Car seats! « Back to Group Discussions

[circle vortex]

I am shopping for a car seat or two. I need a new infant seat, my old ones are out of date. I would also like to get my 4yo a new car seat as well. The challenge is that I drive a Subaru Forester and I will have three kids. My oldest is 91/2 so she doesn't really use one, but I am looking for narrow ones so she isn't squished in the back.  I did a little research looking at a Radian  for my 4 yo.   What is a good infant car seat these days. I will probably by a used one off Craigslist if I can find one. 

[Mama4life14]

If for an infant seat, you mean a bucket seat.. I've done a little bit of research on what brands are best. The Chicco key fit 30 is #1 on reviews (that I've seen)it ranges from 4-30 lbs so even if you don't want to carry it you can still use it in the vehicle until your babe is 30 lbs and just take them out of the seat. Kinda get your money's worth! It's also not a bad price. The #2 was the Graco snug ride and you can either get them to 22 lbs, 30 lbs or you can get the newer model that allows up to 35 lbs (the higher you go the heavier the seat) its also a reasonable price. That is if you buy brand new, but if you buy used, it probably won't be hard to buy these brands cause they are quite popular.

There was a whole list of the top 6 that I looked at, and I know I will be going with either one of these 2 brands. So I don't remember the other ones. Im sure if you google it you can find the same list that i found! Hope this helps a little bit! If you were looking for a convertible type carseat, I haven't done much research on those just because I know I will want the bucket seat for sure. Hope you get some other good replies, I'd like to see what others think of these brands!

[SweetMama34]

I'm waffling between the Chico keyfit and the Graco Snugride (that goes up to 30 pounds). I'm leaning toward the Graco, simply because the Chico is substantially heavier (go check them out if you haven't yet!) I like the red Chico a lot, though. :P

[holidaymama]

I found a Peg Perego Infant seat and stroller on Craigslist that had only been used for one kiddo who was just transitioning to a bigger carseat. It looks BRAND NEW!! I priced the set and new it would be about $500 and I got it for $150! The seat is large and heavy, but fits up to 30lbs. 

If there is any brand I would not recommend, it is Evenflo...only because they seem to be really small and my first baby didn't even make it 4 months in it.

For boosters, we had a graco that was really narrow and had a back as well.

[Tenk]

We used Maxi Cosi for years with our toddlers/preschoolers and they go from infant to toddler.  I LOVED them and they are thin and don't take up a lot of space.  In September I changed them both out to Britax convertable seats that are about 1 inch wider than the MC I was using but the one I was using was replaced by a newer model this last year.  I physically measured them inside my car to see how they would fit.  I drive a mini van (honda odyssey) and wanted to make sure a kid could still ride between them if/when needed.  When L was born at 33w5d she weighed 4lb6oz and left the NICU 13 days later weighing 4lb6oz and we HAD to have the Chicco Key Fit 30 because it was the ONLY bucket seat to go down to that weight ... all the others are 5lbs and up.  I actually LOVE it and we saved it to use if we ever had another ... and here we are :)  That was in 2010 so the seat was manufactured in early 2010 (by date) and is good for 5-8 years depending on the brand (some even have expiry dates but not all).  According to law seats are no good after 8 years and need to be replaced but some seats expire at 5 years.  So that should also be part of your concern when shopping for used seats on Craigslist.  Make sure you check the dates (manufactured and or expiry) when going to look at the seat.  If you need to try the seats installed to make sure all fit across then do that too ... Even Toys R Us will allow this with a rep present!!  Also, if purchasing from a big name store make sure you're speaking with a rep that is car seat trained and not someone from another dept.  Just so you get all the best up to date info.  My husband is a CSST and I've been through the run down a million and one times LOL

Good Luck :)
 

[spotty4]

Great info ladies, and great thread!  W/o having read this and the little research I have done on my own on this topic I was leaning toward Chicco, Graco, or Britax.

[BabySmurf]

I got the Graco snugride for DS (up to 25lbs or something) and it worked out okay for our circumstances.  I'm not sure that it was any narrower than the convertible we ended up getting (a Britax, which we like), but it was definitely LONGER.  One of the biggest reasons that we got the bucket was because I thought it would fit into our little Audi a4 better than the convertible, but the convertible actually fit better.  We will probably stick with using the bucket for the newbie since it's more versatile in terms of having a place to put baby if I can't wear her while we are out.  DS is still in the Britax Convertible seat, which again we opted for the smaller version so that it would fit in the car, so he will grow out of it probably in his next growth spurt.  So we will need another seat for him too.  I did really like having the bucket seat for the cold weather - it's safer to put a blanket over the baby instead of a jacket, which can cause the straps to fit wrong.  I hope the newbie doesn't grow *quite* as fast as DS did (he was over 20 lbs by about 5 or 6 months) so that we will have the bucket for at least some of the winter here. 

[pokeyAC]

I think we are going to get the Chicco keyfit30 because our backseat isn't that big and I think it will fit better rear-facing.  I have heard wonderful things about the Radian.  You can fit 3 across a backseat.  They are more pricey but they last for a long time. 

[Erica13]

Tenk,

Thanks for your informative post! I was surprised to read that car-seats have an expiration date. Is this just because new models are coming out with better safety features, or do you know what the reasoning is behind an expiration date on car seats? Thanks!

