New Baby Gifts |  Car Seats | Portable Cribs | Feeding Time 
 Strollers/Travel Systems/Carriers | Play Equipment & Other

Toddler SafeSeat™ (Step 2)  (Graco) $149.99

"The best features for my toddler in this car seat is the recline feature, and of course cup holder" comments our mom tester.  "However the nicest thing for me is the easy install, with the belt lock-off which secures it tightly to the seat.  I also really like the five point harness system and easy front adjustment.  I was really tired of my other seats that required removal of the straps prior to washing the seat.  Then you always had to fish it through the foam etc.  It was a lot of work.  This has a very easy adjustment which make it less stressful for all!"  The seat also features an "EZ Wash" system that allows you to remove the seat without having to remove the harness system.  This is a MUST for a parent with a toddler - especially when they are eating in the car!  Although rather large, this is a very nice, room car seat - that makes you feel safe - and secure!  Other features:  Detachable head pillow, Removable body support, Harness covers, 2-Piece chest clip, Three harness height positions and LATCH Equipped.

Primo Vaggio Car Seat SIP (Peg Perego) $229.99  

"As an owner of several Peg Perego products, I was very excited about this new car seat. We recently had twins prematurely so our babies are rather small. This car seat features the side impact protection (SIP), which is essentially a seat pad with heavily padded wings. It contours our daughter perfectly (she’s the smaller baby). No more worrying about her head tipping sideways while I drive or awkwardly squeezing a baby with a hat on underneath the head bumper. Not only is this car seat super comfortable for a very small baby, it also goes up to 22 lbs (2 extra pounds) so as my babies become heavier, I may switch the car seat and have my son (the heavier baby) sit in it.

The car seat itself is covered in a very attractive and quick drying fabric. From experience, I have washed many Peg Perego car seat and stroller covers and they hold up great. The colors do not tend to fade. Car seat fabrics also coordinate with stroller fabrics for a coordinated look. The handle has a non-slip rubber like feel which makes carrying it so much easier than other car seats, especially if you’re juggling multiple car seats or a car seat and diaper bag.

The car seat is now even easier to adjust to your child’s size. Rather than unhooking the shoulder straps and adjusting them by threading them through higher holes, Peg Perego has come up with an easy to adjust slide adjustment system. Simply press the button and adjust upward or downward to chose the correct setting for your child. The new shoulder pads are also great. They have Velcro so no more rethreading of the straps for those either. The car seat features a 5-point safety harness.

The car seat base has the level indicator, a great safety feature that lets you know whether the car seat and base are in the correct (level) position. The base comes with both the LATCH system anchors as well as belt slots with anti-slip pads for older model vehicles. The base now also features a carrying handle, a great feature, especially when traveling.

Although use with the base is recommended, this car seat can actually be used without the base if necessary. Instructions are quite clear in the Owner’s Manual on how to do this. This might come in handy if the vehicle with the base is not available in case of emergency. Overall, this is a great looking car seat with multiple safety features. It’s Peg Perego quality, easy to use and will last through several kids. A great buy.

Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Car Seat with LATCH (Peg Perego) $179.99  

This great car seat is well designed, very snug and secure which is important when you're driving around a little one.  This car seat is designed with LATCH a system that makes the car seat one with the car (providing your car is a newer model designed with the LATCH system).  It also attaches safely and securely to Peg Perego strollers with their "G" matic system.  The seat has a 5-point harness, a sun shade and is machine washable.  It is designed for infants up to 20 pounds.  Our mom-tester just loved this car seat and although she said "it's heavy," she felt very comfortable with it's safety and design which she comment is much more important than anything else! 

Turbo Booster (by Graco, children 30 - 100lbs, $79.99)

Our mother-of-two tester said she thought this was a very good booster seat.  She liked the fact that this seat had the option of being backless.  She said that one of her cars has appropriate head support while the other does not, so the flexibility was good for her.  She used this car seat on her 4-year-old son who weighs approximately 40lbs.  She liked that fact it was well padded and that the head support was adjustable.  She also liked the secure holder for the belt and commented it was much better than just the "clip systems."  Her son liked the fact that it had it's own cup holders and was VERY comfortable.   The latest version of the Turbo Booster is this Power Ranger's model on the right which retails for $59.99 and has EPS an Energy Absorbing Foam Liner.

 Important Safety Articles

LATCH

LATCH is a new standardized child restraint system designed to simplify child safety seat installation and enhance child safety. The result of a new government regulation (FMVSS 225) aimed at reducing the number of car seats that are installed improperly, the goal of the new LATCH system is simple: To increase the effectiveness of car seats by requiring an easy-to-use anchorage system independent of the vehicle seat belts. The LATCH system calls for vehicles to be equipped with one upper (tether) and two lower anchorage points. The upper (tether) anchorage will be a ringlike object permanently attached to the vehicle on either the rear filler panel or on the cargo floor, depending on the vehicle. The two lower anchorages will be a set of two small bars in the rear seat of the vehicle, generally located where the seat cushion meets the seat back. Outfitted with permanently affixed hooks or buckles that are compatible with the anchorages in the vehicle, LATCH-equipped car seats will now attach to the vehicle seat via these anchorages instead of being held by the vehicle's seat belts. By September 1, 2002, the LATCH system will be required in two rear-seating positions in all new cars, minivans, and light trucks. (source Amazon.com)

To find out if your grandchild's car seat is the correct one for their height and weight, please visit http://www.seatcheck.org to find a seat inspection site near you.