1. Car Seats & Strollers

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Car Seat Options

You need a car seat. Some say it must be new because it’s the only way to ensure it hasn’t been in an accident. I mean, what kind of mean mother-effer would sell a wrecked car seat secondhand? Ha! JERKS. Not to be totally morbid, but motor vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of fatal injuries in children (AND adults) up to the age of 34. Eek. This is important stuff here peeps...

Infant seat/"bucket"

Convertible car seat

There are 2 options for transporting your new babe: an infant car seat (a.k.a. "the bucket") or a convertible car seat, called so because it starts as a rear-facing seat and "converts" to a front-facing seat later on.

The vast majority of parents go with the infant seat because of its portability and ease of use. However, some people skip the infant seat altogether and go directly to the larger, heavier convertible seat. If you choose to go straight to the convertible seat for your newborn, be sure to choose a seat with low bottom harness slots, as this can be a problem area for proper fit. If you are considering this, please see my recommendation of the Maxi Cosi Pria here.

The infant seat is smaller, lighter and portable and lasts until about 12 months. Infant seats also come with an adjustable sunshade, which is extremely handy. Most moms end up using the infant car seat for more than just riding in the car. There is a good reason for this: your newborn baby falls asleep in the car and now you are at your destination. The last thing you want to do is unearth your peacefully slumbering baby from the bucket. What’s that saying about letting sleeping dogs lie? Well, the same goes for babies. You can simply remove the car seat from the car, snap it into your stroller and get on with it. Your baby finishes his nap in situ and everyone’s happy. You can't do this with a convertible seat.

However, since 95% of moms start with an infant seat in the first year, that's what we'll discuss.

Infant Car Seats

There is no one "best seat" out there. Why? Mainly because everyone drives a different car - and what fits properly and safely in a Honda Accord may not do the trick in an Audi A3, for example. And sometimes, to complicate matters, what fits in your car (a sedan) may not fit in your husband's car (a pickup truck). Ack! So, everyone's situation is uniquely different. 

The only way to know is to try it out right after you buy it (keep the tags on!!). If installing the car seat requires you to push the passenger seat all the way forward (rendering the passenger seat useless), take the damn thing back and get a smaller one. This is a very common problem. Don't get stuck in this situation, otherwise the only thing calling shotgun will be your diaper bag...

Best in Class

Having said that, there are 3 infant seats that are consistently awarded high marks from moms and experts alike. Depending on your budget, here are the three that I recommend:

$ -- Graco SnugRide
$$ -- Chicco KeyFit
$$$ -- Britax Chaperone

1. Graco SnugRide, $90-$150 (depending on the model), 7.5 lbs

The no-frills Graco Snug Ride is the top-selling infant seat in America. It consistently gets top marks for its ease of use and installation. This seat is affordable, reliable, and fits universally into things like swings, grocery carts and most (all?) stroller bases. It's the USB of car seats.

Note that the less expensive Snugride models have straps that adjust behind the seat (as opposed to between the legs). This makes it a bit more tedious to adjust than other higher-end car seats. Poing being? This is NOT a luxury car seat; rather, it's a decent car seat for someone who doesn't have a lot to spend. 

2. Chicco KeyFit, $130-180

Whether you're after a 22 or a 30lb seat (9.6lbs vs 9.9lbs), consumers on multiple 3rd party sites have rated the Chicco Keyfit #1.

Why? Because it's a high-quality, easy to install, beautifully designed car seat that won't break the bank. It's most known for fitting your baby well through all the stages of infancy (hence the name). It has a removable newborn insert and also happens to be the seat of choice for transporting preemies (babies 4+ lbs) home from the NICU (if there's any reason to think you might go into labor early, definitely get this seat). All in all, this is a great seat at a great price.

 

**Note that the Keyfit has a thick, cushioned seat pad which some mommies say makes babies sweaty. If you live in a hot climate, take note...

3. Britax Chaperone, Retails for $235 (on Amazon for $184), 10lbs

Let's face it: Britax knows how to make a damn good seat. 

If you've got the money to pay for extra safety features and don't mind a bigger/heavier seat, the Britax Chaperone is the one for you.  In fact, the Chaperone is the only infant car seat that received an excellent rating by independent crash testers. 

