Infant car seat?!?

Mercedezshutt · May 2014

I am having trouble picking out an infant car seat. The uppababy Mesa is the one I like but not sure if it is worth the price. What car seat did you buy and why?

yella726 · May 2014

We'll be getting the Britax B-Agile Travel System. It took a whiiiiiiiile for us to decide. I've read great reviews, I like the way it feels when I hold it, my husband likes it and it's not too heavy. It's pretty, too, which doesn't hurt!

MrsSinner402 · May 2014

a lot of ladies on here suggested the Graco Snugride 30 (is it Snugride? I could be a little off on the name) So thats what we registered for. It fits into any Graco Quick connect stroller and got great reviews.

wildflower75 · May 2014

We got the Britax B-Safe so that it could go with our Britax B-ready stroller (which we got because it can be expanded into a double stroller).
LOVE THEM BOTH!!

Waterlilly11 · May 2014

With DS I had a baby trend (my mom got this as a gift) by about 10 months all the glue that held it together just completely came apart. I was horrified. Thank goodness we were moving him to a convertible car seat. (Britax) This time around I will be getting the infant britax. I love the one we have, It has great reviews, and my pediatrician highly recommendeds this brand.

LightBright515 · May 2014

I was stuck on the Mesa car seat too. Opted out for nuna instead. It's only 7 pounds, has a foot stand for the car, will fit into the uppababy stroller I want, and it's simplicity.

mer313131 · May 2014

I debated between the Graco Snugride 30 and Chicco Keyfit 30 and ended up with the Chicco because I liked the compatible stroller better. I'll be getting a 2nd Chicco and re-using the other one. No complaints! Easy to use buckles and I liked how snug the straps would get.

PC0909 · May 2014

I bought a Snugride 30 because it fit in my tiny car... just barely. It helped that I could borrow my brother's bases so we had (and needed) 4 bases. If it hadn't been for those bases I probably would have gone with the Chicco keyfit.

Jennifer18131 · May 2014

We're likely going to get a Chico KeyFit

ariel06 · May 2014

Chicco Key Fit 30.

bumpuser10309732 · May 2014

I am also going with the Chicco Keyfit but I dont have any stories about the use of it personally

ohioloveyou · May 2014

We are getting a Brita B-safe because of the excellent reviews in baby books and because I got a $20 adapter to fit it to the city mini gt that I want. Our second choice was the Chicco Keyfit, but the adapter for that one is way more expensive and looks harder to deal with/less stable.

trisharenee0316 · May 2014

We had the Britax B-Safe and B-Agile stroller travel system with my DD. Keeping that same seat for this child. We love it and it's super easy to use.

pinkshades05 · May 2014

I got a Graco Snugride 35 and I really don't like it much. It's heavy and we didn't even need it for the weight. I would get a Britax next time.

vrj0522 · May 2014

We had the Baby Trend Flex Loc and the Graco Snugride 35. I liked them both almost equally. I preferred how the Baby Trend locked into the base but didn't like how you had to position the handlebar behind the seat when riding a car. It just made for more work.

All car seats have to meet safety standards so it really is a matter of what you are looking for as far as features. I would recommend reading closely on the features as you make your decision. Also, you need to remember that babies last a very short time in infant car seats (usually a year or less) so if money is a concern, I would definitely take into consideration the fact that you will be replacing that car seat relatively soon.

ladybug0088 · May 2014

yella726 said:

We'll be getting the Britax B-Agile Travel System. It took a whiiiiiiiile for us to decide. I've read great reviews, I like the way it feels when I hold it, my husband likes it and it's not too heavy. It's pretty, too, which doesn't hurt!

This is our pick too just based on friends reviews and on all the fab reviews on the internet. It's great since it won't break the bank too.

jenndub · May 2014

We got the Chicco KeyFit for Sawyer and I really liked it so we'll probably get a new one for this baby. We still have the stroller so we can just snap the baby in and go.

JessAnnJ · May 2014

We have a britax chaperone. I bought it because it has safety features that other infant seats do not have, but it is extremely heavy and takes up a lot of room in the car. We have a b-agile and a b-ready stroller that the infant seat clicks into.

ss265 · May 2014

vrj0522 said:

We had the Baby Trend Flex Loc and the Graco Snugride 35. I liked them both almost equally. I preferred how the Baby Trend locked into the base but didn't like how you had to position the handlebar behind the seat when riding a car. It just made for more work.

