Shopping for baby gear can be really fun, especially if you
are a mom-to-be without a job, social agenda, or school! In other words, lately
I have really enjoyed looking at baby items. The number one thing a new parent
must purchase is a car seat. Baby cannot even come home from the hospital
without one!
The journey of car seat searching began several months ago when I made my baby
registries. Without any prior knowledge on the topic, Dave and I chose two car
seats from Babies R Us: one was a stroller car seat combo and the other was a
car seat you leave in your vehicle and cannot carry baby around in. The
stroller combo caught our eye mostly because of the stroller. We liked the
three wheels (or so we thought) and Dave was very excited that the thing had cup
holders! (Yes, let a guy go shopping with you and you find the REAL things that
matter :) !! ) Upon first glance at the car seat, everything appeared to be
'safe' and just fine. To see our pick, go to: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3904359
The second car seat we picked out was similar to a Chico, Graco, Evenflo or
Cosco. We liked the size, seeming to be 'safer' than a smaller car seat and
there 'appeared' to be comfy padding and necessary safety features. We
picked one out only with the comparison of the other car seats in the store.
I'm sure our choice looked similar to this: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3882167
Just this week I deleted both car seats from our Babies R Us registry. After a
little more research and suggestions from friends, I decided to add the Combi
Cocorro car seat combo. Without seeing it in person, I have decided that I
love, love, love the color, and the seemingly ease of use and carrying the baby
around were also pluses. The car seat can be taken in and out of the car and
also attached to the cocorro stroller. The Combi is made in Japan. Although
this car seat looks fun and appears to be great in the beginning, I have also
decided against this car seat as well. Why? First of all, I couldn’t find many
tests or reviews on the safety and ratings of this seat. Second, it does not
come with a base which means every time you want to carry baby in it, you must
take it out of the car only to re-strap it in upon your next trip. This didn't
seem as 'safe' to me, because without a base, you have to get it in perfectly
every time to have maximum safety. Also, because it is so compact, I started to
think maybe smaller isn't always better, especially when it comes to keeping
baby safe. I would feel safer with more bulk, more protection. Then, when I
really got picky I decided I didn't like that it doesn't have a sun/wind visor
on it and the stroller itself, other than light weight and easy to haul, really
had no features. I still think this is a neat car seat to look at and probably
easy in terms of carrying weight, but I just wasn't sold. To see the one I thought
I wanted, click here: http://www.combi-intl.com/Products/Item.aspx?Item=12&Color=7
are a mom-to-be without a job, social agenda, or school! In other words, lately
I have really enjoyed looking at baby items. The number one thing a new parent
must purchase is a car seat. Baby cannot even come home from the hospital
without one!
The journey of car seat searching began several months ago when I made my baby
registries. Without any prior knowledge on the topic, Dave and I chose two car
seats from Babies R Us: one was a stroller car seat combo and the other was a
car seat you leave in your vehicle and cannot carry baby around in. The
stroller combo caught our eye mostly because of the stroller. We liked the
three wheels (or so we thought) and Dave was very excited that the thing had cup
holders! (Yes, let a guy go shopping with you and you find the REAL things that
matter :) !! ) Upon first glance at the car seat, everything appeared to be
'safe' and just fine. To see our pick, go to: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3904359
The second car seat we picked out was similar to a Chico, Graco, Evenflo or
Cosco. We liked the size, seeming to be 'safer' than a smaller car seat and
there 'appeared' to be comfy padding and necessary safety features. We
picked one out only with the comparison of the other car seats in the store.
I'm sure our choice looked similar to this: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3882167
Just this week I deleted both car seats from our Babies R Us registry. After a
little more research and suggestions from friends, I decided to add the Combi
Cocorro car seat combo. Without seeing it in person, I have decided that I
love, love, love the color, and the seemingly ease of use and carrying the baby
around were also pluses. The car seat can be taken in and out of the car and
also attached to the cocorro stroller. The Combi is made in Japan. Although
this car seat looks fun and appears to be great in the beginning, I have also
decided against this car seat as well. Why? First of all, I couldn’t find many
tests or reviews on the safety and ratings of this seat. Second, it does not
come with a base which means every time you want to carry baby in it, you must
take it out of the car only to re-strap it in upon your next trip. This didn't
seem as 'safe' to me, because without a base, you have to get it in perfectly
every time to have maximum safety. Also, because it is so compact, I started to
think maybe smaller isn't always better, especially when it comes to keeping
baby safe. I would feel safer with more bulk, more protection. Then, when I
really got picky I decided I didn't like that it doesn't have a sun/wind visor
on it and the stroller itself, other than light weight and easy to haul, really
had no features. I still think this is a neat car seat to look at and probably
easy in terms of carrying weight, but I just wasn't sold. To see the one I thought
I wanted, click here: http://www.combi-intl.com/Products/Item.aspx?Item=12&Color=7
Four months ago
when we began our car seat shopping, we
really didn’t know what we were getting into, what we needed, or what mattered.
