There’s something unfamiliar in the product’s title: Click Connect. What does that mean?
Graco’s innovative new Click Connect technology, allows parents to easily connect the infant car seat carrier to the stroller with a simple one-step secure attachment to create a travel system.

Which strollers work with the SnugRide Click Connect 40?
The SnugRide Click Connect 40 infant car seat is compatible with any Graco Click Connect Stroller.  Currently, Graco offers the FastAction™ Fold Sport Click Connect™ Stroller, the FastAction™ Fold Click Connect™ Stroller and the SnugRider™ Elite Stroller with Click Connect technology.

While I’m shopping, is there something I should look for on the package of strollers?
Great question!  You will see the Click Connect logo on both the packaging as well as the product, including the SnugRide Click Connect 40 and on all of the strollers it “clicks” with. Here’s a copy of the logo, for easy reference.  

Can the SnugRide Click Connect 40 be installed without the base?
According to the manual, the SnugRide Click Connect 40 can be installed without the base using the vehicle seat belt. The base adds convenience for parents who wish to take the infant car seat in and out of the car without disturbing their little one, eliminating the need to re-install the car seat every time. Please consult the manual when installing your infant car seat with or without the base to ensure proper installation.

Looking at the instructions for the SnugRide Click Connect 40, I see that there’s a 35” height limit. Are there any other height limits in play, like the 1” rule that I’ve seen on other seats?
That’s a great observation! When your child is positioned properly in the seat, it’s important to make sure that the top of his or her head is a minimum of 1” below the top of the head rest, for a safe, secure fit. In our testing, this will include children who are up to the 40 lbs. and up to 35” tall in most cases.

I’ve found that it’s a little challenging to tighten the harness the last bit on my tiny baby. What should I do?
A proper harness fit is really important! We recommend that you make sure that the soft goods are positioned properly on the seat and headrest, and you should have no problem adjusting the harness, even for a small child.

We hope this Q&A has answered most of your questions about the SnugRide Click Connect 40. However, we’ve developed a whole website just to give clear (& interesting!) information, as well as product and installation demonstrations of this revolutionary new car seat. Check it out at www.gracosafety.com.

Happy (safe) riding!

Learn more about the SnugRide Click Connect 40 at www.gracosafety.com.

Here are some of our picks to help keep all the children riding with you safe:

Smart Seat

Perfect for both Little Kids AND Big Kids
Smart Seat™ All-in-One Car Seat: If you’re driving both younger and older children, this seat makes transitioning from little ones to bigger kids SO easy. You’ll just install the stay-in car base one time, and then the car seat can be easily switched from rear-facing for little kids (starting at just 5 lbs.) to forward-facing for older ones (up to 65 lbs. in the harness and up to 100 lbs. as a belt-positioning booster-just remember not to use the base anymore once your child has graduated into the belt-positioning booster).  This seat also features a one-hand height adjustable headrest with no-rethread harness, which makes proper fit to your carpooling child quick and easy. If you’re sharing carpool duties with another parent, consider purchasing an extra stay-in-car base for even more convenience.

Argos

Harness Up—with Ease
Argos™ 70 Car Seat: We know that sometimes carpool can be a whirlwind—filled with pickups, drop-offs and hectic mornings. So, the forward-facing only Argos—which is weight-rated for children from 20 – 70 lbs. in a harness, 30 – 100 lbs. as a best-positioning booster and from 40-120 lbs. as a backless belt-positioning booster—is a seat that will fit a lot of different sized children, making carpool a bit less chaotic. One of the best features on the Argos is the no re-thread harness (dubbed the Simply Safe Adjust™ Harness System). It’s a huge asset, because it means that when you need to adjust the fit, you don’t have to pull the harness out and re thread it from the back.

Always Keep a Spare: 2-in-1 Value
TurboBooster: Big kids may want to “graduate” out of a booster seat, but it’s important that they remain in a car seat or booster seat until they’re able to fit your vehicle’s seat belt properly (see if your child passes the Seat Belt Test: http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/safety-resources-by-risk-area/car-seats-boosters-seat-belts-/booster-seats-and-seat-belt-safety-tips.html). The very cool (seriously – kids love this seat and features like hideaway cup holders!) TurboBooster® with Safety Surround ™ offers the best head and body protection at each stage. This booster seat converts from a high back booster (30-100 lbs.) to a backless booster (40-100 lbs.), and both modes help position your vehicle’s seat belt for a proper fit. The backless mode of the booster is so compact; you can keep extras as a spare in your trunk for last-minute passengers.

