Britax B-SAFE vs. Chicco KeyFit

jessica_gail2

I trust you ladies' opinions like no other, so wanted to pick your brains. I had thought I wanted a Chicco travel system, but DH and I went to BRU tonight to register, and I've fallen in love with the City Mini. I'm just not sure what car seat to get now. The Chicco adaptor worries me a little, but the Britax one looks like a snap-on. Thoughts? Suggestions?

And to make this even more fun...what stroller/car seat have you all decided on? TIA! 

Whales124

We have the Chicco key fit 30 carseat and also bought the City Mini stroller. I agree the adaptor worries me. So, we decided to get the snap n go for the carseat, got it half off, so it was as much as the adaptor anyway. I figure being that I'm due in a few weeks LO will be able to sit or recline in the stroller for the summer. A friend of ours has the adaptor for the stroller, so we might borrow theirs if we change our minds, but I don't think it will be necessary. My SIL has the whole Chicco travel system and it's pretty bulky.

It's so hard not getting too much stuff, but we were in the same boat, fell in love with stoller and carseat!

maggie2324

After reading tons but without any firsthand experience, I think I'm going to go with the Chicco Keyfit 30, the Chicco Keyfit Caddy, and the City Mini. 

Aegis2005

Whales124:

We have the Chicco key fit 30 carseat and also bought the City Mini stroller. I agree the adaptor worries me. So, we decided to get the snap n go for the carseat, got it half off, so it was as much as the adaptor anyway. I figure being that I'm due in a few weeks LO will be able to sit or recline in the stroller for the summer. A friend of ours has the adaptor for the stroller, so we might borrow theirs if we change our minds, but I don't think it will be necessary. My SIL has the whole Chicco travel system and it's pretty bulky. It's so hard not getting too much stuff, but we were in the same boat, fell in love with stoller and carseat!

This is the combo we're doing (Citi Mini, Chicco Keyfit 30 and SNG).  A friend of mine has the whole Chicco travel system (her son is 18 months old) and she said the stroller started giving her lots of troubles around 6 months (the back ended up warped).  I've read similar reviews on the Chicco travel system.  FWIW, I "drove" the Citi Mini around BRU and fell in love with it (and how easy it was to fold and open with one hand).

ELF4321

Britax seats tend to be heavy if you are planning to use it as a carrier. They also tend to be more complicated to get baby in and out of. We went with the Chicco Keyfit because it did just as well in Consumer Reports testing as Britax, but is so much less expensive and easier to use. We got the snap on stroller to go with it and that worked really well.

JBDamonM

Whales124:

We have the Chicco key fit 30 carseat and also bought the City Mini stroller. I agree the adaptor worries me. So, we decided to get the snap n go for the carseat, got it half off, so it was as much as the adaptor anyway. I figure being that I'm due in a few weeks LO will be able to sit or recline in the stroller for the summer. A friend of ours has the adaptor for the stroller, so we might borrow theirs if we change our minds, but I don't think it will be necessary. My SIL has the whole Chicco travel system and it's pretty bulky. It's so hard not getting too much stuff, but we were in the same boat, fell in love with stoller and carseat!

This!!!! Although to be honest my BFF gave me her Chico Key fit and the snap and go, and then I registered for the City Mini. Even if she had not hooked me up I still would've gone this route!

kmc84

We went with the Britax B-Safe and the B-Ready stroller. The stroller seat is very easily removed and the car seat clips in the same way the stoller seat and bassinet do. We fell in love with it at BuyBuyBaby. The stroller also has a huge storage basket, which is good for a pack rat like me! I found the stroller to manuver very well and it was easy to collapse. I can't wait to use it!

Jezebell26

I too fell in love with the city mini. We got the GT, it was a little extra but it holds more weight and since we plan on using this down the line we thought it would be a good idea. I did register for the adapters and may or may not get them. We are going with the Safety 1st infant seat and snap in frame thingy. I think travel systems are too bulky and was very impressed with the city mini and how light it was and easy to fold with one hand and easy to drive!

nycitygirl1

We got the Chicco Key Fit since it had the best safety ratings and the folks at the store highly recommended it. It is also one of the smaller car seats which works well for our compact sedan.

We have an adapter that works with the Chicco Key Fit that fits in our BOB stroller.

Jbromberg1985

We went with the Chicco KeyFit 30... I have an older sis who has 2 LOs and she did a ton of research  so I totally trust her judgment, and not to mention,she gave us her infant seat so we only had to buy one more instead on two. I've done my own reading as well and I'm happy with our choice. 

As for stroller, we're going with the City Select baby jogger because its very safe and very versatile. It's a great double stroller (which we obviously need) and it can take them from infant to toddler in that there are 16 different positions you can put the seats. I also love that it's a jogging stroller because I definitely plan on taking the girls out and about!  

candyreesecup

After doing a lot of research, we bought Graco Urban Lite Travel system.  I know Chicco KeyFit is really popular, too. 

At BBB, the baby care consultant really recommended Britax. He said it was the best brand, but we went with Graco :P

Kingme

maggie2324:

After reading tons but without any firsthand experience, I think I'm going to go with the Chicco Keyfit 30, the Chicco Keyfit Caddy, and the City Mini. 

This is what we did with my first son.  Two years later, I don't regret my decision one bit!

kathrynlo

ELF4321:

Britax seats tend to be heavy if you are planning to use it as a carrier. They also tend to be more complicated to get baby in and out of. We went with the Chicco Keyfit because it did just as well in Consumer Reports testing as Britax, but is so much less expensive and easier to use. We got the snap on stroller to go with it and that worked really well.

The Britax B-Safe actually weighs less than the Chicco Keyfit (16lbs. vs. 17lbs), its not much but when you add baby weight to it, a pound is a lot. And I've actually found that the B-Safe Carseat and B-Agile stoller are much less expensive than all the Chicco gear you would need to get. I will be getting the Britax B-Safe Carseat and the B-Agile stroller (which can be used together with no adapter so there is no need for the SNG type stoller) for around $315.00. With the Chicco Keyfit 30 at $190.00, plus the caddy at $100 and the City Mini at $250, I'll be saving around $200.00.

jessica_gail2

Thank you all for the input!! I think I'm going to go with the Key Fit and City Mini. I have an SUV but DH has a smaller car so I'm afraid the britax wouldn't fit. Plus I'd had my heart set on a Chicco for forever. I'll have to ck out the snap n go. Thanks again!!