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12-24-2012 at 9:43 AM
dalzien
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Car Seat Questions

With Boxing Day right around the corner, and so many sales going on, DH and I were looking into getting a good deal on a car seat. We are 27 weeks tomorrow.

Is it too early to get a car seat?  

What car seat do you recommend?

We've been trying to find the Consumer Report's Guide on Baby gear, but we cannot find it anywhere, and while internet searching I'm not finding anything recent. We also know nothing about car seats, and which brand is safest for baby. If it matters we drive a 2006 Mazda 6 and a 2013 Hyundai Tucson.
 
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12-24-2012 at 9:50 AM
elmoali
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The two most common infant seats are the Chicco Keyfit and the Graco Snugride. Both pass all safety standards (as do all seats - some just may have more features than others).  Think really hard about whether or not you want the "upgraded" versions of these seats (i.e. the ones with the higher weight limits).  It is very very rare for a child to stay in an infant seat until they max out the weight so it often ends up being a waste of the extra cost for that feature.
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12-24-2012 at 10:55 AM
kellpaluga
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We bought a used Graco Snugride for our first and since that car seat is now expired, we bought a new one for our second.  It really is a personal preference just like the last poster said.
 
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12-24-2012 at 11:04 AM
ladybugpjb
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If you find a good deal, get it!

Consumer Reports hasn't updated their car seat recs for awhile, as far as I can tell. For the 30lb+ seats, the Chicco Keyfit 30 is still their highest rated. Their "best buys" are the Keyfit 30, the Safety1st Onboard 35, and the Graco Snugride 30. However, there are a number of seats with higher ratings than the Graco - Combi Shuttle 33 (#2 on the list, but not a "best buy"), the Safety 1st Onboard 35 Air, Britax B Safe, Evenflo Serenade, and Evelflo Secure Ride 35.

If you want info on the seats with the lower weight, let me know. Or if you want more details.

The ratings are based on crash protection, ease of use, fit to LATCH, and fit to seatbelt.

FWIW, we had the Chicco Keyfit 30 for DS - it was easy to use with or without the base, and it saved his life during a rollover car accident when he was 3m old.
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12-24-2012 at 11:05 AM
Gracious10...
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We are getting a Graco Snugride for our infant seat - it's got good reviews and it's compatible with our stroller.

 For a convertible we are getting a Britax Advocate.

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12-24-2012 at 11:23 AM
Rachel Gol...
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I hope it's not too early because we've had carseats since 18 weeks! We bought them on sale since we needed two. We bought the Chicco Keyfit30 and the stroller to use as a DSNG. The Keyfit30 is one of the highest rated and if you can catch a good sale, is a great buy.
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12-24-2012 at 3:00 PM
Nana_Osaki...
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The safest car seat is one that fits the best and works the best in your car. Consumer reports may say a car seat is "top rated", but if it doesn't work well for your car then it's crap. You may want to check your cars manufacturer to see what the recommend. Also, Graco is now one of the few car seats that allow center latch, Chicco hasn't caught on to that one yet.

Also, you have to look at what things you want in a car seat. They all just as safe as the next since they all have to pass the same tests. To me I wanted something compact, light weight, didn't have the nylon fabrics (they gross me out), and was a good seat. So we got the Maxi Cosi Mico. With DD I had a Graco Snugride, which is a pretty awesome seat. 

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12-25-2012 at 12:25 AM
sucrets4
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It's not too early to get an infant seat, but I would hold off on the convertible.  Waiting another year will mean that the seat you get has more time before it expires plus it'll be better in general, since companies are always improving things.

We have a Graco Snugride with the lower limit (22lbs?) that we'll reuse from DD1 and will buy another Britax convertible when DD2 needs it. 
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12-25-2012 at 2:20 AM
lifesadanc...
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Nana_Osaki06:

The safest car seat is one that fits the best and works the best in your car. Consumer reports may say a car seat is "top rated", but if it doesn't work well for your car then it's crap. You may want to check your cars manufacturer to see what the recommend. Also, Graco is now one of the few car seats that allow center latch, Chicco hasn't caught on to that one yet.

Also, you have to look at what things you want in a car seat. They all just as safe as the next since they all have to pass the same tests.

I'm a Child Passenger Safety Tech and I'm probably going with the SnugRide, because it's lower cost and LO will only use it for maybe 6-8 months.  The Chicco Keyfit is really user friendly though, as far as installation and harness adjustments go, and has become a really popular seat. 

What stroller are you going with?  That was a consideration for us with DS and with this LO.  If you want to use a snap-n-go feature, some strollers only accommodate certain seats. 

What
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12-25-2012 at 5:07 AM
dalzien
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lifesadance:
Nana_Osaki06:

The safest car seat is one that fits the best and works the best in your car. Consumer reports may say a car seat is "top rated", but if it doesn't work well for your car then it's crap. You may want to check your cars manufacturer to see what the recommend. Also, Graco is now one of the few car seats that allow center latch, Chicco hasn't caught on to that one yet.

Also, you have to look at what things you want in a car seat. They all just as safe as the next since they all have to pass the same tests.

I'm a Child Passenger Safety Tech and I'm probably going with the SnugRide, because it's lower cost and LO will only use it for maybe 6-8 months.  The Chicco Keyfit is really user friendly though, as far as installation and harness adjustments go, and has become a really popular seat. 

What stroller are you going with?  That was a consideration for us with DS and with this LO.  If you want to use a snap-n-go feature, some strollers only accommodate certain seats. 

What

We have no idea what stroller we will be going with. DH and I cannot seem to agree on one. We like the jogger strollers, because they are lighter and easier to maneuver, but we haven't ironed out a brand/model. We test drive them in the store, and we look them all over for features that we think we would enjoy, but I want something that can be folded easy, he wants something that is more durable and will last for other children.

I agree with the infant car seat before the convertible. We were talking about the expiry dates as well and realized that an infant one would be better for any future children (hopefully), while the convertible would just be for this little one. 

 
 
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12-25-2012 at 1:26 PM
prazenjc
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we have a snugride from when we were pg w/DS and will use it for this LO, too, as it will be within expiration dates with no problem. DS is in a Britax carseat now, too.

we are very happy with BOTH choices we made.
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12-25-2012 at 8:48 PM
harajukulv...
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I've used the same Keyfit 30 with two children, and will also use it for my upcoming third... Love this carseat, and the cusioning is easy to take out and throw in the washing machine too. We have a carseat base in each car which makes it really easy too!
 
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