Mommies also dig features like ergonomic handles, an extra-long canopy, easily adjustable straps and extra safety features like the anti-rebound bar. The Chaperone is a 30lb seat, so it's a little bigger and heavier. OH - and **this seat doesn't fit well in smaller cars. You've been warned...

There is the triumverate, according to Meg.

Infant Seat "sizes"

The default maximum weight for an infant seat is 22 lbs. However, many of them go up to 30 or even 35 lbs. The book Baby Bargains recommends the larger seat: I disagree. If you are trying to decide between a 22 lb seat and a 30 or 35 lb seat... go with the smaller seat. As a practical matter, everyone I know who bought the heavier and more expensive seat ended up transitioning to the convertible seat around the same time as those of us with the 22lb seat (yes, I took a poll). That is why I say this.

Reasons: a) your baby will outgrow the infant seat height-wise before he exceeds the max weight (I guarantee), b) the whole point of having an infant seat is so you can carry it around, but when your baby reaches about 15lbs or so... you're NOT going to be carrying it around anymore (so, you will have been carrying around an unnecessarily heavy seat in the early months) c) Ain't no way on the planet earth that a 30 or 35 lb child (which is like... a 2 or 3 year old) is still going to sit in an infant bucket. No way. So, if you are choosing between a 30lb seat and a 35lb seat, I'd get the 30. Just my opinion ;-)

Can you use a USED car seat?

Technically, yes. Provided that a) it hasn't expired and b) it has never been in a crash or been otherwise compromised. If you have a reliable friend or family member who wants to give you their old seat that meets these requirements, then by golly, do it!

Expiration

Car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacturing. The date can always be found on a sticker on the bottom or side of the seat. Check the base as well (they should have the same manufacturing date unless they weren't bought together). Is this a gimmick? No. In fact, the plastic degrades over time, especially when exposed to cold, heat,... apple juice. It doesn't magically implode into dark matter right at 6 years, but experts agree that it's about the right time to be replaced.

Yes, but where are the crash tests?

It is impossible (in my experience, at least) to find conclusive crash test results that say: car seat A is a good one and car seat B doesn't pass muster. Here is the 2010 crash test data.

Car Seat Notes:

* Many people don’t know this, but car seat bases are simply for convenience. You install the base very snug and secure in your back seat and leave it in place. The car seat simply snaps in and out of it. This is good if you are doubting your ability to properly install and remove the seat every time, especially if you are always in a hurry (like me!). However, you don’t *have to* use the base.

In fact, if you are caught across town in the rain with your car seat/stroller, you can hail a cab, install the carseat (only), throw the stroller base in the trunk and be on your merry way. The same goes for renting a car, flying on a plane, etc. Bottom line: just buy a base for the vehicles you use most frequently (the seat itself should come with ONE base). You don’t need a base for every member of the extended fam-damily.

* What about the really pricey car seats like Peg Perego? Well, from talking to moms that have these, they are just fine. If you read the customer reviews, though, they don’t rate any better than Graco and tend to be much heavier. Why you would want to spend $250+ on a car seat that will last no longer than a year is beyond me.

* I know a lot of moms who don’t really know how to remove and re-install the car seat or base, or are afraid to. They’ve been scared by propaganda that ensures them they will screw it up and their baby will die a hideous accidental death. May I suggest you and your partner take a couple of hours one day in your third trimester to learn how to put it in and take it out. You can even drive to an inspection station near you for some additional instruction and peace of mind.

Practice a few times and, for godsakes, don’t wait and do this on your car ride home from the hospital! By then your brain will have lost the ability to learn or deal with anything new. A good article on positioning and adjusting can be found here.

Strollers

For the first six months or so, most moms use the infant car seat in conjunction with a very lightweight, simple stroller frame. Forget about a heavy and bulky travel system, this is the way to go!

This concept is ideal for a newborn for so many reasons... the stroller frame itself is inexpensive, lightweight and compact. After heaving this thing in and out of your trunk 50 times, you will come to understand why being small and lightweight is of the UTMOST importance. When folded, it takes up very little space. Also, the undercarriage basket is heee-YOOOGE so you can go on a major shopping trip and not have to worry about lugging around your loot (when loaded down, it is a bit like pushing a bowling ball down the street, but that’s another matter).

