Baby Infant Seat?

[shoxboy]

My wife & I are expecting our first child in July, just wondering which infant seat is the safest for newborns? There are so many on the market, I have been hearing mixed reviews on most infant seats.

The Peg Primo Viaggio SIP looks nice but pricey, but again the mixed reviews. Consumer Reports have the Chicco Keyfit & Maxi-Cosi Mico are the top rated.

As a first time parent, my only concern is safety. Any suggestions?

[rvs007]

the Peg Perego is a good car seat but be warned it is one of the heavier seats.

[mzamy]

I have a Keyfit, and I like it (got it because it had lower slots & was rated from 4lbs+). The only issue I have, is that I find the seat to be heavy and dislike carrying it.

Graco seats are quite light and usually not too expensive.

[dekay]

the Peg Perego is a good car seat but be warned it is one of the heavier seats.

+1

it was a chore chugging it around unless you have a stroller and adapter with it all the time. but considering the price and amount of time we used it for (2-3 months before we changed to a convertible), it was not a worthwhile investment. best in class in terms of safety and construction though. i've seen the graco ones and they were pretty flimsy in comparison.

the convertible seat i got (sunshine kids radian xt) was the same price as the peg perego, and i could easily use that for a few years.

[shoxboy]

I was considering the Peg Perego infant car seat but the mixed reviews how some people have problems with the buckles becoming loose. My wife & I don't mind the weight as it is a little sacrifice for us, the safety of our loved one.

The Chicco is good too but not alot of designs. I guess the Chicco Keyfit is pretty good alternative to the Peg.

[anon_s]

My wife & I are expecting our first child in July, just wondering which infant seat is the safest for newborns? There are so many on the market, I have been hearing mixed reviews on most infant seats.

The Peg Primo Viaggio SIP looks nice but pricey, but again the mixed reviews. Consumer Reports have the Chicco Keyfit & Maxi-Cosi Mico are the top rated.

As a first time parent, my only concern is safety. Any suggestions?

Congratulations.

Even we are expecting our first baby this August, and I would really love to know more about baby infant car seats.

[chimaican]

Have the Peg Perego SIP. My son is 4.5mths. It's not the lightest but it is well constructed. Depends how often you actually plan to walk around holding your baby in the car seat. I only carry it from the car into the house and vice-versa. When we're out, it's from the car to the waiting stroller or vice-versa. In reality, with any car seat, are you going on tour with it in your hands?

[shoxboy]

Have the Peg Perego SIP. My son is 4.5mths. It's not the lightest but it is well constructed. Depends how often you actually plan to walk around holding your baby in the car seat. I only carry it from the car into the house and vice-versa. When we're out, it's from the car to the waiting stroller or vice-versa. In reality, with any car seat, are you going on tour with it in your hands?

I was reading reviews online. Other parents were having issues with the loose buckles or the seat is too upright for newborns? Have you encounter any negative issues with your Peg infant seat?

[chimaican]

I was reading reviews online. Other parents were having issues with the loose buckles or the seat is too upright for newborns? Have you encounter any negative issues with your Peg infant seat?

I can't say I've found any problems with the buckle. It's secure enough I suppose. What I do find is that a lot of parents don't secure their children into the car seat enough, and this pretty much goes for all car seats. Whether this plays a role into other parent's saying the buckle is loose, I don't know. But if you were to leave the straps too loose (which you shouldn't do anyways), then I can see how the center buckle would be loose and shift. Parents need to pull the straps nice and tight. Only one finger should be able to fit in between the straps and the child's body. I see parent's with the straps so loose that its not safe if an accident occurred. So what if the child is a bit uncomfortable, its their safety. I would love to ask those parents if they would seat-belt themselves with more than a 3-finger width between the belt and their chest.

I don't think the seat is too upright. It is a minor complaint, but with our little one, we didn't really bring him out a lot in the first month, being December, and cold, and him being so small. After a month though, didn't find it to be a problem. He falls a sleep just the same in the seat.

Only thing I found to be a bit straining is the weight of the seat, but after trying a lot of seats, they're all heavy and awkward. So think safety and durability in mind. Like I said in my last post, are you planning on going on tour with it?

I do have a sticky button on one side that I have trouble depressing to unlock the handle, but that's just a minor defect in my particular seat.


My advice is just don't get the Britax Chaperone unless you have a very very big vechicle.

[shoxboy]

Wow, thanks for the detailed response. It is very detailed & informative.

Yeah all the car seats are all heavy so the weight is fine as we are planning to attach the car seat to the stroller when we go out. Like back to the parents house & to the mall.

[flyinggonzo]

Wow, thanks for the detailed response. It is very detailed & informative.

Yeah all the car seats are all heavy so the weight is fine as we are planning to attach the car seat to the stroller when we go out. Like back to the parents house & to the mall.

