Product Rating

Child outgrew seat at 8.5 months

by Lizzardo 2007-01-26

We chose this model based on reviews as well as Consumer Reports. Although CR's carseat ratings are currently (Jan '07) in a bit of turmoil, I still think we made a good choice.

Our criteria in order: safety, convenience and style

The baby accompanied us to restaurants and I don't see how this would have been possible without a take it with you-style carseat. The seat is moderately heavy as compared to other models, but I was under the impression that this was a safer seat than others I looked in to.

Installation was no problem. I did take the seat to our local carseat installation center - available at many childrens' hospitals and firehouses.

We also switched the carseat from our car to grandma's car (she bought her own base) quite frequently with no complaints.

Our daughter is not tall (nor am I) and she has finally outgrown the seat at 8.5 months. We have now purchased a Britax Marathon and this seat seems HUGE next to the Primo Viaggio.

Product Rating

Uncomfortable and Heavy

by Connecticut Swamp Yankee 2006-11-11

As with most safety related baby merchandise, we purchased our Primo Viaggio based on its excellent review in Consumer Reports. My guess is that the folks at CR never tested the seat with an actual baby in it. Our 3 month old cried constantly whenever we put him in this seat. Normally he is a very happy, mellow kid. He is always smiling and happy. But as soon as we put him in this seat, he begins to fuss and by the time we are pulling out of the driveway he is in full wail. For the first couple of months, we didn't even think to attribute it to the car seat. My wife would even put off or completely avoid trips in the car because she felt so bad about how uncomfortable he felt. We happened to have an extra, unused, Graco car seat laying around and one day we decided to give it a try to see if it made any difference. WOW!!!. It was like night and day. We put him in that seat and he smiled away. I should also mention that the Graco seems to weigh about half as much as the Primo. Now car trips are filled with the pleasant sounds of his happy burbles instead of the anguished cries we heard while he was in the Peg Perego.

Product Rating

Perfect for your new baby 0-6 months

by A. McClellan 2006-09-19

I have the 2005 model and I am happy with it. Yes - it is snug compared to Britax. (Britax has maybe 2 inches more width.) I feel that the narrow seat is great because it means more padding and thus more protection to keep baby in a safe position if there was an accident. Being narrow it is a bit harder to get their arms into the 5 point harness. Welive in Houston where it is semi-tropical - so the humidity makes the snug seat hard to tolerate for too long. This might be the case for any seat though.. It is hot in August and September! This seat is lightweight and easy to lug around because the handle is flat so you can sling in on your arm. He won't be able to be in this seat for 12 months since it is so snug - but I won't want to lug around a 20 pound baby in an infant seat anyway. We will want to stop using the infant seat at 5-6 months because he is going to want to ride in the stroller in the sitting up position very very soon and that is much more stimulating and fun for a 5-6 month old. The Britax Roundabout is going to be our next seat for 6-12 months and older.

Product Rating

Wouldnt use any other infant seat!!!! - Worth the money!

by SAHM Jenn 2006-07-10

Im surprised to see so many negative reviews on this seat. I started with a Snugride and once it tipped in my backseat, I upgraded to the Peg and wish I"d done it earlier!
A car seat is not just "another expense" it is to SAVE YOUR CHILDS LIFE incase of an accident. I would pay ANY amount to ensure my child's safety, even it it is only for 5 or 6 months of use. This seat is VERY secure in the car and my daughter fit nice and SNUG in it - which I hear people complaining about, but the truth is that the narrow seat is for PROTECTION. A roomy seat woudl just allow your infant to bob around and bounce around in the event of a collision.
My child was in the upper percentiles in weight and height so yes we did outgrow the seat by 7 months old, and I wish I coudl have used it longer - but I was happy to know she was well protected for the amount of time she could use it. Also, I had the old model, and this new model seems to have even better side impact protection w/ the shield/wings around the head area.
I HIGHLY reccomend this seat!!! And after they've outgrown it I suggest the safest convertible car seat out there - Britax. Again, worth the money.Dont skimp on soemthing that can save your baby's life.

Product Rating

Sturdy but too heavy......

by C. Duffy 2006-06-21

I bought this because I got the primo viaggio stroller. WRONG idea, just because it matches, I should have been smarter than that! My baby gets very cranky in it, it sits up too high, so her head gets stuck forward while I am driving which is very alarming and the baby wakes up pretty upset, making choking noises. The only thing I like is how tough it seems, and when she's already sleeping, and we're shopping, I don't have to pull her out of the car seat-I just snap it into her stroller and she's pretty good from there.

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, there are a ton more with better features!