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January 2020 Moms
kbrown2385
member
Product Spotlight 7/12: Car Seats
kbrown2385
member
This week we are discussing car seats.
Please use the prompts below to try to share as much relevant info as you can in a format that is easy for those reading to absorb/respond to. If you'd like to recommend/ask questions about more than one product, please copy/paste the prompts as needed.
For S+TMs:
For FTMs:
Please use the prompts below to try to share as much relevant info as you can in a format that is easy for those reading to absorb/respond to. If you'd like to recommend/ask questions about more than one product, please copy/paste the prompts as needed.
For S+TMs:
- Favorite [car seat(s)]:
- Link/picture:
- Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
- What you like about it:
- What you don't like about it, if anything:
- Is there a [car seat] you don't have but are considering? Why?:
- Additional thoughts on [car seats]:
For FTMs:
- [Car Seat(s)] you're interested in:
- Link/picture:
- Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
- Any questions about it/them for S+TMs?:
Re: Product Spotlight 7/12: Car Seats
https://www.gracobaby.com/en-US/4ever-4in1-convertible-car-seat-103502
Currently some options are $240 on Amazon
- I like that it is easy to install and it has the non rethread harness. Which means you push a button and pull the top up to adjust the shoulder straps. Our infant carrier you had to take the straps out and move them and I hated it. It’s also nice because you can use it from birth to booster seat. Cover is easy to remove and wash
- Negatives: rear facing weight limit is only 40 lbs. My monster child is going to outgrow that close to his second birthday. I would have preferred to keep him rear facing longer, but the extended rear facing options are a lot more money.
We also have an infant seat. It’s the Safety 1st one. It works fine but I don’t love it. Again. My child is huge, outgrew it quickly, and was to heavy to carry around in it comfortably.
Planning on purchasing either another Graco 4Ever for this baby when it outgrows the infant seat or buying a forward facing harness booster for DS depending on where he’s at weight wise at that point
Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat $240
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y2863GQ/
ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_t4hkDbZJN3DYP
Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat $160
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019EGMGR0/
ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_s6hkDbZRN1HV2
Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat $199
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MS9VTG0/
ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_X6hkDbZGR67D9
The 4ever works great from birth and can be used all the way to booster. Padding is easily removed and cleaned in the washer and air dried. Easy to install, no rethread harness so easy to adjust. Premium latch connectors so it’s easy press the button to get them to release. Downside is it’s a wide seat so not good for smaller vehicles or needing to out multiple seats next to each other. Compact front to back for rear facing. We still use this for ds at 4 years old and he finds it comfortable and a nice ride.
The extend2fit works from birth. Easy install and comfy. Like the 4ever, padding is easily removed and cleaned in washer and air dried. Weight limit goes to 50lbs rear facing, which is fantastic. It also has a no rethread harness. I also love it’s at a cheaper price point and can be found on sale a lot of the time. Not as bulky as the 4ever and compact front to back for rear facing. If this came out before we had to upgrade from our infant seat, we would have gotten this.
The Chicco keyfit30 is a great infant seat. It’s a little heavier than others but super easy install. Fits from 4lbs and up so great for smaller infants and even some preemies. Fabric is easy to clean and can be machine washed and air dried.
I highly recommend looking into fb groups or their website for Car Seats for the Littles ( https://csftl.org/ ). There is also another fb group called Car Seat Safety. These are all run by car seat safety technicians and they are full of information on how to properly install, use and fit your child in the seats. They can also help find a good seat that fits your budget, car and child. There are so many seats on the market that it is hard to choose. Remember that all seats are safe. The NHTSA tests car seats with a pass fail rating, so if you’re paying more for a seat it’s bevause it has more bells and whistles, it’s not necessarily safer. Having the most expensive car seat is not always necessary. The safest seat for your child will be the one that fits them correctly and is properly installed. Another tip would be to contact a car seat safety technician who can help teach you how to correctly install the car seat in your vehicle. Their services are usually free. This site can be used to find a cpst in your area. (Just use your zip code to search.)
https://ssl06.cyzap.net/dzapps/dbzap.bin/apps/assess/
webmembers/toolpToolCode=TAB9&pCategory1=TAB9_
CERTSEARCH&Webid=SAFEKIDSCERTSQL
At the end of the day, the best thing you can do for
your child is make sure they are in their car seats correctly, 100% of the time.
It could save their life.
Edit words
PG #2: EDD 8/15/23 Miscarried 9w1d 1/11/23
PG #3: EDD 12/15/23
Favourite car seat: we have 3 different cybex car seats & will continue to use this brand.
we have the aton q infant carrier & base, the sirona for my car & the pallas in dh’s car.
pics of all 3 below
Cost: £260 for the infant carrier & base, £250 for the sirona & £150 for the pallas
What you like about it: with all of them, its the high safety rating, the sirona can tilt to a few different positions for safer sleeping & comfort, they all have extendable side impact bars.
What dont you like: the infant carrier is way heavier than other standard infant carriers.
is there another you are considering: with the sirona I didnt get the one which can swivel for easier access to get in & out. If I was to do it again, id spend the extra £100 on it, especially as my bump grows & gets more awkward to lean over to get dd buckled in.
any other thoughts: like with the strollers - research online, then go check out your options in person. See what features you’d like & whats within your budget.
Least favorite car seat: Chicco Keyfit 30 infant seat
Cost: Around $200 usually
What I liked about it: The pop in and out function that all infant car seats have is nice
What I didn't like: Where to start. I ended up sobbing in the hospital because my son looked so uncomfortable in it and I couldn't figure out how to adjust it. It is extremely heavy (to me) and it hurt my back so much to carry it around that I rarely used it as designed. The base is very expensive, as are all the adapters to non-Chicco strollers. My (admittedly large) son outgrew it by six months; what you don't realize with infant seats necessarily is that yes, the weight limit may be 30 lbs, but almost every baby will hit the height limit (head one inch from top of seat) much sooner than they hit that weight. Installing the bases was very hard. I couldn't do it on my own. I got it because it seemed to be the one that "everybody gets," but I was not a fan of this seat. I gave it away (it was never in an accident of any sort).
Is there another you are considering: I wanted to skip the infant seat but my H really wants one, so I'm going to get a Graco Keyfit 30. It seems to be the lightest seat that's at a reasonable price point, and what I've learned is that all US car seats are really close to equally safe if they are used and installed properly.