Peg Perego breaks into the convertible carseat market with the new Primo Viaggio Convertible. It’s been a long time in coming, but I think you’ll be happy with the results. Fine fabrics, thick harness webbing, and deluxe LATCH straps are what we’ve come to expect from Peg Perego and this carseat doesn’t disappoint. The Primo Viaggio rear-faces from 5-45 lbs., then converts to a forward-facing convertible for 22-65 lbs. and less than 49”.
The Primo Viaggio Convertible comes with harness covers and an infant cushion.
Basics
- Weight limits: 5-45 lbs. rear-facing, 22-65 lbs. forward-facing
- 10 harness slot positions on carseat: 9”-17”, highest rear-facing position is about 14.25”
- 2 buckle slots: approx. 4.5”, 6”
- Restraint weight: 21.5 lbs.
- Width: approx. 18.5” at widest point (torso)
- Seat depth: 10.5” to where edge starts to angle down
- Seatback height: 21”; 24” with headrest in highest rear-facing position; 26” with headrest extended to top position
- 7 year expiration
Features and Advantages
5-point Harness from 5-65 pounds: The 65 lbs. weight limit means that heavier children will be able to stay in the seat longer before either moving to a different harnessed seat with a higher weight limit or to a booster.
High Rear-Facing Weight and Height Limits: The 45 lbs. maximum rear-facing weight limit is one of the highest on the market and means that even the largest toddlers will be able to rear-face in this convertible for a very long time. This falls in line with the revised policies of the American Academy of Pediatrics and NHTSA to keep children rear-facing to a minimum of age 2 and longer, if possible. The average-above average seat depth will give larger rear-facing children plenty of leg room. Peg doesn’t list a rear-facing height limit; use rear-facing until the child’s head is within 1” of the top of the headrest.
EPS and EPP Foam: Generous use of white EPS foam on the sides of the carseat adds that extra feeling of safety. A block of EPP foam (called Shock Absorbing Foam Element, or SAFE) on the bottom of the seat crushes during impact. At 8.5” wide at ear level, the headrest will actually fit a big ol’ noggin.
10 Harness Height Positions: Lowest harness height position is approx. 7” with the infant cushion in use while the highest harness height position is approx. 16 ¾”-17”. The slot positions are about ¾” apart. The top 3 harness slot positions are for forward-facing use only.
Harness heights directly from Peg (http://blog.pegperegousa.com/uncategorized/ask-an-engineer/):
9.6”, 10.3”, 11.1”, 11.9”, 12.6”, 13.4”, 14.2” (all 7 approved for rear-facing)
15.0”, 15.7”, 16.5” (for forward-facing use only)
The harness height can be adjusted from the front of the seat while the PV is installed. Adjusting the harness height is accomplished by pulling the tab at the top of the seat and pulling up or pushing down.
Recline Adjustments: There is one recline adjustment for rear-facing. The PV may be installed at angles between 35°-45° and there’s an angle indicator line on the side which may be used as a reference.
Harness Adjuster and Use: To tighten the harness, pull on the harness adjuster strap on the front of the restraint. The harness release button is located under the cover through a slit in the fabric.
LATCH: The PV has 2 separately adjusted LATCH straps that slide along a metal bar on the side of the seat (à la a Britax convertible); when placed in the forward position, they are used rear-facing, and when in the back position, they are used forward-facing. The LATCH connectors are the deluxe push-on style connectors. There is a storage area on the base under the seat pan (where the child sits) to store the LATCH connectors and the tether strap stores at the top of the carseat when not in use. While tethering a forward-facing child restraint with a harness is always recommended, a top tether is not required for this seat.
Note: Peg allows lower anchor (LATCH) use to 40 lbs. unless it’s otherwise specified in the vehicle manual. There is a misprint in the instruction manual that states 30 lbs. as the maximum LATCH weight limit, but I have verified that it is indeed 40 lbs. Above that weight or at any time, it’s perfectly fine to install with the seatbelt.
Crotch Strap Adjustment: There are two crotch strap positions located approximately 4.5” and 6” from the back of the seat. The inside position must be used until the child is 22 lbs. When threading the crotch strap for the inside position, the crotch strap anchor is threaded down into the seat, then back up again through the outside position.
