Recommendations on infant car seat? Preferably with a stroller.?

As far as infant seats go, relax, they're all pretty similar. Holding to 22lbs, carrying handle, removable base, infant padding, etc. The differences are in extra features, like harness covers (little pads that cover the straps at the shoulders). If you're going to want harness covers, definitely make sure you choose a seat that comes with them b/c its not safe to buy one of the aftermarket packages and use them with the seat.

One thing worth noting, though, is that if you are truly wanting the most affordable option, you should consider skipping the infant seat stage and just getting a convertible car seat. Infant car seat carriers are NOT a required stage in car seats. As long as you choose a newborn-friendly convertible and use it rear facing it is just as safe as a carrier. And the major bonus is in not having to buy an extra seat.

Here's why I think its a waste: doesn't last babies very long at all. You spend $60 and up on this carrier that is only going to last 5-8 months! And then you have to purchase a convertible car seat, and somewhere down the line a booster seat. If you skip the carrier phase, you just eliminated one seat. There is now one carrier on the market that promises to fit 99% of babies up to at least their first birthday - Graco SafeSeat1, goes to 30lbs. However, there are limitations to this awesome seat. It really will fit most kids that long, but that's a catch-22. You really going to carry your 25lbs baby in a carrier?! And, the recline can not be adjusted when its installed in the car. Newborns have to be rear facing and reclined 45 degrees. Older babies who can hold their heads up well can be 30-45 degrees, and most want to so they can see more. So your baby may come to hate the SafeSeat at some point b/c he can't sit up any straighter, but then again, maybe not. You never know. Also - b/c it is a bigger seat to last longer, it doesn't always fit well in smaller vehicles. Try before you buy. And - it costs significantly mroe than its regular weight (22lbs) counterparts, at least double. My son was a BIG baby (still is a BIG kid!) and outgrew his carrier at 4 months. And, after baby gets above 10lbs or so, they are a pain in the butt to carry - quite awkward. So its not as convenient as it may at first seem. And some of the 'convenient' ways people use them aren't good.

Carriers should NEVER be placed on grocery carts. It makes the carts unstable and they can tip over, seriously injuring the baby. Also, not all car seats fit all carts, and they don't lock on, they're just sitting there, posing an obvious threat. And some of the carts are shaped or sized in a way that it puts the carrier at an unsafe/uncomfortable angle for the baby. I've seen babies laying in carriers on carts with their head lower than their feet - not a good idea for digestion or spit up.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says Parents and caregivers should never Place an infant carrier on top of the shopping cart. "Many infant-only car safety seats lock into shopping carts, and many stores have shopping carts with built-in infant seats. This may seem safe, but thousands of children are hurt every year from falling out of shopping carts or from the carts tipping over. Instead of placing your baby's car safety seat on the cart, consider using a stroller or front pack while shopping with your baby. "

Also, we are seeing rampant developmental delays becuase babies are in these carriers (and swings, and bouncy seats...) so much. Look around everywhere you go and instead of holding their babies, people have them in these carriers. When on their back and harnessed (and any time a child is in a carrier, he needs to be harnessed, even though its not in a car!) they can not work the muscles they need to develop to crawl, sit up, and walk. In the manuals for these carriers, it even says specifically 'for use in cars and strollers only'! But we all seem to miss that part.

So I highly recommend skipping the carrier phase. I think they are more a pain than a blessing, and a wasted of money if you don't have a lot to throw around. Instead, get a convertible car seat that will fit a newborn (more on that later) and a sling, pouch, or wrap. Not one of those silly snugli or infantino carriers, but something like a ringsling, moby, or maya wrap. Wearing your baby gives everybody what they need. Babies get much needed closeness to mom (or dad, or anyone else for that matter!) and you get your hands free to do what you need to do, as well as you can even breastfeed in one! They offer many different positions to use them in, too, and go higher than carrier car seat weights (20-22lbs). Most go to at least 35lbs, so you will get much more use out of it for your money.

OK - so if you choose to skip the carrier phase, be careful about the convertible car seat you choose, b/c not all will fit newborns well. You want it to have low bottom slots.

Perfect options:

The Evenflo Triumph Advance (not the original Triumph, make sure it says Advance) is a great seat. $150 version at Babies R Us has padding similar to Britax seats, top slots of 17", harnesses to 35lbs rear facing, and 50lbs forward facing. $120 Walmart version just has little less plush padding. Wide open belt path, easy to install, though it doesn't have built in lockoffs. The harness adjusts at the front of the car seat, you don't have to take the car seat out of the car just to raise/lower the straps. It's one of only 2 seats that does this (The Britax Boulevard is the other, I believE), and it has infinite harness adjustment so the harness always fits perfectly until its outgrown. No more tugging straps to tighten them either. You tighten and loosen the harness using knobs on the side of the seat. As a major bonus, it can be used in a recline position even in forward facing mode. Awesome for kids who still sleep in the car. I LOVE THIS SEAT! LOL My son, who is too big for every other car seat at Walmart has the same amount of room in this as the Britax Marathon.

Cosco Scenera - $50 at Walmart/Kmart/Target. Great seat for the price. Goes up to 35lbs rear facing, 40lbs forward facing. Great rear facing seat, but is outgrown very quickly forward facing b/c of short top slots and short shell. You'll still get you're $50 worth out of it, though, as it will last most kids to at least 2 years, quadruple the amount of time of an infant seat!

As you're shopping, remember these rules about seats:

1)the BEST seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car, and will be used correctly 100% of the time. (This is why convenience features DO make a difference and ARE worth the money! If its easy to use, you're more likely to use it correctly.

