Chicco - KeyFit 35

I love our car seat, it’s chicco key fit 35 and was pretty affordable, and the caddy you can buy separately for it to snap into and become a stroller is around $100. Love them both

Chico key fit is one of the top rated car seats on consumer reports. (#2 I believe) and affordable. I got the jogging stroller that is compatible and we love it. It’s very maneuverable and the large Wheels are great for sidewalks. It’s much smoother than other strollers we have with smaller wheels.

This was >6 years ago, so take it for what it is. We had the Pipa Lite, our cousin had the KeyFit. When we flew to go visit, we borrowed it bc by this time her cousin was in a convertible. The KeyFit was HEAVY compared to the Pipa. Made us miss our Pipa sooo much

We have a Chicco Keyfit35 and got a used Chicco Bravo stroller on FB marketplace for $40. I see them listed on there all the time. I wish we had gotten a used Chicco Corso stroller because it lays back for a newborn but both allow for you to pop the car seat on and off so it’s not a big deal, it would just be nice for going on walks. They’re safe and affordable and the car seat is insanely easy to install and adjust.

NICU based car seat tech here- - Evenflo Litemax, especially the models with the one piece body insert like [this one](https://www.evenflo.com/products/pivot-modular-car-seats-and-stroller-travel-systems) (not sure they sell this specific car seat on its own anymore, I can only find the exact one I prefer in travel system form). The insert design promotes excellent positioning without pushing babies’ heads forward. The hip harness and crotch buckle adjust to be absolutely tiny (this seat starts at 3lbs). Between the harness adjustments and the insert, the positioning for small babies is truly excellent. - Joie Mint Latch- this baseless car seat has rigid latch anchors that pop right out on the seat itself, which 1. Is a huge safety feature and 2. Makes this seat just as convenient as seats with bases - it’s just as fast to get in and out of the car as it is to pop my other car seat in and out of the base. The harness doesn’t adjust as small as the Litemax (almost nothing does) but the body insert is supportive and the harness fit for 5lbs is good. I see this seat often and sometimes I do have to remove the head insert because it can push some babies’ heads forward but overall quite pleased with it (I’ve been using it for my youngest for about a year now!) - Chicco Keyfit35/Keyfit Max (same product with updated limits and names to comply with new federal regulations about infant car seat weight limits). Fits small babies wonderfully, is very user friendly, minimal adjustments needed over the life of the seat (remove the body insert at 11lbs and click the headrest higher as baby grows but that’s it). There is a built in headrest and a removable cushioned head insert that sits on top of that- I usually remove the extra insert to avoid heads being pushed forward in a chin to chest position. - Graco- avoid the Snugride Lite models, they don’t fit *well* until 7-9lbs depending on baby’s build. This can be worked around by using a crotch roll but that’s a hassle, just avoid it. If you want a Graco seat, opt for one with a large headrest like [this one](https://www.gracobaby.com/shop/car-seats/infant-car-seats/snugride-snugfit-dlx-infant-car-seat/SAP_2156211.html). These models have an infant body insert that is actually supportive and useful (avoiding the issues with the Lite models) and they allow you to shorten the crotch buckle for an improved fit if needed. There are several “trim levels” with different names - the extra stuff like winter covers and one hand adjust handles and whatnot are irrelevant, you can pick a model with the right type of headrest that meets your price preferences and has whatever bonus accessories you like. - Clek Liing - pricy but *amazing* for preemies. If you want a bougie car seat then this is the one to get for a preemie (skip everything Uppababy, and most Nunas). The infant insert is unique in the US but a common style in Europe- the baby’s butt sits on a block shaped “shelf” to promote good body position and prevent slouching. I’ve known people to balk at this design because it looks odd for US consumers but MAN it’s effective! The base is also lots of fun - rigid latch and load leg are great every management features. One of my own 27 week twins came home from the NICU in a Liing on his due date. - Nuna Pipa Urbn: same category as the Joie Mint Latch, it’s a baseless seat that clicks directly into the vehicle latch anchors. The other Pipa models (the ones with bases) aren’t my favorite for tiny preemies but the Urbn is lovely because it has smaller harness adjustments and a more supportive insert setup than the other Pipa models. The head insert has two layers and I usually remove the top layer to prevent it from pushing little heads forward. My youngest used this one for a while too! Two major drawbacks: it’s only available as a travel system with a stroller so it’s expensive and you don’t have the full market of stroller options to choose from unless you want to spend *more* money. (I have the Triv model stroller with mine and it’s solid but I’m not a Nuna stroller fangirl in general. More often I used the Urbn with my Bugaboo Butterfly stroller with adaptors). Aaand it has a maximum weight limit of 22lbs (compared to 30-35lbs for the others on this list). Most babies outgrow a 30-35lb car seat by height way before they reach the weight limit, but 22lbs comes quickly especially for higher percentile babies. My 80th percentile youngest was too heavy for this seat by like 8 months old. - skip baby trend. For the love of NICU CPSTs everywhere, please don’t get a BabyTrend seat. ??

