Fashion & Gear - Travel and Car Seats

Britax Parkway SG

There’s a leap of faith you make as a parent when your child moves from a convertible car seat to a belt-positioning booster. It’s scary at first to see how much more mobility they have and how much smaller they look in the backseat of your car.

The Britax Parkway SG ($120) belt-positioning booster goes a long way towards restoring that faith. It employs all of the added features Britax has become famous for, so that your big kid is as safe as possible on the last leg of their carseat journey.

The Parkway was very easy to put together and, once assembled, I was impressed by how much more sturdy it feels than other belt-positioning boosters we’ve tried.

You can transfer the Parkway from car to car without the backrest portion of the seat separating from the base. And when your child is ready to go backless, they can ride on the base alone.

The Parkway comes with dual cup holders that retract when not in use. Plus, the fabric (it comes in three color options: Sesame, Matrix and Onyx) was very plush and smooth against our son’s skin.

Click below to read about the feature that separates the Parkway from all other belt-positioning boosters.

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Safety 1st

In the event of a car crash, head and neck injuries pose the biggest threat to a small child. That’s why it’s important to buy the best carseat available. However, not all carseats are made the same — and all too often, you get what you pay for.

That’s why we were excited to check out the new Safety 1st Complete Air Convertible Carseat ($250). It offers cutting-edge side-impact technology at a competitive price without sacrificing safety.

Click below to read about the groundbreaking crash tests conducted on the Complete Air.

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The Prince Lionheart On-The-Go Car Sunshade Kit is a static cling sunshade that sticks to car windows, designed to shade your children from the sun’s rays. It costs around $5.50 for 1 — or you may be able to find it in a twin pack (you’re going to need two anyway). Harmful UV rays are reduced by 99 percent with this sunshade, which measures 16-in. by 22-in.

To install, unfold the sunshade and use the included sponge/squeegee tool to flatten it. Then carefully stick it onto your window and use the sponge/squeegee to smooth out any air bubbles on the shade.

We liked this smoked gray vinyl sunshade, because it actually stuck to our back car windows. In fact, I was able to roll down the windows with ease. Just be careful and go slow while lowering and raising windows — or it could bunch up!

–Nancy, Queens, NY, mom to budding comedian 3½-year-old Ben and princess-in-training 1½-year-old Allegra, loves finding stuff that makes her family’s life easier

One luxury baby product I’ve always coveted was the fashionable infant car seat cover. Didn’t have one for either of my sons, so when my daughter was born, it was a must.

Snuggle Mez ($98) isn’t a infant car seat cover, though. It’s actually a little sleeping-bag like cover that fits easily over your car seat and keeps baby snuggly warm and shaded inside. Plus it has a matching blanket attachment to pull over the hood of the baby bucket for when you want the baby to keep sleeping.

When not in use, the blanket rolls up easily and hooks into the Velcro straps on the back. The Snuggle Mez also has a hook on the outer bottom to attach a pacifier or toy or even your car keys. It unzips easily to allow you to buckle and unbuckle the baby as well.

Mine is the Gracey – a funky black, pink, and white Pucciesque design that coordinates perfectly with my black-and-white plaid baby seat. The outside is 100% cotton, the inside is that otherwordly softness of minky. All the available prints are attractive, and suit any mama with a range from bright bolds to subtle shades.

Use discount code Celebrity15 at Snuggle Mez for a 15% off through January 1, 2010.

– Alix

Note: Car seat manufacturers and car safety experts advise against using after-market products while driving with car seats.

There are times when leaving your house with kids seems downright impossible. There is just too much to consider.

When my twins were infants, it was formula, diapers, change of clothing, small toys. When I had potty-training toddlers, it was extra clothes and underwear, a potty seat. For all ages, it’s water, and snacks, and — heaven forbid — anything that I might actually have to carry for myself!! And that is when I am leaving the house to head to the playground!

I was recently panicking when I had to consider how to manage a five hour plane flight with my now 3 ½-year old-twins… by myself. Admittedly, the task might be more daunting with twins, but alas, I suspect that all of us have gone through the “how in the world am I going to carry this” dilemma at some point (or many) since they became parents.

And now there is an answer. Ju-Ju-Be, maker of designer diaper bags of all sizes, as well as bags dads won’t whine about carrying, now has a bag for traveling: the WannaBe travel and overnight bag ($160).

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Georgia Stripe fashion

The Evenflo Aura Select Travel System ($170) includes the Evenflo Aura Select Stroller (sold separately for $90) and the Evenflo Embrace Infant Car Seat (sold separately for $120) for the price of many stand-alone infant seats, so this is a good deal in a tough economy.

Pros: Great value. For the price, you get a stroller with many of the features most parents demand: a one-handed push, lots of storage and substantial sun shade. The car seat has comprehensive safety testing includes side-impact tests.

Cons: The stroller’s hard, plastic wheels don’t give a fabulous ride and is bulky when folded. The car seat’s sun shade is feedble and has a less-than-cushy seat pad.

Final Verdict: The Evenflo Aura stroller is a very functional stroller with tons of storage and it’s a great deal! The car seat is an extremely affordable option.

For all of the details, read our reviews of the Evenflo Embrace Infant Car Seat and Evenflo Aura Select Stroller.

– Kristen

2-Go Baby Carrier

Cybex is coming! Not to be confused with the gym equipment manufacturer, this German company will be offering infant and booster car seats, baby carriers and strollers.

We had a preview of the line that will be available late summer and winter.

We were impressed by all of Cybex’s products, but the 2-Go Baby Carrier ($100) really blew us out of the water.

Suitable for babies from 3 months up to 40 lbs, it has ergonomically formed shoulder straps and distributes the child’s weight evenly on the parent’s hips, not back — similar to the ErgoBABY Carrier, but with even more positions and way more style.

There are 5 positions; facing inwards, hip position — facing inwards, front facing outwards, front facing as a mobility seat — for older babies with the top part folded down, and on the parent’s back.

Read more to hear about which products we’re most excited about!

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Montara fashion

The Evenflo Embrace Infant Car Seat ($120) is also available as part of the Evenflo Aura Travel System.

Together the Aura Select Stroller and the car seat are just $170, a great deal in this economy, considering that many infant car seats alone cost more than that! Click to continue reading »

The Cortina Travel System by Chicco (pronounced KEY-co, it’s Italian!) is available in two configurations. Both include the same stroller and an infant car seat with a weight limit of 22 pounds ($280-300) or 30 pounds ($330). You just have to evaluate the features and functions of both pieces to choose the combination that’s right for you.

Pros: The Cortina has a lot of well-thought-out storage compartments and a sun shade that clicks down in front of the baby. It stands when folded and has a removable liner for the toddler tray. The car seat is easy to install and has cute fabrics.

Cons: Hard, plastic tires don’t make the smoothest ride in the world, but I really can’t complain. The stroller is bulky when folded. The car seat has a very small sun shade.

Final Verdict: The Cortina Travel System is a good buy with a really full-featured stroller and functional car seat.

Click to read our reviews of the components that make up the Cortina Travel System:

• Cortina Stroller
• KeyFit Infant Car Seat

Have two kids? Check out the Chicco Trevi Twin stroller.

– Kristen

The Chicco KeyFit Infant Car Seat can be purchased separately ($160-170 for 22-lb capacity, $180-190 for 30-lb capacity) or as part of the Cortina Travel System ($300).

The KeyFit infant car seat is a breeze to install. After hassling with other brands I recognize the value of a well-thought-out system. Click to continue reading »