Our first pick came mostly based on the stroller, with the car seat as ‘just a
part’ of the package. The second pick seemed a bit safer as we did read the
features listed and compared it to the car seats next to it. The third pick we
put a little more thought into, mostly seeing convenience, quality, and compact
size.
when we began our car seat shopping, we
really didn’t know what we were getting into, what we needed, or what mattered.
Our first pick came mostly based on the stroller, with the car seat as ‘just a
part’ of the package. The second pick seemed a bit safer as we did read the
features listed and compared it to the car seats next to it. The third pick we
put a little more thought into, mostly seeing convenience, quality, and compact
size.
Four months ago
of course I was pregnant and I knew I would
love this baby no matter what. But the difference today is that I physically
feel the life inside of me moving, kicking, and rolling. I have heard the
heartbeat
and seen the silhouette of our child. I’m not sure if many parents go through
this or not, but when reality sets in and you can feel the life, you start
thinking differently about everything. Now that I ‘look’ pregnant and I feel
the baby every day, there is a new connection. This reality is getting stronger
that one day soon I will have this baby in my arms, on the outside of my body.
And when I think of it like this, I start to really think about safety,
especially when it comes to car seats.
of course I was pregnant and I knew I would
love this baby no matter what. But the difference today is that I physically
feel the life inside of me moving, kicking, and rolling. I have heard the
heartbeat
and seen the silhouette of our child. I’m not sure if many parents go through
this or not, but when reality sets in and you can feel the life, you start
thinking differently about everything. Now that I ‘look’ pregnant and I feel
the baby every day, there is a new connection. This reality is getting stronger
that one day soon I will have this baby in my arms, on the outside of my body.
And when I think of it like this, I start to really think about safety,
especially when it comes to car seats.
Dave and I never
forget about our terrible car-totaling
crash about three years ago. When I think about the damage that happened to the
car and the simple miracle we are okay, I start to think about what if baby was
in the back seat? And when you have lived through such an experience, you can
really picture vividly the reality of the situation. And when I think about
putting our baby in the first car seat, I now cannot see the advantages to that
particular seat. So then I start to research safety ratings, crash tests, and
all the little extras that keep our little bundle of joy safe.
forget about our terrible car-totaling
crash about three years ago. When I think about the damage that happened to the
car and the simple miracle we are okay, I start to think about what if baby was
in the back seat? And when you have lived through such an experience, you can
really picture vividly the reality of the situation. And when I think about
putting our baby in the first car seat, I now cannot see the advantages to that
particular seat. So then I start to research safety ratings, crash tests, and
all the little extras that keep our little bundle of joy safe.
Without knowing
where to go next, I again recruit my
husband, hoping this time he will see more than just the perks of cup holders
on a stroller! This time we do our research. We watch videos, we read reviews,
and we find, simply put, the best. Unfortunately, ‘the best’ also happens to be
the most expensive. I cannot say from my own experience because I have not even
purchased the seat yet, but hours have been poured into reading other parent’s
reviews from various sites. We have
finally decided on a car seat combo that we like, that we trust, that has, over
and over, proven to be the best overall when you read what everyone else says
about it. We really like the Britax Chaperone seat and stroller combo. The
chaperone is a carrying car seat that has a base you install in the car. The
seat itself can be taken on and off the base and easily attached to the
stroller. The stroller itself can be used alone or with the car seat for
various configurations. The car seat has been tested in real collisions,
unlike other car seats that are tested
in lab settings. The car seat itself only weighs 10 pounds, which is comparable
to the ‘lightweight’ Combi. Also, the car seat has the additional features I
liked, with a visor for sun and rain. The stroller has been reviewed as very
well-made, sturdy. The bad reviews say it is bulky and heavy, but that is
almost a welcome thing to us, because we feel that means it is of better
quality and more sturdy. An added benefit to the chaperone is that it can
actually be taken off the base and installed in a second car without the base.
The idea here is if the base is in mommy’s car and daddy has to pick the child
up from daycare but does not have the base, all he has to do is strap the car
seat right into the car!
where to go next, I again recruit my
husband, hoping this time he will see more than just the perks of cup holders
on a stroller! This time we do our research. We watch videos, we read reviews,
and we find, simply put, the best. Unfortunately, ‘the best’ also happens to be
the most expensive. I cannot say from my own experience because I have not even
purchased the seat yet, but hours have been poured into reading other parent’s
reviews from various sites. We have
finally decided on a car seat combo that we like, that we trust, that has, over
and over, proven to be the best overall when you read what everyone else says
about it. We really like the Britax Chaperone seat and stroller combo. The
chaperone is a carrying car seat that has a base you install in the car. The
seat itself can be taken on and off the base and easily attached to the
stroller. The stroller itself can be used alone or with the car seat for
various configurations. The car seat has been tested in real collisions,
unlike other car seats that are tested
in lab settings. The car seat itself only weighs 10 pounds, which is comparable
to the ‘lightweight’ Combi. Also, the car seat has the additional features I
liked, with a visor for sun and rain. The stroller has been reviewed as very
well-made, sturdy. The bad reviews say it is bulky and heavy, but that is
almost a welcome thing to us, because we feel that means it is of better
quality and more sturdy. An added benefit to the chaperone is that it can
actually be taken off the base and installed in a second car without the base.
