Get The Bump digital magazine >

tools: My Baby Calendar | Baby Namer | Gender Chart | How Big is Baby?

community

all boards


birth clubs


nest boards


my blog

my photos

my boards


200+ Easy Weeknight Meals!

Green living: Eco-friendly tips & tricks!

< Previous topic | Next topic >

All Boards > 2nd Trimester

Sort:
12-24-2012 at 9:43 AM
dalzien
Not Ranked
Joined on 12-03-2010
262 Posts
4,853 Points
dalzien is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 4:53 AMNewbie

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.
 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-24-2012 at 9:50 AM
elmoali
Not Ranked
Joined on 01-15-2003
Boston
12,579 Posts
65,263 Points
elmoali is not online. Last active: 05-26-2013, 12:47 AMGold
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.
Pregnancy Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-24-2012 at 10:55 AM
kellpaluga
Not Ranked
Joined on 12-24-2012
1 Posts
15 Points
kellpaluga is not online. Last active: 12-24-2012, 10:55 AMNewbie
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.
 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-24-2012 at 11:04 AM
ladybugpjb
Not Ranked
Joined on 01-21-2008
4,262 Posts
67,896 Points
ladybugpjb is not online. Last active: 05-26-2013, 12:03 AMSilver

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.
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Pregnancy Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-24-2012 at 11:05 AM
Gracious10...
Not Ranked
Joined on 08-14-2012
41 Posts
1,019 Points
Gracious1014 is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 4:28 PMNewbie

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.

BabyFruit Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-24-2012 at 11:23 AM
Rachel Gol...
Not Ranked
Joined on 08-30-2012
1,852 Posts
45,062 Points
Rachel Goldstein is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 7:48 PMBronze
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.
TTC since March 2010
Started seeing RE in Nov. 2011
Finally BFP Aug 2012!
First Ultrasound... TRIPLETS! EDD 5/11/13
Baby w/ no HB @ 10w4d - We love you angel baby.
Baby A & B doing great. A/S 12/10/12 - Healthy BOYS!
Sawyer Douglas & Silas James born at 33w6d.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic Lilypie Premature Baby tickers 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-24-2012 at 3:00 PM
Nana_Osaki...
Not Ranked
Joined on 09-26-2009
Bremerton, WA
11,606 Posts
128,720 Points
Nana_Osaki06 is not online. Last active: 05-26-2013, 12:21 AMGold

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. 

Lilypie Third Birthday tickersLilypie Angel and Memorial tickersImage and video hosting by TinyPic>Image and video hosting by TinyPicLilypie First Birthday tickers 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-25-2012 at 12:25 AM
sucrets4
Not Ranked
Joined on 09-11-2008
NE Ohio, NY native
4,229 Posts
19,227 Points
sucrets4 is online. Last active: 05-26-2013, 12:54 AMSilver

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. 
BFP(1) DD1 born 4.17.10 @ 33w5d due to pPROM
BFP(4) DD2 born 2.14.13 @ 35w5d due to pPROM


Lilypie Third Birthday tickersLilypie Premature Baby tickers 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-25-2012 at 2:20 AM
lifesadanc...
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-04-2009
Illinois
2,986 Posts
14,403 Points
lifesadance is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 4:02 PMSilver
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
Lilypie Pregnancy tickers Lilypie Third Birthday tickers  
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-25-2012 at 5:07 AM
dalzien
Not Ranked
Joined on 12-03-2010
262 Posts
4,853 Points
dalzien is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 4:53 AMNewbie
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. 

 
 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-25-2012 at 1:26 PM
prazenjc
Top 500 Contributor
Joined on 05-04-2005
Chicagoland
13,737 Posts
2,662 Points
prazenjc is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 7:29 PMGold

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.
"A friend loves at all times..." Pr. 17:17 MY GOOGLEPAGES BIO Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Pregnancy Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-25-2012 at 8:48 PM
harajukulv...
Not Ranked
Joined on 12-26-2012
3 Posts
57 Points
harajukulvrs is not online. Last active: 02-11-2013, 8:34 PMNewbie
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!
 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
Hot Topics

New dad or dad-to-be? Chat with other dads here!
Visit the Dads & Dads-to-be board

Need baby shower inspiration? Get ideas here!
Visit the Baby Showers board

Chat with other crafty moms here!
Visit the Crafty Moms board

search boards

choose another board

most active posters
BPaws
1,006 posts
sunlavende...
994 posts
linzeek44
611 posts
minicheezb...
413 posts
Nest Cayla
388 posts
sheacox
347 posts
NotElsie
306 posts
*Mrs*Rohrb...
222 posts
Love4Labs3...
203 posts
jertie
112 posts

connect with these online bumpies
mnbv9502! ALMA1107
Dolls2011 fklang
waterfall11 welmeres
Mason&Mama stlucia_wife
PepperBug ANDYLEAH
LahlaBug tubby106
Alyson88 Cstepien09
nital butterflyim1
HowlChild leahaziele91
skeptical_bm shanycakes
BeaF12 bpschnei
IlovemyAirmanforever alittlepregnant?
HattieDornbush Teacher Clark
vcabbyw j.d.gal
Runaway22 traumalady
From The Nest Boards:
"Thrown under the bus …"
tiffwins on 9 to 5

"Please tell me my husband is NOT the only one …"
IDO2008 on Entertaining Ideas