
Running these analyses costs money. Buy through my links to help keep lights on! I may get a small commission.
Reddit Reviews
1. I agree that graco snugride would be a good, low budget, infant seat that works well in many cars and can be part of a travel system. I personally used the Snugride 35 lite lx with no complaints. 2. Graco car seats are available everywhere. Walmart, Amazon, Toys R Us, Canadian Tire, and Best Buy website (sold by the store). 3. At this point, it is very unlikely that a midwife would take you into their care. You would still need to make the trip to your baby’s doctor. Toronto’s public health unit does offer a program called Healthy Babies Healthy Children though. I liked a similar service in my city. A nurse will come to your home and offer extra support with things like feeding, helping you promote positive development and growth. You can ask them questions between visits to the doctor and about everyday care or programs in Toronto. Additionally, they helped me manage an infant allergy and referred my child to speech therapy as a toddler when my doctor wouldn’t. You can self refer in pregnancy/postpartum or have a provider do it.
I agree that it’s been hit and miss for us. Specifically: Snap&Go Double Car Seat Stroller Frame - life saver EZ-Lift Pro Infant Car seats…. My mom had a set for the twins and they were fine as a back up pair but I much preferred the buckle on my Graco SnugRide 35 XL. Cool thing is the Graco car seats fitted into the Snap&Go double without issue.
Currently 23 weeks pregnant with baby #3. We’ve used the Graco SnugRide 35 LX infant car seat for both of our previous babies, and plan on using it for #3 as well. We have 2 bases (one in my car, on in my husbands) and just one actual car seat. My oldest was in the infant car seat until they were like 9 months. They seemed to enjoy it, and didn’t exceed the height/weight limits until then. My second was in it for about 3 months. They absolutely despised being in the car seat, so we went ahead and switched them over to a convertible car seat. In my car, both of their car seats are the Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 convertible car seats. In my husbands vehicle, he has one of the 4Ever DLX and on Graco Extend2Fit convertible car seat. We like both options, but I definitely prefer the 4Ever. When I just had one kiddo, we used the Graco Modes stroller. And now that we have two kiddos, we use the Graco Ready2Grow LX 2.0 double stroller. I’ve liked both so far. Both were compatible with our infant car seat. And the double stroller even has a small seat on the bottom by the storage space where you can buckle in an older toddler if needed. Both fold easily, but the double stroller does take up a good amount of trunk space. I have a 3rd row SUV with the 3rd row laid down, and it takes up like half of the space if it is laying flat.
I have a graco snugride 35 lite that I am finding very easy to clip and unclip from its anchor for an infant seat but will transition to a peg perrego infant to tot one that doesn’t come in and out of the car soon as baby is a chonk and I much prefer taking the stroller into the store than hauling around the heavy seat
So it all depends on your budget and what you are looking for. For a car seat I went with the Graco snugride 35 lite, as it is one of the lightest car seats, that also has a high safety rating, but also doesn't cost a kidney to buy. 7.2lbs car seat +7.9 lbs baby = lifting 15 lbs repetitively. For our everyday stroller we went with the baby jogger mini GT2, I love it as it is a more heavy-duty stroller now that he's older. I did regret it in the beginning when he was so small, I wish I got a stroller with a bassinet attachment since I love to go on walks. But now that he's older and bigger and can fit in the straps and not have to snap on the car seat all the time, I love it. For a travel stroller we got the baby jogger City tour 2, it's only 14 lbs and it's overhead bin carry on approved size and comes with a carry bag to protect it. For a convertible car seat, I'm looking into the evenflo 360 extended, but more searching and reading is needing to be done. But I am favouring ones that rotate, my must have is extended height and weight limits. Edit to add: both strollers have attachments to be able to snap the car seat in that we have to make them a travel system. The Mini GT2 came with them, the city tour 2 we had to buy separately.
