When I was pregnant with my first child, I stressed for weeks over what gear to buy. There are so many decisions to be made! Which carseat, stroller, high chair, crib, diaper bag, changing table, glider, breast pump, swing, and on and on and on. It felt monumental and definitely overwhelming. I read consumer reports and product reviews. I asked friends and read mommy blogs and stopped strangers on the street. As if choosing the best carseat or stroller was the first test of my ability to be a good mother!!
Well, today I’ll help you other mom’s with a couple of those big baby-gear decisions. After all my thorough studying, I finally settled on a Chicco Keyfit 30 for my little one and loved it. Chicco car seats consistently rank as #1 in Consumer Report Ratings. What’s better than NUMBER ONE?! Their Keyfit 30 and Next Fit Zip are rated highest in safety and convenience features. Chicco is also rated high in quality and ease of use and, Chicco has very few safety recalls - which is super important. So, when my next pregnancy turned out to be TWINS, the decision was easy for me to buy a second Chicco carseat. And, then when my little ones graduated from the infant seat and into a convertible, I have LOVED the Chicco NextFit.
And, you don’t even have to worry about the inevitable disconnect between what you really, really want and what you can afford because Chicco is very affordable and all Chicco carseats are on SALE this week!!! So, you can check this one off your list, mamas! So, let’s take a quick look at them. They are pretty great.
Infant Car Seat
One of the first decisions you will make as a mom is which carseat to buy. You can’t leave the hospital without it! As a Pediatric Nurse, of course SAFETY was my #1 priority when it came to purchasing a carseat for my child. The carseat is what will protect your baby in the event of a car accident. After safety, you should always think about convenience because installing the carseat correctly is very important. A carseat is only as safe as it is installed correctly!! The Keyfit 30 is the #1 rated Infant Car Seat according to Consumer Reports—so you really can’t beat it’s convenience. I never had any trouble installing the car seat and because it’s not overly heavy it is easy to move from one car to another quickly and install properly. Also, the Chicco Keyfit consistently ranks high in crash tests so you can rest assured that your precious little ones will be protected.
My very first baby!
My twins ready to go home in their Chicco KeyFits!
Travel Systems
With my first daughter, I bought the travel system and it was perfect. The Baby Cubby offers two Chicco Travel System options. Both come with the Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Carseat, but you get the option of either a full stroller or a smaller umbrella stroller!
The full stroller option is the Chicco Cortina Travel System which I enjoyed for its great features. The seat fully reclines and then can be enclosed to create a makeshift bassinet for the tiny little ones and a perfect napping spot when they’re bigger. It has a convenient one-handed fold, front locking wheels for rough terrain, and a big canopy that can fully block oncoming sun.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more compact and lightweight, then you probably want to go with the Chicco Liteway Plus Travel System. This was not available when I was expecting my first and I wish it was! The Liteway Plus is essentially the perfect umbrella stroller! The seat folds down and zips into itself to allow the infant seat to fit into it for a travel system option. But it has the compact, light-weight convenience of an umbrella stroller! Everyone needs a good umbrella stroller!
Convertible Car Seat
So, when my twins grew out of their Keyfit 30 and were ready to graduate to the convertible car-seat, I ended up buying the Chicco Nextfit Zip and I have loved it. In fact, I have to say, compared to my Britax convertible this one has a few awesome convenience features that I am loving! It is super easy to install, using an innovative latch tightening system or an easy belt path. It also has 9 reclining options, so you can get the best fit for your car and it’s so comfortable. And, with the new Zip option you can just unzip the cover when it gets way too many goldfish crackers smashed in it and toss it in the wash!! So easy!! Plus, you have the safety ratings and crash test ratings of Chicco.
One of my twins in the Chicco NextFit!
There are a few other products available during the Chicco sale like the Chicco C6 stroller and Chicco Dance Walker. So, run down to the Lindon, UT baby store or check the website for these great deals!!!
Written by Micalena Perkins