Padding, Comfort and Appearance: The cover is Italian. That’s all I really need to say, right? The fit and finish of the cover are excellent and the cover pulls off from the front for easy cleaning. It’s never easy trying to get a cover off over headrest, but there’s enough elasticity in it so it won’t tear. The fabric on the headrest and along the sides is polyester while the inside portion, called Fresco Jersey, is slightly textured yet comfy poly. There’s a sewn-on belly pad that makes the buckle pop forward a bit when the child isn’t using it. I don’t foresee any problems with hot temps in this seat. There are 10 cover choices: Crystal Beige, Licorice, Crystal Black, Paloma, Crystal Red, Aquamarine, Atmosphere, Fucsia, Fleur, and the to-die-for Alcantara Pearl Grey. The restraint I have is in Crystal Black. Peg also offers an alternative separate cover for purchase called the Clima Cover. It’s made of an innovative soft Tencel material that helps keep a child warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Infant Support Cushion: A 3.5” thick memory foam infant cushion is used to boost an infant up to the bottom harness slots and improve harness fit. The cushion must be used to 22 lbs., then removed. It may not be used forward-facing.
7 Year Expiration/Crash Policy: The Primo Viaggio has a 7 year expiration. The manual indicates that customer service should be contacted if the PV is in a crash.
Airplane Certification: The PV is FAA-approved for use in aircraft.
Value: Peg Perego is known for its elite products and the Primo Viaggio Convertible is priced accordingly from $329-$379. It’s solidly constructed in dreamy Italy, has as smooth a base as I’ve seen, and has the separate LATCH connectors (seriously, if you’ve used it, you’ll gladly pay for it). Yes, it’s spendy, but there’s a consumer segment out there that will pay for the fine looks and safety features.
Instruction Manual: The manual does an excellent job of explaining installation and use of the carseat. Each method of installation—LATCH, lap/shoulder belt, lap-only belt—starts on its own page(s) and is printed in an easy-to-read font, so it’s very clear which step you’re on when reading. The manual has black and white drawings with green and red highlights for emphasis.
Disadvantages
Rear-Facing Belt Path: The rear-facing belt path is unique and that uniqueness makes it tricky to work with. The openings are on the small side and because it’s open in the middle underneath, the latchplate drops as you try to thread a seatbelt through so you can’t grasp it with the other hand. It’s easily remedied by moving the carseat back on one side so you can get a hand in from the front, but I would appreciate a seatbelt threading tool for help.
Harness Strap Covers: The strap covers are very thick and cushy and long. While that’s comfortable for the child, they make it difficult to tighten the harness down properly. The harness also appeared to get caught in them, making it tough to tighten. Without the covers, the harness adjusted easily.
Belly Pad: The belly pad is wonderfully padded and helps keep the buckle forward, so it makes putting a child in the seat easier. However, when the buckle is in the inside buckle position, it’s not long enough to fit up into the belly pad.
Instruction Manual: There are some typos, important ones. If they were simple misspellings, I wouldn’t be dinging it, but they’re pretty major: the LATCH weight limit is listed at 30 lbs. instead of 40 lbs. and the recline angle is listed at 40°-45° when it should be 35°-45°. It’s also not mentioned that the top 3 harness slot positions can only be used in the forward-facing position. Our contact at Peg has assured me they’re revising the manual and I’m sure owners will be able to receive an updated copy when it’s done.
Installation and Fit to Child
Rear-Facing: Installation with LATCH was a snap! Slide each LATCH strap forward on the bar, click onto the vehicle LATCH anchor, pull tight. I wish every carseat had LATCH like this!
Installing the Primo Viaggio rear-facing using a seatbelt turned out to be an interesting experience as I mentioned earlier. The rf belt path is semi-enclosed under the seat pan. I had to sit on the vehicle seat next to the buckle and have the carseat at an angle in order to thread the seatbelt from one side to another. The belt path openings were too narrow for me to fit my hands through, hence the need to reach under the front of the seat to guide the latchplate.
ETA Sept. 2013: Peg Perego added a rear-facing tether to this carseat beginning in March 2013. If you have an older model, tethers may be obtained to retrofit your seat from Peg by calling 800-671-1701.
When I installed the PV at 45°, I had plenty of room to move my front seat back. At its worst, I had about an inch of space between the restraint and my front seat. As you can see in the picture below, the PV’s headrest angle mimicked the angle of my headrest.
