Product Spotlight: Car Seats

stlbuckeye132

Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product. Feel free to comment on threads like these throughout your time at the board, not just when they're in their week in the spotlight, if you discover something new OR are new to the board. This week it's.... Car Seats!

FTMs are encouraged to ask questions & STM/+s encouraged to share their knowledge based on experience. You can use any or all the prompts relevant to you below to share info in an easy-to-read format. Pictures/screen grabs, if put in spoilers, are welcome!

For S+TMs: 

• Vehicle factors that might influence your choice:
• Favorite car seat:
• Link/picture:
• Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
• What you like about it:
• What you don't like about it, if anything:
• Are you considering a specific car seat that goes with a travel system? Why?:
• Is there a car seat you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?: 
• Additional thoughts?:

For FTMs

• Lifestyle factors that might influence your choice:
• Car seats you're interested in:
• Link/picture:
• Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
• Any questions for S+TMs?:

stlbuckeye132

We bought this one with DD, and I have no complaints about it! Bought it from BBB with a 20% off coupon of course because I'm all for a good deal. It does have a stroller frame thing that we bought (and didn't use that much, tbh) that the car seat just snaps into if that's something you're looking for. Full disclosure: I've only used this infant seat so I don't have anything else to compare it against. I would recommend going to a Buy Buy Baby if you have one near you to look in person, put the fake 15 lb baby in there, feel how heavy they are,  etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Chicco-KeyFit-Infant-Seat-Orion/dp/B071L1NG6N?th=1

b_1029

We ended up buying this one when amazon was having Black Friday / cyber Monday sales. My bff has it and she says she really likes it. I was so overwhelmed by all the different options that I said sure and went for it 🤷🏼‍♀️ I just wanted to have something that could easily switch between our cars and is relatively pain free to snap into a stroller. We want to keep traveling after we have kids so I wanted something relatively light / hassle free. 

Britax 2017 B-Agile Travel System with B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat - Birth to 55 Pounds, Raven https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0731KQ97W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ga98Db442EP0M

MrsTiger123

We were very pleased with the Chicco Keyfit infant seat as well.  Unfortunately ours is expired, so I’ll need a new one.  I’ll probably pick something cheaper just because we will only need it with one child.  

We also went with th a chicco NextFit as our convertible and though it installed quite easily, I found the straps incredibly hard to tighten.  It does have great height and weight limits and feels very solid.  I was happy to pass it onto a relative when we were able to move on to a high back booster though.  I would not recommend this seat if you plan on switching it between vehicles- it’s very heavy compared to our Safety First seat. 

asf0613

FTM here--i admittedly havent started looking so deeply yet (just light browsing online as opposed to in-store), but as a general Q on this topic--have you STM+ opted for "travel systems" or individual strollers and car seats?  i feel like a travel system makes sense but curious what anyone thinks based on past experience.

magnolia305

We have the Britax B Safe carseat and stroller.  Love them- both! The stroller is so easy to maneuver on uneven surfaces and folds up fairly flat and super easy. 

I also have found that as you get out of the infant seat--that I only buy carseats with adjustable straps that don't have to be rethreaded.  That is a pain.  Also... carseats with the latch system--easy click (not sure what it's called exactly) is the way to go.  Picture below because it's hard to explain. 

coffeeandcookies84

We used the Peg Perrego 4-35 with DS, and will use it again this time around. I don’t have anything to compare it to, but overall we were satisfied with our choice. Although I have also heard good things about the chicco key fit.

one thing to keep in mind is whether you’ll be using a stroller attachment. For strollers I really wanted a Bumbleride, but the Peg Perrego wasn’t compatible at the time, and we didn’t think a bassinet was necessary. We ended up going with a Bob stroller which worked great!

when researching car seats or big ticket items I frequently visited the www.babygearlab.com site

blaf322

@b_1029 we have a similar Britax for our infant/bucket car seat and liked it well enough. I think, with those, you find one with good safety ratings that doesn't weigh a ton (b/c you'll be carrying it around) and you'll be happy. The snap into a stroller thing is always a plus, IMHO.