Baby Trend Snap N' Go

There are a few on the market, but the stroller frame I recommend is the Baby Trend Snap N’ Go. Yes, Graco also makes a Snug Ride stroller frame. However, the mommies agree that the one-handed push button collapse on the Snap N’ Go is much easier to use (the Snug Ride stroller is a huge pain in the arse to collapse, trrrrust me). Most car seats on the market fit into the Snap N’ Go stroller base, but double check to be sure yours is on the list.

Again, the beauty of this is that it's only 12 pounds, it's affordable, and it's super easy to collaspe and fold. Check, check, check!

Other Strollers

The carseat/stroller solution mentioned above is a wonderful *general purpose* item for the first 6 months and a must-have for airline travel. That said… I am sorry to report that it is not perfect for every situation. For example, if you hit a big enough bump in the sidewalk, the damned thing comes to a screeching halt. It’s also not very agile. Therefore, it is *highly probable* that you will need more than one stroller to meet the needs of your lifestyle — especially if you walk a lot.

Most non-umbrella strollers can recline and can therefore be used for babies that don't yet have torso control (0-6 months). However, for newborns (0-3 months), you should employ the carseat-in-the-stroller maneuver until he/she gets better neck control. Placing him in a reclined stroller prior to 3 months feels very... floppy. Alternatively, most luxury strollers (UPPA, Bugaboo, Quinny, etc) have a bassinet or "carry cot" that can be used instead of the car seat. 

Not to complicate matters (but I'm gonna), a big question to ask yourself when looking for a stroller is: is there another baby in your future? Like, soon? If you want to squeeze out 2 pups in a short amount of time (say, less than 2.5 yrs), you should either a) buy a less expensive single stroller because you'll soon have to upgrade to a double OR b) consider a stroller that can be upgraded to a double, like the UPPAbaby Vista (discussed below), any Phil & Ted's inline stroller, the Britax B-Ready, the BabyJogger City Select, the Bugaboo Donkey (puke), or my recent favorite, the Mountain Buggy plus one.

So... in addition to the car seat/skeleton combo mentioned up top, here are some other strollers that mommies love:

A. The City Mini

I was horny for this stroller the first time I laid eyes on it – so compact, sleek and sporty. Mmmmmm mmm. Since I live in the city and have to walk up a flight of stairs, I needed something lightweight and easy. A 57 pound stroller the size of a small golf cart was not going to fit the bill.

Here’s the thing: it collapses into a neat, carry-able package with one lift of the arm (see my quick demo here). That’s it! When you’re at the subway station and you realize the elevator is out of service, this is the stroller you wished you had. Yes, it has a pivoting front wheel which makes it easy to steer with one hand (you are so demanding!). It scoffs at bumps and curbs. The seat lays down flat for a napping baby (what I call the “first class” position) and sits up for “Coach” — and every position in between. It’s also beautifully designed. Yes my dears... it’s the iPhone of strollers. It also has a fabulous sun shade that pulls all the way down.

You can get a car seat adapter for this stroller for newborns, but it sort of defeats the purpose of having the aforementioned one-handed collapsability (yes, I just made that word up). However, if you really only want *just one* stroller in your life, you could get this stroller with the carseat adapter and be done with it.

The one downside is the small cargo basket. You can’t take this one to the grocery store and plan on filling it up, sadly (you can only fit about 4 bottles of wine in the bottom)…(so I’ve heard).

This stroller costs about $240, comes in a few sporty colors and never (nay, rarely) goes on sale. Sorry.

*It also comes in a double version.

B. The BOB Revolution

The notorious B-O-B is the Land Rover of strollers. It’s expensive ($450), it weighs 27 lbs and it does not care what you think of it. If you have to walk up steps to get your door, don’t even *think* about buying this stroller. You will cry. However, if you live in suburbia, which I imagine most of you do, or you have a garage in the City, this stroller may be the one for you. With a 12″ wheel and the ability to roll right over homeless people lying across the sidewalk (oh please! I would never!) (ok, just that one time), it is the ultimate all-terrain stroller. It holds up to 70 pounds of human flesh, so you can actually use it for your 4’10″ grandmother. See, very versatile!

