(Part 3) Best child safety car seats & accessories according to redditors
We found 412 Reddit comments discussing the best child safety car seats & accessories. We ranked the 209 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 41-60. You can also go back to the previous section.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00C2JKUAC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484276289&sr=8-1&keywords=batman+car+seat
Congrats! My baby has yet to sleep in his crib, so I won't comment on that, but he did sleep wonderfully in a rock 'n play Can't praise it enough. Only problem is transitioning them out of it.
Other things I really like:
Car Seat: Chicco KeyFit Magic 30 Super easy to install and use.
Boon Grass I really like having a special drying rack for all of my bottles/pump parts/ect and I like this one because you can stick stuff anywhere and it's cute. Also comes with cute accessories.
Bath tub Baby seems to like it and it dries quickly and can be hung up.
If you're into babywearing, I have an Ergo 360 and a K'tan which I've found to be comfortable and easy to use.
figuring out the car was a nightmare. my kiddo would scream until he projectile vomited on his feet it was so bad. I tried white noise, toys, taking routes with no lights so I didn't have to stop, you name it. the ONLY thing that finally worked was changing the car seat. for whatever reason he just hated everything about his original seat. I got him this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00O9W3MUK/ref=dp_ob_neva_mobile (sorry I'm on my phone) and I swear to god it was an immediate change. I think I cried the first time he fell asleep in his car seat. months later we needed an extra seat and I was like "what the heck, let's just use the old one." it was back to screaming. I know it sucks to fork over a ton of cash for another seat, but I too need to go in the car almost daily and I was willing to try anything to make my 5 min trip to publix bearable.
What's your time line for purchasing? If you're able to wait, Black Friday deals are an excellent time to purchase car seats. We bought our Graco 4ever (normally $299) for $117 USD on Black Friday with same day pick-up.
If you're looking to purchase sooner rather than later, some excellent and slightly more wallet friendly convertible car seats are:
I had the Chicco Keyfit as well! Around 9mo my daughter started screaming in the car and was miserable. Someone told me to get a convertible one.. So I got
Evenflo Symphony DLX All-In-One Convertible Car Seat, Modesto https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8RRMAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Oinjyb2M7VP63
She loves it. Ever since then she rarely cries in the car and it is super comfy. Plus it converts to forward facing when ready.
We got a Maxi Cosi for when our daughter was a newborn/small. It was really good and could be clicked into our Bugaboo stroller, so very convenient (up to a certain child weight :-)). It is really nice to be able to lift the thing wholesale out of the car and into your house/apartment etc if the baby is sleeping.
For when she got bigger we got this Britax seat. Also very good, and quite easy to install when you get used to it.
Hopefully your car has the latch system/ratcheting belts in which case any seat with a latching option is a big help. For the Maxi Cosi there was just the agony of tightening the latch belts for the base, but then the seat clicks into the base.
I don't know if they offer it here but back in the US you could actually get the local police to show you how to install the seat properly. The store we bought the first at would, too. Highly recommended. Check out YouTube guides for the specific model, too. You need to get that thing really secure. Our next door neighbor's grandson was injured because of an accident and an insufficiently secured car seat :-(.
We have a City Select that is quite nice. A little heavy for my wife, but most of the solidly built strollers (Read: not plastic) are in the same ball park. If you plan on doing a lot of jogging with the baby, you should look into a model specifically for that, otherwise, we decided that this was a pretty good balance of rugged and practical.
We originally got the adapters that allow the car seat to click directly into the stroller. If/when you have another kid, you can also get a second seat and it's very configurable. There are adapters for most major brands of car seats.
For car seats, we have a Graco Click Connect 35 - (Can't find a link right now. Discontinued?) which we used when the kid was an infant. Now that she's bigger, we have an Evenflo Symphony DLX that I really like. (We actually have 2 - one for each car). It can be used for infants, but does not easily remove from the car and click into a stroller or make for a good place for the baby to sleep when out and about. This means that you will need a car seat that can go from birth to about 25-30lbs and then 25-30lbs to 70+.
Let me know if you have any questions.
We got a Chicco Keyfit30. Amazon doesn't seem to have the combination exactly of what we got available anymore, but these are different color versions of our choices:
Stroller
Seat
Extra base
The convertible seat we got is a Chicco NextFit Zip. I chose that one because it was consistently rated at the top of lists, and the cover zips out for cleaning. This is the exact car seat we have.
