Baby Bargains Book Blog

RECALL: Chicco infant seat, travel systems

On the heels of the disappearing Jardine cribs, we have another mystery at Babies R Us: what's up with Chicco's KeyFit infant seat? The seat (and the corresponding Cortina travel system) have disappeared at BRU, say readers:

I've been trying to buy my Chicco base and can't find one anywhere. I talked to someone at Babies R Us this afternoon (in Indianapolis, where I live) who told me that they got a memo from corporate this weekend to remove all travel systems, bases and car seats from the sales floor immediately. They were not told why, but this employee suspects that there is an issue and/or investigation into the bases because all products with bases were removed but products without bases (such as strollers) are still on the floor.

Here's the news, straight from Chicco:

I can confirm a voluntary recall of Chicco KeyFit and KeyFit 30 car seat bases, which was formally announced a short while ago this afternoon. I've attached a copy of the Chicco press release so you can see the various specifics. Nationwide, only about 18,000 car seat bases manufactured between February 26, 2008 and March 17, 2008 may be affected.
 
Recall information has been posted on the wire and on a Chicco recall Web site (chiccocarseatrecall.com), and this information will surely appear on car seat safety and government sites. Chicco will be sending all affected consumers a replacement car seat base, and consumers have been directed to a call center at 800-807-8817 to learn how they can receive this base.    
 
Chicco sincerely regrets this manufacturing defect and the inconvenience this recall may cause consumers.
 

Graco readying new version of SnugRide infant seat

A Graco PR person emailed us this heads up: Graco plans to announce shortly that it will be debuting a new version of its popular SnugRide car seat. The new SnugRide will have a higher weight limit . . . but no other details are known yet.

So if you were planning to buy a SnugRide car seat, you might want to wait a bit.

Stay tuned. We will blog on this as soon as we learn more.

Britax debut's new seat: the Frontier with harness up to 80 lbs

Yes, it is official: Britax has announced a new seat aimed at the 5-point harness, older toddler market: the Frontier.

While we were signing books at Great Beginnings in MD this weekend, the Britax reps there had a Frontier prototype to show off---yes, the first time the Frontier has been spotted out in the wild.

Is Britax feeling the Graco Nautilus heat? Take a look at the Frontier's specs:

• Forward-facing seat 25 lbs to 80 lbs. Belt-positioning booster to 100 lbs.
• Designed for kids at least two years and 25 pounds---standing height 30"-53" for the harness, 42" to 60" in height for the belt-positioning booster
• Side impact protection.
• Nine (wow!) harness slots, with the top slot at 18.25 inches (we measured it on the prototype). Three crotch strap positions.
• Four fashions (two-toned with black as the base: tan, grey, red, pink).
• Available: mid May.
  

So, what's not to love? Well, the price is (are you sitting down?) $280. Yes, you can almost buy TWO Graco Nautiluses for the price of one Britax Frontier.

But, the Britax does have the side impact protection missing in the Nautilus. And Britax's five-point harness works to 80 pounds (the Nautilus only to 65 pounds).

Here's our take: while we do like the five-point harness for older toddlers, the difference between 65 lbs and 80 lbs is meaningless. Why? Let's look at when the average kid hits 65 pounds: for "average" kids that is age NINE. When do kids hit 80 pounds in weight? Age 11.

Now folks, we seriously doubt many nine year old kids (third graders) will be willing to riding in a Britax Frontier "baby seat" with a five-point harness. Ditto for 11 year olds (fifth graders).

That doesn't mean the five-point harness is without merit---we LOVE the five-point harness for older toddlers, especially those three, four and five year olds who have outgrown their convertible seats . . . but who may not be mature enough to sit in a belt-positioning booster. BUT,  the difference between 65 pounds and 80 pounds is mostly hype, since most kids will have long graduated to the belt-positioning booster before you hit those weights.

Given that factor and the Britax's huge price tag, we think the Graco Nautilus is a better bet.

Shhhh! Secret Britax online sale starts Feb 24

Sure, we love Britax car seats . . . but the prices can be hard to swallow.

Well, here's a little secret about Britax: twice a year, Britax relaxes its draconian Internet Pricing Policy and lets online retailers hold a sale. (Britax forbids online retailers from regularly discounting their products; stores like Babies R Us can discount whatever they like). Yes, it is crazy and makes no sense, but there you have it.

Good news: the first 2008 Britax sale is next week! Starting February 24, you can save big time on Britax seats.

Examples, from the folks at BabyCatalog.com: Marathon's for $209 (reg: $269), Boulevard $238 (reg. $289), Decathlon $226, Roundabout, $179, Monarch, $119, Regent, $209. And those prices include FREE shipping and NO sales tax to all states.

