Car seat and stroller combo

CarriMat · March 2014

Looking at infant car seats and strollers and am just feeling OVERWHELMED!!! There are way too many choices. I want something affordable, but not cheap. I had found a Graco stroller and car seat travel system I liked, but now am skeptical with all the recent Graco recalls. Please let me know what your favorites are! I am wanting something gender neutral. I have found a stroller by baby jogger that I like pretty well, but I haven't nailed down the car seat and am open to other stroller suggestions as well. Thanks in advance!

Bootsie327 · March 2014

This is the one we got and I'm pretty freaking excited about it:

https://www.gracobaby.com/products/pages/fastaction-fold-jogger-click-connect-travel-system-chili-red.aspx

I believe the Graco recall was only for front facing seats, and had to do with food jamming up the seatbelts.

andoll8 · March 2014

here's what i've got: https://www.gracobaby.com/Products/pages/fastaction-fold-sport-click-connect-travel-system-caraway.aspx

likeabel · March 2014

They can't sell you a recalled item so you're safe to buy anything Graco.

We went with the chicco keyfit and chicco lite weight plus stroller. The stroller is pretty dang light and folds up pretty small.

chknma · March 2014

A lot depends on how you plan to use both.

I have a baby jogger city mini and chicco keyfit . I was was very happy with this combo with DD (you do have to buy the car seat adapter bar).

another popular option is to use a snap and go frame during the infant carrier phase and then you would have more time to figure out what you want in a stroller.

a lot of combined travel systems tend to be bulkier, which may or may not be a concern for you.

I think the most helpful thing is going to a big store with lots of options and playing around with the products.

Krisd6 · March 2014

I was so overwhelmed walking into babies r us. My husband and I walked out and ordered the baby bargains book. It was a great resource! We were between the graco stroller and car seat and the britax combo
We went with the britax combo because a lot of our friends have it and love it.

After reading the book ($9.00 on amazon) we went back and demo'd the ones recommended. That helped!

Good luck!

chillypenguin · March 2014

We have a Chicco Keyfit 30 and I love it! We also have their stroller that came with the travel system. I don't mind it, but I would probably choose a different stroller if I was doing it again.

Xath · March 2014

chknma said:

another popular option is to use a snap and go frame during the infant carrier phase and then you would have more time to figure out what you want in a stroller.

a lot of combined travel systems tend to be bulkier, which may or may not be a concern for you.

I think the most helpful thing is going to a big store with lots of options and playing around with the products.

This. I bought the Chicco key fit and cortina travel system when DS1 was born. Love the seat, but didn't end up really using the stroller because it was so bulky. I wanted a snap and go frame at the time but they didn't make one for Chicco then. I ended up sending the stroller to daycare and buying a Britax B-Agile for home use and I love it.

Don't feel the need to buy a matched set. There are adapters for most of the major brands, so get what you like for each.

Miles2Go · March 2014

We have a BOB revolution and Peg Perego seat and use the adapter bar. It really depends on your needs. We needed a good off roader like the BOB and bought a seat we liked that would work with it.

Unknown · March 2014

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danabsd · March 2014

Haven't we done this already? A lot?

We have the Britax B-Ready and Chaperone. Both have been fantastic so far.

lauralou3x3 · March 2014

ErBear1010 said:

hhegyesi said:

here's what i've got: https://www.gracobaby.com/Products/pages/fastaction-fold-sport-click-connect-travel-system-caraway.aspx

This is exactly what we registered for.

Me three! Love this. After so much research and testing out strollers, this is by far my fav.

bam326 · March 2014

City mini GT and Britax b safe car seat with $20 adapter

Jillzy86 · March 2014

I registered for a Britax B- Agile. I liked it because I could fold it up and pick it up with one hand. I looked at all the reviews and the lighter weight seemed the way to go . The cons are it doesn't have a big storage basket underneath and you have to buy the tray separate. I was in between this one and the graco fastaction fold sport, but it was 10 lbs heavier and little wider. It has all the bells and whistles and has great reviews as well. My advice is review and pick your top three and then go to your nearest store and play with them. Also bring the measurements of your trunk not all strollers fit compact cars.

motoLyn · March 2014

We got the Britax Chaperone, with a snap and go frame that my sister bought us for those first few weeks after baby is born and then we have a city mini jogger with the adapters for the britax. We didn't see a need to match the carrier and the stroller. Just depends on your needs. Also Britax has a recall of its B-agile strollers not to long ago, but the stores pulled those off the shelf. So don't worry about the Graco recall, what you get in store now would be safe.

cynthiarene · March 2014

We fell in love with the Britax chaperone / b-agile pairing but the Britax car seats are WAY too big for our 2007 Subaru Outback. (The KeyFit 30 fits fine.)

LoveIsAll25 · March 2014

Bootsie327 said:

This is the one we got and I'm pretty freaking excited about it:

https://www.gracobaby.com/products/pages/fastaction-fold-jogger-click-connect-travel-system-chili-red.aspx

I believe the Graco recall was only for front facing seats, and had to do with food jamming up the seatbelts.

