Hi there,
Is anyone using this carseat? do you like it? I am concerned about it fitting in my backseat and having to move the passenger seat all the way up. I have a VW Passat. My daughter is 26 inches at 13 weeks so she no longer fits in her SnugRide. I should add that I would really like to keep her in an infant seat because I hate to disturb her naps which she likes to take in her car seat while we run errands or pick up her brother from school. Thanks!
I love my Graco SafeSeats! I have twins and yes, they do take up a little more space in the backseat, but I love that they accommodate up to 30 lbs and 32 inches. They are easy to take in and out of their bases and may be a bit heavier, but nothing unmanageable. I recommend it!
Go to www.car-seat.org, post your questions just the way you did here, and the technicians there will give you the answers you are looking for... or guidance to keep you and your child safe. By "technicians" I mean these people are trained, tested and certified to safely install carseats. Because of what they do, they have a wealth of knowledge about cars, carseats, and what size children will best fit and have the safest ride in their seat. Also, most of the technicians are moms, so they can also offer advice as to what they use for their own precious cargo.
I was stumped when I was seeking the next step for my 4 yr old, 40 pound son... with two completely different vehicles, and they advised me wonderfully. Post with them and you will feel better, trust me!
A tip that I got from them is to keep you child rear-facing for as long as possible... even beyond what the guidelines indicate. It is the safest place for your child to be... and a five point harness (now and when she's bigger) is safest for her too!
You'll do great!
i have the safe seat step 1 (is that what you meant?) and it's behind the passenger seat of my Jetta...i do have to keep the passenger back a little more forward than normal, (especially to access the handle to pop the seat out of the base) but we just went on a 2600 mile road trip with the baby and i was fine sitting there (i'm 5'9"). we even were able to fit the frame/wheel part of my stroller between the seat and the carseat as well.
I used the SafeSeat with my son so I wouldn't have to transition to a convertible seat before age 1. I found it heavy to carry and my son ended up hating his car seat after a few months (he hated being tied down - don't think it was the actual car seat brand/type). We ended up switching to a convertable seat early because of it and he loved it. At 13 weeks, it's still too early for a convertible. Every baby is different so your baby may love it. It is a nice car seat and acccommodates bigger babies so may be your best option.
I had the SafeSeat for my daughter. I was able to keep using it until she turned 1, but I had to stop taking it in and out of the car around 7 or 8 months - she was heavy, and the seat is REALLY heavy. It is definitely large, and it was pretty pricey. Personally, if you already own a SnugRide, I would just skip the SafeSeat and go right to a rear-facing convertible like the Evenflo Triumph or the Britax Roundabout/Marathon. Don't bother spending the money on another carrier carseat.
i had the safeseat, and used it for my daughter until she was 15 months, she wasn't yet 20lbs until then. We did have to move the seat up a little bit. but it wasn't to bad. we took a lot of roadtrips with it and we had no complaints from her. we did stop taking it out of the car at about 9 months because it got to heavy to carry. but i loved it
We've had that seat for our daughter since birth. She is 5 1/2 months now, 17lb 25 inches. It is a tight fit in our Mercury Mystique. I am 5'4" and my husband is 5'9". We sit comfortably in the front seats but they are right up against the car seat. You might want to do some more shopping since she could be in a bigger seat very shorty. Sorry, I don't have any suggestions.
I don't have the SafeSeat, but I do have a VW Passat. We have a Britax Boulevard, and it is BIG. (But we absolutely love it.) It fit great rear-facing in the center position, and forward facing in the outboard position. We just bought a second one for my second daughter, so in a few months we will be trying it rear-facing in the outboard postition. I haven't had any problems with the front seats needing to be too far up.
-- BTW, the SnugRide is good for 29 inches. My LO was 27 inches at 4 months, and we will be moving her to a convertible soon.
Christina,
Is her head right at the top of the seat shell....check your manual carefully as the height limits of 26inches is a guideline...many kids who are 26 inches will still fit in the seat if their head is not at the top of the shell....your manual should give you the specific measurements as to how close to the top of the seat her head can be, if it doesn't have the info ask at www.car-seat.org and you can post as a guest and one the wonderful techs will tell you for sure...the Safeseat is great seat but like someone else said it might just make more sense to get a great convertible seat like the Evenflo Triumph Advance, the Britax Marathon, the Sunshine Kids Radian 65...all will last your little girl a very long time and you can keep her rearfacing in all of them till about 35 pounds (which is the safest!) and then she can use it forward facing until about age 5 or so...now if you'd asked me before she was born I'd have definitely recommended either the Safeseat or the Chicco KeyFit 30...
Email me if you have any more questions..
B.
