Product Spotlight: Carseats

meggyme · October 2018

Carseats and accessories for in the car, such as sun shades, mirrors, anything with a car adapter. Remember that only items that have been crash tested with the carseat itself are safe to use. This is regarding head/neck pillows, head restraints, decorative covers, etc. These are still allowed to be sold, however may render the carseat unsafe or effect the fit and/or void the warranty.

Image: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR5mQudHkuzu7FUHAOy3WniIAb0A-gbOzkWG9b82zp16Kt6wkKa0Q

catlady2015 · October 2018

I’m vacillating between putting the Chicco Keyfit vs Britax B-Safe on our registry. Has anyone had any issues/concerns with either seat? I really want an infant seat to start, hope to do a lot of walking and the bucket in travel system would be ideal.

mayoduck · October 2018

FTM, not currently planning on getting any accessories for the car seat. Have any STM+ found any of those accessories to be really necessary?

novelblessings · October 2018

We used a Chicco Keyfit with DD1 and just bought another for DD2 with the stroller. DD1 uses the Chicco convertible seat, she is 4.5. Love the brand!

We also have a window shade because when DD1 was an infant she hated the car seat. Pedi recommended it because they thought it might be due to car sickness. Can’t say whether it solved anything but still plan to use it again. We never got a mirror because DD1 was a screamer in the car until we turned her at 2.

meggyme · October 2018

@catlady2015 I'd say a lot depends on the travel system you're looking at. We had the Britax BSafe 35 Elite and will use it again.

I will say that it will probably be a cold day in hell when you can fit your 35 lb child in that infant seat. DD is 2 and is only now 35 lbs. She lasted maybe 9 months in the infant seat before it was just too difficult to get her in and out, never mind trying to carry a carseat with a 35 lb kid in it. So I'd say don't spring for an infant carseat because it has a higher weight limit.

@mayoduck As for accessories, they are nice but not necessary. We use a mirror. It was nice to be able to glance and help steer a pacifier into her mouth or see if she's fallen asleep. Now that she's older we still use it and now DD can see what's going on in front of us, which she likes. My car has tinted windows and a built in sun shade, so we didn't buy one, but it's nice when you're trying to get them to sleep in the car to not have to worry about the bright sun waking them. Less of an issue with an infant seat with a retractable awning.

Not an issue when they're little, but if you're worried about shoes on your seat backs, put a blanket or something there. They also sell seat protectors.

chocolatelemons · October 2018

We used the babyjogger infant car seat for easy compatibility with the stroller. It’s a safe car seat, but compared to others, it’s not the easiest to strap the baby in and tighten it. Regardless, I’ll be reusing it for baby #2.

We we switched our son to the Graco 4ever convertible at around 14 months. I would definitely recommend using an infant carseat while the baby is still little. It’s much more convenient to be able to strap them in inside and have the option of carrying them in the car seat.

@mayoduck we had a mirror and shades for the windows.

swanbrooner · October 2018

We have a Graco Click Connect bucket seat. I have no complaints. For the convertible seat, we waited until later and scored two Graco All-In-One Milestone seats on Amazon. DD has been it since right before she turned one. I also have no complaints with that one. She seems to love it!

Lbloom · October 2018

Our Britax convertible hasn't expired yet so we will turn it around and use it for this LO. I like that it "clicks" when the straps are properly tight. DD2 will move to sis's harness booster and DD1 will move to a plain booster with a back to the back seat of the car since she can buckle herself.

