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graco smart seat - my review!

Starfish113Starfish113 member
in Babies: 9 - 12 Months

i know this car seat already has a lot of haters for some reason (based on my post when i ordered it) but other people have asked for my review of it once we had it :)

so, it's the graco smart seat. it just came out, and i believe there is still a wait to order the black & red pattern. basically, it comes with a base but is still a convertible seat. we got it because we started out with a safety first seat, and just found it way too annoying to install. since there will be 4 different people picking riley up from daycare while i'm in grad school this semester, i just thought the installation would be too tough to do all the time. and no, i was not buying 4 seats :) here's riley trying it out in the living room first: image

i love love love the seat!! first of all, the installation is so easy. installing the base is the same as an infant seat base. i use the latch system, so you just hook each side onto the latch, and then i basically kneel on it while pulling the strap tight. piece of cake :) i am going to bring it to the fire department monday just to make sure i installed it well though. then, the whole seat locks right on to it!!! i would seriously suggest this even if you don't need two (or more) bases, just because i think it's so easy.

i also heard it's really huge, but i don't think it's that bad (but, i do have an suv). dh is 6' 3", and didn't really have to move his seat up much more than the infant seat with this behind him. here's a pic of it in the car: image

anyway, it's $300 for the seat and the base, and $100 for the extra base. we will probably just have the extra base rotate around to the different family members who pick riley up for us during the week, and the other base will just stay in my car. but i just wanted to let those of you who are interested know that i really do love it, and i think it's a great seat so far :)

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Re: graco smart seat - my review!

  • Aaron&AmyAaron&Amy
    Thank you so much for this review!!! I went to BRU to buy a Britax convertible seat with the 25% off trade in event.  And I saw this new seat on the end cap.  I talked with the sales person for a while and I was convinced that this is the seat for us.  I came home to do research (I know, the reverse of how I should have done it) and I am not finding much on it since it's new... so this is very helpful to hear!  I love the pattern too :-)   I used the 25% off on the Seat, had a 20% off coupon for the base, and then had $20 in reward dollars - so I think we got a good deal :-) 
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  • dantodanto member
    Thanks for your review.  Can you adjust the recline?
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  • PinkPeony6210PinkPeony6210 member
    This might be a dumb question, but do you still use the base when you want to FF?
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  • Starfish113Starfish113 member

    imagedanto:
    Thanks for your review.  Can you adjust the recline?

    yes you can! it has a little lever you pull to adjust the whole seat in the base.

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  • Starfish113Starfish113 member

    imageErinKD:
    This might be a dumb question, but do you still use the base when you want to FF?

    yes. you also use the base when it becomes a booster seat, too.

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  • emiliemadisonemiliemadison member
    imageStarfish113:

    imageErinKD:
    This might be a dumb question, but do you still use the base when you want to FF?

    yes. you also use the base when it becomes a booster seat, too.

    No, you can't use the base in booster mode. Sorry! Also, remember that all cars have a LATCH weight limit (either 40 or 48 lbs depending on your vehicle) so at some point everyone using this (or any) seat will have to reinstall the base using the seatbelt once their child reaches the 40 or 48 lb limit.

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  • ErinS3204ErinS3204
    Thanks for the review! Looks nice!
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  • Starfish113Starfish113 member
    imageemiliemadison:
    imageStarfish113:

    imageErinKD:
    This might be a dumb question, but do you still use the base when you want to FF?

    yes. you also use the base when it becomes a booster seat, too.

    No, you can't use the base in booster mode. Sorry! Also, remember that all cars have a LATCH weight limit (either 40 or 48 lbs depending on your vehicle) so at some point everyone using this (or any) seat will have to reinstall the base using the seatbelt once their child reaches the 40 or 48 lb limit.

    you're right. i thought i saw it in booster mode. not that it matters because if the seat expires in 5 years, anyone using it for their current LO wouldn't get to that point, correct?

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  • Danny'sGirl09Danny'sGirl09

    We also went in originally for a Britax and foudn this one instead. I went home researched and went back. I mentioned about a week ago that I was able to get it for $100 and change. I didn't have the 25% off but I was able to use a BRU 20% plus a BBB 20% and then all my BRU holiday 10% earnings money.

     

    I too love it so much!

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