Yes - this is the answer. Thank you. We didn't know we could install the car seat without the base. We have a Chicco Keyfir with the Uppababy stroller and this is a perfect solution

I got the Chicco Corso Keyfit 35 travel system. It was great. We are still using the stroller sometimes. He's 4 now, so we've upgraded the car seat to Chicco NextFit and Kid Fit booster.

Not all carseats fit your car. We have smaller vehicles so we needed a compact bucketseat that was compatible. Most strollers will have adapters so you dont have to stick with the same brand across the board. We have a Chicco keyfit infant bucket seat and a Uppababy stroller. We liked the UB strollers and got the bassinet that you can swap the seat with when they're small. Most strollers require babies to have some kind of head control before you can use them in a more upright position but the UB reclined back and paired with their infant insert made it usable from day 1 if we wanted. But as we do a ton of walking, we have the bassinet that clicks in and is also safe sleep rated. So she sleeps there at night as well at our bedside. Eventually I will probably get a smaller travel stroller to keep in my car but our OB Cruz2 is perfect for our neighbourhood and the long walks we do from home. It mostly fits into my trunk so I can take it places but it does take up room.

We went for the bench 2nd row and it’s working well for us. Our 9 mo old is in a KeyFit behind the driver. Our 2 yr old is in a Graco SlimFit in the middle position. For daily school drop-off/pick-up our 10 yr old sits on the bench. For longer car rides, she prefers the 3rd row and it’s better for everyone to keep her and her brother from pestering each other. Since most of our driving is electric around town, we’re still averaging above 60 mpg with the T8 after 5k miles. We’re very happy with the car overall and hope to get at least 8 years out of it. It’s a nice step up from our Outback which we also loved and was great when we only had 1 kid.

I love the Chicco keyfit35 car seat. i wanted a rebound bar and the ability to install it the European way without the base for if i need to take an Uber to the airport with it. I like our chicco bravo primo stroller travel system (but in hindsight I think the Corso LE would’ve been the better pick. More on that below). My friend got the Uppababy Minu V2 stroller & bassinet and the Uppababy Aria car seat because this was the safest and most lightweight option she could find. Some things to think about: - the infant car seat can be carried with your baby in it. Super convenient. - the infant car seat can attach to a compatible stroller (travel system). Super convenient. Both the above points mean you don’t have to wake your baby if you’re running quick errands and popping into a store or Dr office etc... And while they shouldn’t nap in their car seat if it’s sitting on like the ground or something, they can (and definitely will) fall asleep in it when it’s attached to the stroller or installed properly in a vehicle and it’s ok because these are set up to keep the car seat at a safe angle meaning they’re not gonna suffocate or anything but they shouldn’t be in the car seat for hours on end period & for regular naps & bedtime they should sleep on a flat surface on their backs. This is why I somewhat regret the Chicco bravo primo. There is no bassinet attachment and no infant insert for the stroller seat (the Corso LE has the infant insert!). - some hospitals may require you to have an infant car seat and bring it into the hospital to strap baby in before they’ll discharge you We bought a travel system AND a “grow with me” type rotating car seat for once she gets too heavy for the infant one (basically once she hits a year I won’t want to lift her in and out anymore even if she still fits). We’re basically losing a year on it out of the 7 it’s good for, since we’re not currently using it, but we wanted it now for various reasons.