Pro tips:

• Use Lucie's list to figure out what's best for you: https://www.lucieslist.com/guides/best-infant-car-seats-strollers/infant-car-seats/
• See tag above for what we have/thoughts on infant car seats. - For our Britax, I liked that I could bring the stroller and easily pop the car seat onto it, so I suggest getting the travel system (for whichever seat you choose).
• For convertible car seats, don't get the Evenflo Symphony DLX unless you just like gigantic car seats that take up allllll the space. I have it. It's really great, otherwise. But it's HUGE. I wish I had put thought into that when purchasing.

Other tips: 

• Don't put your car seat base in the car until closer to your EDD. If you get into an accident it'll have to be replaced and that's a PITA
• Join the FB group called Car Seats For The Littles if you have ANY questions about safety, installation, fitting car seats in your car, or other recommendations for which car seats would be best based on your vehicle and budget.

meanjellybean

@blaf322 YES to Lucie's List guides. All FTM's should start reading now and keep referring back when you get closer to registering/buying things of your own. I even found their series on pregnancy and childbirth really helpful too!

@asf0613 we opted for a travel system. We got the Uppababy Mesa carseat and base (and an extra base for the other car, if you have two cars), and then the Vista stroller where the Mesa clicked right in. She was a tall baby but we were able to keep her in it until she was a year old before switching to a convertible seat. I found this super convenient, and have found Uppababy (while admittedly pricey) to be great quality and super intuitive. Since all of us are having summer babies, being able to pop the bucket seat out of the car and right on to the stroller will be great when going for a walk, running errands, into a restaurant, etc.

and_peggy

+1 for Chicco Keyfit. Ours expires July 2021, so boy did I time my 4 kids in 4 years right.

But seriously, it’s amazing and I’d never use anything different for infants.

Convertible seats - I have the Britax Marathon which I could also rave about for an unspecified amount of time.

zande2016

I second joining car seats for the littles on Facebook and learning up on car seat safety, use them as a resource for install and fit, and any other questions. I also really liked lucies list for pretty much everything but it was particularly helpful for car seats and strollers. If you are set on a certain stroller make sure you get a car seat that’s compatible if you want to be able to use it as a travel system. We have the uppababy Mesa because we wanted the vista and it snaps in without needing adapters. I’ve read if you have a tiny baby/premie the Chico keyfit  is a good option, which might be good for twin mamas to keep in mind. For convertibles we have a few graco extend to fit because I am into the extended rear facing thing and for travel we have cosco scenera next because it’s soooo light and cheap. 

JessDG

We also had the chico keyfit travel system and was very pleased.  My DS was gigantic and we swapped him to the Graco 4 Ever convertible car seat at like 7 months. We are pleased with that so far too . He will continue using it until he doesn't need a car seat anymore.  We actually have two 4 ever seats because babies r us had them on sale for $99 on Christmas eve the year DS was born.  I just  couldn't  pass that up!

We mostly picked these on recommendation of my SIL and a little research.  

kc0711

• Vehicle factors that might influence your choice: I have a Toyota 4Runner and DH has a Ram, so we have very big vehicles
• Favorite car seat: infant- Chicco Fit2 convertible- Britax Advocate
• Link/picture:
• Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): $$-$$$
• What you like about it: the fit2 has two positions, one for little babies and one for toddlers for more use of the seat. We needed a seat that would fit our preemie, we brought DD home at 4lbs 15oz, and we wanted it to work long after that. The only reason we moved to convertible is because our cars are too high/tall and I couldn’t buckle her in well while balancing on the running board. The britax I love all the safety features. It is a gigantic seat, but I know that she is very protected in her “spaceship”. Both were VERY easy to install. 
• What you don't like about it, if anything: Fit2- the handle sucks to carry it, but honestly carrying an infant carrier is not comfortable no matter what. 
• Are you considering a specific car seat that goes with a travel system? Why?: no! I didn’t like any that were a pair, so I bought the car seat I wanted and bought adapters for the stroller I wanted. 
• Is there a car seat you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?: definitely go and try the buckles before you buy. If you don’t like how it buckles/unbuckles in the store, you will be beyond frustrated when you have to do it in real life. 
• Additional thoughts?: Buy buy baby lets you try car seats in your car before buying. If you are tight on room, it’s good to test it out. Also, your local fire station will check the installation of your car seat for free. It is a wonderful service and I highly recommend taking it by to get it checked. 

