Confused over Car Seats

Hi T.,

We are looking into getting a convertible seat for Grandma's car. I was looking on Consumer Reports and we'll probably go with the Cosco Scenera - it's rated #2 (above it is the might pricey Britax Diplomat). For a smaller stroller, I went with a friend of mine to pick up the Graco Ipo the other week. She had the giant Graco Travel System and now that her baby is out of the infant seat she too wanted a smaller stroller for quick trips. It has a good size basket underneath, was under $100 and seemed like a smooth ride.

I used this website to make my decision when I needed carseats for my little ones. It was so helpful! If you watch the video, be prepared for the tears. It's really a wonderful thing this family is doing, in spite of their loss.

http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/

For a lighter stoller, I went to Target and bought an umbrella stroller for around $25. It's awesome! It has storage space under the seat, cup holders at the top and a shade for your child. The stroller is soooo light and easy to carry around. The only gripe I have and it is super minor is that you can lay the seat back a bit, but no where near as much as some other strollers. It is nice to have the recline position when your kiddo is sleeping. I would say over all the price is right and it has held up nicely with both of my kids.

hipmonkey.com
Gives great information and it supports the KyleDavidMiller.com Foundation.

I've purchased three car seats from there already.
good luck

We recently got the Graco Nautilus (about $175 at WalMart but you may find it a little cheaper online) and I am very happy with it. It is VERY heavy, but I think that is part of its safety. With this seat we can use the 5 point harness up to 60 pounds, then it can be used as a booster or a backless booster. We had the Alpha Omega Elite and have been happy with that and still use it for my younger son, but it only goes up to 40 pounds in the 5 point harness, and when my older son reached 40 pounds, I just wasn't ready to put him in a booster. We also plan to get another Graco Nautilus for my younger son when he outgrows the 40 pound harness sometime soon.

Just found it for $150 at this site, plus enter the discount code 10PERCENT and get 10%off, and free shipping, and no tax to CA.
http://www.diapers.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product...

As for a stroller, I have a Graco MetroLite and we love that, too. It folds quickly and is relatively compact, and is VERY light. We bought one new with our first baby and loved it, but got rid of it when we had the 2nd because I thought I would only be using the double stroller. Then recently discovered I could still use a single stroller and found a Graco MetroLite on craigslist. Still love it!

Hi T.,
Check out consumerreports.com. This website gives you the latest car seat ratings and prices. You can see which is best at the best price. Baby Bargains book gives good advice too on which is best for the money.

As for the strollers, we did the same thing, we got a smaller stroller for travel. Go to Babies R Us and try them all out to see which is easiest for you to use. I can't remember which brand we bought - it's an Italian name. Just make sure it has the features you want like a basket or cup holder, sturdy wheels.

Hope this helps!

I have a Graco- I forget which one, it is not the nautilus that someone else mentioned, it must be the "comfort sport" or something. I love for it exactly the reasons you said- light, easy to use, I can slip it in and out of the car with ease (between mine and my husbands hectic work schedules and the two grandmas that watch her, there is often some switcheroo-situations with the car seat... though we have 3 between all of us).

My MIL couldn't resist buying a tricked-out pink and brown fluffy convertible seat (when my daughter outgrew the infant carrier) and it is cute, but so bulky! Takes up a lot of room in the backseat, barely fits in and out the door. I much prefer my lightweight basic gray+black graco.

My friend also has the exact same Graco seat I have and she pops it in and out of her car all the time to use as an impromptu booster seat when her 3 year old needs to sit at a table at famiy parties and stuff.

Once my MIL was in a pinch and borrowed a neighbors Britax. I couldn't believe that thing- it seemed so huge. I always hear so much about those how they are worth every penny or whatever. I really much prefer the more simple seats. I guess if I was going on a looong road trip with my child in the car for hours on end, a Britax might be nice. But for everyday use and a busy lifestyle? Not so much.

The Graco series might be nice for you. They were highly rated in safety too. We have the SafeSeat (a friend had the Snap and Go which she really liked) and it's very easy. For the stroller aspect we have just used the Graco stroller base (it's universal to fit all their car seat types). You purchase the stroller base separately and the car seat just snaps in. It doesn't have lots of bells and whistles but it's really light and portable, and much easier than lugging around a big stroller. Once the baby outgrows the car seat you'll need a "real" stroller, but that's awhile. You also purchase the car seat base seaprately and try to get it professionally installed because it's not as easy as it looks, and studies have shown that the majority of people install it wrong. You might even be able to stop by the fire station and have them do it, or at least check that it's installed correctly.

http://www.walmart.com/Graco-Nautilis-Car-Seat/ip/8112222

This one from Graco will keep her in a 5pt harness until 65lbs.

Check out the book "Baby Bargains". YOu can look it up online and I was able to download the chapter just on car seats for a few bucks. It has been a great resource for me. Not only do they take into account the safety and ease of use factors in rating the various products, but also parent reviews and then breaks it down by the best in various price ranges.

We just bought the Graco Nautilus, but I don't know if it can be rear facing. We are using it with our older daughter (forward facing) and is great because it still has a 5 point harness forward facing, then lose the back for taller kids and then eventually be just the booster for the kids to use for the rest of the time of needing to have a car seat (whatever it is 6 and 60 or 8 and 80lbs.)

Good luck.

If you buy the whole book "Baby Bargains" they actually review everything you could possibly need for your baby and gives prices and websites and everything. It is GREAT!!!!!

E.

I have lots of experience in this area!

Graco Nautilus-- FFing only. is is heavy, so great to leave in primary car, not to travel with. easy to adjust straps and buckle. my daughter can undo the chest clip though.

Alpha Omega Elite-- very difficult to install RFing. Great for FFing.

TrueFit-- I LOVE this seat and have 2 of them. This is like the only seat I can install RFing by myself and so that is a big selling point b/c it must be installed correctly to work right... The seat belt lock-offs ACTUALLY WORK!! It has good side protection and lots of padding so the kiddos are comfortable. I had my daughter in it RFing until 2 yrs old. The only thing on this one, is the belt release tab is a bit low, so can be hard to reach RFing if not reclined enuf or depending on the seats in your car. (wasn't a problem in my Murano, but the truck seat backs are less forgiving). (USA baby sells it and you can find good prices for it online)

Graco ComfortSport-- lightweight (only 12 lbs), we got this so we can travel with it and use on airline and rental car. This is no frills but is safe (recommended by my carseat professional). inexpensive.

Britax Boulevard-- also a wonderful seat, but more expensive. grandma got a used one from a neighbor for cheap and I love it, but I won't pay the $$ for a new one. great side impact protection.

Recaro como--I do not recommend it... the ultimate in side protection, but it is huge and I can't see my baby in it RFing and harder to access buckles b/c sides are high.

if $$ isn't an issue, you should look at that new "air" seat--totally awesome! both my girls (2yr and 7 mo) fit good in it in the store, but I couldn't bear the price tag.

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oh yeah, FYI, Bed Bath & Beyond sells online (and you can use their 20% coupon), but they are later models, so they will expire sooner