Forward-Facing: To install with LATCH, simply slide each LATCH strap back and attach to the vehicle anchors.
It does have a belt guide on each side of the belt path for the lap belt. Simply open each guide, slide seatbelt into place making sure the shoulder belt (if available) is out of the belt guide, tighten the seatbelt, and close the guide. The belt guide does have triangular teeth on it, so it may dent your seatbelt. I left the PV installed for 24 hours and the teeth only left mild marks on my seatbelt which have already disappeared. When I initially set the Primo Viaggio on my vehicle seat, the natural angle of the carseat meant that there was a large gap behind the carseat. If my vehicle seats reclined (like in a van), I’d be able to get a closer fit to the carseat. Alas, I have a fixed angle backseat, so I thought I’d have a problem. But, once I started tightening the carseat down, that gap mostly disappeared.
ETA: Review originally mentioned that there was a belt lockoff for forward-facing. We have since found that the lockoff is not intended to hold the seat belt tight for every day driving and is instead intended to be a guide; therefore, I have changed the above paragraph to reflect that. HW
I had 2 helpers try out the PV. Emi is 2 years 4 months old and weighs 25 lbs. She fit beautifully rear-facing in the restraint. Her brother, Ian, is 4 and weighs around 30 lbs. He, too, fit very well in the carseat and had plenty of leg room. The infant doll I used also fit nicely (notice the low buckle), but the harness covers did bunch a bit on it.
Conclusion
Pros
- Weight Limits: A rear-facing convertible that actually fits a wide range of children.
- Deep headrest that’s comfy for sleeping, but not overly obtrusive.
- Separate LATCH straps for each side of the carseat.
- Sturdy harness strap webbing.
- 10 Harness Slot Positions: Allows adjustment of harness height to “just right” for a child.
- 2 Crotch Strap Positions: Being able to shorten the crotch strap for the inside position means the buckle will sit low on a baby instead of over the belly.
- The flexibility of installing it in a range of angles (35°-45°).
- RF tether for anti-rebound control
- Instruction Manual: It does a good job of explaining installation.
- Cover: It’s Italian. Yeah.
Cons
- Instruction Manual: I know, I know, I have it listed as a Pro too. Having an outside set of eyes go through the manual would have caught the errors.
- Rear-Facing Belt Path: It’s tight, but still workable.
- Belly Pad: Buckle doesn’t fit into it when moved to the inside position.
Overall the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible is a winner. The carseat is solidly made with quality materials, has the requisite EPS foam, and is comfortable. Easy installation with LATCH and its relatively light weight will make the Peg convertible excel as a travel seat. It is on the expensive side, but I predict that parents who buy it will be happy with their purchase, as will their child.
Thank you to Peg Perego for providing us with the carseat for review.
The webpage for the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible – http://pegperegousa.com/baby/primo-viaggio-convertible
For more information on child passenger safety, please visit:
is this carseat good for very little child?
as a 6 lb baby🤔
Somi, I think for a very small baby it would not be a good fit because the bottom slots would be too high. But for an average sized newborn, it should be OK. A 6 lb. newborn would be on the small side, so fit might be iffy. If the baby has a longer torso, it might work fine.
thank you for tour answer
what is the minimum weith that you thinke it will be ok?
It’s less weight than torso height since the Viaggio Convertible is rated from 5 lbs. The baby’s shoulders should be up to the bottom harness slots with the infant cushion in the seat.
Thank you for taking the time to answer so many questions! I’ve read through and didn’t find my question asked in regards to how much space the car seat takes up.
I just measured the “empty space” available behind the drivers seat in my 2001 Nissan Pathfinder, and from back of drivers seat to the back of the rear seat, I have 31″. I’m concerned that the Peg Perego 5-65 won’t give me enough room and of course of the height though I did read the tip to put the child in diagonally, head first so to avoid bonked heads!
Any input on similar car seats that are best for smaller spaces? I didn’t think my Pathfinder was small until I thought about installing a huge honking car seat back there! My little one is not on the tall or long side.
Cadence, we have an article for you! https://carseatblog.com/22818/the-ultimate-rear-facing-convertible-space-comparison-review-size-matters/
The Peg is good for front-to-back space but you may find that the Britax ClickTight seats are better. If you can find a store where you can try them out, both at the same time preferably, that would be best obviously.
