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Graco SnugRide 35 Infant Car Seat
Best Value
$90 $120 Save $30
The Graco SnugRide is a lightweight rear-facing infant car seat and carrier. This top pick fits babies four through 35 pounds and up to 32-inches tall.
Pros- Price
- Lightweight
- Adjustable base
Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat
Best Easy-Install
With the Chicco KeyFit you get a secure, safe rear-facing infant car seat that fits children four through 30 pounds and up to 30-inches tall. This car seat features two bubble-level indicators, a spring loaded leveling foot, and LATCH connectors.
Pros- Machine-washable seat poad
- EPS energy-absorbing foam
- One-pull harness tightening
Car seat ownership is non negotiable for any parent who plans to chauffeur their little one around in their SUV, sedan, truck, or van. But this doesn’t mean that just any seat will do. You want the best for your baby – and you’re not sure if the Graco SnugRide 35 or the Chicco KeyFit is the right pick.
Don’t stress. We’re putting these two popular models head-to-head in a battle for the best car seat! While safety is an obvious requirement, the other criteria depend on your parental preferences. Whether you want the convenience of a two-position handle, a car seat that stays with your kiddo until they reach 35 pounds, or are just looking for a specific style, the Graco and Chicco models both deliver, but in different ways.
So what’s the difference between these two rear-facing infant car seats? How will you know which model is the best choice for your baby? Let’s take a look.
Price and specifications
Budgeting for baby is a breeze with the Graco SnugRide 35. This infant car seat comes in at the lower end of the baby gear price spectrum – and has a less expensive price tag than the Chicco KeyFit. While the Chicco model isn’t over-the-top expensive, at full-price you will pay more for it.
Even though price is important, it isn’t the only thing parents look for in a car seat. Both of these models are rear-facing infant car seat carriers. This means you will need to invest in a forward facing, convertible, or all-in-one car seat down the road as your child grows and maxes out of the weight/height restrictions for facing backwards in a vehicle.
When it comes to those weight/height maximums, these two car seats do differ. Both have a minimum weight of four pounds. But the Graco option fits kiddos up to 35 pounds, while the Chicco model only goes up to 30 pounds. Likewise, the Graco also fits taller tots. It has a 32-inch height maximum, compared to the Chicco KeyFit’s 30-inch limit. So if you want to extend the amount of time your child sits rear-facing, the Graco car seat is a better choice.
These two car seats pull double duty as infant carriers. This makes the total weight of the product absolutely important to parents who want to avoid added back and shoulder strain. The Graco car seat weighs in at 7.2 pounds, making it the clear winner when it comes to carrying conscience. In comparison, the Chicco seat weighs 9.5 pounds. Of course, both of these weights are sans baby.
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Graco SnugRide 35 Infant Car Seat
$90 $120 Save $30
- Weight Range
- 4-35 pounds
- Number of Configurations
- One
- Product Weight
- 7.2 pounds
- Number of Cup Holders
- None
- Warranty
- One-year
- Brand
- Graco
- Number of Reclining Positions
- 3
- Harness Type
- 5-point
- Care Instructions
- Machine wash seat pad and drip dry
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Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat
- Weight Range
- 4-30 pounds
- Number of Configurations
- One
- Product Weight
- 9.5 pounds
- Number of Cup Holders
- None
- Warranty
- One-year
- Brand
- 4-30 lbs
- Number of Reclining Positions
- 3
- Harness Type
- 5-point
- Care Instructions
- Machine wash fabrics and drip dry
Ease of installation
No parent wants to spend hours fidgeting and fumbling through a grueling car seat installation session. But successful installation is necessary for your baby’s safety. The Graco option features a four-position adjustable base and easy-to-read level indicator to make installation a breeze. It also has a one-step secure connection that works with Graco strollers to create a travel system. The Chicco model is equipped with two bubble-level indicators, a spring-loaded leveling foot, and premium LATCH connectors. It seamlessly snaps into its base and easily moves into compatible Chicco strollers to work as part of a larger travel system. And don’t worry about uninstalling it from the system. This top pick has a one-hand release mechanism.
Safety features
Both of these car seat options get high marks for safety. Along with easy installation, the Graco model is ProtectPlus engineered for added frontal, rear, side, and roller crash protection. The seat also comes with a five-point harness to secure your little one in. Like the Graco car seat, the Chicco choice also has a five-point harness. This safety seat is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam to protect against impacts.
Important car seat safety guidelines
Selecting the right car seat for your baby is the first step. Not only do you need to pick a seat that suits your needs and fits your baby’s size, you need to use it correctly. Each state has its own rear-facing weight and height maximum guidelines. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children stay rear-facing for as long as possible – provided they haven’t yet met the weight and height maximum for the specific model.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it’s important to read the manufacturer’s directions for proper installation, connect the seat correctly, tighten the straps so that it doesn’t move more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back, and find the correct recline angle. The recline angle will change as your kiddo grows. This means you will need to continually adjust the car seat.
Along with proper installation, you also need to place your child in their car seat correctly. Never buckle your baby into their seat with a blanket, coat, or other heavy fabric in between their body and the buckle. This can make finding a snug harness fit difficult if not impossible. Your baby should always sit with their back flat against the seat and the slots in the harness straps at or below their shoulders. The harness straps should always remain flat. Twisted straps are a safety hazard that you should always avoid.
So which one is right for you: Graco SnugRide 35 or Chicco KeyFit?
These rear-facing infant car seats are both top models that score high on safety features. If price is your primary preference point, the Graco SnugRide 35 is the way to go. This pick – with its higher weight and height limits – is also the best option for parents who want to extend the life of a rear-facing car seat. But if you want to create a complete travel system, it’s possible the Chicco option is the best choice. If you already have a compatible Chicco stroller or plan to invest in one, you will need to stick with this brand. The same goes for parents who already or will use a Graco stroller product.
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Graco SnugRide 35 Infant Car Seat
Pick One Up Now
$90 $120 Save $30
The Graco SnugRide 35 is a lightweight rear-facing infant car seat that holds babies four through 35 pounds and up to 32 inches.
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Chicco KeyFit 35 ClearTex Infant Car Seat
Pick One Up Now
The Chicco KeyFit 35 ClearTex Infant Car Seat has two bubble level-indicators and a spring-loaded leveling foot for easy installation. This rear-facing seat fits children up to 53 pounds.
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