up. In Fact just the other day I was wishing they had that kind of stuff for a 16 month old because when im on my way to a grocery store and he falls asleep I have to wake him up to take him out and then gets fussy in the store because he is so very tired

Thanks for everyone's ideas! I think I'll just play it by ear... we plan to start trying this spring to get pregnant so that could put us potentially with a newborn in January, brrr! I know that using a "used" infant car seat is frowned upon, but both of my cousins just had babies and if they offer, I might just borrow a carrier from them.
I'm DEFINITELY going to register for a Britax Marathon Convertible carseat (with the cow print) which is technically good for babies 6lbs to 65lbs.... so we'll have SOMETHING a newborn can use if we decide NOT to use a baby carrier, yet the seat is useful for kids 3 or 4 years old.