Graco SnugRide Infant Carseat vs Maxi-Cosi Carseat

Hi N.,
I can only tell you my experience with the Graco, as we had the SnugRide carseat. I loved this product. I found it very easy to use and after the first few weeks of recovery I had no trouble carrying it around. I can't comment on the Maxi-Cosi or if it makes a big difference in lightness though. As a side note, any carseat is going to become heavy as the baby grows. When my daughter approached the weight limit and was ready to transition to a toddler seat, it was much harder to tote her weight around - but again, that was her weight + the carseat that made it difficult, not the carseat itself.

Good luck!
MC

Go with the graco... We have a maxi cosi infant carseat because we have the Buzz stroller and I have to say I hated using it in the car. We ended up using a britax, that someone gave us, for the car and kept the maxi cosi just for walks.
The snap and go is a must and you will want a car seat that is compatible. Plus the maxi cosi has an extra long handle and it's awkward to hold with an infant in it. I found it MUCH easier to use the britax and hang it from the crux of my elbow.

Well, I'm not a new mother and my children are all grown. I am a grandmother though. And I believe that all car seats no matter the weight are very combursome to carry up and down stairs. I have seen many youngs mother's stumble and fall up and or down stairs carrying their babies with these seats. I am of the opinion that the babies should be taken out of the seat and carried close to the body for a safe transport, if that is at all possible. But that is just the opinion of one observant grandmother.

I used the Graco Snug-ride and loved it. I didn't think the seat iteslf was heavy but when you have a sleeping child, it is dead-weight-especially as the baby gets older. Then it takes 2 hands to be more comfortable.

We used a Snugride with our little boy until he was about 10 mo old). Yes, it did get heavy after a while, but that had more to do with him than the carseat, the Snugride itself is fairly light for a carseat. I didn't have any trouble lifting him in it, from our garage across the yard, into the house and upstairs to his bedroom if he was sleeping. Towards the end when he got heavier, if he was awake (and the weather was warm, which it was by then). I tended to just leave the car seat in the car and just carry him.
We also had a Baby Trend Snap and Go, which was abouit $10 cheaper than the Graco version and (I think) fits just about any infant car seat. LOVED the Snap and Go, it is one of my most highly recommended pieces of baby gear.
Also highly recommend baby wearing. I have several pouch slings, a ring sling, a Ergo, etc, but I tried on a friend's Moby Wrap and LOVED it. I'll get one with my next little one, because I think it is more versatile and you can use it when they are really little.

Iam also a 1st time mom to a 4 mos old. We went w the Maxi Cosi in ocean blue and I love it for its lightness and color! There are two Quinny strollers. We got the less expensive umbrella-type design and it folds down to be very compact.It turns very easily as well. I didn't do many comparisons but we like it a lot. Good luck!

We shopped every weekend for months before our baby was born, and we bought and returned at least three car seats. We finally decided to buy (and keep) the Maxi-Cosi Carseat.
Although our now 9 month old has outgrown it, we really loved it and will use it with our next baby (due in December). It was by far the lightest! I am short and not really strong, and it makes a difference! We also liked the way it attached to the Baby Jogger City Mini Stroller, which we are using now without the Maxi-Cosi Carseat. But you will need a regular carseat after your baby reaches 22 pounds.

We had the Graco SnugRide. I do not know anything about the Maxi-Cosi. The only negative about the Graco is the infant seat does not fit into the shopping carts. It is suppose to lock into the seat part of the cart, but did not in most carts as the base of it was too big. Other than that, I loved the carseat and used it often with the stroller. It was all easy to use. Good luck.

We purchased the Graco travel system, because it included the Snug Ride Seat. The seat is heavy, but after 3 nieces and nephews in the last 5 years, I've come to the conclusion that all seats are heavy. Their parents just bought which ever seat was the cheapest. I was pleased with the Snugride overall. It seemed very safe and comfortable. I still use the stroller for my son who is now 15 mos old. I think the system was a good purchase.
Good luck hauling any carrier up 3 flights of stairs when your baby weighs 15 lbs (and he/she will before you know it, they grow so fast). I think that you might find taking the baby from sling to carrier everytime you get into the car to be a hassle. But good luck to you.

I would not recommend a stroller system. You compromise on either the car seat or the stroller. Go with the car seat you like best and then get a snap n go. It's a little frame that folds up for storage/travel and when opened the car seat just pops right in there. They'll be out of the car seat at 6-8 months and by then you'll be interested in strollers and can make the choice that suits your lifestyle. I got a stroller/car seat system and the stroller was HUGE and so heavy. It was nearly impossible to get in and out of the car. I did it all differently the second time around.

A nice light stroller is the way to go. And the snap n go with the car seat.

Good luck!

I live in a 4 flat in the city (no elevator) and I have a 10 week old (2/19/09)we got the Chicco Keyfit 30 and love it I would highly reccommend it. I carry it up 4 flights of stairs everyday and it's not to heavy (he now weighs 13 lbs)

Good luck!

I use the snug ride and bought it as a "system" with a matching stroller. I like both a lot. The seat is not heavy, but as my daughter has put on weight, it has gotten heavier, obviously! I really like the stroller a lot too. I do a lot of walking at the park, so I take it in and out of the car frequently, and it folds up very easily, and is light to lift in and out of the back of my van. The car seat is rated well, covers a nice weight range, and I have not had any trouble with the straps twisting or anything. Would recommend it.

Hi N..
My son is 2 weeks old and we have the snugride. I really like it. We live on the 2nd floor, and I can carry it up now, but I'm sure when he gets bigger it will be pretty tough! I'm not that familiar witht he Maxi Cosi, but I think that all of them are a bit heavy. Good luck.

N.,

I don't know much about the Maxi Cosi, but the Graco Shugride is one of the safest carseat for your baby. I believe it comes in second only by a smidgen to the Chicco Key Fit 30.
This is a link to the car seat nanny. You can ask her about the Maxi Cosi and how safe it is. http://carseatnanny.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2008-...

I will say that the Snap N Go is great and will last for how long you will need it. I commuted with my son downtown with the stroller, so much easier with the Snap N Go than with any other stroller. If you are worried about the flight up and down the stairs I would recommend a carrier for the baby. Baby Bjorn, or a sling. I would say get the safest car seat for your baby. Plus the Snugride is light and easy to carry around. Good luck!

K.

i have the chicco key fit and it's been excellent. i've had friends with both of the ones you're looking at (maxi cosi and graco) and both said they'd get the chicco if they did it over again.

Hi N.,

We have a SnugRide, which we got initially for the cost and the convenience factor with the stroller, which we LOVE. My son and I were in a terrible car wreck in December, and boy, did that Graco do its job!!!!! Not a scratch on my baby, and so secure! The insurance replaced the seat for us, just as protocal for protection, and we got the same exact one! I totally trust it, and I hope my story helps!!!!!!

Kind regards,
L.