12. Archive of old reviews and extra material that didn't fit in the book!
Car Seats
Combi Tyro
Price: $130; extra base $50.
Type: Infant seat, five-point harness
Limits: 22 lbs., 29” height.
Pros: Most padded seat on the market.
Cons: Hard to find. Some say it is hard to release from the base and doesn’t work well in smaller cars. Not as easy to install with just an auto safety belt.
Comments: FYI: This seat will be discontinued late in 2006, but will still be on the market during most of the year. Combi’s first infant car seat is a winner—it is probably the most padded car seat on the market. We liked the rubber handle grip, two-position adjustable base, one-pull harness adjustment and level-indicator. The Tyro also has an adjustable canopy, infant body pillow and padded shoulder straps. Despite the incredible amount of padding, the Tyro weighs just eight pounds. The seat will work with a Combi Ultra Savvy, Savona or Tetra stroller as a travel system. Most parents we interviewed like this seat, but there were a few dissenters. Gripes include difficulty removing the seat from the base . . some say it gets stuck; others say it just takes practice—Combi addressed this concern by debuting a revised version of the Tyro. It is easier to remove from its base. Other folks complained about canopies that broke and the large base doesn’t work well in smaller cars. Final gripe: the very long handle makes it difficult to cradle under your arm if you are on the shorter side (try it out in a store before you buy it). Parents who liked the seat cited the extra padding, adding the seat is perfect for larger babies (that 29” height limit is three inches more than most seats). Finally, we note the Tyro scored highest for LATCH seats in Consumer Reports most recent crash tests (August 2004). Oddly, Consumer Reports tested the same seat again in May 2005 and only gave it an “good” rating for LATCH. Huh? Again, the seat is the same, so we guess Consumer Reports made its crash test more difficult. How? We don’t know, as CR doesn’t explain this. Anyway, we do recommend the Tyro and think it is worthy of consideration.
Rating: A-
Evenflo PortAbout
Price: $60 to $90; extra base, $40.
Type: Infant car seat, three and five-point harness versions
Limits: 22 lbs., 26”.
Pros: Level indicator, adjustable base, two crotch strap positions, lightweight carrier (6.5 lbs.). Z-shaped handle is easy to carry.
Cons: Some parents find handle hard to use. Skimpy, flimsy canopy.
Comments: This seat was previously known as the Cozy Carry, which itself replaced the On My Way. First, let us warn you the PortAbout comes in four different versions: a three-point harness ($60) version and three models that have a five-point harness ($70 to $90). The latter range from a simple model (PortAbout 5) to a plush version (PortAbout 5 Premier Comfort Touch, $90) that has a padded handle and boot/blanket to keep baby warm. All of the PortAbout’s have Evenflo’s “Press ‘n’ Go” handle that enables one-hand release of the handle. Cool, no? Well, it frustrates some parents we spoke with, who found it difficult to use. That said, this seat does have some other attractive features—lightweight (6.5 pounds), adjustable base and level indicator. Detractors say the canopy is the seat’s weakest link . . . it’s just for show, said one mom. We did recommend this seat in a previous edition of our book, but we changed our mind after seeing Consumer Reports latest crash tests—the Portabout partly released from its base when crashed and as result earned only average marks. Hence, we’ve dropped our rating on this seat. This seat is being discontinued and replaced with the Embrace, discussed in our book..
Rating: B-
Jane Indy Plus booster seat
Booster type: high back, belt-positioning booster
Weight Range: 30 to 80 lbs.
Price: $200
Pros: One of the few high back boosters that works with LATCH.
Cons: Price, not in many stores.
Comments: Spanish baby products maker Jane has been trying to crack the U.S. market with little success, first with expensive strollers and now with a pricey booster seat. The Indy Plus is a $200 high-back booster that has several unique features: it uses rigid LATCH, has a reinforced aluminum frame and many adjustment settings for the backrest and side wings. The seat is entirely lined with EPS foam and there is even a recline feature, unique in the booster seat world. The rigid LATCH feature is perhaps this seat’s Achilles heal—you won’t be able to easily install the Indy Plus if your vehicle’s LATCH connectors are deeply recessed. And remember that some vehicles limit LATCH use to as little as 40 lbs. (Honda, for example). That defeats one of this seat’s key features.
Bottom line: this seat’s high price, limited availability (Jane isn’t in most stores) and LATCH quirkiness limit its appeal.
FYI: Last we looked, this seat had just about disappeared from the market. We only see it in a handful of specialty stores; it is not sold online as of this writing.
