Lots of great new and updated products coming soon from Graco! They also had an awesome spread at their booth with a mac ‘n cheese bar, cookie bar, wine and ice cold beer! Did I mention ice cold beer? I decided it was 5 pm somewhere and had to have one (…or two). Darren promtly followed my lead. Then we asked the bartender to take our picture. Heather was the designated blogger so she did the responsible thing and passed on the adult beverages. 😉
In real news, there’s a change to the popular SnugRide 35 infant seat. A lower body insert cushion has been added and the seat now has a 4 lb minimum weight rating. The unique insert raises a smaller baby up to the lowest bottom harness slots and a portion of the insert goes under the crotch strap which really helps to position the buckle in a more appropriate position. Heather tried her preemie doll in it (yes, she carries her own) and the fit was pretty darn good. We were impressed! This new model will start shipping next month (October).
Other Graco highlights:
New My Ride 65 featuring Safety Surround Side Impact Protection system , 4-40 lbs RF or by height using 1″ rule, 20-65 lbs FF or by height at 50″, adjustable head restraint designed with Safety Surround for infants-small toddlers (optional but if you remove it, you lose the enhanced SIP), attaches through the harness slots when the child is shorter, Safety Surround is also built into the sides of the seat near the top of the shell for the taller kids, seat tested to draft Euro SI standards, available early November 2011 at BRU, $179
New Highback Turbo booster with Safety Surround
Also tested to draft Euro SI standards, $69, shipping 1st qtr 2012
New Fashions for Smart Seat All-in-One: Jemma & Rosin now available thru Amazon. See our full review of the Graco Smart Seat here!
New My Size 65 (Prototype model)
4-40 lbs RF, 20-65 lbs FF, adjustable 8 position headrest, no-rethread harness, 17.5″ top harness height, single recline position for RF. Separate LATCH strap for each belt path just like the MyRide. Cool, new “In Right” lower LATCH connectors on both RF & FF LATCH straps. Production begins in February, 2nd qtr 2012 release.
New Classic Ride
An updated ComfortSport using the existing shell (will not replace CS), 4-40 lbs RF, to 50 lbs FF, added inserts
Argos & Argos Elite (based on Nautilus platform)
Elite version has lockoff and width-adjustable head support, no rethread harness, 20-70 lbs with harness, 30-100 lbs HBB, 40-120 LBB. MSRP $199, Elite $219
New Aprica “Moto” Travel System with “A30” infant carseat – No pics. Looks like a Snugride 30. Not sure if there are any differences besides cover and branding. Will confirm and follow-up.
Canadian news on the My Ride: they’re in the final stages of testing. Soon!
Do you know if/when the orange Argos in the pics will be released?
Mommyfrog – I don’t think so but if I find out otherwise I’ll be sure to follow up.
I think I know the answer, but people want to know…..is there a second crotch strap position on the Argos, or is the strap moved out further than it is on the Nautilus?
@ Elizabeth – the Argos has a no rethread harness
So how exactly does the Argos differ from the Nautilus? They look exactly the same to me. Granted, I’ve only seen the Argos online. There must be more than the lockoffs?
I love that they are focusing on adding SIP to seats. The My Size 65 looks like it’s going to be better in FF mode than the My Ride. I really wish they would let that dang Comfort Sport die. I see so many kids being put in to boosters way too early because they outgrew a Comfort Sport and the parents did not want to buy another harnessed seat.
Cool new stuff1
I like that the kids are properly restrained in the stock photos!
I’m excited about the changed to the turbo. I know the turbo fits small kids well but now that there are more substantial seats out there it seemed lacking to me.
*UPDATE*
New Turbo shipping 1st qtr 2012 (not October)
My Size 65 “In Right” lower LATCH connectors will be on both RF and FF LATCH straps
So my question is about the latch connectors… is the new style going to only be used for FF or will it be in both sets (rf also)? I noticed it’s not the case in the photos you posted…
I must say that I’m loving the argos (lock-offs are the deciding factor) and just recommended it a parent at my child care center. She’s looking at a ff seat for when her child turns two (I talked her into RF to 2 but that’s her limit) and she can turn her ff… she wants her center which means no latch and is looking at the britax marathon because of the lock-offs… 🙂 I think she will purchase the argos.
Do you think the MySize will replace the MyRide when it’s released?
Definitely not impressed that the Comfortsport will stay out there for sale, nor am I impressed with the Classic Ride version… NO way will it get to either of those limits with the low harness height… 🙁
LOVE the new Turbobooster, though it looks pretty wide… I assume that it IS wider than the current version?
Thumbs up on the Argos, SR35 and MySize 🙂
*Updated blog to indicate that new Turbo is coming 1st qtr 2012. I also edited the top harness slot height on the prototype My Size to state 17.5″ since that’s what the tape measure is showing in the pic.
The My Size is still a prototype so it’s very possible that there could be changes before the final production model is released. It’s also the reason that I don’t have answers to all the questions. I believe they said that the head support could be all the way up when RF (which is why I took the picture that way) *but* I find that really hard to believe since it didn’t appear to be mega-reinforced in any way. Personally, I think it’s highly unlikely that Graco will allow anything higher than what they allow on the Smart Seat. But I will be pleasantly surprised if they do. However, with only one recline position and no way to make it more upright, the seat probably won’t fit RF in many vehicles with the head support extended all the way. Just keep that in mind.
And keep those comments and feedback coming as I’m sure Graco is watching!
ooooh…that new TB is on my wish list- when will it be released?
I’m disappointed that the new LATCH clips are for Forward Facing only. Is there a reason for that? I know someone who was really excited about these clips, but her daughter is RFing still.
I LOVE the my size, the buffed up turbobooster (and loving the orange and blue covers), and love the orange on the argos
seriously, back to it, the my size is just so cool! it’s an ideal convertible!
I like what I’m seeing from Graco! Can you really use it RF with the head peice fully extened like that?! It looks really tall for our bigger RF’ers.
One thing I would really like to see though is a dedicated fashion for boys. My almost 3 yr old is still RF in a MyRide65. I’d love to have a seat with a pattern that HE would be exicited to sit in.
Susan
Bravo! 🙂
I love the look of the new turbo! Hopefully it works for us!
The Aprica is definitely an SR 30, but with some super nice additions, like a mesh section on the canopy to make it really big with good coverage and airflow on a hot day. The stroller is a very nicely equipped metrolite with fewer wheels 🙂
Nice to finally see some improvement in the Turbo after all these years!
Uh, I think you mean fashions, not fasions. 😉 Either that beer’s still getting to you or you’re thinking in Gaelic after typing Rosin. :p
so excited about the new sr35 min weight…is that a myride in pink and black? I can’t tell if its black or brown I hope its black if so that will be my new seat….Love the new mysize65 even though the base looks wider than the myride65
What’s the rear facing height limit on the my size?
Why the heck would they use the comfortsport shell for a new seat and make it rf to 40, ff to 50? My kid didn’t make it past 3 in it with the current numbers.
Otherwise, looks like there’s some good stuff coming, especially the insert for the SR35!
Gotta love soft focus! Thanks, Kecia!