Need Travel System Recommendations

I have a Graco and I love it, but I have never had anything different. The only problem that I have with my travel system is that while the shade can move up or down on the car seat, the shade on the stroller only goes out a to a straight position. My best friend has a Chicco one and the shade on the stroller can move completely down to block the sun, just like on the car seat. I always feel bad when the sun is in my son's eyes and the shade is down as far as it will go.

I had a Chicco Key Fit 30 infant carrier and the Chicco Trevi stroller. Although they are high quality and easy to use, I do not think I would buy them again. The carrier was a couple of pounds heavier than my sister's Graco, and I REALLY noticed it - those things are so darn heavy anyway. Also, it didnt have the little slots on the bottom that would let you set it on top of the grocery cart, so I could only set it in the grocery part of the cart which made it hard to get many groceries. Other than those two things, it IS a good car seat.

I've also used the Maxi Cosi Mico, which I liked less than the Chicco. I found it difficult to buckle the baby in (no fun fighting with the buckle while your NB is screaming and yelling) and also difficult to get unlatched from the base in the car.

If I had to do it again, I would get a Graco car seat and, instead of the stroller, get one of those car seat stroller frames for it. I rarely use the stroller that works with my carseat - its bigger and heavier than I need - most of the time I use a light weight unbrella stroller for the mall or the zoo, and a jogging stroller for walks.

Congratulations!

We have a graco snugride 35 and a bob stroller. When he was little we bought the attachment for the carseat to the stroller. "Bob" takes up some trunk space but I loved the combination and now absolutely love the stroller. It pushes so easy and we are hoping to have just one main stroller and may get a light weight umbrella one at some point. Part of the reason we went with the stroller we did was after watching people try to push several different kinds on gravel or dirt or even just a sidewalk that wasn't level it was noticeable that some were doing a lot of pushing but the jogging with a movable wheel or all terrain ones were just going.

do individual pieces that work together.
either do
a. an infant seat w/ a stroller frame and then a lightweight stroller later
you can usually find these on craigslist.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2266236

b. a lightweight stroller that accepts an infant seat.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11891984
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=118919...

I would probably do a Chicco Keyfit again with a Snap N Go base for when DD is too small to be in an umbrella stroller, but I did/do like the travel system. It's a nice ride, but it's big and I have a small car. The Keyfit system is SO easy to use and instal. Loved it.

I'm petite, and had no issues with the carrier. I also liked their overall rating and their customer service is excellent. I never put DD on top of the cart - that's not safe, and no carrier is intended to be used that way. If I needed a hand, I either put her in the basket or strapped her in the bjorn.