2)Children should stay rear facing AS LNOG AS POSSIBLE!!!! The 20lbs/1 year rule is outdated and provides a bare minimum for turning kids forward facing. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend keeping kids rear facing as long as possible, up to the limits of their seat, preferably until at least 2 years of age. For good reason: A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 4 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age. A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone. In other countries, rear facing 2 - 3 - 4 year olds is standard, they understand that its safer. Here, we turn them as soon as we get to, seeing it as a right of passage thing or something. Ridiculous. Most convertible seats have a 30lbs rear facing limit, Cosco/Dorel/Safety1st/Eddie Bauer seats rear face to 35lbs, Britax rear faces to 33lbs.

3)Once you do turn them forward facing, they need to stay in a 5 point harness as long as possible. 4 years/40lbs is the minimum for riding in a booster, and most 4 year olds have no business using one yet. If they can't sit upright for an entire trip, they need the harness of a car seat still. And, even if they do sit properly, a 5 point harness is safer, so you want to keep them in one as long as possible. This is important to consider b/c most car seats only forward face to 40lbs. My son just turned 3, and is in the 95th% for height and weight - 40" tall and weighs 41lbs. He outgrew the 40lbs seats shortly after his 2nd birthday. It was a total waste of money. He now has a Britax Marathon, which goes to 65lbs, and will be able to fit it for some time yet. If I'd have bought it when he was born, I could have had one car seat this whole time instead of the 3 I wasted money on. They are more expensive for many reasons, this is one.

So if you choose the infant seat route - just pick one. As long as it has a 5 point harness and not a 3 point harness, they're all the same pretty much. If you choose the convertible car seat route, pick one of the ones listed above, I personally would get the Evenflo Triumph Advanced. It fits newborns beautifully, but will also last most kids through age 4-5 years, so if you have an 'average' or smaller child, you could get off withonly buying TWO car seats instead of the 3-4 most people do (infant seat, convertible seat, combination seat, booster).

We had a Graco Snugride with HUGE stroller. If I had it to do over again, I would get a carseat I wanted based on important features (front harness adjuster, side impact protection, 5 point harness, etc) and get a simple infant seat frame stroller. I would later get a great stroller with all the features I wanted (easy to use, push with one hand, folds small, etc).

My new favorite infant seat is the Chicco Keyfit. It has great protection for little ones and installs easily.

Graco is the absolute best! You will be so pleased with it, and your baby can use the stroller all the way up until they don't need to be in one any longer. Any travel system by Graco is the ultimate in child safety seat and stroller technology...lol... I so just sounded like a television ad, but I love this product. Good luck with that bambino!

Graco.....Infant SafeSeat™ (Step 1) 8A11MEO.

Innovative Technology That Keeps Your Baby "Rear To A Year"

The Infant SafeSeat™ Car Seat holds babies up to 30 lbs and 32" tall. That means it fits 97% of one-year-olds and can keep your baby safely rear-facing for one full year. It’s been extensively crash tested to meet or exceed U.S. standards, and engineered for safety. The seat’s base stays put in your car for a convenient, one-time installation. Its seat belt lock design makes it simple to tightly secure the base, and an adjustment dial for easier installation. The seat’s patent-pending 5-point harness can also be easily adjusted, thanks to an accessible front strap. The carrier handle is uniquely designed so it’s more comfortable for parents to transport. For Baby's comfort, the Infant SafeSeat has GracoPedic™ luxury foam, infant head suport plus 180° canopy canopy. All this means you’ll enjoy a full year of hassle-free travels with your most precious passenger

Graco travel system*SnugRider™ Stroller 6001BCL1

Turns Your Graco® Infant Car Seat Into A Stroller!

Turn your beloved car seat into a stroller with the only car seat frame engineered exclusively for the SnugRide® Infant Car Seat and Infant SafeSeat™ Car Seat. At a mere 12 lbs, the portable SnugRider™ Stroller simplifies getting out and about. Just slip your Graco® infant car seat right into the stroller’s frame and it locks in place for a secure fit. An extra-large storage basket and two cup holders easily stow your diaper bag and drinks, and the height-adjustable handle means Dad won’t have to crouch to push it. With a one-hand, compact fold so you can effortlessly bring Baby around the corner or around the world.

http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/product.aspx?mode...

http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/product.aspx?mode...

I Have both very Nice!

babies'rus, very good price, wall-mart.

I bought Graco Quattro Tour Travel system

Goto Baby R ous ( they have lot of models)

Buying Infant seat and Stroller would end up with same cost

i think you know about colour

Pink and Flower are for girl baby

Grey and yellow are for boy (not sure about boy)

The Graco MetroLite Travel System is fantastic!

I have the Sterling (you have to buy the car seat and stroller separate with this pattern) and I love it. It is very easy to get the car seat in and out of the car base and stroller, and the stroller is pretty lightweight.

Have a look at Petite Star Zia Evolve Travel System. Zia Evolve Travel System is compatible with Petite Star and Maxi Cosi car seats, giving you more choice over your baby’s comfort and safety.

definatley go with graco, out of all my stuff that recieved graco was my favorite, i have a evenflo and a graco carseat and i love the graco way way way more, its just better quality! the graco has an option to use a base and to use just a seat belt to hook them in. the evenflo doesnt you have to use the base only! and extra bases are like 50 bucks!

i have a three month old and i really like my graco safety seat...it has the stroller....the safety seat keeps them rear facing until 30 lbs

i love my graco travel system. its light and easy to carry.

http://www.gracobaby.com/products/category.asp?N=4...

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId...

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId...

This what i have and i love it so does my daughter. plus it gender neutral.