Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

Can you help me out?
I know the regular snugride goes up to 22 lbs and the snugride 32 goes up to 32 pounds.

However, in a lot of the reviews I have read, people say the 32 is not worth the extra weight and bulkiness because by the time the baby reaches 32 pounds he/she is usually too tall for it and the harness won't fit right.

A lot of people complain that the 32 is much heavier and bulkier- which would be fine if the baby could use it until 32 lbs but a lot of people said that there was no way you could get a 32 pound baby in it.

Anyone have any insights, thoughts, ideas.
I registered for the 32 thinking it would last longer but now I'm having 2nd thoughts.

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

I went w/ the regular Snugride. The 32 just seemed too heavy to me.

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

I have the Snugride and I switched DS out of it before he even outgrew it because even that one got too heavy for me and he didnt like being in there anyway.

My friend who has the 32 said that thing weighs a ton!

Message edited 3/10/2010 9:19:58 AM.

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

I'm just going with the regular snugride as well, the 32 weighs a lot and many babies are out of their seats early and into a rear facing car seat.

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

Message edited 3/10/2010 9:16:58 AM.

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

Definitely DO NOT go for the 32. I bought it, and already my DS is out of it because I just couldn't carry him (17 lbs) and the car seat.

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

We have the 32 and although it is quite heavy, DD is very comfortable in it. She is now 8 months and about 17.5lbs. I do find it very hard to carry her around in it but I typically leave it in the car unless I'm going somewhere like the mall or something then I just pop it in the snap and go.

For me, the Snugride 32 will be used until DD reaches the weight/height limit. I drive a 4 door Honda Civic and it will be difficult to find a rear facing convertible seat that will fit well in my car.

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

I have the regular Snugride.

My DS is almost 2 yrs old and not even 32lbs yet.

But he was out of the snugride at 6 months because his feet were hanging over and he was wayyyyyy to heavy to carry. I don't remember how much he weighed but he was in the 50th percentile.

I cannot ever imagine carrying a 32lb child in an infant carrier!

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

Well I can speak to you about both!

With DD#1 I had the regular snugride. DD#1 was in it until 11 months when she was 28.5 inches and 19 lbs. I liked it and had no problems with it. I was very sorry that I had to give it up - it was so convenient.

I see so many people on here saying the 32 is SO much heavier than the regular snugride but I can't see how that is since the snugride with base weighs 15.8 lbs and the Snugride 32 with base is 16.8 lbs. So withouth the base you are probably talking about 1-2 lbs difference.

With DD#2 I have the snugride 32. DD was 19 lbs and 28.5 inches a week before she turned 9 months (she is 9.5 months now). Yes it is heavy and I am NOT strong but I don't have problems carrying her. I figure the convenience of being able to run her in and out of the house in the seat rather than taking the time in the ran to stand next to the car and buckle her in (esp when I also have a 2.5 year old) makes it SO worth doing. If she gets too heavy I have the option of just leaving the seat in the car and taking her out only when she is sleeping or it is pouring rain. I leave the snap and go in my car most times just in case. It is so much easier to deal with the infant seat than the convertible where you are constantly waking them up all the time.

You will NOT be using it when they get near 32 lbs b.c I think almost all the children will be out of the seat by height long before weight. (My 2.5 year old is 34.5 inches or so and only 27 lbs). But the larger seat gives you options. Also if you have a larger baby I find many moms have their children out of the regular snugride sometimes as early as 4 months-6 months b.c they are outgrowing the regular seat.

You will find strong arguments on both sides - but this is really a matter of personal taste. For ME the infant seat is so much more convenient than the convertible seat so I love that I'm getting a lot more use from it than I would have if I had used the regular snugride again b.c DD#2 would already have been out of it.

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

We had the regular one and switch dd out when she was 9 months and 16 lbs - It was too heavy to carry and DH thought she looked smushed in it.

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

I used the regular snugride and used it until DS was 20 lbs and let me tell you it was heavy & bulky & awkward to carry.

I couldn't imagine carrying a child who is 30 lbs in a carseat!

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

we had the snugride 32 (it was called the safe seat when dd#1 was born) and i love it, used it for 14 months when dd#1 was little (2 winters ) and going 9 months strong with dd#2! it is a little heavier but on rainy days, snowy days or those you are in a hurry on, i think it saves times and is ssooooooo worth it! Imho, you will be carrying around your child no matter what they weigh anyway, so for the few seconds of lugging the car seat, it doesn't kill me!

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

I am getting the regular snugride for DS.

DD was out of at 6 months because I couldn't lift it anymore. She is now 2 and I can't imagine her sitting in a snugride 32 even though she technically could still fit in one since she is not even 30lbs. I also think an infant carrier is a lot more restrictive and I know my DD would freak if I tried to keep her in that longer than necessary.

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

I don't think the 32 pound one is actually necessary... I took DD out of hers and switched her to the convertible car seat when she hit 20lbs because she was at the height restriction and because it was just too heavy to carry her around. The snugride was very convenient and I missed it, but it was too cumbersom as she got heavier.

The last time she was weighed she was 32lbs... she's 2 years old and has always been on the bigger side for both height and weight!

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

I registered for the regular snugride b/c I just can't see myself carrying that thing around if it is too heavy. I have back problems as it is so I do not want to aggravate them.

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

I have the regular one- the other one was really heavy and i probably wouldnt use it for that long.

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

I had the snugride, DS was in it until he was 10/11 months

I can't imagine a snugride 32, my DS is almost 3 and doesn't even weigh 32lbs!

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

I registered for the regular snugride as well b/c of all the issues mentioned above.

Someone above quoted the weight of snugride vs snugride 32 with base...does you no good to know that b/c who carries the base? I believe I read somewhere that the regular snugride weighs only 7lbs, while the snugride 32 is I believe 10lbs...surprisingly those extra 3lbs is a big difference when you add the weight of a baby to it!

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

I had the regular for DS and stopped using it WAY before he was even 22lbs as it was just WAY to heavy to carry around.

ETA: I agree with Kate, my DS is 2.5 and only weighs 31lbs....there is NO WAY Id be carrying a child my DS size in an infant carrier.

Message edited 3/10/2010 1:16:28 PM.

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

I have the regular snugride and was able to use it until DS was over a year. He didn't meet the height or weight limits to be fully out of it and I loved the convenience of it. That being said, I switched to the convertible because he was just getting too heavy. I think the regular snugride is fine. By the time the baby reaches the max limits, you're not going to want to lug around a carseat any longer.

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

Re: Those who have or are getting the Graco Snugride carseat

Hi! I just want to add that the major benefit of the higher models..32, and 35, is that they can stay rear facing longer. You won't necessarily be carrying your child in it until they are 32 lbs, you would just take them in and out of it, like you would a convertible car seat. I have a hard time carrying my 16 lb, 3 month old around in it, so I cannot fathom what it would be like when he is 32 lbs.