For first time moms, you probably ought to know that infants should be in rear-facing car seats until they celebrate their first birthday. Some other agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and American Academy of Pediatrics even recommend them in rear facing car seats up until age 2. Rear facing car seats like the Graco Snugride 35 are said to offer five times more protection in the event of car crashes. It’s now easy to see why lots of parents trust this product.
The Graco Snugride 35 Infant Car Seat boasts of a wide range of compatible accessories from the same brand. It features top of the line safety features such as the 5 point harness system- the standard for road safety. In addition, it boasts of being extensively crash tested against front and side impact collisions.
Features
- 5 point harness system
- Rear-facing car seat recommended for babies up to 2 years old
- Holds babies weighing up to 35 pounds or 32” tall
- Well-padded seat for head and body support
- Features an adjustment dial that indicates successful and secured installation
- Rigorously tested for front and side impact car collisions.
- Tested to withstand extreme car interior temperatures
- Comes with a rotating canopy with a peek-a-boo window and a carrier handle
- Compatibility with a wide range of Graco strollers, car seat bases, and travel systems
- Works well with a car seat base for mobile convenience
- Easy to clean cushion and metal/plastic parts
The Good
Affordable and Durable
With just one glance, you’ll see why the Graco Snugride 35 is one of the bestselling infant car seats in the market. The product exudes elegance and durability- two things we deem important in choosing a car seat. For the design, Graco allows you to choose over a number of patterns to suit your baby’s gender. As for its durability, a parent has reported the car seat to last for 16 months of daily use. Priced at a little less than $150, the Graco Snugride 35 is in the affordable side of car seats.
Graco Snugride 35 Safety Features
The car seat also comes in a 5 point harness which I bet provides parents peace of mind. Knowing that my baby is secured in a 5 point latch is one less worry for an overly-obsessive parent like me. The Graco Snugride 35 also maintains a high level of reviews from consumer magazines and car seat specialists. It is also worth saying that the car seat’s safety features have been well-received by a few moms who shared how the Graco Snugride 35 saved their baby’s life.
Ease of Use and Compatibility w/ other products
The harness straps are also notably easy to tighten and lengthen. It takes some getting used to (just like any other product) but you should be able to adjust the straps quickly after some time. The upper and lower buckles are just as easy to work with.
One of the unique features of the Graco car seats family is that they are compatible with stroller frames and car seat bases. Having a car seat base means not wasting time in setting it up again and again when needed. Just simply latch it up and twist the seat to secure it in place. Use the adjustment dial to help you with the seat installation.
Parent and Child Comfort
A lot of parents also appreciate a number of small things that comes with the product. For example, it comes with a rubber grip which helps one have a better grip on the car seat. The well-cushioned head and seat section makes the baby comfortable even in long hours of travel.
The Bad
For the record, no perfect car seat exists and so I must mention some trade-offs that you need to know.
The Graco Snugride 35 Infant Car Seat is notorious for being a bulky and heavy car seat. Its large frame doesn’t make it compatible to restaurant booths and standard-sized high chairs. A lot of parents also complain of it being too heavy especially with a child on. Its wide frame can also be a problem for small vehicles as the front seats tend to be
Verdict
Personally, I think it’s a smart choice to buy a car seat that can accommodate a child for a longer time. If you think of it, you can save an immense amount of money by buying something that will hopefully last until your baby needs a front-facing car seat. The Graco Snugride 35 Infant Car Seat is a car seat that can do just that (provided of course that your baby is not big-boned). It comes with a 5 point latch system and is compatible with lots of other travel system. Yes, I know it can be heavy but I don’t take it against the product. I like to think of it as a trade-off for a car seat that has top of the line safety features. Besides, I very much need the exercise
- Related post: Graco Nautilus Baby Car Seat Review