If you have a tiny car (prius, etc.) these seats might not work well for you. The convertible one does have a variety of recline positions to choose from so you can sit your kid a little more upright to make more room (if they're able to sit up, don't do this if your kid doesn't have good head/neck control) but it definitely isn't the most compact seat available. It is REALLY easy to install, though - we took kiddo with us while test driving cars since we have to replace our current vehicle in the next month or so. We popped the seat out of the truck, installed it easily in the vans we were driving, and were on our way. Took less than 5 minutes (it is rated as one of the easier seats to install on several of the comparison sites) from "I'll go get the seat" to putting the kid in it.
Edited to add: we moved kiddo to the convertible seat around 11 months, because he was constantly trying to sit up in his infant seat. He'd get really frustrated since it was such a recline. Car rides went from frustrated baby to happy kiddo as soon as we switched seats because he could look out of the window. Technically he's not too heavy for his infant seat even now (27.5 pounds at his 15 month appointment last month) but he is too tall for it (it goes up to 30 inches in height; he was 30.25" at his 15 month appointment.
We were fortunate enough to be gifted the Chicco Keyfit 30 system and the accompanying stroller frame. These things were THE BEST. The base installs in less than a minute and then you just plop the car seat in it and it clicks and secures into place. To get it out you just press in the little handle deal and it comes right out. Easy AF and such a time and back saver. Then if you get the stroller frame the seat will click into that the same way. It folds up with ease and has plenty of storage space. All the while not really having to disturb the little one. We used that shit ALL the time. Only downside is it's pretty expensive, but you're looking at a stroller, carseat and base that will last quite a while.
Non-mobile: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O9W3MUK/ref=dp_ob_neva_mobile
^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?
I use a carabiner-style seatbelt for my dog and don't do this, but I have seen a seatbelt cover for sale at places like Amazon, or you can make one yourself using a plastic cup.
I have done lots of international flights with kids, but never with Aegean, so here's my input:
The booking office often has no fucking clue what is going on. Trust your cabin crew and gate staff.
There are US-made car seats that are cheap and often used for travel - the Cosco Scenera comes to mind - that you could look at purchasing if you wanted a travel car seat. I have seen those frequently in use for the children old enough to fit in them (not usually newborns) as a family's travel car seat, keeping the gigantic setup at home.
We brought an approved car seat on a KLM flight once and were shown by the cabin crew how to put it in for Leg A - and then told we couldn't use it for Leg B, because that "wasn't an acceptable installation method" (...) and it affected the arm rests, and the arm rests had to be able to be down during the entire flight. The cabin crew will have final say, and if they are saying to your family you only need a booster - that's all you need.
You overpaid I think. Amazon has that model for $130. http://www.amazon.com/Evenflo-Triumph-Convertible-Seat-Everett/dp/B00O8RRR7U/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1451956228&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=Evenflo+triumoh+lx
If you see the 1 and 2 star reviews from amazon, everyone is complaining about the straps and not being able to install properly.
Anyway, Britax is around $250-300+ I want to say. You can find it on sale and it depends on the model. But it is so worth it! Think of how many times each day you get the kid in and out. I have no complaints about my Britax click-tight. http://www.amazon.com/Britax-USA-Boulevard-ClickTight-Convertible/dp/B013YCWASA/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1451956481&sr=1-1&keywords=britax+clicktight
YouTube the britax clicktight. Amazing.
Just realized you say your biggest problem is getting the straps tight enough on the kid. Mine routinely tells me "mommy its too tight", haha! I just strap kid in and pull at the bottom and wham, its done. Loosening it is a simple button. Do you have a toys r us? Go try them out and see the difference. Even if you can't try before, I promise you won't regret the britax :)
We have this one and we love it! We went straight to a convertible car seat when LO was born and 7 months later we have no regrets!
That said, some people prefer the infant ones because you can keep a base in each car, and use the carrier part for baby so you don’t have to take them in and out of the car seat as much. We didn’t mind not having these perks and wound up getting a second (cheaper) convertible car seat for our other vehicle that we don’t usually use and for traveling (I was afraid the airport luggage system would beat up the car seat). I’ve had to remove and reinstall the car seat several times, and you eventually get the hang of it. (Not gunna lie, the first couple times were a shot show though lol)
I read a lot of reviews on amazon to make sure I got a quality seat that was easy to clean. Another thing to look for if you go the convertible route is wether or not a certain seat it will fit in your car rear-facing if you have a small vehicle.