laurad75

We had the Nuna Pipa infant car seat for DS. We went with that one bc it’s super light and I carried him in the car seat for a long time. 

Cost: $$$

i liked that it was super easy to install and so light. I bought the adapter to snap it into the stroller (uppa baby) and I used it more than the stroller seat for a while. 

treeofcheem

We’re going to need new seats for this baby. I drive a Hyundai Santa Fe right now, but we’re talking about getting something else because 3 across would be *tight* (my 5 yo is in a booster, which helps, but still requires some extra room).

My babies never transfer in/out of the car and stay asleep, so the convenience of a bucket seat is very valuable to us. There’s nothing wrong with skipping it and going straight to a convertible seat though, and they often take up less room.

We’ve used...

Infant bucket:
Britax B-Safe - no complaints

Convertibles:
Britax Boulevard Clicktight - heavy but very easy to install, not excessively large, cover has worn badly near tightening strap
Graco Size4Me - we have one in each grandma’s car, one tightens much easier than the other, otherwise decent
Evenflo Sureride - harness didn’t come with covers and dug into my toddlers neck, but I was able to get some from Evenflo; not super user friendly but usable and super light for travel

Combo seat (as harnessed FF and booster):
Graco Nautilus Snuglock - my *favorite* install we’ve had, it’s super duper easy; really nice seat

Booster:
Chicco KidFit - pretty good, but the belt slips out of the guide a lot

smpic2287

meanjellybean I second the Uppababy car seat & travel system.  We have the Mesa infant car seat and the Vista Stroller and love them.  They still look almost brand new even after almost 3 years and 2 kids worth of use. We did the same with buying an extra base for my husbands car, so that we could just click the seat in and out of whichever car we are using. It is also nice that the carseat clicks right into the stroller, even if you add a second toddler seat. DD was a small baby, so she was in the Mesa for a year, but my DS was a chunk baby and we ended up switching him to a convertible seat at around 7 months because the Mesa got heavy for me to carry around.  We will use the same Mesa seat & Vista stroller for this baby.

We have the Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 Max as our convertible toddler seats and LOVE them.  They are quite large, and with 2 in my backseat they basically take up the middle seat as well (I have a smaller MB SUV) But they are very comfortable for the kids and I feel they are very safe with all of the padding.  

We also have 2 "travel" carseats - The Evenflo Tribute XL.  We travel quite a bit as a family and these are perfect as they are narrow (fit down the aisle of a plane easily) and very light.  They are also pretty inexpensive.  We have checked them for flights as well and haven't had any issues with them breaking (we do put them in a carseat bag) We also use them in my husbands car at home, and since they are narrow, you could fit another person / carseat in the middle seat if needed (BMW SUV).  

If you are a FTM and making a registry, I would recommend putting the convertible / toddler seat on your registry as well as the infant seat.  We didn't, and then had to go back and buy it after a year when we needed it (they can be expensive).  It would have been nice to have had someone buy it for us and have it ready when needed

misskdreams

Third time mom here...

Infant Car seat: Graco Snugride. This has been one of the highest rated car seats for years. It isn’t trendy. It’s safe, and always has been. I appreciated that track record. Also, it’s lightweight compared to many others in its class. One more note: don’t let high weight capacity be an influencer for buying an infant seat. It’s a gimic. There is NO way you’re putting a 35lb child in this seat. My 3 1/2 year old isn’t even 35lbs yet. You’ll move to a convertible car seat way before then.