That's the car seat I just purchased! I love it as well!

LoveIsAll25 · March 2014

I purchased the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 in Chilli Red and the Baby Jogger City Mini GT Double Stroller in Red.

https://www.diapers.com/p/graco-snugride-click-connect-35-infant-car-seat-chili-red-1001194

https://www.pishposhbaby.com/baby-jogger-city-mini-gt-double-stroller-orange.html

SMM1986 · March 2014

We went with a Graco combo as well. I've used the brand with my others and have always been happy with their products.

Mimaloo · March 2014

We went with the Uppababy Vista/Mesa combo - not cheap but it's versatile and it's a tank. We're loving it so far (even though we haven't used it)

ArmyMedic7588 · March 2014

I was reading about the Graco recall because a friend of our's gave us a Graco infant car seat and I was really worried about them recalling it also. From what I read Graco is only recalling certain convertible car seats because food and stuff that little ones spill can gunk up the harness clip and then you can't get LO out. But they said they are not recalling INFANT car seats because babies laying down in a seat won't be spilling food and drink on the harness clips. Also they said that because you can release the base from the seat itself (if you secure it in the car that way and not by the seat belt alone) and get baby out of the vehicle. Convertible seats can't easily and quickly come out of the car in an emergency. So this wouldn't have any bearing on the car seat/stroller combo. I say that if you found a car seat/stroller from Graco that you like go with it. Graco is a very reputable brand. Also, IMO, I'm sure that if Graco is having a problem with the harness getting gunned up I see no reason why other brands don't have this problem too. But thats besides the point.

Go with the one you originally picked I say.

Junebug060609 · March 2014

Bootsie327 said:
This is the one we got and I'm pretty freaking excited about it:

https://www.gracobaby.com/products/pages/fastaction-fold-jogger-click-connect-travel-system-chili-red.aspx

I believe the Graco recall was only for front facing seats, and had to do with food jamming up the seatbelts.

The Graco recall was for convertible seats and beyond. It technically didnt include infant seats BUT it's the same damn buckle. And their theory that an infant will never get food in the buckle is bunk. There's a little thing called puke...and it gets everywhere when they erupt.

Signed,

Mom with a Graco Snugride that is trying to get the replacement buckle from them

caballo718 · March 2014

Mimaloo said:
We went with the Uppababy Vista/Mesa combo - not cheap but it's versatile and it's a tank. We're loving it so far (even though we haven't used it)

We have the uppababy Cruz/Mesa combo. Absolutely in love with both.

kstefko · March 2014

We also went with the baby jogger city mini and chicco keyfit. Used the baby bargains book and feedback from recent moms with similar needs. Good luck.

ThereBeDragons · March 2014

City mini and a Britax b-safe car seat wound up being our combo of choice. I wanted a lightweight three wheel stroller with good handling and a nice canopy- and a car seat that I was sure would fit in our Prius. No complaints so far.

Marcella05 · March 2014

Bootsie327 said:

This is the one we got and I'm pretty freaking excited about it:

https://www.gracobaby.com/products/pages/fastaction-fold-jogger-click-connect-travel-system-chili-red.aspx

I believe the Graco recall was only for front facing seats, and had to do with food jamming up the seatbelts.

This is the same one I got. I love it.

CopperPoppy · March 2014

another City mini GT with the Britax B Safe car seat. I liked the adapter and how it's non-intrusive even without the car seat attached.

spacepotatoes · March 2014

chknma said:

A lot depends on how you plan to use both.

I have a baby jogger city mini and chicco keyfit . I was was very happy with this combo with DD (you do have to buy the car seat adapter bar).

another popular option is to use a snap and go frame during the infant carrier phase and then you would have more time to figure out what you want in a stroller.

a lot of combined travel systems tend to be bulkier, which may or may not be a concern for you.

I think the most helpful thing is going to a big store with lots of options and playing around with the products.

All of this!

We ended up going with a Graco Snugride 35 seat and Britax B-Agile stroller. We'll be using a Snap n Go with the car seat for the first little bit.

ETA: Definitely get into the store and start playing with them. You won't know your preferences until you actually try them. Also, have an idea of the dimensions of your car's trunk when you go. You'll want to make sure to get something that fits when folded down.

spinsoffresonance · March 2014

We have the chicco keyfit 30 carseat. We used it with the keyfit caddy for 9 months. We picked the keyfit primarily because of how easy it is to install with the seatbelt (without the base) since we didn't have a car and used zipcar at the time. We love it and would pick it again if we were starting over. I think getting the caddy in the beginning is a great option ad gives you time to figure out how/when/where you use the stroller. Once you have a better idea you can pick a stroller that fits your needs/lifestyle. At 9m we ended up going straight to a lightweight chicco echo. we barely use the stroller and needed something small for the city so we didn't need to splurge on anything fancy.