You might not be saying that a couple of months in... Go to a good baby store like Moms to be and you can check out the different buckets in person. We went with the Graco because it was the lightest and because the Graco adaptor for our stroller was IMO a better design. Weight matters because the bucket becomes heavy once your child is in the bucket, and the motion you use to get your child into the bucket is generally ackward. Also, you're probably carrying a bunch of other things at the time as well.

[shoxboy]

So which stroller are you using with the Graco?

[peety6]

I believe the Graco will fit on most strollers out there natively or with an adaptor.

I'm also shopping for a infant car seat right now and I'm leaning towards the Graco snugride but also considering the Britax Chaperon.

[r1lee]

The Graco is an awesome infant car seat. It's the lightest one on the market and got really good safety reviews. I believe it's about 6.5 lbs, which makes it a few pounds lighter than the nearest competitor. Remember, there will be times that you carry the baby in th car seat with bags of groceries etc into the home. You might not think a few pounds is anything, but trust me it makes a big difference.

I'm not talking about when the husband does it, or when you're together. I'm assuming the wife is the one taking the mat leave, so consider that you've got to lift a 8-15lb baby with a 10lbs + infant seat? no thanks, the lighter the better without sacrificing safety.

The peg is also a very good seat, better fabric, fashionably a nicer looking seat. But taking the 4+ lbs difference, and not considering money, we went with a Snugride.

[shoxboy]

hey r1lee, care to share where are you reading the safety reviews? I can only find comments on Consumer Reports but they seem to be pretty old & this website called viewpoints.com.

Any other sites we can read more reviews?

[r1lee]

hey r1lee, care to share where are you reading the safety reviews? I can only find comments on Consumer Reports but they seem to be pretty old & this website called viewpoints.com.

Any other sites we can read more reviews?

I don't quite remember as it's been almost 2 1/2 years since. Just doa search a you'll also find carseat sites state it as meets and exceeds safety standards set forth.

[mushuyoshi]

The Graco is an awesome infant car seat. It's the lightest one on the market and got really good safety reviews. I believe it's about 6.5 lbs, which makes it a few pounds lighter than the nearest competitor. Remember, there will be times that you carry the baby in th car seat with bags of groceries etc into the home. You might not think a few pounds is anything, but trust me it makes a big difference.

I'm not talking about when the husband does it, or when you're together. I'm assuming the wife is the one taking the mat leave, so consider that you've got to lift a 8-15lb baby with a 10lbs + infant seat? no thanks, the lighter the better without sacrificing safety.

The peg is also a very good seat, better fabric, fashionably a nicer looking seat. But taking the 4+ lbs difference, and not considering money, we went with a Snugride.


We went with the snugride as well. The salesperson really tried to get us to buy the peg perego -- trying to sell us on safety and it's made in italy quality, but in the end, the weight was too much for lil' me. I've read reviews from other parents complaining that their babies actually hated the peg car seat, bc it was too "tight". Makes sense w/ all the padding for safety...but all in all, if you think about it ----the snugride is just as safe!

[redac]

We went with the snugride as well. The salesperson really tried to get us to buy the peg perego -- trying to sell us on safety and it's made in italy quality, but in the end, the weight was too much for lil' me. I've read reviews from other parents complaining that their babies actually hated the peg car seat, bc it was too "tight". Makes sense w/ all the padding for safety...but all in all, if you think about it ----the snugride is just as safe!

+1. I like the Graco infant carriers. Not so much on the strollers (they are heavy compared to the competition). Keep in mind you won't be using the infant carrier for very long (I think it's 6 mo's on average).

[r1lee]

+1. I like the Graco infant carriers. Not so much on the strollers (they are heavy compared to the competition). Keep in mind you won't be using the infant carrier for very long (I think it's 6 mo's on average).

Really 6 months? All infant car seats have a min. of 22lbs and 30 inches I believe. The new ones are now 30lbs and 35 inches. If your newborn is at 22lbs at 6 months, than wow lol.

[mushuyoshi]

+1. I like the Graco infant carriers. Not so much on the strollers (they are heavy compared to the competition). Keep in mind you won't be using the infant carrier for very long (I think it's 6 mo's on average).

I agree.. the Graco strollers are big and bulky. We went with the Uppa Baby Vista w/ the Graco Adapter. Many higher end strollers give you the option of picking your own brand of car seat, which is a bonus.

As for the 6 months, it really depends on how fast your baby is growing, so you could/would definitely use it for more than 6 months :)

[redac]

Really 6 months? All infant car seats have a min. of 22lbs and 30 inches I believe. The new ones are now 30lbs and 35 inches. If your newborn is at 22lbs at 6 months, than wow lol.