Convertible Car seats: Britax, 100%. I once worked in a children’s boutique and the owner would only buy Britax. They said they were the safest and told their customers that it was the only option. Their expensive, but worth the peace of mind safety rating IMO.

Stroller: I got a simple “frame” like stroller to snap the car seat into for when I went shopping. And then we used a BOB jogger. So, if you’re taking an infant on a walk outside, sidewalks are crazy bumpy, but the air filled jogger tires make for a smoother ride. I just lounge the seat all the way and put an infant insert inside. My oldest child is 9 and we’ve been using the same BOB stroller since she was born. It has lasted two children, and we will use it again with this child. We’ve only had to replace one tire tube. Best investment ever.

blaf322

@misskdreams meh. We have Britax for our infant seat and I really do like it... but they all have minimum safety standards. As long as a seat meets those, it's safe. Folks don't need to buy the most expensive brand to make it safe for their LO.
Andplusalso.... even a safe seat is unsafe if it's not used correctly. So if a Britax doesn't fit with a 2nd or third time mom's car seat configuration.. it's not the best fit for them because it's not safe. There's so much more to consider.

mrsdrez

• Vehicle factors that might influence your choice: we have a Honda Civic and my husband drives a Buick 
• Favorite car seat: We've really only used the Graco Snugride. We have just installed a Safety 1st something or other in MH car but I honestly haven't used it so I can't comment. 
• Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): $ 
• What you like about it: We've had no issues with it, but like I said it's the only one we've used. My DD is pretty small so she's still cruisin in her bucket in my car  (we don't take it out of the car anymore because she's not that small.) 
• What you don't like about it, if anything: no complaints really. 
• Are you considering a specific car seat that goes with a travel system? Why?: We had the travel system and definitely would recommend a travel system (or I imagine having a stroller with an adapter that fits your bucket would also do the trick.) It's so convenient to not have to transfer them out of the seat if you need to use the stroller (especially in the winter). I didn't actually love the stroller that came with our system, but that's for another thread lol. 
• Additional thoughts?: I CANNOT imagine not having an infant seat to start off with. For us it was just so much more convenient. 

treeofcheem

Just second-ing what @blaf322 said. ***In the US, every single seat that is legally sold meets the same exact standards, and it's a pass/fail test. There's no seat that's rated to be safer than another.***

Different brands will have features *they* say add safety, but you have to take their word for that, it's more of a marketing thing than anything else because those aren't tested independently.

How you use a seat is the most important factor. A seat that you can install and use correctly every time is safe, period. A seat that you can't install correctly, or a seat that you can't seem to use properly, isn't safe. And don't use extra things that haven't been tested with the seat - like those infant padding things. Most seats come with everything you're allowed to use (like their own infant insert), or the manual will say whether or not you can use extra things (like seat protectors). Accessories can interfere with how the seat functions in a crash, and obviously you don't want that.

misskdreams

There are safer car seats than others. And they are tested for safety. Just like cars. And just like cars, all of the cars on the road are not as safe as one another. 

That being said, I totally agree that the car seats are still safe as-is. And I agree that it’s the after market products and user-error that can make them unsafe. For work I spend a lot of time at car dealership service shops, and OMG have I seen some things with car seats. 

I’ll also say that I was trying to give a recommendation as a TTM. I know the paranoia of trying to make the right choice with all of these things. I know the rush of seeing your teeny tiny little one strapped to a seat for the first time and then driving your car. I swear I held my breath the entire first car ride with both LOs. I also have had products for my older LOs that have now been recalled (ugh rock-n-play), so the idea of a good reputation means a lot to me now.

Some of us may have strong opinions and throw down for cloth diapers, glass bottles, organic mattresses, etc. We are definitely going to see differences of preference regarding all of this, both now and throughout parenthood.