Mamazon2014 · March 2014

LoveIsAll25 said:

Bootsie327 said:

This is the one we got and I'm pretty freaking excited about it:

https://www.gracobaby.com/products/pages/fastaction-fold-jogger-click-connect-travel-system-chili-red.aspx

I believe the Graco recall was only for front facing seats, and had to do with food jamming up the seatbelts.

That's the car seat I just purchased! I love it as well!

We got this as well only in green. I absolutely love it!

RedInLove · March 2014

Jillzy86 said:

I registered for a Britax B- Agile. I liked it because I could fold it up and pick it up with one hand. I looked at all the reviews and the lighter weight seemed the way to go . The cons are it doesn't have a big storage basket underneath and you have to buy the tray separate. I was in between this one and the graco fastaction fold sport, but it was 10 lbs heavier and little wider. It has all the bells and whistles and has great reviews as well. My advice is review and pick your top three and then go to your nearest store and play with them. Also bring the measurements of your trunk not all strollers fit compact cars.

We also went with the B-Agile set. The stroller collapses and sets up pretty easy and it's not very heavy. I jumped on a good Amazon deal a couple months ago, go the 2014 set for $250. It includes the carrier's car base, and the clips to attach the carrier to the stroller. I've registered for the accessories I want, they're not too expensive. There is some storage underneath, but I picked a diaper bag that is designed to hang from the handles (though I haven't tested that out yet). We went with the red because it's my favorite color it would work for boy or girl.

bam326 · March 2014

City Mini GT and the Britax B Safe also- i thought the adapters seemed more secure when they clicked in place than with the Chicco Key Fit adapter

deanna1313 · March 2014

@hhegyesi you have great taste! I registered for the same one

I love the graco caraway and I ended up picking it for many reasons, but when testing them in the store it felt like a better/smoother ride than most.

CarriMat · March 2014

Thanks everyone! Gives me a lot to think about. We are going tomorrow to shop for a car seat and stroller. Hopefully we can decide on one we both like. My husband is 6'6" so we have to find a stroller to fit him as well!

Mamazon2014 · March 2014

CarriMat said:
Thanks everyone! Gives me a lot to think about. We are going tomorrow to shop for a car seat and stroller. Hopefully we can decide on one we both like. My husband is 6'6" so we have to find a stroller to fit him as well!

I'm 6'3" and had issues finding a stroller that was comfortable for pushing around. I ended up choosing the Graco jogger mainly for the fact that it was one of the few that didn't have me stooped over.

bam326 · March 2014

One the reasons we got the Citi mini GT is because of the adjustable handle height.

Xath · March 2014

CarriMat said:

Thanks everyone! Gives me a lot to think about. We are going tomorrow to shop for a car seat and stroller. Hopefully we can decide on one we both like. My husband is 6'6" so we have to find a stroller to fit him as well!

My H is 6'5 and likes the B-Agile. I think it's a very similar design/height to the Citi Mini Baby Jogger, so that might work too. We originally got the Chicco Cortina because it had an adjustable height push bar, but it turned out not to matter too much. When I got the B-Agile for me, he stole it and has made it "his" stroller.

sthomas1222 · March 2014

Be prepared for a recall of the infant seats by Graco. As PP pointed out it is the same buckle. Also, NHTSA/US govt has called Graco out on not issuing a recall for the infant seats & Graco has until the 20th to prepare a response or they get a huge daily fine until they respond. Also, in the event of an accident there's a chance that the seat won't release from the f'ing base negating their whole "it's no big deal with the infant seat" excuse. I had a Graco snugride 30 with DD & from day one the buckle stuck. So I call complete bullshit on their "it's food causing it" line. My brand new baby up until 6 months didn't eat in that seat as she wasn't on solids & she hardly spent anytime in it, so minimal to no spit up. ETA: https://blog.thebump.com/2014/03/12/the-government-is-ordering-graco-to-explain-why-infant-car-seats-werent-included-in-recall/

sarahjanisse · March 2014

My dad bought us the britax b agile/bsafe combo...I'm super excited about it, seems really easy to use!

spacepotatoes · March 2014

sarahjanisse said:

My dad bought us the britax b agile/bsafe combo...I'm super excited about it, seems really easy to use!

It is! I loved it when we tried it at the store. Folds and unfolds super easily and is one of the most compact ones we tried.

danabsd · March 2014

gertiebarden said:

CarriMat said:

Thanks everyone! Gives me a lot to think about. We are going tomorrow to shop for a car seat and stroller. Hopefully we can decide on one we both like. My husband is 6'6" so we have to find a stroller to fit him as well!

My H is 6'5 and likes the B-Agile. I think it's a very similar design/height to the Citi Mini Baby Jogger, so that might work too. We originally got the Chicco Cortina because it had an adjustable height push bar, but it turned out not to matter too much. When I got the B-Agile for me, he stole it and has made it "his" stroller.
You have separate strollers? :-/ I get diaper bags but that seems extreme.

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