Best inexpensive infant car seats?

imagine7696030614 · August 2014

Sorry, I know there a couple car seat threads floating around here but didn't see one specifically addressing price. Anyone know of an inexpensive, but safe/trusted brand/model infant car seat? Thanks so much!

imagine7696030614 · August 2014

I'm looking for an infant car seat for now. I don't want to totally cheap out of course, just wasn't sure if anyone knew of any good affordable ones. Thanks.

krazyinsane · August 2014

A graco snugride 22 is only 90 but honestly if you're trying to save money starting right in a convertible will help. Rather than $100 on an infant seat and still having to buy the $200 convertible you can do just the convertible.... We buy the Diono R100 for each of our kids.. You can find them for $208

colacrock · August 2014

Every single car seat that is put out on shelves is tested and passed to the same same very high safety and crash test standards. So whether you pay $500 for a seat or $100, you know that by law, both of those seats passed the same tests. You just have to make sure to install and use any seat properly to know that those safety standards are being put to use the right way. If you want to compare infant seats for yourself, this is a really great website for some insight and research: Compare infant seats

The least expensive infant seat recommended by certified child passenger safety technicians is the Safety 1st Comfy Carry Elite. It is $69 on Amazon right now. Safety 1st Amazon link
Then there is the Safety 1st OnBoard 35 infant car seat at $109.99 on Amazon right now. Safety 1st onBoard Amazon link

As a PP said, you can really save some money by buying a convertible seat from the beginning. They make so many that start from 5 pounds up to booster age. The one I have done research on and will be getting for this baby is the Evenflo SureRide. It is $83 on Amazon right now and will last until she is booster age, about 6 years old. And you can rear face up to 40 pounds and 40", which is great. Here is a link to a review on this car seat if you care to research some more: SureRide review

MorganWP · August 2014

I agree with PPs about going straight to a convertible if you wanna save money. We did that with DD.

However we went with an infant seat this time, goes up to 35lbs which we can use for awhile. Its the Safety 1st that @colacrock‌ mentioned.

imagine7696030614 · August 2014

Thanks everyone! That was really helpful. I'm going to research some more now.

Sooo, how about crib mattresses? I'll be heading out with my mother in law shortly to Babies R Us (tax free weekend here) and trying to get some rush job research/recommendations in!

Thanks again!

russinangl · August 2014

I just bought the Graco Snugride35 click connect on amazon for 127 and then Graco right now has a $25 rebate on all their carseats and travel systems so it comes out to 102

megaddie · August 2014

For mattresses, I went on Amazon, found my crib and then searched "mattress" in the reviews. A lot of people talked about which mattress they liked, so I bookmarked a few and went from there.

vrj0522 · August 2014

DS' first car seat was a Baby Trend Flex Loc. They are only about $100 and he was always happy in it. I didn't love some of the features but worked just fine for our limited budget at the time.

Aurora1181 · August 2014

For mattresses, we bought the sealy foam core one. Haven't tried it out yet! Honestly I did most of my research using the book "baby bargains." It breaks it all down really well.

imagine7696030614 · August 2014

Thanks again. Was going to get the Evenflo sureride but they ran out so we got the Britax roundabout(I think) and went with this Sealy organic mattress..seemed way overpriced but there really wasn't much to choose from....sigh, why does such a tiny person require so much stuff? Lol

golfingdarwinfish · August 2014

imagine7696030614 said:

Thanks again. Was going to get the Evenflo sureride but they ran out so we got the Britax roundabout(I think) and went with this Sealy organic mattress..seemed way overpriced but there really wasn't much to choose from....sigh, why does such a tiny person require so much stuff? Lol

If you think the mattress is overpriced why did you have to buy it today? Why not shop around & investigate prices, brands, etc.?

imagine7696030614 · August 2014

Yeah, kind of felt pressured. My MIL was so excited to get us some baby items and we had been at babies r us for so long ( I'm never going out on tax free weekend again!) that I kind of just went with it. I just felt bad about her spending the extra money but she was really into it and wanted to get as much purchased as possible today.

MsMacual · August 2014

We have a britax roundabout and have been super happy with it- the straps don't twist and it is super easy to use. I actually have two on my registry b/c we'll need them sooner than later with #2. I agree that an infant seat isn't absolutely necessary and you'll be good to go in a convertible until LO is 3 or even 4 depending on how big s/he is. I perfer having an infant seat simply b/c I live in a state where winter starts in November (or late October!) and doesn't end until April or early May. A convertible seat with an infant would be a PITA in our case b/c of the extreme cold.

In terms of mattresses- we got ours from a friend of my sister's- it was only used for one kid and was in good condition. Our son spent about 5 months in a bassinet and then slept in his crib sporadically since (he's almost 3) so this is a place where you will be fine with whatever you can afford b/c you could end up with a kid who doesn't sleep in the crib.

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