Baby Car Seat???

[Awibrandy]

To all you wonderful new, and not so new parents, I'd like to know what are your recommendations for an EXCELLENT car seat. I'd like for it to grow along with baby as baby grows. Baby is coming sometime at the end of Feb. to early March.
This is for my first grandson, so please help me out. I'm not so certain about taking manufacturer's or sales people advice.

Oh yeah, parents drive a CRV if that matters.

 

[pmui]

Hi,

See if you can find this book, it's very helpful on what items to buy and what is garbage.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006AYZS2/?tag=reefs04-20

Sorry I already gave my copy away to my Brother-inlaw.

Peter

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Graco is my choice for a car seat. Graco snug ride infant seats are very easy to use and very safe, mine didn't move an inch when I rolled my old truck over.

When buying a car seat it is important to buy a seat with a 5 point harness as they make sure the baby is held in tight in the event of an impact.

baby's r us is very helpful if you go there and ask them about the seats. Also something that is very important is if the CRV is equipped with the LATCH system use both the LATCH and the seatbelt to be extra safe. THe latch and the seatbelt are both connected to the frame of the car. On a personal and professional level the seat must be installed properly or the baby is at serious risk in the event of an accident. I have been on the scene of many accidents where the seats were installed properly and the baby was safe, on the flip side I have been at accidents where it hasn't and the results weren't so positive. If you have any trouble installing the seat or any questions the state police and many fire depts will help you install them to make sure the seat is installed properly.

 

[frank arriaga]

I don't know,But congrats to the new grandma LOL.

 

[fritz]

Graco also gets my vote for infant car seat. Once they outgrow the infant seat the
Evenflow Triumph is the best, hands down.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2739371

The Britax Roundabout is ok but seriously the Evenflow is like a GIANT Lazy-boy recliner. My mother-in-law has it in her CRV and Ben loves it. It's also much easier to get him in and out than our Britax is.

 

[Awibrandy]

Thank you all for the information!! As you may all know grandchildren are very special treasures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From what I'm reading from both Chief & Fritz I should just get the infant seat, and later as the baby grows then get the larger seat. Am I correct? Last time I purchase a car seat was something like 8 or 9 years ago for my granddaughter. And we did have to get another when she grew a little.
I will most definitely look at the Triumph!!!!
Thank yo Frank!!!

 

[emps]

We've got the Peg Perego for one car and is removable so it can attach onto our stroller, and a Britax for the SUV now that she's bigger. Both work great and keeps the nugget safe and snug. Both have 5 point harnesses as well.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Yes just buy the infant seat for now also buy an extra base for each car you plan on driving the baby in. Well worth it. I had 1 seat and 5 bases. One for my 2 trucks and my wifes car, one for each grandmother too.

 

[Awibrandy]

Thanks guys/gals!

 

[JHOV2324]

Graco!

 

[vanceny]

Peg and then Britax for us.

 

[jejton]

I have to second the Graco ( Cheif's suggestion). You really dont want that will grow with your baby. Start with an infant seat and then when the baby outgrows it, switch to a front facing seat. My pediatrician strongly urges people to keep the seat past the manuafactured suggested weight age until the baby is too big to fit in the seat. He said that its better for the baby to be too big slightly than to small ( baby can slip out of straps ).

Chief - I recall reading in the manual of our car seats that you have to use one restraint - either the seat belt or the latch.

Try to take the car with you when you buy the seat because not all seat belts will work with a carseat. It needs to be a seat belt that locks into position once its latched - not the retracting kinds that dont lock. Also some LATCH systems are not placed in ways that you can conviniently attach the snap too. My mother and brother both drive ( i believe ) the smaller lexus SUV and the LATCH's are placed too far down so that the angle is too small and you can't really get the snap on the LATCH. Hope that makes sense.

 

[jejton]

Oh another thing thats great with many infant seats - we used the Greco snugride - is you can detach it from the base ( as mentioned ) and attach it to a travel system. Its basically a stroller frame. This way you dont have to wake the baby up every time you want to take her out of the seat. The frames are usually much cheaper than a full stroller and lighter as well. They are good until the baby needs to upgrade to a larger seat, as well.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

J AVET (Accident Vehicle Extrication Training) shows it is best to have both as the seat belt will act as a backup in the event (unlikely) that the LATCH fails. I know manuals say lots of things but first hand experience is priceless.

A product like this will make 3 point seat belts into a "LAP BELT"

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2267437

 

[Awibrandy]

So we need to take the car with us? I had wanted to surprise them with the seat next week when they come up for a visit.
Jejeton, I will see about the one with the stroller part.
Chief I will look for that part as well.

Anyone ever shop at Burlinton Coat Factory for car seats? There is a Burlington in my neighborhood, and seen that they have a baby dept.

 

[vanceny]

If you know the make and model of the car you can find out if they have latch. I think all cars after 2002 have the latch installed in them.

 

[Awibrandy]

Thank you Vanceny, I do know the make and model & year.

 

[leoskee]

The easiest thing for you to do is get the same base as the parents have. Its unlikely that the parents are going to just drop the baby off without its carrier/stroller. Get the base, use the carrier/car seat and you will have a smooth transition.

 

[Awibrandy]

Oh dear! Leo, I'm buying it for them as a gift! Not for my car. I doubt I'll have the baby that often since they live in Philly.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Awilda have they set up a baby registry?