Of course, most other big Britax online sellers are having sales too, including Albee Baby, Baby Universe and more. If you can't buy  now, there probably will be another sale in September (but no guarantees, as Britax could change its policy at any time).

Post the best deals you find to our comments section below! And the let savings begin!

Reader mail: Combi disappoints

Reader Laurie D. writes in today about her experiences with Combi's car seats and strollers:

Hi Mr. & Mrs. Fields,

I just wanted to give you some feedback on Combi products.  With my first child I bought the combi savvy.  It was AWFUL!!!  After only a couple of months the whole frame bent where only three of the wheels touched down.  My son is light (weighs in the 40th percentile). 

When I had my second child I was cautiously optimistic that my first experience was a fluke.  So I purchased the Combi Centre infant seat and double stroller because of the light weight.  The infant seat is very heavy and was EXTREMELY hard to install (which is a common complaint on the babies r us website) 

The stroller (definitely not the infant seat) was significantly lighter than most of the other double strollers but this too was constructed so poorly.  The middle wheels which are supposed to make navigating the stroller easier, made it impossible to push.  The middle wheels would go in one direction and the front wheels would go in another.  With the infant seat attached, I could barely push the stroller with two hands, let alone with one which when you have an armful of bags is what you normally have to do.  Also, when you have the infant seat attached, the basket below is completely unusable. 

I would give both the single and double strollers and F rating and the infant seat a D+.

I hope this input was helpful. Thanks for your time.

Laurie D.

First look: Graco Nautilus

Graco has debuted a new combo booster, the Nautilus. The $150 seat is among the first combo booster seats with a five-point harness that works to 65 pounds.

The Nautilus works from 20-65 lbs with a five-point harness and then 30 to 100 pounds as a high back booster. Finally, it morphs into a backless booster to 100 pounds as well.

Since the seat is so new, we have a brief overview in our 7.1 version book but no parent feedback yet. Good news---Reader Trish D. writes in today with her first impressions:

Hi - I bought the Graco Nautilus, and thought I'd share my opinion of it.  Have you received any others?  Just wondering what everyone thinks of it. 

Pros
Very sturdy, installs easily (my husband said it was the easiest install he's done (he's previously installed the Marathon, Evenflo Triumph, Apex 65, and the Graco Snugride).  It's a narrow seat so it doesn't take up much room in the car.  It's a nice looking seat too, with rubber on the sides of the car seat, a nice cup holder that doesn't come unattached.  It does have a recline too, but it might not install properly in the reclined position.

Cons
The extra padding on the seat (that can come off), hinders the shoulder straps if the straps are on a high notch, so it's probably best not to thread the shoulder straps through the padding.
On the heavier side -- heavier than the Apex. 
Some assembly required prior to installation, but it's not too bad.

Thanks!
Trish

VOLUNTARY RECALL: Graco SnugRide infant car seats

Graco® Children’s Products Announces a Voluntary Safety Recall for the Stand Alone SnugRide® Infant Car Seat Manufactured from August 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007

Exton, PA – Graco Children's Products Inc. today announced a voluntary recall on the stand alone SnugRide® infant car seats. On some of the 304,675 manufactured August 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, the backing of the seat pad may pull away from the seams in an area reachable to the child occupant, exposing the pad filling and posing a potential choking hazard.

This corrective action may affect SnugRide infant car seats with the following model numbers: 8609FOF2, 8609FOF3, 8616FOF2, 8616FOF3, 8643DDH2, 8643DDH3, 8643CDR2, 8643DH03, 8643SUP2, 8643SUP3, 8643JOS2, 8643JOS3, 8643MDW3, 8643PWC3, 8643SFJ3, 8645FMT2, 8645FMT3, 8645GLM3, 8645GLN3, 8645HEM2, 8645HEM3, 8645MYC2, 8646SML3, 8645MYC3, 8645MRG3, 8645PKR2, 8645SNY2, 8646SND2, 8645THR2, 8645THR3, 8646FIE2, 8646FIE3, 8646GRT3 and 8646RRY3. The model number and date of manufacture can be found on the label on the back of the car seats. These seats were sold in the United States at mass merchandisers, specialty retailers and department stores from August 2006 through November 11, 2007. This does not include any SnugRide models made before August 2006, as these products have a different design. This does not affect SnugRide models sold as a travel system.