Rating: B-
Safety 1st Comfort Ride
(also known as the Forerunner)
Price: $90 to $110
Type: Convertible, five-point harness.
Limits: 5 to 35 lbs. rear-facing, 22 to 40 lbs. forward-facing.
Pros: Higher rear facing limit than most seats.
Cons: Scored near bottom of Consumer Reports crash tests. LATCH hard to install.
Comments: This basic seat has one strong point: it can be used rear-facing to 35 lbs. That’s five more pounds than most other seats. Parents who have an infant who is off the charts, growth-wise, may consider this seat helpful in keeping a child under age one rear facing. That said, we were not impressed with this seat’s crash-test results from Consumer Reports. At the bottom of their 2004 report were three Cosco seats (Safety 1st is a Cosco brand). And this seat was cited for only average performance when used with LATCH attachments (just installing the LATCH belts can be a hassle, thanks to Safety 1st/Cosco’s inferior LATCH hooks). Again, real-world usability hobbles Cosco’s seats, with parents saying this seat is harder to use than the similarly-priced Graco ComfortSport.
Rating: C
Britax Handle with Care (infant seat)
Price: $100
Type: Infant seat, five-point harness. No base. Not LATCH-compatible.
Limits: 20 lbs, 26”.
Comments: As we went to press, Britax was phasing out this seat to make way for the new Knap-SI model (see above). This expensive seat (which started out at $150 retail but since came down in price) lacked a stay-in-the-car base, which was a deal killer for most parents. You had to buckle it in with each use. Readers who have this seat, however, say its features outweigh any inconvenience. Parents say they get the hang of installing the seat after a few tries and the lack of a base means it’s easier to move from car to car. The only gripe: the chest clip sometimes slides down during use. This seat had two harness heights, but only one crotch position. Like all Britax seats, this one also had EPS foam around the head area for additional crash protection. Note: this seat was not LATCH-compatible. While it is discontinued, you may still see it sold online or in stores. The lack of a base lowers our rating on this seat.
Rating: B-
HIGH CHAIRS
Zooper (503) 248-9469; web: zooperstrollers. com. Zooper’s “Peas & Carrots” highchair’s ultra-cool look (fashionable fabrics, brushed aluminum frame) makes it easy on the eyes. It features four height positions, mesh basket, five-point harness and locking wheels. Unfortunately, it is quite pricey ($170 retail, although previous year models are on sale for less). Another bummer: the chair doesn’t fold as flat as the Italian chairs and, when folded, the basket sticks out a good four inches from the chair. The result: the Peas & Carrots doesn’t stand when folded because it isn’t balanced. And we aren’t wild about the tray height (too tall at 9”) nor the seat depth (8.5” from the back of the seat to the tray). Readers picked up on this flaw as well and panned the Zooper overall. The passive restraint is on the tray instead of the seat, which is another negative. The few fans of this high chair liked the big pad, which covers the entire chair and footrest (and hence, food didn’t get stuck in hard to clean areas). But you can’t remove the straps to wash them. FYI: This seat is hard to find in stores; it is sold online on Amazon and other sites.
Bottom line: this high chair has the looks . . . but doesn’t deliver the goods. Rating: B-
STROLLERS
Aprica 400 W. Artesia Blvd., Compton, CA 90004. For a dealer near you, call (310) 639-6387 or (201) 883-9800 (web: www.apricausa.com). Aprica (pronounced Ah-pree-cah) is one of two Japanese-made stroller brands sold in the U.S. (Combi is the other). Readers of the past edition of this book will probably notice our review of Aprica hasn’t changed much (if at all) from last year . . . or the year before that—that’s because Aprica’s strollers haven’t changed much either. Why the company seems stuck in neutral is a mystery; Aprica has only released a handful of new models in the last five years. And while Aprica strollers still have such neat-o features as height adjustable handles and “one-touch” open/close handles which fold (or unfold) the stroller, we’re disappointed the prices are so high ($380 to $600). Here’s an overview:
The models. Aprica divides its line into two categories: Prestige (pricey, lightweight aluminum frame strollers) and Royale (less expensive, heavier steel-frame strollers). In the Prestige line, you can get a G-Impact cushion (a five-layered air cushion that absorbs bumps and shocks) as an additional option. The top-of-the line “Windsor Prestige” model (also known as the Intreccio) features the one-touch open/close, plush padding, triple-padded head support, zip-off boot and pop-up head protection. This model (which is based on the old Prima stroller) also has a height adjustable handle and weighs just 13.5 pounds. Price: $400. Ouch! If you want an even lighter-weight stroller that folds compactly, consider the “Super Zap,” which weighs a mere ten lbs ($450). Although it doesn’t have as many features as the Windsor, the Super Zap does have a fully reclining seat, one-touch fold, and a height-adjustable handle. Also in the Prestige line: the Flash ($350 to $400, a seven-pound stroller with one-touch open/close). We should also point out that Aprica makes the only tandem stroller (Prestige Embrace) on the market with a reversible handle. It runs about $450.