Here’s to riding safely—and getting to school on time!

• Install. Proper installation is paramount for car seats to work properly. Make sure that your seat is installed properly by referring to your instruction manual. If you’re still unsure, visit your local fire station or go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for a check station near you (free in most cases!).
• Crawl. A great way to see what your child sees is to get down on your knees and crawl around the house. You’ll be looking at the world from baby’s vantage point, so you might find some things that you need to remove to “baby proof” your home.
• Survey. It’s important to take a look in the yard every time your children go outside to play. Make sure there’s no lawn equipment left out that could harm them.
• Eat Together. Don’t leave toddlers alone while eating—they still need to be supervised. Plus, eating together is fun!
• Little Savers. Getting a piggy bank is a great way to teach children about saving and to make sure that coins that might otherwise end up on the floor or in seat cushions (for little ones to find) end up safely away from little mouths.

Stay tuned to our Heart to Heart blog for more safety-related posts this month. What are some of your best tips for keeping your little ones safe?

With all of that in mind, Graco is announcing that we are eliminating the 40” upper limit in rear-facing mode on the Size4Me™ 70 convertible car seat. The new height limit is that the top of your child’s head must be at least 1” below the bottom of the red head support actuator when the seat is in rear-facing mode. This change in height limit applies to ALL Size4Me™ 70 seats, regardless of when they were purchased.

We’re already getting terrific feedback (and lots of excitement!) about this announcement from the car seat advocate community and from parents across the country. We know you’ll probably have some questions, so below are common questions and the answers from our Graco car seat engineers.

Happy (safe!) riding!

What are the rear facing limits for the Size4Me™ 70 Seat?

Based on continuing child fit studies, Graco is changing the rear facing height limit for the Size4Me™ 70 car seat.  The rear facing weight limit will remain unchanged at 40lb.  We are updating the height restriction to eliminate the 40” upper limit.  The new rear facing limits will be:

• The Size4Me™ 70 CRS is certified for use rear facing with children up to 40lbs. (18Kg).  Some children approaching 40lbs. may be too tall to fit rear facing.  It is important that the top of the child’s head must be at least 1” (2.54 cm) below the bottom of the red head support actuator when using the seat rear facing.  The head support may be placed in any of the adjustment positions provided that the shoulder harness is positioned at or below the child’s shoulders and there is no interference with the front vehicle seats.

These new limits were established to support allow the longest rear facing usage aligned with the new American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines (In April 2011 – the AAP advised parents to keep their toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for the seat) while also allowing for proper vehicle fit and to avoid interactions between the adjustable head support and front vehicle seats.  The new limits take into account the significant variation in vehicle rear seats as well as differences that exist in seated child height versus standing height.    

This change is retroactive for all Size4Me™ 70 seats.

What head support positions are allowed in rear facing mode?

There are no restrictions on the head support for rear facing mode.  All positions may be utilized.  Based on our fit studies and the height and weight limits, most children will outgrow the rear facing mode by height and weight in head support positions 4-6.  Since the head support also controls the harness positions, it is important to adjust the head support so that the harness position is at or just below the child’s shoulders in rear facing mode.

Does the 1” rule for the top of the child’s head in rear facing mode apply to the Size4Me 70?

Due to the design of the Size4Me™ 70, the traditional 1” rule does not apply.  This rule was modified to measure the 1” distance from the bottom of the red head support actuator rather than the top of the seat shell.  The top of the child’s head must be 1” below the bottom of the red head support actuator when used rear facing.

Can the Head Support contact the back of the vehicle seat in rear facing mode?

It is OK for the back of the Size4Me™ head support to touch the back of the vehicle seat when installed rear facing providing the following:

1)      The contact does not interfere with the proper installation of the CRS

2)      There is no interference that would create pressure or force on the car seat from the back of the front vehicle seat that would cause the car seat to move or change recline angle.

3)      The car seat can be properly leveled and attached to the vehicle seat. 

