Showing posts with label new born car seats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new born car seats. Show all posts

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Review of The First Years Jet Stroller

The First Years Jet Stroller, Black/Green
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $59.99
Sale Price: $44.81
Today's Bonus: 25% Off
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I have been looking for a while for just this stroller. I was looking for something to put in the back of the car for mall and short grocery shopping. Also I didn't want it to look cheap, it needed a sun shade and needed to fit my skinny one year old. And something under $40. Finally, this fits the bill.

The stroller was tightly packaged and all the end parts were covered with foam. The 4 sets of wheels were easy to pop on, though I probably should have turned the lights on to see the direction arrow because I ended up putting the first one on upside down. No problem, though, it was easy to follow their instructions to push a button and pop it off. It took me 10 minutes to put together with a toddler crawling all over me and it, which I categorize as a success.

Cons: the back is not breathable, so summers might be a little rough with back-sweat. Also, it claims to have recline, and although it does, it probably only reclines about 2 inches at best. I would not get this for that feature, it's pretty lame actually.

I got it in all black because I didn't want it to look dirty after a while. The stroller is good for up to 50 pounds, though honestly if my child still wants to be in a stroller when he's 7, we've got issues.

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I am posting this review because after receiving my jet I was disappointed that it was not more like my ignite even though the descriptions are the same and I got no decent response from the First years when I emailed!! I really wanted a boy blue stroller!

I have both.......we have the pink dot ignite and navy jet......unfortunately I owned the igngite first, so I was spoiled. But the jet is a nice stroller and better than a small umbrella stroller or the evenflo xsport we had.

The Ignite has much sturdier fabric overall and a more structured back to the seat, there is actually a metal x behind the fabric,(which makes it more flat back like your full size strollers) an inch wider seat base, almost 2 inch taller back of seat, relines 5 inches, and the locking front wheels for terrain.....it has one parent cup holder and a zippered pouch with 2 mesh pockets, but its shade does not rotate down, solid plastic grip handles, and 14 lb...I thought it was a great buy at $50 for the convenience of a big stroller in a small stroller. I HAVE NEVER KICKED THE BACK WHEELS!!! We LOVE IT!!!!

The jet's fabric feels much flimsier, the shade is smaller, but Does rotate down, seat is an inche smaller, it has 3 very visible vertical back of seat supports without the extra metal x support,(which makes a more rounded back like the umbrella strollers), only reclines a couple inches, the front wheels do NOT lock for terrain and don't have as much of a "tread" on them, the parent tray does have 4 spots for drinks with a smaller zippered pouch and 4 small mesh pockets, foam covered handles, the handles at a little different angle and are not as far away from the wheels as the ignite so you may end up kicking it I have occasionally at 5'4" and weighs 11 lbs.........

Both have the same under storage(little larger on the ignite), locking back wheels, 5 pt harness, and variable recline.......overall the ignite is just made better especially if you are looking for that 50lb!!!!

As long as you don't mind the shade not rotating down, I would go with the ignite! If you are looking for a stroller for a big kid....get the ignite not the jet.

Another great buy that makes these stroller even better is a fisher price or safe fit snack pod (depends on where you buy BRU, walmart, target)......it fits perfectly on the side for the kids to have easy access to a snack and drink for $10-12.

Back from vacation......we traveled with both strollers......I have to say both ran across gravel and grass very easy! I can say that the handles on the jet are a little closer together and i did kick it a few times....but I am used to pushing the ignite more often! The folding lock is much easier on the ignite.......I gave up and didn't even lock the jet when folded!

Happy Shopping!!

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We bought the Jet to take with us when we travel by plane, after our Maclaren Quest's hood got pretty brutalized last time we flew with it (even with gate checking). A decent stroller bag is about the same price as this stroller, so it didn't make sense to use to buy a bag just to use our fancier stroller in the airport. This fits the bill. I tried out cheaper models in stores; but they weren't substantially cheaper in price, and they were much cheaper in quality.

This assembles quickly; is attractive; has a structured, non-scratchy fabric seat (rare at this price point); and it has a nifty little organizer that is perfect for holding drinks, snacks, boarding passes and IDs. It is easy to fold and open one-handed, steers nicely, and is very lightweight. It also has some sort of shock absorbing system for the wheels, which was unexpected and appreciated!

