Pimping Baby's Ride

Travel systems are big, scary contraptions. Lots of people buy them because they look really good on paper. You buy this huge hunk of plastic adorned with interminably cute baby themed patterns and you've got your infant seat and full size stroller all in one adorable coordinated package. Great deal, right?

These traditional travel systems weigh in at around 28 lbs or more. Popular models start at about $180 and go as high as $250. The stroller portion of the travel system is large enough to accommodate the interlocking infant seat, and its heftier size inevitably makes handling a bit more awkward than typical lightweight strollers.

After a lot of research, we decided on a less glamorous, but infinitely more practical version of the travel system. We purchased a standard 5 point harness Graco Snugride in Colby pattern. It was on sale at Babies R Us for $69.99 and with a $10 coupon made the price $59.99.



I then purchased a lightweight metal stroller frame called a Car Seat Carrier by Kolcraft from Walmart for $39.87. The car seat sits in the frame and is securely strapped in. The weight of the Graco car seat is 7 lbs and the weight of the stroller portion is 13 lbs bringing the total weight to 20 lbs.



The obvious drawback to this configuration is the fact that we will have to buy a standard lightweight stroller when he outgrows the car seat at 20 lbs. The lightweight stroller models I have my eye on are in the $60 - $80 range.

I have read reviews of car seat carriers that express some concern that the car seat doesn't "snap" into the carrier frame. I was initially concerned about this as well. The nylon strap that secures the seat to the frame is extremely effective. We set out to prove it unsafe and failed... you can turn the stroller with the seat strapped in sideways, even upside down, and the seat doesn't budge. In fact, having the strap provides extra security, in my opinion, because if the stroller were to tip on its side, you would have two lines of defense keeping the kid in the carrier and off the floor- the strap in the car seat itself and the nylon Kolcraft stroller strap.

Our configuration weighs at least 8 lbs less than the traditional system, and with the second stroller purchase factored in we will still enjoy a cost savings of $20-$90, with a significant portion ($60-$80) of the total $$ spent deferred for several months.



A less obvious drawback is the "cute factor" - the car seat does not coordinate with stroller.

There are other more expensive car seat carriers made by Baby Trend, Snap 'n Go, and Graco. The Graco version is actually $20 more than the Kolcraft. Beside the price, the Kolcraft has an edge on these competitors because it has a forward folding design, which is easier to execute than the backward folding, it has a cup holders plus tray, not just cup holders, and the storage basket is enormous. Big enough to hold the most obscene diaper bag imaginable. It also can accommodate several brands of car seats, so if you are using a hand-me-down made by a major brand there is an excellent chance the Kolcraft can accommodate it.