4)      The child’s shoulders are appropriately positioned at or below the harness position set by the head support.

Graco has also received accolades from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for our booster seats: the Nautilus 3-in-1 car seat, Argos 3-in-1 harnessed booster and TurboBooster youth booster seat (both the highback and backless models).  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducts these studies to help parents decide which booster is best to help protect their older child. They test the boosters based on this criteria:  most likely to provide good lap and shoulder belt fit in a range of vehicles.

As a parent myself, I trust Graco car seats for my kids–PP rides in a high back TurboBooster & Pinkie Pie loves her Nautilus car seat, so it’s great to see Graco recognized for its true commitment to keeping children safe.

Congratulations, Graco toddler car seats!

I feel blessed to have been touched with the need and yearning for child passenger safety.  People often ask me when I knew, how did I know this was what I was meant to do.  It’s pretty simple actually…  I was a nanny in college – 2 young boys aged 1 and 4 were in my care as mom and dad went off to work.  I think knowing that the safety of these young boys rested in my hands and I didn’t even know how to put the seats into my car sparked the initial fire within.  Their mother just assumed I knew how to install the seats and I, being a naïve 20something, felt somewhat embarrassed to say that I had no clue.  I knew something was wrong when I turned the corner one morning as I headed to the park and the 1 year old’s seat fell over in the back.  (Yes, we corrected the issue that very day when I told the mom about it!!!) Ughhh it pains me to think about it now and I’m so glad nothing serious happened.  That sight from my rear view mirror has never left me, and instead propelled my passion even further.

It wasn’t, however, until I was pregnant with my first son, Colberoo, in 2007 that I realized how much this fire for child passenger safety burned inside me.   I took it upon myself to find out every nitpicky detail about every car seat on the market at the time.  I pondered, researched and ultimately realized this passion was in fact real and would take me to places I couldn’t predict even then.  I spent my lunch hour at my desk at work, creating charts with features for every seat from every manufacturer and what their pros and cons were, price lists and fashion patterns.  I HAD to know. I had to make sure my baby would be safe.  I wanted to use the lesson I learned from those little boys I used to watch to make sure I did it right with my own child.    Ultimately after all that charting, we ended up with our Graco Safe Seat Step 1 (what would now be the SnugRide 32) in the Fusion pattern and loved it – 2 children later (my second son, PJ, was born in 2009), we surely got our “bang for our buck” as the high height and weight limit for this seat allowed us to use it between 15-18 months EACH for my boys.   Love that.

I quickly became the knowledge base for friends and family that cared. People would call to ask tips and tricks, advice on what seat to buy next or how to get their child to stop unbuckling that darn chest clip! (Which, after dozens of calls about this, I am convinced is a 2 year old rite of passage!) Yet those who were the ones who actually needed the advice, who don’t use the top tether, who prefer to use a “belly clip” instead of the appropriate “chest clip” are the ones who wouldn’t buy into it.  They knew I may have “had a clue” but they weren’t convinced.   Soooo, I took it upon myself to prove it to them and do the only thing I could think of that would convince them I knew what I was talking about.  I had to take my knowledge to the next level for them AND for me.  I went and took the 4 day course, and as of last year am now officially certified as a Child Passenger Safety Technician.

It was exactly what I needed to fuel that fire even more.  I was now “armed” with the knowledge and the title. I could make the connections I needed to finally DO SOMETHING about this issue that plagues our families.   Parents think they know, but may just not, may be too scared to ask or may just not realize they’re doing anything wrong. I am often reminded of that 20something version of myself that was too embarrassed to ask.  I am LUCKY enough to have this passion to now be able to teach them.   My story could go on and on and with each interaction I have a humbled heart being able to touch oh so many lives as a technician.  I volunteer at as many seat check events as I can and offer my $.02 to every parent I can.  To me the more seats I can get my hands on, the more people I can make aware, then the more children that are riding safe!

My “Luck of the Irish” continues as a Graco Nation member.   I’ve been able to make some amazing connections with people I definitely would never have met and all because of this group.  Sure I’ve never met any of these people in real life; however, the world of the internet sure can make you feel like you know someone on a genuine, personal level.  I love feeling like I know so much about my Graco family.  It was through this group that Graco recognized my true passion for child passenger safety.  I was contacted months and months ago via email that Graco wanted to donate 5, yes 5, MyRide 65 car seats towards our local SafeKids coalition. I nearly fell off my chair as I read those words.  Really?  5 MORE children who could be buckled up safe and secure just because of how I’ve expressed to them that I yearn to do more!! Amazing.