Some of my favorites at different price points (as a NICU based CPST): - Evenflo LiteMax (specifically [this one](https://www.evenflo.com/products/pivot-modular-car-seats-and-stroller-travel-systems) because I prefer this insert style, though the standalone versions also offer an excellent fit). If you expect a preemie or a smaller newborn, Evenflo seats have adjustments to give a truly excellent harness fit- but even for average or large babies they’re great. - Chicco Keyfit 30 or Keyfit Max: very user friendly- the only adjustments you have to make over the life of the seat are removing the infant insert at 11lbs and adjusting the harness height. The bases are also very easy to install. Lots of stroller options from Chicco as well as high end stroller brands with adaptors. Among the more compact seats for front to back space. - Joie Mint Latch: what I used for my youngest baby, and one of my favorite seats I’ve ever used. It’s baseless and has rigid latch anchors that attach directly to the vehicle’s lower anchor points. This is both convenient and very safe - rigid latch is a great energy management feature in a crash and the install is practically foolproof (and the safest car seat is the one that is always used and installed properly!!). The only adjustments necessary are harness height and removing the infant insert. Without a base, it has a very small front to back footprint. - Graco: the NICU nurse in me strongly prefers the higher end ones (with [this style](https://www.gracobaby.com/shop/car-seats/infant-car-seats/snugride-snugfit-dlx-infant-car-seat/SAP_2120493.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ba_grco_DTCSearch_2024&utm_term=conversion&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Greco_US_2024_National_NB_Shopping_Pmax_Asset-Less&utm_term=_-_&utm_content=19593340556_-_&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19593345500&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqs-ClufmkgMVakxHAR2G8hsZEAQYASABEgJSC_D_BwE)of headrest) because the body insert gives an overall better fit for newborns. Realistically any of the Graco infant seats are user friendly and reliable and if you’re on a strict budget, the Snugride Lite seats are a good deal and are usually easier to use than other options in the same price range. - Clek Liing: another seat I used for my own kids. The base is amazing, with features like rigid latch and a load leg that extends to the vehicle floor to help absorb crash energy. The recline adjusts without uninstalling the base, which is fairly unique. The seat itself is sleek, very user friendly (like the Chicco seats and the Mint Latch, the only necessary adjustments are removing the infant insert and changing the harness height as baby grows), and in my opinion comfortable to carry. Lots of stroller compatibility with Nuna/Maxi Cosi adaptors. Also very compact front to back. - Nuna Pipa Urbn: another baseless seat with rigid latch, like the Mint Latch. It has all the same benefits as the Mint Latch, as well as a slightly better fit for newborns under 7-8ish pounds, if you expect that may matter for you. Its biggest drawback is the fact that it only comes as a travel system with Nuna strollers - it’s a huge bummer because I really liked using this seat with the Bugaboo Butterfly (better than the stroller it came with) but I also recognize that most people don’t have extraneous baby gear laying around like I do. - Nuna Pipa RX: this seat has similar base features as the Liing - rigid latch, load leg, adjustable recline without uninstalling the base. The biggest drawback imo is that it can be pretty upright at maximum recline if your vehicle seats are sloped steeply. Otherwise it’s a really user friendly seat with a pleasant user experience. And it also has a huge range of stroller availability. Alternatively, some seats I’d personally avoid: - Baby Trend. Any of them. More trouble than they’re worth, and anything by Graco/Chicco/Evenflo in the same price range will be easier to use. - Uppababy Mesa V2/V3: I really dislike the way newborns are positioned in this seat (admittedly more experience with the V2 than the v3) and do not find it to be a pleasant seat to use in general. If you must have Uppababy, go with the Aria V2; but if you have an Uppababy budget (or stroller), go with a Clek or Nuna seat. Chicco seats are also compatible with some Uppa strollers with the right adaptor.
I want that Doona infant car seat with the wheels attached so bad but its $600 and you might use it for like a year? I keep seeing them everywhere and everyone says its a game-changer. I just don't want to get a used carseat just to afford it. I decided on a Graco infant seat to snap into my BOB jogger (used but mint condition and love it) and then will get one of those transitional ones that rotate for after a year old. My friend just got the rotating one for her 2 year old and she loves it.
Keep in mind you really might not use the infant seat for very long. My baby boy was 16 lbs at 4 months and it just got too heavy to carry inside. I ended up switching him to a convertible because he’s much more comfy in it and it’s easier to put him in/take him out. I personally hold not splurge on an infant car seat, my graco was absolutely perfect
Rankings by Use Case
Top recommendations from others in the same boat
Best for Budget-friendly occasional travel

Top pick
Cosco Kids - Scenera Next DLX Convertible Car Seat
Best for Economy airplane seats

Top pick
Cosco Kids - Scenera Next DLX Convertible Car Seat
Best for Frequent uber and taxi rides

Top pick
Cosco Kids - Scenera Next DLX Convertible Car Seat
Best for International travel (europe)

Top pick
Cosco Kids - Scenera Next DLX Convertible Car Seat
Best for Long-haul flight comfort

Top pick
Cosco Kids - Scenera Next DLX Convertible Car Seat
Best for Non-toxic materials

Top pick
Nuna - PIPA Series