All the car seat safety techs we've met at hospitals/fire stations, etc. have all said that those little head prop things are not to be used unless it came with the seat. We have sun shades that are a part of our vehicle for every row of seating except the front, they're great. Won't use a mirror because DH things they'd become a projectile in a crash. We used one some when DD1 was an older infant but we were in a different vehicle then. Now I have other little people back there to tell me how baby is doing! (Plus there is a mirror that is a part of my car (separate from the rear view mirror) that shows me everyone in the backseats. Use that everyday.

lovesclimbing · October 2018

We have the Chicco keyfit, and we like it fine. If I have to replace the infant seat before I'm done having children (we're using the same one for this baby), I want to get one that allows one-handed operation of the handle. I can't tell you how many times I was holding my daughter and had nowhere to put her down, and the handle was up. I was working on making a car seat poncho last time but never finished it. It's basically just a poncho. You put it on them either after they get in the car seat. So it basically just goes over their head and on their arms and covers their feet after they're buckled in. My daughter would always kick blankets off and pull her hands out, so I thought that would work better. But yea, never finished it. The only accessory I'm going to get this time is one of the "shower cap" carseat covers. We live in Alaska, and it gets cold, so I think it will be really nice to have.

lelkcot · October 2018

We had the Chico KeyFit with DS (will reuse with this LO since it’s not expired) and loved it. When DS was about 11 months we moved to a convertible car seat (he was about to hit the height limit). He’s been in the Graco My Ride 65 ever since and it works great.
The only accessories we’ve used are the stroller that was compatible with the infant seat and a sun shade for car windows (DS is part vampire and will pitch a massive fit if the sun is in his eyes...). One befit of any of the infant seats is the click-in base. It’s not crazy expensive to have a second one, so moving the car seat between cars is no big deal.
Also worth nothing, most fire stations will happily check your car seat to make sure it’s correctly installed. Just walk in and ask! (And yes, it’s super easy to not have it correctly installed).

Lbloom · October 2018

The funny thing about my comment is: thanks to kids having to take crap everywhere with them (stuff I need to bring for them plus their own things they just "have" to bring), my car is full of projectiles!

m3ganmc · October 2018

Pregnant with my 3rd and contemplating using the graco 4ever from the beginning...anyone done this?! I baby wear the majority of the time so I don’t think it will be too much of an extra hassle to not have the infant seat. I really just don’t think I will have enough hands to carry an infant seat and hold on to two other kids (4 and 2). Just curious if anyone has had success (or extreme failure) using the 4ever with an newborn?

ashley14598 · October 2018

We used Chicco Keyfit30 with the bravo stroller travel system for DS as an infant. We
really like the seat and the system. I also found the newborn insert for the chicco keyfit 30 at TJ Max and bought it but we didn’t use it long at all. I don’t think those extra things are necessary anyways.

When DS was around 11-12 months old we moved him to a Maxi Cosi car seat. He seems to enjoy it and we like that it has nice padding and will grow with him. We found it at a discount store near us (they sell unused items that have been returned to places like amazon, etc.) but it doesn’t expire for some time.

We have always had a mirror and we enjoy it we get them at TJ max and we use car seat protectors under the car seats in our cars. DS has a sun shade on him in DH car but it’s not the best quality and falls down sometimes.

Edited because I hit post too soon.

Lbloom · October 2018

@m3ganmc I used a convertible car seat from the beginning with both of my newborns. I've never carried around an infant seat; I just baby wore. Having a carrier I could get the baby into quickly and efficiently helped with this. My friends said they liked having a place to put the baby down, I liked having hands free. There were only a handful of times when I thought it would be nice to put baby down and I couldn't. I have a stroller that can carry an infant and I take a muslin blanket with me if I am in a place that is safe to lay baby down on the floor next to me. For the places I go, I don't forsee any problems having success again with this plan. I also have 2 other kids to wrangle. Babies were always happiest being in the carriers so it worked for us.

kristimh80 · November 2018

Anyone have / had the Nuna Pipa carseat? We are looking to get it and the Nuna Tavo stroller due to it not being as bulky as the bigger one's they have. Just curious if anyone that's had one, their thoughts.

mayoduck · November 2018

I plan on baby wearing a lot but the reason why I am looking at infant carrier carseats is the ability to get one or two more bases for multiple cars. It's very likely I will be stopping my baby off at daycare and my husband or one of the grandparents will pick him up. I'm open to other recommendations for how to handle this type of situation though.

mamakate1616 · November 2018

PSA - I posted in the sales thread too but if you know you want a Graco 4ever car seat they are half off at target thru cartwheel for today only

meggyme · November 2018

@mayoduck depending on how many convertible car seats you plan to get later on you’ll need a couple anyway. MH and I each have one for the same reason with our toddler. If you’re otherwise opposed to infant seats they don’t really gain you much.