Fullhandsfullheart

I used a chicco keyfit infant seat for all 3 of my kids. It’s still in great condition but I believe it’s expired so I’ll have to buy a new one. I also got the chicco frame stroller to put the car seat right in and it worked great for the early months when the baby would sleep on the go and I didn’t want to disturb them and move them out of their car seat. It’s much more lightweight than attaching the car seat to a big stroller, which we later used when the baby could sit up on its own. 

For convertible car seats, we’ve gone with a Britax marathon for each kid at around age 9 months and I’m very happy with them. The key is to get the “clicktight” model. it’s so worth the extra money, as it makes installation a breeze! You’d be surprised how many times you have to move car seats around and between cars, so for us having a clicktight has made it less of a hassle. 

blaf322

misskdreams said:

Some of us may have strong opinions and throw down for cloth diapers, glass bottles, organic mattresses, etc. We are definitely going to see differences of preference regarding all of this, both now and throughout parenthood.

well, of course we are lol... I'm far from "throwing down" over this though.

I just don't think FTMs need to feel like they're not choosing something safe enough b/c some baby store owner says one brand is "safer." She, very likely, has no real knowledge about car seats, other than what manufacturers have told her. And, to @treeofcheem's point, those extra features aren't tested independently and are used as a marketing tool.

treeofcheem

misskdreams said:

There are safer car seats than others. And they are tested for safety. Just like cars. And just like cars, all of the cars on the road are not as safe as one another. 

...

Some of us may have strong opinions and throw down for cloth diapers, glass bottles, organic mattresses, etc. We are definitely going to see differences of preference regarding all of this, both now and throughout parenthood.

I'm sure some *are* more safe than others, because what are the chances that they'd all be exactly the same? But the big difference between cars and car seats is that cars have safety ratings that rank them against one another. Car seats do not - either they meet the federal standard or they don't. If they don't, they aren't allowed to be sold. While some are undoubtedly safer than others, there's no way to know which ones or how much safer they are.

I'm also a TTM, and I think that putting it on a new parent to think that they might not be picking a safe enough seat for their brand new squishy baby is unfair. It's not like opinions about diapers - a legal seat is safe, period. The opinions about which are easiest to use, nicest quality, etc. are totally up for debate here, and everyone can have their own favorite. But every car seat in the US is rated equally safe - that's not a preference or opinion. Saying "oh, only this one brand is good enough" is misleading and is just an unverified opinion.

pretzellover

@smpic2287 Sounds like we had a similar car seat / stroller set-up. We also went with the Uppababy system (but the Cruz v the Vista), and the Mesa car seat for our midsized MB SUV. When my DS outgrew the car seat, we moved to the Nuna Rava convertible seat - which is big and luxurious, and my son sleeps amazing in it - but I wasn’t thrilled that it spills into the back seats on either side (for our car, advice was to put baby in middle seat). But it’s super heavy, so for travel we use the Cosco Scenera...which is a POS in my opinion. (It’s nearly impossibly to secure it in a rental car and baby’s head flops forward so far unless you’re in extra leg room or upgraded seats).

Two reference points I have found helpful:
1) thecarseatlady.com has a robust database of car makes & models, and provides solid advice on where & how to configure 1+ car seats based on vehicle make and model. She also recommends car seats based on model if you need a slimmer profile or don’t have the LATCH system in all seats, etc.

2) Read up on dos and don’t of infant car seats. While they are safe installed correctly in the base and on strollers when positioned correctly, babies have died of asphyxiation when infant car seats are placed on other surfaces. https://www.scarymommy.com/never-let-baby-sleep-in-car-seat-outside-car/

pretzellover

@misskdreams You are factually correct in saying that some car seat makes and models are safer than others. Whether or not Britax is the end all be all, I won’t weigh in on that (I have no POV).
Just because a government agency publishes a minimum safety threshold, it doesn’t mean all products are equally safe. We see this across all sorts of consumer products - such as medicine, food/produce, water quality, etc. Also, advances are made all the time. For example, the latest thinking based on studies conducted in Sweden is that car seats with a metal bar that extends down to the floor dramatically reduces infant head injuries v what we see here in the US. 

