Mint Latch

Joie is what I’m really looking at too! It was my favorite of the ones I pushed around at my local Target.

We got the Joie Nutmeg and Mint travel system and I LOVED the latch system of the carseat. It was so easy to get in and out. When my LO reached around 6 months, we switched him over to the Joie Chili360 and the spin feature helps my back so much. We got them from Target, utilized the car seat trade in program for 20% off (got a $5 booster seat off marketplace as our trade in) + opened a red card for extra savings, I ended up getting the travel system for around $200. I loved that it wasnt black, we get a lot of compliments on the brown color

As others have said, if you want a car seat that can click into a stroller, you have to get an infant one -- not a convertible one. I also like Nuna and Joie. Personally I prioritized a baseless car seat since we don't own a car and need it to work easilywith taxis, etc., so we got a Joie Mint Latch. This setup also works well for flying/traveling. In the same realm, the Nuna TRVL + Urbn system is really nice - my friend just got one and loves it. If I were starting over again that's probably what I would buy, but we were gifted a stroller before I did much research. Joie also has [travel systems](https://joiebaby.com/us/travel-systems) that are nice for a lower price point. I do wish Joie would make a stroller that's as light as the TRVL, but at least the Mint Latch is really light (9 lbs). >if we’re flying I’m planning to rent a stroller at our destination rather than travel with a big system Having just taken our first trip with baby, I can attest that bringing a stroller is actually super easy -- most airlines will let you bring it up to the gate and gate check it for you for free. I personally wouldn't want to deal with renting and returning a stroller if I didn't have to. Unless your day to day involves a lot of uneven terrain or something, I would just start with a travel stroller system and go from there.

Joie Mint Latch!

I have the Ginger and Rue. I can’t comment on the DLX because my baby was born way before it came out. Imo, the canopy on both suck. I got the Rue over the mint because I wanted a base for my own car. My understanding is they came out with a base for the mint. If the mint could be used with the base in my car and just with the latch for grandma’s car, then imo it would be 100% worth it. The rue *can* be used baseless but I haven’t done it & don’t really plan on it. There was a two week period I swapped cars with my mom & moving the base was annoying. If my car seat had the latch, I would have just left the base. Whenever my parents babysit, I leave my car because of the base but if the seat had the latch, it would be a non issue.

The canopy is quite small on the ginger and the rue, imo. My friends with the Uppababy and Nuna car seats have much better canopies for the babies to nap on the go. I’m generally not a fan of Nuna but they have this nice flap that comes down to really give the baby cover

Honestly, most of the car seat *can* be used without a base, it’s just inconvenient to do (at least I think so). That’s why I said I haven’t done it & don’t plan on it. The selling point of the mint latch is it installs without a base via the latch system the bases will typically use without needing the base so it’s super easy to move it between cars. But you’re still dealing with pulling out the latch anchors so I can see why the desire for a base would be desirable in the car that you’re using every single day. But for grandma’s car? Then yeah, having the ability to use the latch without a base is very, very convenient