car seat help

Most of you ladies know way more about this stuff then I do so what is your opinion on these two car seats???

https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3012739&fromRegistryNumber=62634954&product_skn=958953

https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3155366&fromRegistryNumber=62634954&product_skn=981979

The Chicco KeyFit is number one on Consumer Reports for infant car seats. The Evenflo Titan Elite was not rated.

I don't know from experience, so we went by CR for a lot of stuff.

I don't know if this link will work, but you can try it:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/baby-toddler/car-seats/infant-car-seat-ratings/ratings-overview.htm

I looked at the chicco at a couple of stores. I was going to get it as a travel system with the stroller. At first, I really liked it a lot ..but as I kept trying to get it in and out of the stroller..and tried to get it attached to the shopping cart, I liked it less and less. That was just my experience with it. But I would definately run by the babiesRus or another store that carries it..and try it out.

thanks lisa

This is the one I'm getting. It can be used up to 30 pounds and 32 inches tall. I was always upset when my babies got too long for the regular infant seats and hated to make the switch to a convertible too early.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2899786

I am going with the Graco one that Karen is...

Lisa,

did you pay for a subscription to consumer reports? or how did you get that report?

I bought an online subscription when I got pregnant, so that I could research what to buy and register for. It's like $26 for a year, and I've used it a lot so far. I used their "must have" list for baby registering too, which (shockingly) is much shorter than the one BRU gives you.

Just a little advice.. i wouldnt go spending a ton of money on an infant car seat. Its like the bassinet, they grow out of it so quickly, its not worth it. Not to mention, a good amount of babies HATE their bucket seats. I would say definetly pick a seat for safety and comfort but try to keep the price down. Mine typically graduate into a rear facing convertable seat by 5-6 mths old. My chiropractor said he hates bucket seats because of their design. He said it puts strain on the spine and tailbone. He said he has been talking to car seats designers to redo the way they are made. Something to think about.

I would go with the infant seat myself. Those 5-30lbs ones all scare the shit out of me. Really in my mind I just can't wrap my head around having an upright seat for an infant. yes I know they recline and all, but something just does not go right with me.

With my first dc, I decided to try and skip the infant seat. We got a convertible that we loved. The first trip (other than home from the hospital) was to my parent's house an hour away. My dd slumped the entire way there & back. We stopped several times and I adjusted her, but it was no use. I ended up with an infant seat after all.

My dc did all outgrow their infant seat around 5 or 6 months old. That's why this time we are going with the Graco one that goes up to 30 pounds and 32 inches. I wasn't ready to give up the convenience of the bucket at 5 mo old. I love getting out of the car and bringing sleeping baby inside and she or he can continue to sleep.

I think 165$ is a really good price for that Chicco one. I was looking at some that were around 2-300$'s. All I know is that I want the best one no matter the cost. The car seat is the one thing I dont want to skimp on!

Just a side note.. To avoid slumpage.. Make sure the car seat is installed at a 45deg angle. If your not sure.. you can always call your local police or fire dept to have a proffesional install the seat for you. They can show you the right angle to position the seat. All my seats are installed by the local officer. 90% of seats are put in wrong.

The chicco car seat has a little leveler is that a 40 degree?

We have the Graco SnugRide, we loved it while our DD was in it. And while she was only in it for a few months, we knew we wanted more children and bought a gender neutral pattern so we could use it again, so we are getting our money's worth. Also, I can't imagine what you do with a newborn in stores without the infant carrier? Or when you want to go out to dinner and they can sleep the entire time, I loved it.

My friends had the Graco SafeSeat that will hold the child until 30lbs, but think about it, even if your child can still fit into it at 30lbs, are you going to want to lug them around in it? That is heavy, my DD is 17 months and weighs 25lbs, I cannot IMAGINE for the life of me carrying her in one of those seats, it would break my arm.

When Consumer Reports did their test last year at 70MPH (granted, that is fast and they redid it) the SnugRide was one of the only ones that passed the test, I figure since most people drive at 65-70 MPH testing them at that speed makes sense, so we went with that one.

LGTWifey wrote:My friends had the Graco SafeSeat that will hold the child until 30lbs, but think about it, even if your child can still fit into it at 30lbs, are you going to want to lug them around in it? That is heavy, my DD is 17 months and weighs 25lbs, I cannot IMAGINE for the life of me carrying her in one of those seats, it would break my arm.

For us, we don't plan on using it until the weight limit. I just want the option to use it a while longer (thinking up to 12 mos). There were times with the infant seat that when the baby was awake, I'd take her out and leave the seat in the van anyways. I also can't imagine lugging a near-30 pound baby around in one, I'm not that strong!

Sarina.. I didnt know the Evenflo rated so low. I am glad i didnt buy one. I really want another SUnshine kids radian 80 or Britax. I just need to suck it up and buy one. Did you end up getting that $25 gift code thing from Target? I still have to use mine.

I am so glad that you asked this because I haven't had to buy baby stuff (large items) since DS and that was 9 years ago... things HAVE changed. I have a question, do you use the seat that comes with your travel system or do you buy and extra one?? I always thought you just use that one but how should I know!!

Karen - I hear you, it would be super nice to have the option to keep them in the seat longer, or at least use it for as long as you can. My daughter was only 15 pounds or so when we moved her, because of length issues, but even at 15lbs, the little porker was breaking my arms. I did miss not having the option to carry her around in it though, she wasn't sitting up very well when we had to move her, so it was a pain trying to take her places, we would have to use her stroller in the stores, because she wasn't able to sit in the carts, unless we propped her up with big juice bottles - LOL.