No, it's not a Maclaren. It's not plush, the shade is not really big enough to be of great help, and it doesn't recline a ton. But it's easy to use, attractive, sturdy, and well-appointed for the price. We have a 10 month old and a 4 year old. Each child fits (though the 4 year old is too tall for the harness and shade). I am tall, and the handles are great even for me, and I don't kick the wheels.

All in all, it's a great value. At this price, I won't worry about getting stroller-jacked at theme parks or this one getting gnarly in the cargo bay of an airplane. And at this level of features, I won't worry about the thing breaking, being outgrown in a year, or my kid being miserable while riding. It's not going to be my "daily driver" at home because I'm spoiled by the Maclaren's features, but it's a wonderful backup stroller for travel or Grandma's house.

[And just a footnote: we got the red one, and the seat is actually an off-white/pale beige with black space-age-looking squares, which was a relief for me! It appeared white in the photo, and I was concerned about it getting gross quickly. Not a concern now!]

Honest reviews on The First Years Jet Stroller

I have been on a long search for a lightweight, umbrella-like stroller to use as a complement for my regular-use City Mini. I needed something that I could keep in the trunk for quick errands and to use for travel. My requirements included (1) had to weigh less than 13 lbs (the City Mini is 17, so I needed it to feel substantially lighter to be worth it); (2) be tall enough so that I didn't have to hunch over or kick the wheels when using it (and I am only 5'4", so you'd think this wouldn't be so hard), (3) have some sort of sunshade; (4) 5-point restraint, and (5) be less than $100 (the less, the better). Bonus, but not required preferences included (a) some sort of parent console, (b) a carrying strap, (c) multi-position recline, and (d) a usable basket.

Besides the many that I tried out in the retail stores, the Jet was the fourth one I ordered from Amazon (I returned the other three). The others I tried:

Chicco c6/Capri in Topazio pros: loved the color, the liteweight, the carrying strap. cons (and the dealbreakers): SO uncomfortable to push around kept kicking the wheels or straining my back/shoulders trying to avoid it. Also very difficult to buckle/unbuckle. Also, at $79, a little pricier. It was returned.

First Years Ignite pros: easy/comfortable to use, to open/close, etc. Loved the parent console and the reasonable price. Cons: no carrying strap, and at 14 lbs, it just wasn't worth the difference between my 17-lb BJCM. It was the first one I tried, and even though I liked it, it went back.

Maclaren Volo this was the highest-priced at $99, and I mistakenly thought it was the new version that had the recline (it was not). Pros: extremely lightweight (8 lbs. Actually almost TOO light to stay upright!) Great carrying strap, and very comfortable to push around. Cons: ugly, uncomfortable-seeming mesh seat, very difficult to lock and unlock, no recline. Just not worth the high price. I returned it.

I was about to give up and re-think about this in a year or so (my son is 10 months old, so several more years left of stroller need), when I decided to try the First Years Jet. Pros: (1) at 11 lbs, perfect weight; (2) great parent console; (3) very similar in feel to the First Years Ignite, so it was comfortable to use and seemingly durable, and (4) at $39 for the red/black color, I just couldn't beat the price. I think we have a winner! The cons include the lack of carrying strap (though I could probably create one if I felt that compelled to do so), the small-ish, and hard-to-access basket (though that seems par for the course with umbrella strollers). Overall, I am really happy, and I feel like I got a fabulous deal for what it is (and, relieved to finally end the Great Umbrella Stroller Search of 2012!)

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The backrest on this stroller was too short for my 2 1/2 year old, and he is only 35 pounds and about 37 inches tall.

His head was hanging out of the top of the backrest with no support.

What is the point of the stroller supporting up to 50 pounds if the backrest can't even support a 2 yr old child 37 inches tall?

I don't understand how they can overlook something like this.

If it were not for the short backrest, I would of been very happy with this stroller.. but unfortunately it will be going back.

I may try the First Years "Ignite" stroller, as I called and they said the backrest is taller on that model.