I did a ton of research and (this is key) only talked to moms who were in my EXACT situation, or a likely future situation. Meaning, I talked to moms with one or two kids who lived in NYC and don't own a car. I certainly heard from, say, moms of three living in Texas (love ya, girl!) but those are \*completely\* different lifestyles and needs. So many baby gear needs are situational. When you're navigating narrow urban retail stores and carrying your stroller up and down subway stairs, you have a completely different set of priorities than someone who needs three carseats across the back row of a minivan. So if it's relevant to you, I went with the Chicco Keyfit35, which the Car Seat Lady ranked as one of the easiest and safest carseats to install seatbelt-only, like you would in a cab or Uber, and bought it with the Chicco Corso LE stroller. Later on we moved to the suburbs and now he's outgrown his infant seat and we have a Graco Extend2Fit carseat and a Babyzen YoYo to keep in the car. If I'd been more sure that we would have a second kid, I probably would have committed to the Uppababy system (we bought and resold a used UB Vista to have the bassinet as a second safe sleeping space when our guy was tiny) but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I was also a hardcore Doona hater when I was pregnant, but gave in and got one after we traveled for the first time and rented a carseat and stroller that were beat to hell and that I did NOT feel safe using--it's not an ideal product, but it made me so much more mobile as a first-time mom and that was overall really important for my mental health.

We have the Chicco keyfit system- two car bases, the car seat with the infant insert, and stroller base. It was about $400 and we’re set to transport her around for at least 18 mo-2 years in the car and even longer in the stroller. My issue with the bassinet attachments on strollers is the baby is only in it for a few months- after that it’s so impractical to store somewhere! This has worked really well for us so far, and we got it based off of 2 separate parents with 6 kids spread across them that recommended it. Another plus is that the car bases are relatively inexpensive- making it easy for my parents to get one too for babysitting.

I have a skip hop and one of the straps that clips onto the shopping cart broke one of the first few times I used it. Based on safety ratings I went with the chicco key fit 35 travel system with the corso modular LE stroller. It is a bit flawed though. It lays down all the way but isn’t completely flat. It doesn’t come with the newborn insert if you’re buying it in the travel system. The seat doesn’t sit at a 90 degree angle so the child is always a bit reclined on it which is problematic when they get older and want to look around. No snack track. I bought a universal one and had to return it since the seat is too far back baby couldn’t reach it. Ride is smooth and storage space is great though. We are left wanting a new affordable stroller that isn’t flawed in those areas. Especially now that she is zoo age. Also don’t get a truck unless there’s a waterproof cover. You can’t have a stroller on the back sliding around when it’s raining. And you don’t want to put something big and bulky like that in the cab.

I have the Uppababy Cruz and love it. I know many complain that the Vista is heavy but I personally do not find the Cruz that difficult to put into my trunk (RAV4). Though it does take up half the room but we don’t use the trunk much anyways. I purchased a Chicco Key Fit 35 car seat (I knew we’d have a tall baby and none of the Uppa car seats worked our vehicle) and attachment for the stroller and it works great for us 3months in. If you have a vehicle be mindful that not all car seats fit in peoples cars. I found joining a local SEATS for kids Facebook group for recommendations quite useful. I was gifted the Vista Bassinet second hand and it was great for newborn walks. We even kept the stroller on the main floor as a place for her to sleep while we were eating or watching TV. The bassinet is safe sleep. You could probably find one on marketplace. Whatever you choose, I highly recommend going in person though. I had a few friends recommend the Cybex Gazelle and I could not for the life of me figure out how to close it no matter how many times the sales person showed me.