The suspension on the Revolution makes for a very smooth ride. It also has a front wheel that locks (for jogging or rough terrain) or swivels. Bottom line: if you need a heavy-duty, super durable all-terrain stroller and have some cash to drop, this is the stroller for you. Ask anyone who owns this stroller and they will tell you it is well worth the money.

BOB Revolution

My petite friend, Cheryl, has this stroller and uses it with the car seat adapter. She weighs about 105 lbs soaking wet. I’m not sure how good you are at arithmetic, but when you sum the weight of the stroller (27lbs), the car seat (9 lbs) and baby (12 lbs), it’s about half of her body weight. No wonder she is gasping for air after pushing that thing up the Noe Street hill. Point being: this bad boy is HEV-VEEEEE. You feel me?

Notes:

* Consider this stroller if you have to roll over grass, sand, gravel, brick sidewalks or any other non-paved surface in order to get from A to B.

* Ironically, this stroller was not designed to be a true jogging stroller. It's an "all-terrain" stroller which many people use for jogging. The true jogger from BOB is called the Ironman and has a fixed front wheel. Even the folks at BOB are baffled by the fact that everyone uses their Revolution for jogging...

* It also comes in a double version if twins are in your future.

C. The UPPABaby Vista

I will tell you right upfront, this bad boy costs about $700. Ouch. This and the Bugaboo (Buga-who?) are the two popular high-end strollers 'round these parts (San Francisco).

The Vista is a versatile, fancy-pants stroller. It boasts an easy, one-step fold mechanism. For your newb, it comes with an old-fashioned bassinet so your babe can slumber horizontally. The seat adjusts to face forward or backward, which is actually a very cool feature (it's MUCH better to be able to see your baby and make eye contact rather than having him face away from you). Attention tall people and NBA players: this one has adjustable handles (up to 6'6"), which is key for us tree-people. This and the floating arch "no kick" rear axle mean you will never kick or trip on the back. The sun canopy is extra large and comes with a zip-in weather shield and mesh bug/sun shield.

To me, the Vista is better than the Bugaboo Chameleon because the Bug is $300 more expensive (if that's even possible), incredibly difficult to collapse and unfold and gets terrible user reviews. I am conviced the only reason people buy this stroller is to show off how much money they have (ah! they truth hurts, doesn't it?)

UPPABaby Vista

This stroller weighs 24 lbs and can be used until your baby (eh... 7 year old?) reaches 50 lbs. For your bassinet, you can also buy this beautiful bassinet stand, which actually converts to a laundry hamper when you're done with it. ISN'T THAT COOL?? So cool.

**If you love the Vista but can't afford it, check out the new UPPABaby Cruz. It's slightly watered down but has all the good features...

Onward.

D. “Travel Systems”

Basically, a travel system is a car seat/stroller combo that are specifically made to go together, except the stroller is bigger and is meant to be used for a longer period of time (i.e. into toddlerhood).  The car seat snaps into the stroller (for infants) and can be used without the carseat as your child gets older. Great, sounds perfect right?

Well, the big beef people have with these is that they tend to be very bulky and heavy (about 45 lbs – whaaat?). Everyone I know who bought a travel system ended up ditching it pretty early on for a lighter-weight, less bulky stroller. Hence, I do not recommend.

Having said that, there is one traditional travel system that caught my eye at this years baby show: the Graco Literider.

Coming in at $69-$99, it's about the same price as a plain stroller frame, like the Snap N Go, but this one can actually be used as a regular stroller after you're done with the car seat. And the best part? It weighs less than 20 lbs, so it's not the huge, heavy behemoth that most other travel systems are. HOO ray.

Want more? It folds very easy and is generally easy to steer and manage. I give this 2 thumbs up in the value department.

BTW — there are waaaaay more strollers than what I’ve listed above (about 200, in fact), these are just the most noteworthy. 

Ok peeps, that was the hardest one. Congratulations!  On to:

2. Baby Carriers