To receive a replacement kit, which includes a replacement seat pad; consumers should call 1-800-345-4109 Monday–Friday between 8 am & 5 pm ET or visit www.gracobaby.com 24 hours a day to determine whether their car seat may be affected and to obtain instructions on how to receive a replacement cover. When calling Graco®, consumers should have the model number and date of manufacture of the car seat readily available. Consumers should not return the child restraint system to the retailer.

This matter does not affect the ability of the child restraint system to protect the occupant in the case of a motor vehicle crash. Product owners can continue use of the SnugRide® infant car seat as a child restraint. However, Graco® recommends that parents examine the seat pad on a periodic basis to ensure that the inner filling of the seat cover does not pull away from the seams and become exposed to a child and not necessarily wash the pad while they wait for the replacement cover.

Breaking news---Consumer Reports releases revised infant car seat crash tests

Car seat crash tests. Take two.

Seven months after an embarrassing gaffe that exposed flawed testing, Consumer Reports has quietly posted revised results from their infant car seat tests today online.

As you might remember, the magazine launched a major media blitz last January, trumpeting a report that showed 10 out of 12 infant car seats failed an enhanced safety test.

Funny story: the test was, how should we say it? Flawed. And now, after re-testing the seats, ALL infant seats have passed. (Somehow, we doubt this is going to lead off the NBC Today Show tomorrow).

Here are some highlights (and our observations) of CR's report, which will appear in their October issue.

• The Chicco Key Fit got the highest score. We would agree---this is an excellent seat. (Since all the car seats passed the crash test, CR judged seats on ease of use and fit to vehicle).

• The top 3 seats were: Chicco Key Fit followed by the Britax Companion and Peg Perego Primo Viaggio.

• The bottom 3 seats were the Safety 1st Designer, Combi Centre ST and Evenflo Discovery. Again, their scores were hurt by ease of use and fit to vehicle.

• The "best buys" where the Chicco Key Fit, Baby Trend Flex-Loc, and Graco Snug Ride with EPS.

• One model that came in for big criticism last time (the Eddie Bauer Comfort) was not rated since it has been discontinued.

• The Graco SafeSeat came in sixth place---getting "very good" marks for ease of use and fit to vehicle. Interestingly, CR only tested this seat with a 22 pound dummy, despite the seat's 30 pound capacity. As you may remember, CR in January tested this seat with a 30 pound dummy---and it failed that enhanced test. However, given the seat's new clean bill of health in CR's revised test, we will raise our rating of the Graco SafeSeat (which we had recommended in a previous version of Baby Bargains).

We will post more on the new CR results after we have some more time to analyze the report. Stay tuned.

Britax discontinues all Fisher Price seats

Well, that didn't take long.

Less than a year after launching a lower-price line car seat line under the Fisher Price moniker, Britax has abandoned the effort and discontinue all the models.

The "Fisher Price Safe Voyage" seats included an infant, convertible and booster seat, now all discontinued. These seats were similar to Britax models, but omitted features, had lower weight limits or, in the case of the booster seat, featured an older Brit ax model that was phased out a few years ago.

We realize this was an attempt to bring Britax's seats to the discount store market at lower prices and that's fine---but lowering the seat's weight limits and using old designs clearly didn't impress folks.

If you still want one of these seats, better hurry---we noticed Amazon still had a few on hand. And you can also find them on eBay. But the availability on most sites appears limited.

Combi details new turnable convertible seat

As we mentioned in our latest book, Combi plans to give the convertible car seat market another try, after its ill-fated Avatar and Victoria disappeared from the market in the past year.

The new seat: the Zeus, the first turn-able car seat. Yes, you read right---the Zeus is the first car seat that installs ONCE and then can be turned rear or forward facing. (Okay, it really wasn't the first, as we vaguely remember a Renolux seat back in the 1990's the rotated---but that seat just rated 90 degrees, not 180. Renloux withdrew from the US market in the mid 90's).

The Zeus also has another nice feature: it can be tethered REAR or FORWARD facing. And we liked the anti-rebound bar, a unique feature for convertible

But . . . the Zeus will only work up to 40 pounds forward-facing (and just 22 pounds rear). That's a shame, as Combi misses out here on the trend toward convertible car seats with higher limits (a la the Britax Marathon). And the low rear-facing limit is also a bummer----and dangerous, as kids should remain rear-facing to one year of age (or longer) . . . and many babies today weigh more than 22 lbs before they ever reach that first birthday.

FYI: It is possible Combi may get the Zeus certified higher than 22 lbs rear or 40 lbs forward-facing---sources at Combi tell us they are "working on it."

We don't have pricing info yet, but we did come across an interesting parent review from an American who bought the seat while traveling in Japan.

The Combi Zeus will be released in the fourth quarter of 2007.