@treeofcheem and @blaf322 Just because you disagree with someones (strong and/or even incorrect) opinion doesn’t mean they are mommy shaming. 

Consumer reports and other publications HAVE tested safety features. And FTMs should definitely do their research given how important this particular item is.

and_peggy

Also, hate to call it out, but just because you have more experience as a mom, doesn’t mean you have all the answers. I’m a 4th time mom, and I likely have more opinions or knowledge about different parenting things, but that doesn’t mean I need to shove it in your face. Nobody is an expert. We are all just doing our best to keep our kids safe and healthy, and raise them how we see fit. But the mom shaming because of brands or preference is just stupid. And yes, it’s total mom shaming.

pretzellover

@rachstar18 Please help me see the element of shaming, as I just don’t see it.

I understand the objection to someone stating their opinion as a fact (‘product xyz is the best’ vs ‘I like xyz the best and this is why’).

But I don’t see any place any one was ‘shamed’.

bluguitarhannah

I'm looking at a few of the Britax models.  If anyone droves a car of similar size to a Honda Accord and has used that I'd be interested to know how you felt about the fit.  My wife drives a Honda CR-V but back seats are pretty similar in size.

I appreciate all the feedback from those who have done this before.  There is an overwhelming array of options.

 

and_peggy

@pretzellover I don’t really care about this enough to sit and extrapolate all the places where a mom might feel shamed. First time moms tend to be more nervous and not always sure about different about choices to make. So as moms who have been there, I feel like it’s our duty to help them feel comfortable about whatever they decide (unless the child is in danger), and to not put any more pressure. I’m just suggesting that some may feel that way, and no amount of kids makes you an expert.

modoodles

TBH, this will be the 5th time for me and IDGAF about specific carseat brands. I will likely head to Target and get whatever we get. If it's being sold, it's safe. Period. No matter how many times you are a parent. "I'm a third time mom so I know this is the safest," comes off extremely rude and fairly condescending. I believe the point of this post was to leave reviews and answer questions about car seats that you personally have used. Not everyone can spend hundreds on a car seat and shouldn't be made to feel like buying something else off the shelf is not safe enough. 

blaf322

pretzellover said:

...

@treeofcheem and @blaf322 Just because you disagree with someones (strong and/or even incorrect) opinion doesn’t mean they are mommy shaming. 

...

Neither of us EVER mentioned that someone was mom shaming and I still don't think she is/was. I think she was providing what she felt were facts and others expressed their disagreement. YOU are were the only one saying anything about mom shaming.

Disagreements when opinions are given are going to happen. That's okay and totally normal. Everyone will move on. I hold no ill will towards anyone just because we don't see eye to eye on everything.... I had more to say, but in the interest of letting this TF go so everyone can have a positive morning, I'll stop here.

ETA: @pretzellover when I say I hold no ill will towards anyone... that includes you. Over this and last week's UO. 

JessDG

I had a lot of anxiety about picking the right carseat last time around.  I would also suggest that any FTM ask any of your IRL friends about their carseats and to see them.  My SIL was really great in showing us what they used for my Niece.  She even put the bucket seat in our car for us so we could see it in our car.  We ended up getting the same kind as hers after trying hers and another friend's seat.  