We liked an infant seat for the travel system especially early on when they’re always sleeping it seems, it was much easier to get out and do things when we didn’t really have to worry about waking her up during the transfer.

chocolatelemons · November 2018

@mayoduck That’s one of the reasons we got the infant car seat and also you can usually get one to clip right into the stroller.

mayoduck · November 2018

@chocolatelemons Yeah, that's what I currently have on my registry.. an infant car seat, two bases, and a stroller that it can lock into. It seemed like a good idea when I put it on my registry but then when I start reading these threads, I start second-guessing myself.

chocolatelemons · November 2018

@mayoduck Don’t second guess! I loved the infant car seat for the convenience factor. Also, a lot of strollers can’t support a newborn without the car seat. I think we started using the stroller without the car seat at around 6 months.

Also, while baby wearing is great, you cannot completely count on it. My baby HATED all carriers until he was about a year old.

meggyme · November 2018

@mayoduck I agree, if you don’t get an infant seat you’ll need a bassinet of some kind for the stroller. Might as well have the ease of the infant seat.

mayoduck · November 2018

@chocolatelemons @meggyme very helpful! Thanks, ladies!

Lbloom · November 2018

@mayoduck I agree with @chocolatelemons and @meggyme Don't second guess yourself. You have valid reasons for needing an infant seat. I will admit to their convenience any day. There were several times I loathed having to get my kid out of the seat while they were sleeping. You just do what you have do for your family and situation. There is a reason they are so popular and widely used.

(Unfortunately this won't be the last time you second guess yourself as a parent. Confidence in yourself takes time and even veteran parents with lots of kids get thrown for a loop by these small people once in awhile.) Do what you need to do for you!

3rdtime_charmed · November 2018

Is anyone looking at the models with the front load leg? They are more expensive, and I’m a little sensitive since I have to buy two, but consumer reports says they are clearly safer. We live on very rough roads and have big 4 wheel drive vehicles, and honestly don’t see a lot of real traffic, but sliding off the road isn’t out of the realm of possibility at all.

meggyme · November 2018

@3rdtime_charmed what do you mean by front load leg?

3rdtime_charmed · November 2018

@meggyme
https://www.consumerreports.org/infant-car-seats/load-leg-gives-car-seats-an-additional-margin-of-safety-in-a-crash/

They are part of the base I think. I’m not sure if they are on the convertable seats or just the infant one.

ETA: always forget the tags.

meggyme · November 2018

@3rdtime_charmed interesting. I hadn't heard of that. I've seen foreign countries use rear facing tethers in a similar, but most car seats in the USA aren't set up for that use. It's just for the infant seat. In fact it says:

It is important to note that you should still move to a rear-facing convertible seat no later than a child’s first birthday to reduce the potential for head injury. The 22-lb. dummy that represents a 12-month-old child had head contact in three out of four of these seats when the seat was installed with a seat belt and the load leg in place. When the seats were installed with LATCH and the load leg, the dummy had head contact in only one out of four of the seats.

I think it's kind of a cost/benefit issue. If it's worth it to you to buy 2 and only be able to use them for at most a year for the possibility that you might need it, then it will give an "approximately 46 percent less than the average head injury risk of car seat models with no load leg....Less-expensive seats are still safe when used and installed correctly, but these seats offer an additional margin of safety and potential for an easier installation." I think that they will probably be safe without it but if you regularly will need to drive through sketchy conditions with them it could be worth the peace of mind.

Lbloom · November 2018

@3rdtime_charmed another thing you could do is to get the opinion of a local car seat safety technician at your local hospital or fire station or something like that. Someone who knows your local road situation or even if they know you personally and know about your particular roads. They could probably help you get more specific information/perspective on your unique situation. Show them the link, crash test videos, ask if they've ever hear of it and if they think it is a worthwhile investment for you.

