Infant Car Seats?
Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at
12:11 pm
Which is the best Infant Car Seat in your opinion? (Money is not problem)
i drive an svu
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Relax, basically, infant seats are all pretty similar, save 1, Graco SafeSeat.
Most infant carriers go from birth to 22lbs, with most infants outgrowing them at 5-7 months old. Here’s one area where spending more doesn’t necessarily get you more. The higher end ones may be made with better materials, so if you’re expecting to use the seat with more than one child, it may hold up better. But they’re used for such a short amount of time that’s not usually a problem. Among car seat techs, current faves are the Chicco Keyfit30 and Graco SafeSeat1, big difference in price. The Keyfit has the capability of going to 30lbs, but most kids will outgrow the seat by height (when there’s less than 1" of shell above the child’s head) before getting there as the seat is the same size as their previous version that went to 22lbs, and is just tested to a higher limit.
Those are both incredibly easy to install, the Keyfit and SafeSeat both have built-in lockoffs making for the easiest install and the Keyfit has alligator style LATCH clips (like Britax) making it easier to use if you use LATCH. B/c of SafeSeats higher capacity, it does take up more room front to back and so may not fit in smaller cars.
Check out this thread with the experts chiming in their opinions:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=38464
Good luck and one note of caution: car seats are for the car (or stroller if travel system.) In our society they are so overused and our babies are paying the price with underdeveloped muscles and security issues. NEVER place an infant seat on a grocery cart. Rather use a sling to carry your child while you shop. Keeps him close and your hands free, and keeps him happy, as well.
I like chicco & peg perego.
Their styling isn’t as tacky as the more mainstream brands.
In my personal opinion the Britax marathon is worth the price. You get a lot of use out of it – from newborn (if over 5 lbs) to toddler/small child. It has excellent safety ratings, and you can be rear-facing (the safest way to ride) up to 35 lbs.
I went with a convertible car seat. An infant car seat seems appropiate, but you’re just wasting money because they outgrow them pretty fast…Can you imagine carrying a 15lb baby in a infant carrier/carseat?
I went with with this Evenflo:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3028987
it depends on what taste you have some of the car seats at the moment look horrible
safety should be your 1st concern, then style. here’s a link to the top 8 car seats determined by experts. http://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseats/tp/infant_car_seat.htm
chicco, peg perego, and baby trend tend to be stylish. graco also has some non-babyish patterns. i personally have a safe-seat by graco in "fusion".
if money isn’t a problem: here you go:
Orbit Baby Infant Car Seat System
The Orbit Baby infant system is an incredible car seat for those who are willing to pay top dollar for their car seat and stroller system. The infant system, which includes the car seat, base and stroller, costs about $900….
They all have to follow the same safety requirements, which means that no one is going to be safer than another. Why spend hundreds of dollars on a car seat when you can spend that money on something else? Find one that is aesthetically pleasing to you and that you think will be the most comfortable for your baby. One brand isn’t any safer than the next, which is your main goal.
Most infant seats support up to 22 pounds. For smaller babies this can be up through their first year, but for heavier babies this could be just after 6 months. If you think you’re going to have a heavy baby you may want to look at getting one that supports up to 30-35 pounds in the infant carrier seat. If you don’t plan on actually using the seat as a carrier, get a convertible seat instead.
Britax is the highest safety rated car seat available. Their carseats are also very stylish and comfy.
You should definitely check out onestepahead.com. My biggest problem with infant carseats weren’t price but rather getting baby in and out of the car because we have a suv and we placed him in the middle seat. Onestepahead has one that turns so that it is soooo much easier to get him out. If money is no object, they have some cool stuff.
Well first of all I don’t recommend the Eddie Bauer ones, I have one and it is heavy and cumbersome. It does go to 29 in which is longer than most infant seats go to, but I wouldn’t get one again. It is part of a travel system.
If you go with an infant seat vs a convertible seat, here is what consumer reports says:
#1 Chicco KeyFit $160
#2 Britax Companion $200
#3 Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP $220
#4 Baby Trend Flex-Loc Adjustable Back CR Best Buy $90
# 5 Compass I410 $130
# 6 Graco SnugRide with EPS (In December 2007, Graco SnugRide car seat model numbers 8609, 8616, 8643, 8645, and 8646, manufactured between Aug. 1, 2006, and June 30, 2007, were recalled because fiberfill from the seat pad could become exposed and pose a choking hazard to babies. Graco is offering free replacement kits to car seat owners. More information can be found on the Graco Web site or by calling (866) 414-6592.) CR Best Buy $90
They are ranked in order from best down…there were a few more but these were the top rated.
EDIT – they tested : crash protection, ease of use, fit with latch and seat belts…no one got 100%…the #1 choice scored an 88%.
I would either get a Graco SafeSeat or a Chicco Keyfit.
I would be careful about getting a convertible seat for an infant. Some will work just fine, but others have harness strap heights that are too high for a newborn. For example, even though the Britax convertible seats say that they will accomodate an infant as small as five pounds, the harness heights are too high for even a longer than average infant. The straps need to be at or below the infant’s shoulders, which means that many convertible seats are simply not going to work.
We had a Graco Snugride which was fine and served its purpose, but if I had it to do over again, I would get the Chicco Keyfit!
Whatever you get, make sure it has a front harness adjuster, 5 point harness and installs solidly in your vehicle. Have a carseat tech TEACH you how to install it.