Question by LACI: Does anyone have a safety first travel system?
Im really wanting the best car seat stroller combo for my baby who will be arriving in December or January. But Im not near a store who sells any of the good brands. And id like to onlt spend about $ 200 on it. Is it really that big of a deal if the adjustment strap is in the back of the seat or base? ive heard both Graco and safety first have it that way now i don’t know what to get? Please some body help!!!!
Best answer:
Answer by Brianna
A lot of people will say travel systems are a waste of money. It’s not necessary to stick the car seat in the stroller. As long as you have a stroller that will lay back it’s ok to put a newborn in it laying down. Usually 4 months is when it’s recommended to sit them up in the stroller.
Things to consider in a car seat:
Weight limit- standard infant carriers go to 20 or 22 pounds. Many babies surpass this weight limit before their 1st birthday, and the _minimum_ to turn an infant forward facing is 20 pounds -and- at least 1 year old. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2DVfqFhseo This video is a good demo of why it’s not recommended to flip baby around at the minimum age. The new AAP guidelines say to keep the child rear facing until 2 years old, and the rear facing weight limit on the seat.
If you want an infant carrier, they make seats like the Graco Snugride 35 that will hold the child rear facing to 35 pounds.
If you don’t feel you need an infant carrier, it’s ok to go straight to a convertible seat. The Graco My Ride 65 will hold a newborn from 5 pounds and up. The My Ride 65 allows a child to stay rear facing to 40 pounds, and then switch forward until 65 pounds, still in a 5 point harness.
If you go with the high weight limit infant carrier, once you turn your child forward facing you’d get a forward only seat like the Graco Nautilus that will 5 point harness to 65 pounds. You can then remove the harness straps and use it as a high back belt positioning booster. You would use the belt positioning booster until the positioner is no longer needed. This means that the child will sit upright in the seat, with the seat belt low across the hips, and the chest strap crossing over the collar bone- not rubbing the neck or falling onto the shoulder.
If you go with the My Ride 65, you do not need another harnessed forward facing seat. You can go straight to a high back booster than converts to a backless booster.
Car-safety.org is a good place to do lots of your own research on this as well.
Also regarding the adjustment strap- when it is in the back of the seat, you must re-adjust carefully every time your child wears a thicker or thinner shirt/pant to ensure that you are getting a proper fit, and it is quite tedious. With the strap in the front, it’s very easy to loosen so that your child can be removed comfortably, and it’s easy to tighten to ensure a proper fit each time.
**eta**
Do _not_ buy a used car seat unless it is from a relative or close friend that you can trust. If you buy it from somebody you don’t know, you might end up with a car seat that’s been in a crash. A crash can cause unseen damage that could cause the car seat to not work properly in the event of a crash with your child in the seat. It’s not worth the risk.
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