XP: Graco Smartseat?

DemoDoll

Hi everyone. I posted this on my BMB but was just hoping to get more reviews.

I'm wondering if anyone has the Graco Smartseat or has seen one in person. What are you opinions on it? We are trying to decide between a Graco Smartseat or the Chicco Nextfit. I would prefer to get the Graco Smartseat because of the option to buy multiple bases like an infant carseat but I haven't seen it in person and want something of similar quality to the Chicco Nextfit. The thing I don't like about the Nextfit is that we would have to reinstall it twice a week since DH and I take turns bringing DD to daycare.

JENandJEH

It is not a highly recommended seat because it doesn't last long in rear facing mode (recommended to keep kids rear facing to minimum of 2 years), it is a HUGE seat and it is super pricey.  For the price of the seat ($299) and the extra base ($99) you can buy 2 seats and not have to worry about trading them from car to car.  

 

The Nextfit is a highly recommended seat and will last quite awhile rear facing.

 

Check out the Facebook group Car Seats for the Littles. There are a lot of certified car seat techs that post there and can give you a lot more information.  

DemoDoll

JENandJEH:

It is not a highly recommended seat because it doesn't last long in rear facing mode recommended to keep kids rear facing to minimum of 2 years, it is a HUGE seat and it is super pricey. nbsp;For the price of the seat 299 and the extra base 99 you can buy 2 seats and not have to worry about trading them from car to car. nbsp;nbsp;The Nextfit is a highly recommended seat and will last quite awhile rear facing.nbsp;Check out the Facebook group Car Seats for the Littles. There are a lot of certified car seat techs that post there and can give you a lot more information. nbsp;

Why can't a Smartseat RF very long? It has the same RF weight requirements as the Chicco Nextfit.

Also, we need either 4 carseats or we could make do with 3 car seats and have 1 of them for DH and I to share. We have two different daycare providers and it would be a pain to have only 1 carseat and move it 2 or 3 times daily, as I meet our nanny at a gas station and she drives DD to her house 3 days a week.

JENandJEH

Check out the Facebook group as those techs can give you more detailed information than I can.  Many car seat manufacturers overstate the height limits on their seats and they are usually outgrown more quickly than they state.  Children have different torso heights which is what causes a car seat to be outgrown by height - seated height measures that torso height.  Kids who have shorter torsos will be able to fit into a seat longer than kids who have longer torsos.  Seated height is measured from bum to top of the shoulders.

 

The Graco Smart Seat can only be used rear facing in the bottom three headrest clicks and is outgrown when their head is 1in from the top of that position.  It will likely be outgrown rear facing before most kids get to the age of 2.  

 

If you are planning to buy the SmartSeat at $299 and then 3 extra bases at $99 each that's bring it to almost $600.  For that, you could purchase 2 Chicco Nextfits (use coupons at Babies R Us) for around $475-500 and then 2 cheaper seats (which are JUST AS SAFE as expensive seats - they all pass the same tests and you're just paying more for bells & whistles that aren't even tested to show whether they are truly safer or not) for your sitters.  

 

Another great seat to consider that is MUCH more affordable and will last the longest rear facing as it has the highest shell on the market is the Graco Size4Me/Headwise/MySize (the same seat but with different names depending on which store sells it).  They run $150-180 and will last your child for much longer than the Smart Seat.  If you really want the Smart Seat, go for it, but from research I've done on seats for my kids, it doesn't seem like it's worth the money for something that will be outgrown faster and is just plain bulky.   

LittleApple

It doesn't RF long because of the height, not the weight.  The seat is a beast and the bases are $100 a pop. Plus, it weighs a ton.  Taking it out of the car and into another is going to be a huge PITA, even with a base.

Just get the Nextfit.  It will last you longer and is a much better seat to install.

You can always get a cheaper seat for when DH has to take her and pick her up from daycare.  The Cosco Scenera is a good cheaper option.