Got my X this year as well, and for the safety of the car, and my sanity, i got the seat protectors below as well as the floor mats to keep things clean. They have both held up great to my 6 year old and 2 year old.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F8F605U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N5POES9/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Theres a simple solution, just get one of those convex mirrors like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Ideapro-Backseat-Rearview-Adjustable-Forward/dp/B01N0AXQLN
Sure this is what I use - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N0AXQLN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Seatbelt lock
Premium Safety Seatbelt Secure Buckle Cover by Wididi (1 Pack and 2 Pack) (Red, 1-Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y56N2DW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_pEX5Cb77SV447
Cheaper than that - $65 shipped...for an age appropriate one
https://www.amazon.com/Evenflo-Tribute-Convertible-Car-Seat/dp/B00O8RRYDW
But let's be honest here, they probably wouldn't bother even if they were cheaper than that. It's not about the money so much as the personal effort to get one, fit it and use it and this lady does not strike me as the sort of person to make much of an effort at anything.
We've had good luck with the Meeno Baby Carseat Liner. It seems to keep him from being completely sweaty. He still feels moist, but not wet. I also really like my stroller fan. In the car, we use these cling shades from Britax.
Otherwise, use the oldies, but goodies... Cool wash cloth to wipe down face and neck. Go early/late when it's cooler. You could also use those neck cooling things (the ones that expand when you soak them).
Remember to take care of you, too. Lots of water and cool clothing. Take breaks and don't overdo it.
I picked up this one at a second hand shop and love it - http://www.amazon.com/Diono-Easy-View-Mirror-Black/dp/B005PK1EQ4/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1370283097&sr=8-13&keywords=baby+car+mirror
Do you have a front-facing backseat mirror? My son became so much more relaxed in the car after we installed one. We have this one -- <$10 shipped with Prime.
We got the Peg Perego 4-35. I wanted something with head protection and it was one of two that I found. Britax Elite was the other. We haven't used it yet, but I really like the way it looks!
https://www.amazon.com/Peg-Perego-Viaggio-Infant-Atmosphere/dp/B00J3KL4HG/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1466516443&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=peg+perego+4-35
We went with the Peg Pergo 4/35. I like it for its safety ratings and that it wasn't made in China. We just installed it and it was super easy to do it correctly. I had it checked by a certified installer too. It can be used with or without a base and looks super easy to use when flying (a big plus for us). I'm not sure how much we will use the whole travel system, but we did get a stroller that will work with the seat.
We got the Evenflo tribute, because it had a little more padding than the Cosco. Very cheap, fairly easy to install. We have some difficulty with getting it level in the car. It's super light.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O8RRYDW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
The Graco one you mean? I sold mine for $50 on Facebook (and it went FAST, could've asked more) and watched for the Evenflo one to go on sale on Amazon. It was down to $150 like it is now, so for me technically spending $100 to make my life a TON easier was worth it.
We got the Safety First Grow and Go: https://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Grow-Convertible-Coral/dp/B015KFDJAM/ We used our completion discount so it came out to be about $109. Not half bad!
Our LO screamed in the car!
Two things helped, and I'm not sure which was most effective because we did both at the same time:
http://www.amazon.com/Infant-Bucket-Seat-Liner-Color/dp/B004RVGPUC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1407109029&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;keywords=Cool+mee
Now she hardly ever cries!
> seat pictured in the Medium post; not an infant car seat for kids under two.
You are correct. I've seen pictures of the seat before but mistook it for a simple forward facing under two seat. You are correct that this looks like its this Britax model which looks to be both a front facing car seat and a booster seat. So I wonder if this is the only seat and there is no separate booster? This would make sense as I don't know where they would store it.
> The Frontier ClickTight Harness-2-Booster Seat can be used in Harness Mode for children 2 years old and 25 to 90 lbs or in Booster Mode for children 40 to 120 lbs.
I am enrolled on Lucies list, which has recommendations on products. One that she recommended was the Graco Classic Connect http://www.amazon.com/Graco-Snugride-Classic-Connect-Infant/dp/B00BR0ON8M/ref=sr_1_1_m?s=baby-products&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1406312661&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=graco+classic+connect+car+seat.
