Chico or Peg Perego carseat/stroller or is there better?

I'm having my first baby and want to have the best carseat/stroller. I've heard a lot about Peg Perego and Chico.

I for sure want something that has a base that we can snap in and out of both of our cars and snap into the stroller.

I also have a neck injury and am worried about lifting all of this! Is there any lightweight safe versions?

Thanks as always for your help and advice.

I had the key fit 30 chico car seat and peg perego stroller not the snap in.

The car seat I did like. but these are the few things i didn't like that would effect you.

The seat has a cover that the baby gets hot and doesn't fabric doesn't breath-I live in Oregon not Florida so it wasn't a big deal often for me.

The seat doesn't fit in grocery carts well. You have to but it in the basket part.

No matter what car seat you get, it will be heavy once you but a baby in it. If you have trouble lifting it. You will have to just but your baby in the stroller without the car seat. You might want to got with one that holds a 22 lb baby or less it might be lighter.

The stroller was great quality. I love it. And have nothing bad to say about it at all. Other than my husband said it cost more than his first car.

I have the Chicco Cortina travel system with the Chicco KeyFit 30 car seat. I did a lot of research before hand and found this car seat to be the lightest in weight at around 9 pounds. It will not snap into grocery carts but this was done on purpose so people wouldn't put the carseat on the top of the cart making it top heavy and possibly have the whole thing fall over. You would have to buy a second base for it if you want to be able to move it between cars without moving the base around. The seat is warm but I live in Central America and didn't find it to be overheating to the baby. The stroller is a bit heavy and bulky but I do love it and used it almost daily.

I've HEARD that Britax is the best. (Don't know if it's true.......) We just ordered the infant car seat and stroller system last night so I don't know exactly what it's like yet. HOWEVER, I read that it is heavy. Along with safety and getting the best, comes the weight to make it that safe........ The car seat DOES snap into the stroller though. But I did read that it also will NOT fit on the top of shopping carts. But we put safety above convenience for us.

I suggest that you go on YOUTUBE and look up videos about different sets that you are interested in. The Britax one for infants is called Britax Chaperone.

I don't have the Peg Perego carseat, but I have the Peg Perego Si and love it. It is bigger than an umbrella stroller, but not as big as a travel system stroller you get with Chicco. The Si is lightweight and very easy for me to put in and out of my SUV. I don't have neck problems, but I do have serious lower back problems and I don't aggrevate my back with the Si. I got a Graco Travel System for a gift, but if I had to do it myself, I would of gotten the Si and the Peg carseat. Peg is typically a lot more expensive than the Chicco, but I plan on having more kids so I will get great use out of it. We paid about $250 for the Si stroller and the carseats are similar in price and we would of had to pay for an attachement for the stroller to attach the carseat to the stroller. In the end we would of paid around $500-$550 for the set, but with 2 kids using it it wouldn't of been bad, and we have a $150 travel system in our garage that we don't use at all.

Chicco is lighter than Peg when it comes to the car seat, but the ease of a Peg is better than chicco. The Chicco stroller is huge and bulky. It folds just like a Graco, Evenflo, and similar strollers. Peg Pliko P3 (which is what I have) I LOVE IT!! It's super easy to fold and instead of folding flat and wide, if folds narrow and long (if that makes sense)
http://us.pegperego.com/babyproducts-catalog/2010/Pliko+P3+Classico
This should help you see what I mean. I actually wanted a Switch Classico where you can either use it as a pram for a younger baby or a traditional stroller for older or even a younger if you feel like it. And with both of those you can use a seat in the stroller. I also know that Chicco doesn't use fabrics that breath well when sweaty and hot. We went out to a swap meet today and his Peg stroller fabric was breathing amazingly. So that's my two cents.

We have the Peg Pergo Aria stroller and I love it! We went with the Graco Snug Ride infant car seat and it fits right in where a toddler's butt will be when they are older. Together they are great! Good luck with whatever you decide. We went with the Snug Ride because it rated better.

Both are great products and scored high on consumer reports for safety. I had a Graco with my first child, then went to the Peg Perego for my second thinking that I wanted the "best" regardless of the price. Yes, it is nice and safe, but it is VERY heavy, so if weight is a concern for you, I highly recommend looking at a different brand. Carrying around a 15lb baby in a carseat that is already over 25 lbs is not easy to say the least. I ended up selling it on craigslist for a big loss and went back to using my old Graco.