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Saturday, June 7, 2014

Cheap BRICA Stay-In-Place Baby Mirror, Black

BRICA Stay-In-Place Baby Mirror, Black
Customer Ratings: 3.5 stars
List Price: $6.99
Sale Price: $5.54
Today's Bonus: 21% Off
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This mirror is exactly what I wanted. It suctions very strongly to the back window, and is easy to adjust. The mirror is small, so it doesn't block my view out the back window, but it is a bit convex, so it shows a wide area. My only problem with it is that I keep bumping it with my head when I put my baby into his car seat, and it needs to be readjusted. But we have a 2-door car, and if you didn't have to get into the back seat to put your baby in, that wouldn't be an issue. When I got this, there were no reviews on it yet, so I took a chance on it. I'm really glad I did, because it's great!

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I love the design of this mirror. Clip it to the visor or use the suction cup, and the adjustment is smooth and simple. However, the product is marred by poor quality. It's essentially some reflective material glued over convex plastic (for a wide angle view that's really unnecessary). The reflective material doesn't bend smoothly, so there are major visual distortions all across the mirror. The mirror will work if you'd like to make sure your child is alive, but if you'd like to really see what they're up to, it's not good. I'll be looking for another one. They really should make this mirror higher quality, even if it adds a few dollars to the price.

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Pros: The quality of the mirror (not a glass mirror, but some type of reflective plastic/new age material) is very good.

Cons: There are two ball joints in the arm that connects the mirror to the suction cup. One of these is looser than the other. This causes the mirror to droop while driving, especially if it is warm. This problem is extremely annoying. However, there is a simple fix. Using a hot glue gun, the loose ball joint can be immobilized. The mirror can still be adjusted with the other ball joint.

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So when this mirror arrived I though it was the perfect size. It is the perfect size for my husband's truck, but it doesnt stay!! The suction cup is not good. It does not stay on the window, it is a total waste of money. I would not recommend buying this. I just bought one that goes around the headrest.

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I was given a baby mirror to affix to my rearview mirror several years ago, and after it had finally lost it's sticky, i realized I had to buy another one for my continued safe driving. I read all the reviews and was resigned to this product because it resembled my old one. When the mirror arrived, the first feature that impressed me was the clarity of the mirror. I had gotten used to the "fun house" quality of my previous one and figured it was to be accepted. Not this one. It has NO distortion and is slightly "fish-eyed" so you can see the entire rear seat without tilting your head. I have two car seats in the back and I can see my children's entire bodies, so I know when little sister thwacks her big brother.

I know that the visor attachment is meant for the front seat, but I used the suction cup just under the rearview mirror. I had to take my eyes off the road to check the mirror on the visor. I think losing a tiny bit of visibility is worth keeping my eyes on the road.

The most important feature is it's heat resistance. I live Florida and I've had the mirror in my car since the beginning of August and it hasn't budged or warped in our hot summer sun. I can only speak for the suction cup attachment, but I doubt the visor attachment is a different design.

If you don't have the same experience I did, you might have gotten a defective one. Send it back.

Vendors prefer happy customers that write positive reviews.

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Sunday, June 1, 2014

Review of Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 Car Seat

Peg-Perego Primo Viaggio Infant Car Seat, Myrto
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $300.00
Sale Price: $149.99
Today's Bonus: 50% Off
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I have 7-yr-old twins and thought my family was complete, so I ditched all my baby stuff. When our surprise baby #3 entered the equation, I had to buy all new stuff and swore I wouldn't make the same baby item mistakes with this baby that I did with the twins...like the infant car seat. After months of research, I ordered a seat through Amazon. When it arrived, I realized that it wouldn't work, so I returned it (thanks, Amazon). The hunt was back on.

Finally, I purchased the Peg-Perego Primo Vaggio SIP. Out of the box, I was happy with the design nice fabric, good handle grip size (some are too fat for girl hands), nice big canopy, and user-friendly buttons/lock releases. Now that the baby is here, I'm even more pleased with the purchase. Unlike other reviewers, I found that my baby is MUCH more comfy in this than in the Graco seats I had with our twins. Her head does not flop around like theirs did, she seems cozy and falls asleep every time we use the seat. I even put her in the seat and bring her into the bathroom so that I can shower.

