August 2020 Moms
emiliadkay
member
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Product Spotlight Series 1/17: Car Seats
emiliadkay
member
This is a place for FTMs to ask questions about, S+TMs to share their prior experience with, and everyone to share what they're eyeing in the world of maternity, baby and postpartum products. Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product to help streamline and make it easier to refer back. This week we're 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 navigate and respond to.
For S+TMs:
- Individual (e.g., lifestyle) factors that might influence your choice:
- Favorite car seat:
- Link/picture:
- Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
- What you like and don't like about it:
- Is there a car seat you don't have but are considering? Why?:
- Is there a car seat you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?:
- Additional thoughts on car seats?:
For FTMs:
- Car seat you're interested in:
- Link/picture:
- Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
- Any questions for S+TMs?:
To view past Product Spotlights or the upcoming schedule, see here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DzmfbSu7toufv3p1VWNu1XOXDaU-tbI5FEfV8av46pc/edit?usp=sharing
Re: Product Spotlight Series 1/17: Car Seats
We also have the nuna pipa, so I'll skip the formal template and just add on to what @roo_baby said, all of which I agree with. We knew we wanted the nuna (a combination of weight, size, safety (though all certified car seats are extremely safe these days, it just had a couple extra bells and whistles I liked) and aesthetics) but struggled a lot between the "regular" and lite. Ultimately we got the regular because I really wanted to be able to use the seat without the base, and that served us so well with travel and even just ubering and carpooling around town. The dream drape was also awesome in those early months when baby would nap anywhere.
what is the dream drape? I don’t think we had that.
It can be taken completly apart and cleaned. "They say" not to take the straps off, but they're obviously made so they can be removed, and we did to get it really clean between kids. It was musty due to storage. I think that's just an idiot rule so if some idiot doesn't get them back on correctly (it's really not that hard), they can keep the liability off themselves. When we washed the fabric, one of the shorter seams came apart. So, the construction could be better. I resewed it, but they obviously didn't leave enough seam allowance so the stitching would hold together.
For once they grow out of the infant carrier:
Our convertible car seat is pretty heavy, so we bought the cosco scenera (less than $50) for travel. It's worked great on the airplane, and when we fly as a lap child we can check it without any sort of bag or worrying that it'll get banged up.
I never ever carry on car seats to use on the plane or take them through security and gate check. I always check them straight through with the luggage. Lap baby (under 2) gets held. I traveled when my older girl was 2 and a quarterish, and she did pretty well with staying in her seat just buckled in with the lap belt.
For travel, we either go places with public transit (plus uber in a few cities has car seats, and some other taxi/car services do, too), borrow a seat if we are visiting friends/family or rent a car from hertz since they will give you a car seat for free. The car seat enthusiasts will tell you not to rent a car seat because you don't know it's history, but I hate traveling with a car seat and hope to never have to do it again. Now that my LO is over 2, we will probably get a wayb for traveling with her then we just have to worry about renting/borrowing for the baby.
@riatortillaxo Ah this is good to hear! I wish they weren’t so expensive but they are a full 3” narrower than our current Britax so if you add up the space savings for two of them side by side that’s 6”! Could make a huge difference!