The idea here is if the base is in mommy’s car and daddy has to pick the child
up from daycare but does not have the base, all he has to do is strap the car
seat right into the car!
Safety 1st
car seats also received high safety
ratings and reviews, but time and again people said they are not as quality
made as the Britax. And I can understand why! What is the third complaint of
Britax? Cost!!! The American-made car seat rated #1 is also the most expensive.
But if you know me, you know I have magical ways of finding deals J. The total
cost for
the car seat and the stroller on the website itself is $538.00!!! This same set
can be found at Amazon for $479.00. But trust me, I don’t stop there! I
searched the Internet far and wide for two hours this morning. I would find
sites that have both, but not sold in a package. I would find discounts, but
then one would be out of stock. I found a really good site, strollers.com that
sells the combo set for $379.00. Now I knew I was getting closer! Oh, I should
mention that Britax.com has a combo special for $299.00 IF you like the only
overstocked color offered, which is navy blue diamonds. The fabric isn’t bad,
but it isn’t my first choice. Which is what sent me searching elsewhere for the
same deal with a different color. Now, the stroller.com site also offered a
promo discount that, viola!—made the combo $303.00 with free shipping! I saw
this and was very excited! Then I saw there were only three left! So I called
the company. After all of that, I find out they haven’t updated their site and
the deal is no longer available for that color! Bummer. But, don’t give up
right? So, then I went to diapers.com and looked around. They offered the
package deal for $379.00. As I was just about to settle and pay the money for
the color I wanted, I had a last minute idea! I called the company, and lo and
behold, they match other dealers! Which means, I have, at last, found my combo
car seat and stroller for $303!! Dave of course made me be open to other combo
brands and to check costs. I found most other combos that would have decent
safety ratings were still going for 250-300 total. So, to have the one I want
and trust, which is originally $538 for $303, I definitely feel safe with this
decision! To see our final decision, visit:
car seats also received high safety
ratings and reviews, but time and again people said they are not as quality
made as the Britax. And I can understand why! What is the third complaint of
Britax? Cost!!! The American-made car seat rated #1 is also the most expensive.
But if you know me, you know I have magical ways of finding deals J. The total
cost for
the car seat and the stroller on the website itself is $538.00!!! This same set
can be found at Amazon for $479.00. But trust me, I don’t stop there! I
searched the Internet far and wide for two hours this morning. I would find
sites that have both, but not sold in a package. I would find discounts, but
then one would be out of stock. I found a really good site, strollers.com that
sells the combo set for $379.00. Now I knew I was getting closer! Oh, I should
mention that Britax.com has a combo special for $299.00 IF you like the only
overstocked color offered, which is navy blue diamonds. The fabric isn’t bad,
but it isn’t my first choice. Which is what sent me searching elsewhere for the
same deal with a different color. Now, the stroller.com site also offered a
promo discount that, viola!—made the combo $303.00 with free shipping! I saw
this and was very excited! Then I saw there were only three left! So I called
the company. After all of that, I find out they haven’t updated their site and
the deal is no longer available for that color! Bummer. But, don’t give up
right? So, then I went to diapers.com and looked around. They offered the
package deal for $379.00. As I was just about to settle and pay the money for
the color I wanted, I had a last minute idea! I called the company, and lo and
behold, they match other dealers! Which means, I have, at last, found my combo
car seat and stroller for $303!! Dave of course made me be open to other combo
brands and to check costs. I found most other combos that would have decent
safety ratings were still going for 250-300 total. So, to have the one I want
and trust, which is originally $538 for $303, I definitely feel safe with this
decision! To see our final decision, visit:
Car seat: Check!
The rest of the baby gear will probably be
used and bough off of Craig’s list, which I am a-okay with! We have a beautiful
brand new bassinet and we will soon have the ‘American Dream’ car seat combo. I
might be eating ramen noodles for the rest of the month, but as long as I take
my prenatals, all will be successful.
The rest of the baby gear will probably be
used and bough off of Craig’s list, which I am a-okay with! We have a beautiful
brand new bassinet and we will soon have the ‘American Dream’ car seat combo. I
might be eating ramen noodles for the rest of the month, but as long as I take
my prenatals, all will be successful.
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