There's some debate on whether infant car seats are worthwhile or if parents should just start with a convertible seat that will last from infancy through preschool. For me, the infant car seat is nonnegotiable, especially with multiple kids. I'm a pretty active mom, so I need to be able to conveniently move my babies in and out of the car for walks, shopping, restaurants, and church, without worrying about waking them up or dealing with baby carriers.
I love to drop my infant car seats into my Baby Jogger City Select car seat adapter and be on my merry way. (Bonus tip: Check resale stores and Marketplace for pre-owned City Selects. This stroller is worth its weight in gold, but it literally costs more than my first car when you buy it full price ha). If you can afford it full price or if someone wants to buy it off your registry, then great! Otherwise, try to find it second-hand. The Baby Jogger company is known for continuity in its products, so even if you have an older model, you're likely to easily find brand name replacement parts if you need them.
If you want to add this stroller or any of these car seats to your Amazon baby registry, click the link below to start yours! Amazon offers a free welcome box of baby supplies, and they have a 15% completion discount! Plus, you and your friends and family will love the convenience of having all your favorite products in one place. Please note, as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Also, please note that I am not a certified car seat or safety expert. I rely on these brands to provide safe products for my children, and I'm passing on real-life convenience experience from my use of them.
For Infants
Chicco Keyfit 30: I originally had the cheapest Graco infant seat on my registry, even though I wanted this Chicco. I just didn't think anyone would buy it for me because it was more expensive. Well, someone handed down the Chicco to me, and I ended up being SO thankful. My cousin received the Graco I had originally registered for, and it caused her no end of grief. It was difficult to install and impossible to tighten and loosen. The Chicco was overall great though.
Pro: The base is super easy to install with the LATCH system in the car.
Pro: It is very easy to tighten and loosen.
Con: The sun shade doesn't stay down very well.
Con: The buttons on either side of the handle are inconvenient because I need 2 hands to raise or lower it.
Con: It uses a traditional threading system to change the shoulder strap height.
Overall, the pros outweigh the cons, as the cons are just minor inconveniences, and the pros are life simplifying at every single use. The KeyFit 30 doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, but it is so easy to use.
Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX: When the Chicco infant seat expired, I had every intention of buying a new low-level Chicco. But I found this Graco on super sale, and I was seduced by the button that changes the height of the shoulder straps with one push.
Pro: Easy-adjust shoulder strap button
Pro: Amazingly easy base installation. There's an extra feature on the base that allows users to fasten it securely, with very little effort
Pro: The sun shade is huge and stays in place, so I never have to worry about my baby being blinded.
Pro: The included infant insert is sturdy and nice for my newborn, and I like the little headrests.
Pro: The handle raises and lowers with one button at the top, so I can do it one-handed.
Con: The seat gets stuck in the car base and in the stroller.
At a glance, the pros far outweigh the cons for this car seat, but man oh man, after a few weeks of the seat getting SO stuck in the base every single time I tried to remove it, I ended up buying a gently used Chicco KeyFit from a garage sale. Now, I did end up figuring out a little trick with the button to help me unstick it from the base, and all the other little conveniences of the seat won me over, so I donated the Chicco to another new mom. But sometimes I would have to stand in the rain in a parking lot desperately trying to yank the seat out of the stroller adapter for 5 minutes, picking up the entire stroller in the process. It was incredibly annoying.
So what's the verdict for infant car seats? If you can afford a higher end Chicco, that would probably be a good option, based on my experiences with the brands. I love all the little conveniences of the high-end Graco, and I love that I got it on sale, but I wouldn't pay full price for a seat that sticks in the base so badly. If I were starting from scratch and working from a budget, I think I'd go for the Chicco KeyFit. But man, I love the button to adjust the shoulder straps on the Graco. This one's hard. Check your budget, and go from there.
For Infant Through Preschool (Convertible Seats)
Now for convertible car seats, I have a much stronger opinion. I've tried 3 different brands for different reasons, but I know for sure which one I'd prefer and recommend.
Graco Extend2Fit: I had a hard time finding resources for convertible car seats. Graco has some sort of monopoly here, I think. Costco had them on sale, so I grabbed one when I needed it, and it was fine. Nothing special, but it got the job done.
Pro: Extendable leg platform for front-facing kids
Pro: Easy to install
Pro: Button for shoulder strap height adjustment
Con: Wider profile if you need seats to fit side by side.
Con: The button to loosen the straps is a little hard to reach.
Diono Radian 3R: We bought this one because it's known for its sturdy frame and super slim silhouette. We thought we would need it to fit in our little SUV, but it actually ended up being difficult to appropriately install for rear-facing kids.
Pro: Slim silhouette
Pro: Full steel frame
Pro: Easy to tighten and loosen
Con: It is narrow, but it was actually too tall to be rear-facing in our little SUV. We couldn't get it to sit correctly on its base.
Con: Not very comfortable for younger kids because it doesn't have side walls
Pro: It's great for an older kid who can face forward.
We had to stop using this for our rear-facing kids and switch to the Graco for our old SUV. But when our oldest switched to forward facing, this car seat worked great for her. It's easy for her to climb in and out of, and she can tighten and loosen the seat by herself. She can also use her UnbuckleMe to get herself out, which gives her a lot of freedom and gives me an extra hand for my other kids! (A note: If you can't 100% trust your kids to only use the UnbuckleMe once the car is parked and they have permission, do not keep it within their reach. It would be very unsafe for a child to unbuckle themselves while the car is in motion.)
Chicco NextFit Zip Convertible Seat: Finally, the seat to end all seats! This seat is pretty much all pros.
Pro: The cover on this car seat UNZIPS for cleaning! Typically, cover removal is an unspoken con of every single car seat, but Chicco solved that problem, and it's amazing. That reason alone is why I bought it, without even knowing the other wonderful pros continued below.
Pro: Very easy to install
Pro: Very easy to loosen and tighten
Pro: Button to raise and lower shoulder straps
Pro: The seat rocks in the base with the push of a button, so it can be as reclined or upright as you like, depending on baby's age.
Pro: Looks comfy and includes cup holders
Con: It is more expensive, but I ended up finding a discontinued color for even cheaper than regular-priced budget brands.
Verdict: Get the Chicco. Even though each of our kids is in a different brand right now, my husband and I both agree that we would choose this Chicco for each of them if we could do it over. Our budget and space just wasn't right for it while we were looking for our first 2 kids.
Hopefully my real life successes and failures in the car seat world will help you succeed in your real life!
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