This can be super overwhelming for FTMs and I agree that we need to just keep this to straight recommendations.  

blaf322

@bluguitarhannah DH has a 3 series BMW and I can't imagine any backseat is smaller than his (I just googled... looks like the cubic sq ft is about the same in the two cars) and our Britax fit well in his car. He was able to rear face in the center and still have his seat back as far as it needed to be (he's 6'1" so, pretty far). I think that seat will do well in your wife's car.

stlbuckeye132

@bluguitarhannah If you live near a Buy Buy Baby, I think it can be worth going to look at options IRL. I know BBB will let you take the seat out to your car so you can get an idea of if it'll work with it. I'm not sure if Target/Walmart have the same policy.

bluguitarhannah

@blaf322 Thanks for that comment!  and @stlbuckeye132 We have a BBB about 30 minutes from us and I'm planning to drag my wife there over Christmas break to check some things out. 

smpic2287

@pretzellover which MB SUV do you have? Does it have a third row and do you like it?  I 100% won't be able to fit a third car seat in the model I have now and am looking at the bigger 2 models possibly ... Let me know!

Also, regarding the safety of different seats (and this is just my personal opinion) I think that certain seats are definitely safer than others.  Maybe less so for infant bucket seats, but definitely for convertible seats.  I mentioned in my last post we have Maxi-Cosi's in my car & Evenflo Tributes in my husbands car/ for when we travel.  While I definitely think both models are "safe" (they wouldn't be sold if not), the Maxi-Cosi is much larger, heavier, more padding, etc.  If I was to God forbid get into an accident, I think the Maxi-Cosi would do a better job of protecting my kids than the Evenflo. I am just trying to give my experience from owning both brands -  But everyone has to make that determination for themselves for what they feel works best for them, their kids, their car and so on. (And this is not to say Maxi-Cosi is the best brand, its just what works for us and what we recommend to our family and friends)

m3lisssaaa

• Vehicle factors that might influence your choice: carseat has a load leg so you cant pit the carseat in the middle row if your car has that floor hump
• Favorite car seat: Nuna pipa
• Link/picture:
• Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):$$$$$
• What you like about it: super light,dream drape feature is amazing,can adapt to alot of different strollers
• What you don't like about it, if anything: the price lol
• Are you considering a specific car seat that goes with a travel system? Why?: I use the nuna pipa with the baby jogger select. Just bought the adapter. I loved the carseat and the stroller and even though it wasnt the same brand the carseat adapted to the stroller which was amazing bc we couldnt agree on a travel system. We either didnt like the carseat or the stroller.
• Is there a car seat you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?: anything safety first for the bigger carseats.  They are awful
• Additional thoughts?: it's well worth the price in my opinion.

zande2016

Okay I know I’m late on this but I just have to put my 2 cents in.... “ the safest seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car, and that you use correctly every time.” https://csftl.org/the-safest-seat/

Some parents cannot afford anything besides the “piece of shit” $45 cosco scenera next, and they shouldn’t be made to feel like their child is going to be any less safe than the kid in the $500 Nuna rava. They are all safe, the rest is just bells and whistles and convenience features. And we have a britax advocate, graco extend to fit, and cosco scenera next for my toddler. He likes the cosco the most honestly. 

For what it’s worth for those wondering about small back seats, graco extend to fit (on level 4 and without the foot panel extended) is the most compact seat front to back on the market in the US, but it is wide so doesn’t work for 3 across. Britax click rights are also compact front to back. 

smpic2287

@zande2016 The thing is though, that this thread is specifically asking STM+ for their opinions - "STM/+s encouraged to share their knowledge based on experience."

So for someone the $45 car seat might not seem as safe and that person is allowed to have their opinion and express that based on their experience with that seat. For someone else, that $45 seat might be perfect for their needs.  The information that people are giving here is based on their experiences- which FTMs can take or leave. 

I don't think anyone's objective here is to make others feel like their decision is "wrong" or "unsafe" or that they are making a bad decision for their child, but I don't think it's fair to get upset when someone gives an opinion based on their experience. Not everyone is going to agree on everything - this is why there are probably over 100 different Carseats and every other baby product on the market. 

modoodles

@smpic2287 yeah I think the crappy part is telling someone that the less expensive seats aren't as safe. Which is what has been done here. STM+ can give their opinions without that thrown in there, or they risk getting called out on it. Noone here can say they crash tested all these car seats and based on  their experience, xyz is the safest.