All car seats have to meet safety standards so it really is a matter of what you are looking for as far as features. I would recommend reading closely on the features as you make your decision. Also, you need to remember that babies last a very short time in infant car seats (usually a year or less) so if money is a concern, I would definitely take into consideration the fact that you will be replacing that car seat relatively soon.

This! I would personally spend less on the infant seat and splurge on the convertible because they are in the convertible for a longer time period.

I bought a Chicco keyfit for DS1 and have to replace it because it was in an accident. I will likely get another Keyfit because we already have the extra base (which wasn't involved in the accident) and compatible Chicco Snap N Go for it.

I debated between the Graco Snugride, Chicco Keyfit and the Britax B-Safe - at the time those were the three most popular seats. The Britax was a little longer than the Keyfit and probably wouldn't have been a good fit in DH's Lexus (he has the IS 350 which has a tiny back seat - in fact we probably need to buy another car before LO2 gets here because we won't be able to fit in two seats rear facing in his Lexus). Between the Graco and the Chicco, Chicco's ease of installation won me over. The only thing I don't like about the seat is that it gets hot and the sun shade is kind of annoying. (tends to crumple). However those were minor concerns and I was overall pretty happy with the seat.

noellemari · May 2014

We have a chicco keyfit that we've used with both girls and will use for the third.

Mercedezshutt · May 2014

Wow you all have been such an amazing help! So now I'm debating on the britax and the key fit, I will go check them out in the store and look at the strollers that are compatible. I know I'll need a double stroller because we will be working on another baby soon after this one is born. I really appreciate all the comments!

ss265 · May 2014

Lucie's list is a great resource. A lot of people choose the Britax because it's compatible with the Britax-B-Agile and Britax B-Ready which are both pretty good strollers. If you decide to go this route, Britax usually has a free ride event once or twice a year where you can get the car seat for free if you purchase the stroller etc. If I'm not wrong, it's usually in August or September.

2goingon3 · May 2014

My kids are both top percentile, so I was really glad I got the graco snug ride 32....each kid used it for the first full year until they were big enough to go forward facing. I would have hated to have to switch out of the "bucket" style seat into a stationary rear facing any sooner than a year old. "32" means it accommodates up to 32 inches and 32 pounds.

SkyeRN · May 2014

We are getting the Chicco Keyfit as well.

Mercedezshutt · May 2014

I just looked in to the event and it ended April 1 and will start again September. Perfect! I love the b-ready stroller. Thank you

KingsDaughter76 · May 2014

We stick with Britax. We have the cow print chaperone for this baby and my other 2 littles that are still in seats also use Britax seats as well. They are high quality and very worth the price. We plan to get a B-Agile stroller to use with the chaperone.

2goingon3 · May 2014

theresat858 said:

2goingon3 said:
My kids are both top percentile, so I was really glad I got the graco snug ride 32....each kid used it for the first full year until they were big enough to go forward facing. I would have hated to have to switch out of the "bucket" style seat into a stationary rear facing any sooner than a year old. "32" means it accommodates up to 32 inches and 32 pounds.
No kid has the bone/spine development to be safe FF at one year.
I would be sure to buy a rear facing convertible seat for this one after the infant seat is out grown. No infant seat lasts as long as your kid should be RF.

(Yup, I'm a broken record...)

Thanks for your concern.

ETA: my apologies if it made my post seem like I was trying to give advice on the proper age/weight/height on when to change to forward facing. Not my intention at all.

LightBright515 · May 2014

I read some reviews in the key fit and some mentioned overheating in the car seat. Anybody experience this?

aander6 · May 2014

I love my Chico key!!!!

ariel06 · May 2014

LightBright515 said:

I read some reviews in the key fit and some mentioned overheating in the car seat. Anybody experience this?

My boys were both July babies and we had no issues.