For my third baby, I went Chicco....a nice combination of the Graco ad Peg Perego without the weight issues. Very pleased to say the least.

I have many friends that swear by their Peg Peregos, but they also didn't have a hefty boy to carry around in it and a toddler to chase at the same time, so it is really "to each his own". Good Luck with your shopping.

I have a Peg Perego stroller for my son, and I hate it. Peg Perego is supposed to be a great brand...we have their high chair, and love it...but the stroller? Super yuck. It's flimsy, doesn't turn well, and is really frustrating. My friend, on the other hand, has the Chico travel system, and I am totally in love with it. Her Chico has adjustible handle height (my husband & I are both tall, so that's important), and a built in cup holder that I love with extra storage compartments...the Peg Perego has a separately attached cup holder & ours has broken off so many times, we had to wire it in place--it looks like the ghetto version of the stroller now. Plus, the under seat storage is easier to get to on the Chico. Ditching the Peg Perego for the next child, and going with Chico.

There are a lot of places that give away free brand new car seats for newborns. Check with your local police department and they can tell you where to go.

I have always found Britax to be superior in safety and it meets the standards you've listed above. I have a 5 year old who has used Britax products since birth and now have a baby on the way and I have already purchased her new Britax gear. I've been happy every time. Some Mom's find fault in that Britax doesn't always have the cutest fabric themes - but who cares? Safety first, for my littles ones. Also, if cutesy patterns are an issue for you, you can always buy replacement carseat covers at the Britax store on their website or from amazon.com. To insure proper fit, I would only use actual Britax covers, not generic or boutique ones. Good luck in your search.

Although I like the quality of construction of the Peg Perego, I don't recommend getting this car seat. It is fairly heavy and the harness pieces that go in at the crotch are a pain to snap in b/c you have to line up two pieces JUST RIGHT to get it in. For our second we got the Graco Platinum car seat. And although some of the "accessories" don't feel as "nice" as the Peg Perego, I still prefer it!

Also, as far as strollers go, my husband and I just got the Baby Jogger City Select stroller. Granted, we did get it b/c it is an awesome double stroller and we just had our second, but it can be used a single stroller, too. It's a little pricey, but it ROCKS! It has an adaptor for car seats. Just an FYI about another brand/stroller to check out (and for one that will grow with your family)!

http://babyjogger.com/city_select_lp.aspx

My first stroller was the Chico Loved it!! Second stroller Bugaboo. Loved it!
If you are going to have two kids Bugaboo because it has a wheel board for the second child to ride on :) http://www.bugaboostrollers.com/Bugaboo-Wheeled-Board.pro

Email me if you would like more info :) My girlfriend has one for sale ~Denise www.themommy-consultant.com

The Peg Perego is a good product, I bought it for my little girl. The Peg Perego Aria is a light stroller and only weighs 9lbs, which might assist you with your back problem. But personally, I find the Peg Perego Pliko stroller much nicer than the Aria in terms of features, so if you can manage the extra weight on it I would go for the Pliko. All the best with your new baby!

Hello,
I can tell you that I was in a very bad accident with my son when he was 7 months old. The car was totaled; We were hit like a T-bone directly where my son was sitting in his Britax car seat. We were sent to the hospital where they examined my son who had NO injuries and the ER Dr. said, "was he in a Britax carseat?" I said, how did you know. She replied because they are the best and he doesn't have a scratch on him!
I would always buy Britax!!

Congrats on the new baby. I strongly suggest a good baby sling to wear your baby instead of trying to unclip and clip and lug around a car seat. I too have multiple injuries, including neck, I found a sling to be the best. It's also super easy as the baby can sleep, you can nurse without moving around too much and the baby can feel you the whole time.

If you feel you must lug stuff around get a Britax or Peg Perego. I agree with what Christina said (below me) Britax is super safe. Peg Perego is also good as it's still made in Italy.... Chico is not as good stuff. If you go with the sling you can avoid a stroller all together. What a waste of money and resources too.

Happy laboring!!!