I looked at safety ratings, and then I was able to feel the padding on a couple of car seats. I think it was at one of the bigger targets and determined that one of the graco ones was really hard and uncomfortable despite the decent safety rating ultimately, I ended up with the Chicco Corso LE modular after reading reviews . And I love the chicco 35 car seat and just like the stroller. I wish that the seat was at more of a 90° angle. It reclines too much and it’s most upright position in my opinion. Also, when you buy the travel system, the stroller does not come with the newborn insert.

Look into the Joie mint latch + nutmeg - the stroller is our travel stroller but folds small and doesn’t take up much space at all + mint latch doesn’t require a base and has a decent height/weight limit. It’s not that expensive either. I’ve used this stroller on walks and it handles our paved neighborhood sidewalks and stores well. I wouldn’t take it on any huge hikes or through gravel/grass/sand but it works really well! We don’t use this car seat but we looking at it extensively. We ended up with a chicco keyfit35. I have for my normal system the keyfit and we chose that off of recommendations and reviews. We use an uppababy vista but that’s giant. We love it though.

This is the answer. Thank you. I had no idea I could use our car seat without the base.

How many kids? What kind of car seats? How tall are you? We had a chicco key fit rear-facing mounted in the middle of the back seat and it was totally fine. We’ve changed to a chicco swivel one mounted behind the passenger seat and, as a tall person, I don’t really fit in the passenger seat anymore. But, that car seat and base is enormous.

My baby ended up sleeping in the bassinet part of her playpen until 6 months. It’s bigger than most bassinets and I think she liked the black mesh walls. I bought a real bassinet for her but she hated it and we got the best sleep in the playpen so just stuck with that. We got the silver cross playpen and I love it. For car seat you’re going to want one that’s compatible with your car and the stroller you want. So I’d start there. I got the Chico key for 30 because I have a small car and the car seat has a high safety rating. And then I got the attachment that made it work for my stroller.

I like the chicco Corso travel system. The car seat is the key fit 35 and it has a very high safety rating. The stroller is easy to maneuver and fold. and the car seat lasts until 35 lbs. super easy to use too

I have the Chico keyfit 35 travel set (meaning in got the carseat and stroller together). The seat base is SO EASY to move from one vehicle to another if you can't afford 2 bases off the bat. The stroller is also an easy pop open, and then pull a lever to close, but my biggest complaint is the weight. There's no way I could have carried baby and carseat or gotten the stroller out of my SUV's back end without my husband's help for my 6 week pp appointment.

For us, the decision was very centered around wanting a travel system with an infant seat so we didn’t have to jostle a newborn in and out of the car for quick errands. For what it’s worth, you aren’t meant to leave the baby sleeping in the car seat *when not clicked into the base* for long periods, so it’s best to decant the baby asap when not in the car anyway. YMMV. We went for the Chicco Keyfit35 and Primo Corso stroller. Both are fabulous for the price and have a lot of the functionality of the premium brands with a better price point . The Keyfit 35 is routinely rated at the top of safety tests by 3rd party testers., more on that below. We chose the Graco Extend2Fit for when we were done with the infant seat. All car seats sold in the US are required to meet the same safety guidelines by the government, but the government does not do side by side comparisons. For that, you need to research what 3rd party testers have published. Chicco and Graco are top tier according to current safety reports, which also helped us choose them. That’s not to say you can’t spend premium dollars on fancier seats, just that it won’t mean they are safer, it likely just means they have more convenience features and nicer fabric colors. Size was not a consideration for us since we have a minivan, but if you don’t, definitely take a look at the dimensions of seats to be sure it works with your car. Both of our seats would make sitting in the front seat of a smaller car impossible. Good luck!