Realizing those prices are hard to swallow, Aprica launched a few years ago a lower-price line (Royale) made with heavier steel frames. Of course, “heavy” is a relative term—many of these strollers are still much lighter than the competition. Basically, the Royale models are based on similar Prestige strollers—the Quantum Royale ($300, 16 lbs.) is similar to the Windsor, the Calais Royale ($279, 14 lbs.) is the same as the Super Zap (but no height-adjustable handle or boot), and the Sprint Royale ($240, 9 lbs.) is similar to the Flash.
In the past year, Aprica has rolled out several new models. Among the offerings: the Pram First ($460 to $520, 16 lbs), a full-size, full-recline carriage stroller with one-hand close. The Pram First has a reversible handle and G-impact cushion. Not expensive enough for you? Then try the Milano Slim stroller (12.1 lbs), another new model from Aprica. This one runs $550 to $750, which is hard to believe. Why the difference in price? One version of the Milano Slim (model 94917) has extra padding, hence the extra $200 in price.
Looking for something high fashion? Aprica offers the “A Mode Mistral” strollers (10.6 lbs, $500) in such fabrics as day-glo orange or purple. Again, you get a full-recline stroller with one-hand fold. Ditto for the A Mode Rebecca (10.6 lbs, $500)—it is basically the same as the Mistral, except the Rebecca strollers have fabric with bright check patterns. The A Mode Classic and Italian Sport Series are the same stroller with different fashions. Just to confuse you more, Aprica also has “B Mode” strollers. The B Mode Future Series (7.9 lbs, $480), which is much like the Flash but with fancy fabrics.
Our view. Let’s be honest: these are feature-packed strollers, but the prices are way too high. $500 for a lightweight stroller? The Royale line is a step in the right direction, but Aprica remains a brand that few parents can afford. Yes, you can find these strollers discounted online, but even then you are talking $300 for most models. As for Aprica’s quality and durability, we’ve received scattered complaints about the brand in recent years—folks complain about the skimpy baskets, shaky suspensions, somewhat complicated folding mechanism (and in one case), a hood that broke off a stroller. At this price level, you’d expect the stroller to be darn near perfect, so Aprica is a disappointment overall. Rating: B
MONITORS
Evenflo (800) 233-5921 or (937) 415-3300. Web: evenflo.com. Evenflo’s Whisper Connect monitors are well designed and packed with features: all have rechargeable batteries, out-of-range indicators, low battery warnings and sound/light display. Evenflo makes three versions of these models: a basic monitor with one receiver ($20), a dual receiver model ($30) and a 900mhz “pro” version ($30 at Target). And there’s even a “pet detection” version of this monitor (the Sensa) that “alerts consumers to unusual movement near baby.” Price: $60. New in the past year is a model (the Tria) with dual receivers that can be used as walkie-talkies for $70. How’s the quality? That’s a mixed picture: Consumer Reports gave a previous version of the Evenflo monitor high marks, but our readers are less generous. Their complaints include static and an out-of-range beeper that goes off randomly among other gripes. And we’re disappointed that Evenflo hasn’t joined the rest of the market with new digital monitors—again, the company is behind the curve. So we’ll drop Evenflo’s rating this year and hope the company joins the digital crowd sometime before 2012. Rating: B
First Years (800) 225-0382 or (508) 588-1220. Web: thefirstyears.com. First Years has pared their monitor offerings back to three models. A basic, dual-receiver 49 MHz model is $28 and features sounds/lights and a low battery indicator. The “Go Anywhere” monitor ($60) has two receivers—and a transmitter that attaches to wherever baby falls asleep (crib, play yard, etc). Finally, First Years offer a Digital Monitor ($50). One bummer: First Years has eliminated models that have rechargeable batteries, which is too bad. As for quality, First Years is a mixed bag. Design and feature-wise, these models are a good value. Feedback from parents for these monitors is generally lukewarm: not the best, but not the worst. Yet any time we consider recommending this brand, we are reminded of the Great Monitor Massacre of 2002—that year, we recommended one of First Years monitors, only to have the company run into production snafus that resulted in a flood of quality complaints. So, as always with any monitor, keep the receipt in case you need to return it. Rating: B+