I had actually planned to hand deliver the seats during a seat check event I was going to that weekend but with some changing of positions and a transition in the coordinator at our SKs coalition I ended up keeping the seats in my attic for when the need arose.  And actually over the last several months I’ve happily placed ALL 5 seats in very good homes and was able to keep children who were riding in either nothing, a booster that was not age appropriate, or expired seats (with parents who had no financial ability to purchase something appropriate) safe from harm because of Graco.   Awesome!

I’ve been able to touch the lives of oh so many since I have been a CPST, however, the families that received these MyRide donations are that much more special to me. I was able to present them with such a gift, the gift of safety!  Every situation has been unique as no two families are the same.   There was “string bean”, a 4.5 year old who at 33 pounds couldn’t fit in a booster yet size wise or legally weight wise; a 2.5 year old who arrived in a backless booster blankie in hand and all;  a mom of a 14 month old who wasn’t going to continue to RF her child because there was no way she was buying 2 MORE seats and basically felt as if she was forced to choose between buying a good long term seat and the safety of her child; a mom who struggled to find convertible seats to hold her children and yet they had to fit in the car she owned, a small 2 door convertible (sometimes you just do what you have to do); and finally a little girl who arrived in an infant (RF only) seat that was strapped in via seat belt but forward facing. Eeeeekkkk!!!   Each of these families had a need and because of Graco and our combined passion to keep children safe, we were able to empower these parents with knowledge and amazing car seats!

Alas 5 children riding in new MyRide 65s, but ultimately because of those donations there was a rippling effect and now 10 children who are safer.  Brothers and sisters are now buckled up secure too!  I feel so honored to have been able to present these seats to the parents and see how amazingly grateful they were.  I love being a technician and am so warmed when parents take the time to make things right.  It makes me think of oh so many other children and parents that might be in the same predicament – parents that need to decide who is worthy of being “more safe” than another sibling or when to spend the money on what seat.   I’m so thankful that Graco offers a wide variety of options in car seats – all of which keep our children buckled up secure.   Again, thank you Graco for your awesome donations!

So I may be Irish and I may be lucky by default, but to me it’s more than that.  I’m LUCKY to have the passion that burns inside me, I’m LUCKY to be a part of the Graco Nation family, and I’m LUCKY to be a child passenger safety technician!

First, I’ll start with a little Travel System 101.

What is a travel system? A travel system is a pre-packaged stroller & infant car seat all in one box. Note: The infant car seat should include a stay-in car base, so you can install the base in your vehicle. The infant car seat will then snap in & out of the base and should snap into your stroller as well.

Another Travel System option is to “make your own” by purchasing a stroller with a matching infant car seat.

Why do you need a travel system? The travel system is an important first purchase. You will need an car seat in order to leave the hospital (it’s the law!) and it gives you the ability to easily get out and about with your baby once the he/she is born. The other benefit of a travel system is the ability to transport your little one by snapping them from a swing to the car without disturbing them.

What do I need to know? People buy a travel system because you can easily and conveniently transport your infant from car to stroller to house without disturbing your resting baby. Awesome, huh? Just keep in mind that with a travel system it is important to understand the infant car  seat features, to ensure proper usage.

Which travel system is best for me? Below are some things to consider while selecting your “perfect” travel system:

– Lifestyle: Are you always on the go? Do you live in the city or suburbs? Your lifestyle is important to consider since it will determine if you will want a lightweight travel system vs. a full-size travel system.
– Maneuverability: Take the stroller for a test stroll around the store. Make sure you like the way it turns corners and stops. Remember, some stroller wheels may be locked in the store for display purposes, so make sure you unlock those front locks first and then take it for a stroll.
– Storage: This is a big deal for a lot of moms. Make sure you are happy with the amount of storage on the stroller. Also, parent and child cup holders are always a plus for those days at the mall or at the park.
– Fold: Test out the stroller fold in the store. Make sure you are comfortable folding and un-folding the stroller–you’ll be doing it a lot!
– Infant Car Seat: As I mentioned above, the infant car seat is an extremely important part of your travel system. Safety is top priority so make sure your travel system includes a Top Rated seat that has been rigorously crash tested, as well as Side Impact Tested. Test out how you snap the infant car seat in and out of the stroller and make sure it’s easy to do.

