Help selecting infant car seat

[LisaMer]

Hello!

I'm having a hard time deciding on an infant car seat for our first due in May. I've read the Consumer Reports reviews and the Safety 1st Designer 22 seems like a great option. It's available in Canada and goes up to 22 lb and 29" (my husband is quite tall). However, Sears Canada also offers a Quinny travel system and this car seat goes to 29". I'm wary about buying the Primo Viaggio b/c of it's short height guidelines and the Britax Companion has not arrived in my city yet. The other problem I have is that I don't like the Quinny stoller and can't buy the car seat on its own. Is the Safety 1st a good seat? I've also heard a lot of negative things about Graco's seats (recalls, fines, etc) and that their plastic isn't great for cold Canadian winters. All advice welcome!!

Lisa =)

 

[Unregistered]

Id definitely get a seat with at least a 22lbs 29" limit and no shorter. If you think you might have a large child then you will want all the growth you can get. DS comes from a large family on both sides and at 3m he outgrew his snugride(20lbs 26" limit) at 7 months he outgrew his designer 22(22lbs 29" limit) and at a year he was 32"(23lbs and in a britax marathon). He is now 2.5 and in another seat(britax husky) because he is outgrowing his marathon(US to 65lbs, he is 33-34lbs 38.5" but has a very long torso for his size/age at 15.5-16").

Personally if I had another child Id get a graco safeseat(30lbs 32") so it would last atleast a year or just skip the infant seat all together(most likely this one to save money as I found infant seats a hassle anyway).

I liked the snugride a lot, the designer 22 was ok but it was kinda clunky.

 

[murphydog77]

Hi. The Primo Viaggio definitely isn't worth the money. However, I think you're confusing the negative things you've heard about Graco with Cosco (aka Safety 1st). Cosco is the company that's had all the fines levied because they refuse to recall bad products until many children are injured, etc., etc., etc. That's not to say that Graco seats haven't had recalls, but Cosco is much worse in that dept.

The Safe Seat hasn't made it to Canada yet; it's rumored to be there sometime in March. I'd look for a SnugRide 2 and see if it's available since it goes to 22 lbs.

The Safety 1st Designer infant seat is OK, but it has its harness adjusters on the back and they can be difficult to use. I've also heard complaints about the canopy.

 

[Unregistered]

yes the canopy was a PITA so we cut it off :-\

 

[LisaMer]

Thanks for your words of wisdom! I live in Calgary and one of the specialty stores here (Bo Bebe) spoke very disparagingly of Graco. Consumer Reports also had something on their website about fines and recalls for Graco. However, it looks like the SafeSeat is available at Sears: (http://www.searsbaby.ca/e/products/...ypeId=0&BrandID=0&ColourFamilyID=0&SizeValue=)
However, not as a travel system. Will the SafeSeat fit in other Graco strollers? Anyone had any experience with the Quinny seats/strollers?

 

[Unregistered]

I bought the Graco snugride and used it 4 and 5 months respectively for my very tall babies. It's handy for the first few months but has to be replaced quickly. If the Safe seat is available, get it, for the higher weight limits.

I live in cold Canada and had winter babies and found that the plastic behaved, well, like plastic should, I guess.

 

[Dillipop]

THe safeseat can be paired with most Graco strollers that have the child tray (the tray in front with the cup holders for the child). It is also compatible with many other brands strollers. THe base of the safeseat is pretty close the the base of the other graco seats. We plan on getting the safeseat for our next one due in July and using the stroller we bought 3 years ago for DS with the seat. It has the tray and should attach securely.