Kissyfurr3 · May 2014

We got the Chicco keyfit with the stroller that converts to an umbrella stroller. MIL went crazy at BRU and bought the entire system with extra base and mirror when we were still in the first trimester.

ss265 · May 2014

LightBright515 said:

I read some reviews in the key fit and some mentioned overheating in the car seat. Anybody experience this?

@LightBright515, I live in Texas and my son did sweat a little in his infant car seat but not to the point of overheating or being super uncomfortable in it. I think you would experience this with most car seats.

ANGnJON · May 2014

I have not yet purchased my car seat however I have registered & decided on the Chicco Keyfit 30! My sister used this one & recommended it to me. My niece was 10+ lbs at birth & they were able to use this seat until she was about 8 months or so. So I feel I would get great length & use out of it & it also has great reviews.

TaylorH84 · May 2014

I think we are getting the uppababy Mesa.

2goingon3 · May 2014

Nicb13 said:

2goingon3 said:

theresat858 said:

2goingon3 said:
My kids are both top percentile, so I was really glad I got the graco snug ride 32....each kid used it for the first full year until they were big enough to go forward facing. I would have hated to have to switch out of the "bucket" style seat into a stationary rear facing any sooner than a year old. "32" means it accommodates up to 32 inches and 32 pounds.
No kid has the bone/spine development to be safe FF at one year.
I would be sure to buy a rear facing convertible seat for this one after the infant seat is out grown. No infant seat lasts as long as your kid should be RF.

(Yup, I'm a broken record...)

Thanks for your concern.

ETA: my apologies if it made my post seem like I was trying to give advice on the proper age/weight/height on when to change to forward facing. Not my intention at all.

Good, because I don't think any new mom on here (or hell, even an experienced one), should get the idea that it's wise to turn your LO FF at a year old. It's not safe for them at all but it IS your own personal decision. @theresat858 gives good information/advice about car seats, she IS concerned and trying to help.

That's why I thanked her and edited my post. I don't think any mom should get that kind of info from an online forum period.

turtlewifey · May 2014

FamousEa said:

I love my Chico key!!!!
Yep! This!!

Another vote for the Chico Keyfit! We have the Keyfit 30 and it fit DD until she was close to 18 months. Also, of all of the infant seats I tried out at the store, this one was by far the easiest to click/unclick from the base. Ease of use trumps any aesthetic concerns in my book.

rae76 · June 2014

Thanks for all the great replies to the OP - I'm trying to decide what to get this time. I want the City Mini stroller, but am looking at the Chicco KeyFit or Britax B-Safe infant seat.

persephonerose · June 2014

@ss265 and anyone else getting the chicco keyfit.

They have a new version called the Key fit Magic. It actually comes with a better expandable sun shade and its own footie/boot cover.

I am really torn on getting just the basic chicco and the new magic version. I had slightly considered just getting another Chicco nextfit but it only goes down to 5lbs while the keyfit is rated as low as 4lbs and with the twins I really don't know what to expect as far as weight.

persephonerose · June 2014

LightBright515 said:

I read some reviews in the key fit and some mentioned overheating in the car seat. Anybody experience this?

You mean the baby getting too hot in the car seat?

We have never had that issue with our Chicco's. The keyfit and Nextfit do seem to have more padding than some of the less expensive car seats and we live in Texas so it is just hot here most of the year. We have never had an issue with our son getting too hot in the car seat.

That would seem really strange to me. Maybe if you didn't have A/c or didn't like to use your A/c? Neither of which I can imagine doing with an infant in the car.

Dubsgirlie · June 2014

Chicco key fit because when we had DS it was rated as safest. I do like it and Drew does get hot (I wouldn't say overheated though - but definitely something to think about). I would get another one.

ss265 · June 2014

@persephonerose, they had the Keyfit Magic when we had DS1 but the only benefit I remember is the footie/boot cover. I would try and see it in person in a store and play with the sunshade on both models to see if the Magic really has a better sunshade. The sunshade was the feature on the Keyfit I liked the least - it was just awkward to pull up and never stayed put.

A friend of mine had the Peg Perego and while I don't think that carseat is worth the price, her sun shade worked fabulously and I was a little jealous. Still wouldn't spend the cash on that seat though - just not worth it considering the short time period they are in the car seat.

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