I hope these tips help you. When in doubt, check out Graco’s website ( Graco travel systems ) for more information. And, please leave a comment if you have any questions as you venture out looking for the perfect travel system.

Happy Strolling!

When I found out the new Signature Series™ Smart Seat™ was being introduced, I quickly asked if they were looking for volunteers to try it out. I was so excited when they told me they would be giving me a seat to test out with Jed! I was even more excited when they told me they would install it for me too. (Little did I know how easy it was going to be to install!)

There are so many things I love about this seat, simply as a parent.

First, this seat has a weight range of 5-100 lbs. You could essentially bring your newborn home from the hospital in this seat and never need to buy another as your child grows, since the expiration date is 10 years. (Yes, car seats do have expiration dates, see here for more details.) It’s definitely a heavy duty seat, but being reinforced with steel tends to do that, and makes it pretty awesome.

Second, the seat has a detachable base feature that can stay in the car. It was very easy to install the base. We all know sometimes getting a toddler seat tight enough is tough while maneuvering in the back seat. Face it, sometimes there is not that much room between your head and the ceiling of the car. From a mom who has hit her head more than once, installing this base was much easier. The base can either be installed using LATCH or the seat belt lock off. It’s your choice.

We tested the Smart Seat out rear-facing in our Honda Pilot and Jed fit quite comfortably, even showing off his I’m so tired this cookie is NOT helping tears. We did have to move the front passenger seat up quite a bit though, not leaving a ton of leg room there.

Another awesome parent-friendly feature is the no re-thread harness, which means you can move the head rest up and down easily to adjust the height you need while the child is in the seat. I think this is a great feature, especially if you occasionally have other children using the car seat that are a different size than your own.

After a few tickles from Mommy, Jed was his usual happy self smiling away in the new seat and ready to go for a test ride. Too bad it was actually bed time. Yes, those are footed pajamas he is wearing.

But rest assured, we will soon be getting some major mileage on the new seat come the weekend!

Are you looking for a new seat for your little one?
The Smart Seat is exclusively available at Babies “R” Us, and you can order yours now.

The collection includes five unique products: Graco Alano™ FlipIt™ Reversible Handle Travel System, Graco DuoDiner™ 3-in-1 Highchair, Graco Nautilus™ 3-in-1 Car Seat, Graco Pack ‘N Play ® Silhouette™ Playard and Graco Duo™ 2-in-1 Swing & Bouncer.

Check out some of the features that make this collection a must-have for new parents:

Graco Alano™ FlipIt™ Reversible Handle Travel System:

- The Alano Flip It has a unique reversible handle feature so your baby can face you, or face the world

- This stroller grows with your child from infant to toddler and can be used up to 50 lbs.

Graco DuoDiner™ 3-in-1 Highchair

- The DuoDiner highchair grows with your child from infant to toddler and converts to a space-saving booster

Graco Nautilus™ 3-in-1 Car Seat

- The Nautilus helps keep your child secure in a 5-point harness, from 20-65 lbs and then converts to a belt-positioning booster from 30-100 lbs

- This car seat is designed to allow you to transition into either a Highback or Backless booster for a comfortable fit for your child up to 100 lbs

Graco Pack ‘N Play® Silhouette Playard

- This Playard is the perfect place for baby to nap and play

- The Silhouette Pack ‘N Play includes an infant bassinet, playard and posture-plus changing table for your comfort

Graco Duo™ 2-in-1 Swing & Bouncer

- The Duo 2-in-1 Swing and Bouncer includes both a swing and bouncer to soothe and amuse your baby

- This is a great option because it allows you to save money and space without having to buy two products

The entire Graco Sprout ‘N Grow collection is available in the adorable Sweetpea fashion.

Be sure to check it out at Target this week for a $10 savings on each item. Don’t miss your chance to get all of the essentials for your baby to grow with. Happy Shopping!