[MisaGoat]

<p>Originally I was going to re-use the Graco Snugride I have from my son but after I washed the cover I realized the seat still smells like smoke from being in my parents' garage.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I am due 11/30 so I need to make a decision and I am being really indecisive.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We have two cars:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>2007 VW Jetta</p>
<p>2006 Scion xB</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We have one child in a car seat now and a new baby very soon.</p>
<p>Our 4 year old is in a Britax Marathon in the xB and a Graco Nautilus in the Jetta.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have a Cosco Scenera that is not in use because my son outgrew it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I was thinking that I would probably go with a bucket style car seat as this baby will be born in the winter and will have to go with me back and forth to drop my older son off at pre-k.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My husband wants to get another snugride so we can reuse the extra base we have.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My thoughts:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The baby will be in a rear-facing convertible after the infant seat so the height weight limits on the newer larger infant car seats aren't crucial because he'll go to the convertible after the infant seat no matter what.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I am almost 38 weeks now and the baby is estimated to be 7.5 lbs already so I am guessing he will be 8 lbs or so when he is born. My first son was 8 lbs 3.5 ounces and 21.5 inches at birth so I think this baby will be about the same size.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Help! I just keep spinning my mind around the car seats and as soon as I think I reached a decision I start rethinking it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thank you.</p>

 

[poppiesinjuly]

<p>We decided on a Chicco keyfit30.  I'm the director of a large childcare center, and tons of the parents there use and love them.  They also have great reviews on Amazon.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I like that it's really easy to adjust the straps to the right size.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As a bonus, since you're 38 weeks, they carry them at babies r us, so it's easy enough to pick one up.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We didn't get an extra base, because the baby will probably hardly ever need to ride in DH's car for anything.  (It is a 2 door, and not super practical, so we use my Accord for almost everything except him driving to work.)</p>

 

[SeattleRain]

<p>I got a KeyFit and I really like it BUT if I could do it over again, I would buy a Graco Snugride 35. The KeyFit is very easy to adjust, and very easy to install, but its pretty expensive when you consider that it only goes up to 30inches lengthwise. My son is 25inches already at 4 months and I'd really like to get my money's worth out of it. Also, infant seats are great for portability, particularly in the winter. Here in Seattle, it can heavily rain and sometimes snow up until March and its great that I can put DS in the carseat in a shirt and tuck a blanket around him all secure in the house and just run out to my car and pop him in, insetad of standing out there in the teeming rain to strap him and getting soaked. So I guess what I'm saying is that you shouldn't just discount the "higher weight" seats because you have the convertable at home. Infant seats are convenient in the winter especially.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So that's my advice, get a higher weight Graco. You can find them on sale a lot through BRU.</p>

 

[snoopy5386]

<p>I would try airing the cover out in the sun outside for a couple of days and see if that dissapates the smoke smell.</p>
<p>Otherwise I think a snugride if you already have a base for it is a fine seat.</p>

 

[sunnymw]

<p>Keep in mind that if it was 2006 you probably have the Snugride 20 or 22... which is entirely different than the new Snugride 32 or 35... meaning you could NOT re-use the base (total redesign--it wouldn't even fit).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>You can still find SR22s out there... if you really liked it, get another front adjust, and when the baby gets bigger you can pass the Marathon down and get your DS1 another Nautilus or similar seat.</p>

 

[nutritionistmom]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>SeattleRain</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1279109/help-me-decide-on-a-car-seat-for-the-baby#post_16045748"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>The KeyFit is very easy to adjust, and very easy to install, but its pretty expensive when you consider that it only goes up to 30inches lengthwise. My son is 25inches already at 4 months and I'd really like to get my money's worth out of it. "</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br>
You can continue to use the KeyFit until the weight limit is reached as long as your baby has an inch of hard shell above his head.  It is totally okay for his feet to hang out the bottom.  30" is kind of misleading because some babies will grow long through the torso and some will be all leg.</p>