The majority of complaints I saw were about the straps tangling. It is my experience that ALL 3and 5-point harness straps tangle and are a bit of a pain. In any case, I have had no difficulty with them at all. I'm also shocked to see that folks complain about the size and weight of this seat. Yes, it is bulky to lug around. So are all infant car seats. No infant car seat is really ideal for carrying long distances. That's what snap-n-go strollers are for!

In a nutshell: I love this seat and would recommend it.

UPDATE: After five months, I still love this car seat and would buy it again. However, I have a few minor complaints that I wish I had known in advance. 1. The canopy ends RIGHT at the handle when it is in the carrying position. That means when I stick it in the crook of my arm, the canopy pops out of it's locked position. That brings me to gripe #2. The canopy only has two positions open or folded. It will NOT stay half way. Finally, gripe #3. It is very difficult to find a car seat cover (e.g. Bundle Me) to fit around the head rests. I ended up buying four different styles and, naturally, only the most expensive one fit over the side impact wings.

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As a 1st time parent I'm naturally very interested in keeping our baby boy safe. So when he decided to come 10 weeks early, I had a lot of items to buy in a hurry! I'm THRILLED with this purchase. I would buy it again. I have, and continue, to recommend it to anyone looking for a carseat. WORTH EVERY PENNY!! Here's why:

1. It fit our preemie. He was safe, comfy, and it has grown well wtih him.

2. Super easy to install into our car(s), we have a Subaru Forester & Nissan Titan. Also used it in a Rav4 & Chevy Malibu rental cars, it fit both perfectly. I use it behind the passenger seat.

3. Color is awesome! We have the green shade and I get TONS of compliments on it. Fabric is good quality and has not had any reactions with his skin, as I've read for some other brands.

4. SAFTY!!! When my son was 7 months old, we were rearended at a stop light by a teenager not paying attention. There were 3 adults and my infant in the car. All three adults got mild whiplash my son was 100% fine!!! THIS CAR SEAT IS AWESOME!!! The paramedics on the scene said this brand is the BEST, he sees it save infants all the time! It's been 3 months and our baby is still OK, no hidden whiplash, etc.

5. Easy to remove from the car & connect into our stroller, then put back into the car.

So, you can see, it's great. Here are my negatives just cause nothing is perfect.

1. It's heavier then some other seats out there, but not the heaviest, and the quality is worth it! So I did't mind.

2. The straps twist, making it hard to tighten, but it's been 9 months and that's only now becoming an issue, and he's almost outgrown it.

3. It only lasted us 10 months, our lil preemie isn't so lil anymore!

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I ordered one of the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 infant car seats in Oct 2013 and was startled to find the new car seat arriving with a Feb 2012 manufacture's date. Since the inventory had said, "7 in stock and more on the way," I had assumed it was a 2013 model car seat.

I called Peg Perego customer service and they were able to give me a list of the colors that were being produced as 2013 models. They also told me to check the Item Model Number. If the Item Model Number started with IMPV02, then it was a manufactured in 2013 carseat. If the code started with anything else (i.e. IMPV00), then it was a 2012 or older car seat.

This information was very helpful to me as I placed an order for a 2013 carseat. I hope this information can be helpful for someone else.

I cannot rate the carseat itself yet as we have not used it yet.

Honest reviews on Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 Car Seat

I'm a mom of 3 and haves used Peg seats since 2002. Currently, we have both a Graco Snugride and this Primo Viaggio. The Graco is used with the 2011 Bob jogging stroller car seat adapter as Peg does not work with it in Bob's newly redesigned 2011 strollers. So the Graco is not used in my Lexus RX and it stays with my jogger. If you put these two brands side by side, you can see & feel the difference: Graco is inferior in material & has no side impact protection for child's head. My baby's head rattles around in the Graco so I use A snuzzler insert to brace her head. With the Peg I don't have to do this. The Graco's fabric is a little sweaty with nylon fabric, Peg has a Comfort Dry. What it boils down to is which one will withstand a crash...I'd venture to say Peg is safer. The Graco is so plasticy & light but that is reflected in their price. It's not often I'm lugging baby around without a snap n go type car seat stroller ( I use both a Joovy Caboose & the Baby Trend brand ).