Erica

[Tenk]

My husband is being a jackass and said it's because they want you to buy new ones LOL but honestly it's because the materials and fibers in the straps can wear down.  There are foam pads under the fancy material and I'm sure over time those wear down as well.  Also, make sure you never submerge the straps in water but instead rub with water and a safe cleaner and then lay out to dry.  And I actually got that from the Britax owners manual :)  I would also say that our Britax is no wider than the bucket and the ONLY reason we are using a bucket is because sometimes it's more convenient that always taking baby out when they don't need to be out of the seat. 
 

[Sweet Huck]

Thanks for all the great advice, ladies!  I just scored a 2011 Graco Snugride 30, 2 bases, a snap and go stroller and a JJ Cole Bundleme for a grand total of $75! Three cheers for Craigslist!

I admit it was a bit of an impulse buy inspired by this thread, but it seemed like a phenomenal deal and I just couldn't pass it up. I figure if it doesn't work for us, I can at least sell the gear again for the same price.

[Mama4life14]

That's awesome Sweet Huck!!

I think I will probably go with the Graco Snug ride as well!! It's compatible with a lot of strollers. Mainly the sit and stand one that I'm looking at! Hoping that will work instead of buying an expensive double stroller! My boy will be 3.5 when this babes born. Not sure if he'll wanna be strapped in a stroller at that age. But at least he will have the option of sitting/standing if he wants to, and its not a big stroller!

[Tenk]

That really is a GREAT deal, SweetHuck!!  Nice work!!  I'm lucky that we don't need a seat this time and I took such good care of the one we have.  And if we were having a girl we'd have more clothes that we know what to do with, but since we're having a boy we are SOL :(
 

[womenswisdom]

For those looking to purchase a new car seat, Babies R Us had a semi-annual trade-in event where you can bring an old (even expired) car seat and get $25 off a new one. I understand it's going on now until Feb. 10.

[Erica13]

Thanks, Tenk! That makes sense! :) Good info about cleaning too. Thank you!  I'm a bit clueless as this is our first baby.
 

[LittleBlackBug]

We have the Orbit infant and toddler seats as well S the Diono Radian RXT. We love the Orbit, but if I were to buy one seat that lasts a long time, I would go with the Radian. It is RF from 5lbs to 45 and converts to a booster seat with a limit of 120lbs. It is narrow and can travel well. We love our Orbit system, too, which is excellent to travel with.

[spotty4]

I was just at Target this morning so I decided to check out their infant car seat selection.  They have all 3 that we are considering:

Britax B-safe

Graco Snugride 30

Chicco Keyfit 30

I was reviewing them online before I went to Target and each of them has features I really like, some of which are absent from one (or both) of the other models.  So I told myself seeing them in person would totally help.  I monkeyed around w/ all of them - snapping them in/out of their base, carrying them, wriggling straps, rocking them, etc ...  While it was great to see them in person I *still* can't choose!  Next time my husband will have to be w/ me and we'll see if he has any overwhelming preference.  I am sure any of them will be just fine ... Just pick one! Gah! 

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by spotty4 

I was just at Target this morning so I decided to check out their infant car seat selection.  They have all 3 that we are considering:

Britax B-safe

Graco Snugride 30

Chicco Keyfit 30

I was reviewing them online before I went to Target and each of them has features I really like, some of which are absent from one (or both) of the other models.  So I told myself seeing them in person would totally help.  I monkeyed around w/ all of them - snapping them in/out of their base, carrying them, wriggling straps, rocking them, etc ...  While it was great to see them in person I *still* can't choose!  Next time my husband will have to be w/ me and we'll see if he has any overwhelming preference.  I am sure any of them will be just fine ... Just pick one! Gah! 

If it were me, I'd just pick whatever was cheaper if you like them all. :) Unless you can think of a compelling reason to spend more on one of them.

Don't forget to make sure the seat you choose goes with the kind of stroller you may want to use with it. 

[Mama4life14]

Originally Posted by dayiscoming2006 

Originally Posted by spotty4 

I was just at Target this morning so I decided to check out their infant car seat selection.  They have all 3 that we are considering:

Britax B-safe

Graco Snugride 30

Chicco Keyfit 30

I was reviewing them online before I went to Target and each of them has features I really like, some of which are absent from one (or both) of the other models.  So I told myself seeing them in person would totally help.  I monkeyed around w/ all of them - snapping them in/out of their base, carrying them, wriggling straps, rocking them, etc ...  While it was great to see them in person I *still* can't choose!  Next time my husband will have to be w/ me and we'll see if he has any overwhelming preference.  I am sure any of them will be just fine ... Just pick one! Gah! 

If it were me, I'd just pick whatever was cheaper if you like them all. :) Unless you can think of a compelling reason to spend more on one of them.

Don't forget to make sure the seat you choose goes with the kind of stroller you may want to use with it. 

Yes!! That was one thing I almost forgot about! I was just gonna go with the CHicco key fit, but then found that it wasn't compatible with the sit and stand double stroller. So I'm thinking ill be going with the Graco snug ride.. It's compatible with a lot of strollers!

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by Mama4life14 


Yes!! That was one thing I almost forgot about! I was just gonna go with the CHicco key fit, but then found that it wasn't compatible with the sit and stand double stroller. So I'm thinking ill be going with the Graco snug ride.. It's compatible with a lot of strollers!

I've used a graco snugride with a sit and stand double stroller that I happen to have. It works well. I still have the stroller, but got rid of the car seat thinking I was done. LOL Oh well, gotta find me a deal on craigslist again.