I happened to be out shopping and saw the store had it and the matching stroller on sale, plus they had a credit card discount that day, so I got a really good deal on them. I put it together and really like it. It doesn't have a ton of frills or anything.
Stroller- http://www.amazon.com/Graco-Literider-Classic-Connect-Stroller/dp/B00H8MQ86S/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1406313029&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=graco+literider+stroller+tinker
like this one ?
Let me suggest these :) for the kickmats though, I had to create my own tie downs for the bottom
Car Seat Protector (2-Pack) by Drive Auto Products - Best Protection for Child & Baby Cars Seats, Dog Mat - Ultimate Cover Pad Protects Automotive Vehicle Leather or Cloth Upholstery https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F8F605U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_JIyhzbCBECK9H
Best Kick Mats with Backseat Organizer Pocket Storage – 100% Waterproof – 2 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KY7X2JO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_xJyhzbBXT1J50
http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Embrace-Batman-Toddler-Booster/dp/B00C2JKUAC
I also really like https://www.lucieslist.com/gear-guides/best-convertible-car-seat/ for car seat reviews.
This car seat is one that your kids will likely be in, in one form or another, until they are 4, so be sure to pick one that you feel good about. Think about ease of install, cup holders, comfort, size, etc.
We have the Evenflo Elite, and I REALLY like how easily it installs and how easy it is to adjust the shoulder straps.
Also, if your kids tend toward the top of the weight percentiles, be sure to get one that goes up to 50 or 60 lbs, not 40 lbs. My 3 year old is 38 lbs and will be pushing 40 lbs by the time he hits 4 and is allowed to move out of a 5 point harness and into just a booster (which his car seat converts to!), so that's something to think about.
You might consider buying the Britax Clicktight seats to move back and forth. I don't have them myself, but I have several friends who say they work incredibly well. Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Britax-USA-Marathon-ClickTight-Convertible/dp/B013YCX22I/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1474085125&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=britax%2Bclicktight&amp;th=1 and watch this installation video to see how easily they install: https://youtu.be/bbx2NC5w7QQ
Our strategy is to have enough seats for every child in every car; we tried having one kid-car, and it was challenging to have to switch cars and rearrange things, so we sprung for the extra set of seats.
Britax seats are very well made. Their Clicktight line is super easy to install. We use the Marathon. Also this site has a good explanation of what to look for and a chart to sort by rear facing weight.
Nailed it.
Hilarious how they basically change the colors and add 'SIMPSON' to the strap pads to market towards our industry.
I just moved my little man up to the Britax Boulevard Clicktight and this thing seems more than adequate to keep him in place while bouncing around off-road!
I provided a link to where Walmart sells it for 38 dollars. It's available on Amazon for about 50.
Cosco Scenera NEXT Car Seat OTTO https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TZMED20/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_p51YBbQEQNGN4
I didn't see it online for anywhere close to a hundred dollars. Maybe you're thinking of a different seat?
Full disclosure: I don't have a baby yet, so all of my "it will totally work" is positive thinking. That being said, it sounds like we have the same Pack-N-Play! (Or at least with the same functionality.)
It sounds like we're in the same boat registry-wise. We opted for the Fisher Price Rock-N-Play, my girlfriends' kids like it, so hopefully baby girl will too. I initially wanted the Puj, but a friend got me something else, and it seems like it'll work just fine. It collapses nicely and fits under our sink. We have the Baby Jogger City Lite Stroller, and the Britax Roundabout Convertible Carseat. Some of our friends surprised us with a BoB running stroller, so my husband is pumped to take the kiddo out on the lake shore path.
I want a carrier, but I'm holding off on buying one until I have a baby to put in it. I liked the Baby Bjorn and the Baby K'tan. I've heard great things about the Ergo, though, so that's another reason why I'm holding off.
Again, we don't have a baby yet, but I don't anticipate adding too much stuff. It'll be some time till baby comes home, so I'll know in about 4-5 weeks whether my plan worked. :) Best of luck to you and your family!
We're going straight to a convertible, specifically the Chicco Nextfit. I'm too weak to carry an infant seat and the way our day-to-day life goes, it's not worth trying to make one work. For carrying around the baby we have K'tans, a Lillebaby, and a Chicco Liteway stroller (it's technically an umbrella stroller but reclines so newborns can use it) as options.