The follow up seat we've used after 30lbs is Recaro, another superior brand and they make awesome convertible seats to boosters.

Viva Italia!

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I did lots of research before buying car seat and stroller and ended up with Peg Perego and I am not disappointed. This car seat is sturdy and I feel safe transporting my LO in it. Even got complemented on it in NICu by nurses while doing the car seat challenge.

What I like about it:

made in Italy

nice quality fabrics

very comfy newborn insert

easy to install with the base, snaps in

works great with Peg Perego stroller frame snaps in, just like in the car base

very sturdy

goes up to 30 lb

nice, big hood

Pois grey color is nice for a little boy and nice escape from super bright baby colors (hubby appreciates it)

I have read many reviews on this car seat complaining about the weight and I was little concerned. It turns out, it is heavy, but I find it a plus I know, that my child is safe in it. I am still able to carry it around if needed, but most of the time I use it with the stroller base, so if this is your plan, I highly recommend it.

I think the only thing I don't like about this seat is that the handle is not suppose to be in front of the baby in car mode, so no hanging toys from it to entertain the little one.

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Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Cheap The First Years Compass B505 Adjustable Folding Booster Seat

Compass Folding, Adjustable Booster, Platinum
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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We've owned the Compass booster car seat for 3+ years now, and it's still looking great despite daily use and abuse. I researched the safest carseats when changing my eldest son from a 5 point harness up to a booster. This Compass had the best safety rating. The seat fabric is easy to remove and wash. It has adjusted easily as my son has grown he's now 53" tall (4'5") and 65lbs and its still good for him. We've done a a few long car trips (up to 1000 miles) and he's never complained about his seat. From practical point of view, the side cup holders slide back into the seat if you are tight on space, and the arm rests lift up for ease of entry. It folds in half neatly and is easy to transfer from car to car, and it's travelled safely as checked luggage on flights too. I will be buying another one once my 2nd child moves up from his Britax Marathon.

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I did a lot of research on the best booster out there. I tried to like the Britax but the head wings were not for my daughter, she likes to be able to see outside and I know her safety should be more important but on long car trips there must be a happy child in the car. So we tried out the Compass and we could not be happier. It was rated by Consumer Reports as excellent, the same as the Britax. It has the side impact material. It fits her frame well, she is petite and tall. She is 4 so she is old enough for a booster and understands all the rules that go with it. She is very comfortable in it and she loves the bells and whistles. The cupholders and the arm rests. It is also so easy to fold and take into another car or leave with a friend, no more big bulky chair to drag around. I highly recommend it!

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We purchased two Compass Folding Seats for our 3.5 year old twin boys and we love them! They are incredibly well-made: sturdy, deep padding, tight stitching, etc. Very, very nice. The adjustable shoulder strap holder is great and keeps the belt exactly where it needs to be in a comfortable and safe position. I was nervous about transitioning from a 5pt harness to a booster/belt combination, but once we installed the seats and put the boys in them, I was instantly relieved. The boys are snug, secure, and comfortable.

GREAT product!

Honest reviews on The First Years Compass B505 Adjustable Folding Booster Seat

We bought this seat for my son. The clip over the right shoulder does not hold the seat belt well so I kept having to fix it when we got in the car. The fabric is nylon with mesh like material over it which made our son hot and itchy. This made him pull on the belt so he could lean forward or slide down to get comfortable. This is not safe. I sent it back and got an ultra model instead. It is much better.

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This seat does what it's supposed to do: it's very light, folds up easily, and is extremely easy to carry. We bought it for traveling by air--not for use in the airplane (you can't use this seat on airplanes, or in any vehicle that does not have a shoulder belt in addition to the lap belt), but for the convenience of carrying the seat around through the airport with the rest of the luggage. We also use it as our regular booster seat for our 4-year-old when we're not traveling. It seems solid, it's comfortable without being too padded, and our son loves the fold-out cupholders and fold-up armrests.

The only negative is that the shoulder belt routes under the headrest, which for our son (about 40 inches tall) means the shoulder belt has a tendency to ride up on his neck and bother him. We solved this with a standard seatbelt pad.

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