We had a friend that was out of their infant carrier in 3 mo's! I personally think those maximum numbers are very deceiving (for weight etc)... by the time your child is up to the max weight/length, chances are they won't look very comfortable in the seat. If you're willing to wedge your kid into the seat, that's a different story (we also knew some people who used it past a year)

[saver123]

My wife & I are expecting our first child in July, just wondering which infant seat is the safest for newborns? There are so many on the market, I have been hearing mixed reviews on most infant seats.

The Peg Primo Viaggio SIP looks nice but pricey, but again the mixed reviews. Consumer Reports have the Chicco Keyfit & Maxi-Cosi Mico are the top rated.

As a first time parent, my only concern is safety. Any suggestions?

Two things you should be concerned about: 1) The number of recalls in the past for the brand and 2) Is the carseat installed correctly? Based on my husband's research on carseats, avoid Evenflo because they have had many recalls in the past. We went with Graco since it has shown to be relatively affordable, strong, and reliable. If you still cannot choose then have your wife carry the carseat and see how comfortable it is for her. Of course you need to take into consideration the weight of the baby.

[r1lee]

We had a friend that was out of their infant carrier in 3 mo's! I personally think those maximum numbers are very deceiving (for weight etc)... by the time your child is up to the max weight/length, chances are they won't look very comfortable in the seat. If you're willing to wedge your kid into the seat, that's a different story (we also knew some people who used it past a year)

I agree, but 6 months is offerly early. My daughter was at 99% in weight and at 1year she was still nowhere near the theoretical limits of both height and weight of the seat.

Plus when your child is asleep, it's always nice to still have them in the infant seat, you can move them from car to stroller to house without actually taking them out, as compared to the convertible.

[anon_s]

Is a 'newborn headrest for car seat' essential? If yes, which is the best and where to buy?

[r1lee]

Is a 'newborn headrest for car seat' essential? If yes, which is the best and where to buy?

did it not come with your infant seat? can you post a picture of what you are referring to?

[rvs007]

Is a 'newborn headrest for car seat' essential? If yes, which is the best and where to buy?

Are you referring to the side-impact protection or just a soft bumper to keep the newborn's head straight while being straped in?

[anon_s]

did it not come with your infant seat? can you post a picture of what you are referring to?


Are you referring to the side-impact protection or just a soft bumper to keep the newborn's head straight while being straped in?

Well, I do not know.

I was reading articles on 'Things to buy before baby arrives' and I came across this. Was something new to me so asking for views on that.

[rvs007]

Well, I do not know.

I was reading articles on 'Things to buy before baby arrives' and I came across this. Was something new to me so asking for views on that.

It's probably talking about this:

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/8126/headrest.jpg (http://img855.imageshack.us/i/headrest.jpg/)
[/URL]

Which will hold the newborn's head in place when he/she is not old enough to do so. You can also slip a rolled up receiving blanket that may do the same job.

[r1lee]

Well, I do not know.

I was reading articles on 'Things to buy before baby arrives' and I came across this. Was something new to me so asking for views on that.

as rvs007 has posted, this should come with your infant seat. But you can always buy a more comfortable looking one or make your own.

[Me-262]

We bought the collapsable Graco stroller , its black and looks like a skeleton of a shell, no frills besides lower storage area. People told us the bigger strollers are a PITA to lug around in the car and they were right. This one folds down nearly flat and we think its great. Just be aware its made for urban useage, not so great on loose gravel (no way in sand) but we bought a BOB for that . Perfect stroller for going around town, to the mall or restaurant (when they sleep a long time!!).

[saw_mui]

Is a 'newborn headrest for car seat' essential? If yes, which is the best and where to buy?


you don't need to get those....nicer infant seats already come with it...

we were at the car seat clinic and the lady there also said not to use the add on ones...the ones that come with the infant car seat are good.

i think there was an article in the news a few months back regarding these and that they aren't safe...

there are a lot of things in the market in which is not needed for the child...but more marketing items to get you to buy more...ie. comforter and side bumpers for the crib.


we went with a peg...we didn't find it too heavy or anything like that...what we did like was that the there was a height adjustment for the seat belt.

[hondanation09]

you don't need to get those....nicer infant seats already come with it...

we were at the car seat clinic and the lady there also said not to use the add on ones...the ones that come with the infant car seat are good.

i think there was an article in the news a few months back regarding these and that they aren't safe...

there are a lot of things in the market in which is not needed for the child...but more marketing items to get you to buy more...ie. comforter and side bumpers for the crib.


we went with a peg...we didn't find it too heavy or anything like that...what we did like was that the there was a height adjustment for the seat belt.

good choice of peg we have primo viaggio sip...using it with second child now. it is heavy but definitely has more protection then any car seat i have seen. many will argue for chico based on some reviews...but Peg is awesome and only reason people tend to stay clear may be price or weight.