3rdtime_charmed · November 2018

That's a good idea @Lbloom one of my coworkers is certified. I am looking at the peg perego because it's relatively light has extra head stabilizers and is rated for 4 pounders. The twins are measuring big, but have a high chance of being early, so I want to be prepared for them to be extra little. The plus side to that is the infant seats will last longer if they do come early. While i would love to just stay home and not drive them on icy roads they may have lots of extra doctors appointments too.

kristimh80 · November 2018

@3rdtime_charmed We are getting one with the front load leg on the base. It's one of the main reason's I'm going to get a Nuna Pipa. They are a little pricer, but I believe it's worth it for the extra safety. They have a lite version that's a a few pounds lighter than the regular version as well.

violetmarie61516 · November 2018

@kristimh80 we are looking at the Nuna Pipa lite with the Demi grow. I'm torn.

kristimh80 · November 2018

@violetmarie61516 Me too! Def want the Pipa lite, figure the couple extra pounds would be nice to not have, but I keep going back and forth between Tavo and Mixx2.

3rdtime_charmed · November 2018

@kristimh80 @violetmarie61516 Which retailer carries them? I'd like to check those out!

kristimh80 · November 2018

@3rdtime_charmed I've seen them in the bigger Pottery Barn Kids and Dillards on display. I believe Nordstroms also has them.

violetmarie61516 · November 2018

@3rdtime_charmed Agree with kristimh80, the higher end stores carry the line. I've also found them at my local natural baby stores that carry cloth diapers and things. If you go to the website they can direct you to a retailer.

diaphena · November 2018

Reviving this thread for a question (or two). Anyone had issues with Britax infant seats being too narrow? DH and I have decided on either the britax b-lively stroller or the city mini gt, and both come with travel system options so I'm looking into the car seats to go with them. I'm partial to the britax travel system cause of their reputation for safety, and cause I like the stroller a lot, but a lot of reviews on amazon say they are just too narrow for their babies. DH is a big guy and was a jumbo sized baby so there's definitely a chance my little dude will be kind of a chunk. So now I'm wondering whether we should skip the travel system idea altogether. What do y'all think? Are travel systems worth it? And do you know if other infant seat brands fit in britax or baby jogger strollers pretty easily?

lelkcot · November 2018

@diaphena Don’t have experience with Britax, but I had the Chico keyfit seat & stroller base with DS and I did use the system a decent bit when he was small. We also had a jogging stroller that his infant seat fit in pretty well. Snug enough for walks, but probably not tight enough for a jog, but it’s not recommend to jog with baby until at least 3 months (my pediatrician said 6 months) because they don’t have the head control/neck strength for that kind of movement.

lucysmom2016 · November 2018

@diaphena No personal experience with either, but my cousin and his wife have a baby jogger travel system (I think it might be the city mini), and their little one is a SUPER chunky monkey, and at 8 months, he still fits into it just fine.

meggyme · November 2018

@diaphena we had the Britax Bsafe 35 elite for DD1 and she definitely outgrew it width wise before weight or height. That said, she was probably 8 or 9 months old by then, could sit in the stroller seat and carrying her 20lbs in a 5 lb infant carrier wasn’t really an option. She’s 2.5 now and still not 35lbs yet. The infant seat is nice to have, but you’ll most likely switch to a convertible seat before they officially grow out of it. Convertibles are so much easier to get them in and out of, especially if they are sleeping. But when they are sleeping 16-20 hours a day in the beginning it’s nice to just grab the carrier and go about your day without waking them up.

diaphena · November 2018

@lelkcot @lucysmom2016 @meggyme Thank you ladies! I think we have decided to go with the city mini and get a different brand car seat, since they seem to have adapters for just about any infant seat. I might go with the chicco keyfit - it seems pretty universally loved and I haven't seen any complaints about kiddos outgrowing it super fast.

Want a personalized experience?

Product Spotlight: Carseats

Re: Product Spotlight: Carseats

Choose Another Board

Search Boards