Has anyone figured out how to clean the base of this car seat ? We have had it for 2 years and I’m about ready to throw it in the garbage! Like most children my daughter has had a few accidents in it and I have noticed all the tinkle somehow drops down to the base which it’s about impossible to get apart and clean so the car seat smells so bad no matter how much I clean the parts that are accessible and wash the cover! Help please before I go buy something else!
Hi Heather, so happy to have found this review and how great that you are still answering questions! We just bought PP convertible carseats after having (and loving) or infant primo viaggio seats (we have twins). My husband was just installing them forward facing and he is complaining about the recline feature – he says that once you “mount” the seats, they won’t recline anymore. I guess he means that one cannot recline without readjusting the mounting. Is this normal for a forward facing car seat? Are there other reversible carseats that can be reclined once they are mounted in place without further adjustment? Hope I am making sense! Thanks
Hi Alex. The feature you’re talking about is “on the fly recline.” It’s not available on any carseats because in order for it to work, the carseat would have to have a frame that’s installed so that the seat can slide freely on it. There used to be seats that had this feature, but they aren’t made anymore.
Thank you for the information. We have a Peg pereggo primo Viaggio SIP convertible car seat and our son is almost four and our concern is 1) the styrofoam inside the adjustable headrest is cracked on both sides around he ears. Does this make the car seat unsafe? Can it be replaced? 2) the adjustable height for the straps is set at its highest and are about an inch below his shoulder. Does that mean he has outgrown the car seat? Or is it ok for the straps to be that low behind his shoulders? Thanks for your time and I hope this makes sense.
Lara
Lara, give Peg a call and see what their stance is about the cracked EPS foam. Some manufacturers allow it to be taped, others are adamant that the seat is not safe to be used anymore. I’m not sure what Peg’s opinion is or whether it’s replaceable.
If your son is forward-facing and the straps, in the highest setting, are below his shoulders, then yes, he’s outgrown the seat by height. I would look for a combination seat for him. A combo seat has a harness with taller harness slots and it converts to a booster seat when he’s older. We have our favorites here: https://carseatblog.com/safest-recommended-car-seats/.
Thanks kindly for the thorough review of the Primo Viaggio, Heather. We’re nearly sold on the Peg, but we’re challenged in finding how the fabric options with leather trim (Palermo, Techno or Licorice) or the premium Alcantara model would be cleaned in the event of the inevitable accident/spit-up. Please advise if you have any care/maintenance information. On a related note, what is the recommended care for the ‘regular’ fabrics (machine washable)? Thank you!
Joseph & Marie, you can machine wash the cover in warmish water on a gentle cycle and hang it to dry. I’m not sure how to clean the Alcantara products—I’d give Peg a call on that one. The manual doesn’t specify a difference in cleaning between fabric and leather and since they’re stitched together and it’s a baby product, I’m guessing the leather will do fine in the washer. But the Alcantara is such a fine fabric . . .
Hi Heather,
I LOVE this carseat! My daughter is 3 years old and still rear facing in it, but very close to needing to be turned to forward facing. My son, 6 months old, is in the 90th percentile for height, and needs a convertible carseat. I think I want to hand down this seat to him and get my daughter a new one. I’m looking at 3 options: Either buying a second Peg convertible to use forward facing, buying a Britax Boulevard ClickTight (since I hear it is so easy to install with a seatbelt, and I know I’ll eventually have to switch to a seatbelt install as my daughter is around 32 lbs now), or I can switch her to something like the Britax Frontier or Pinnacle. I’m hesitant because she’s at such an odd stage – she can rear face for a little bit longer, so I hate to buy her a seat like the Frontier or Pinnacle and take away the option of rear facing for a little bit longer, but I also don’t want to stick with a convertible (Peg or Boulevard) if she ends up needing to be turned forward facing in a very short amount of time. She’s in the 75th percentile for height and won’t turn 4 until early May. Do you have any advice for me?
Thank you!
Hi Christina. This is a tough stage indeed. Assuming you bought your Peg 3 years ago and it was brand new, it has 4 years of life left on it. That means your son will need a new carseat then as well. If you went with a Boulevard ClickTight right now, your daughter could rear-face in that seat for a while, then forward-face in it until he needs the ClickTight. Then your daughter could move into a belt-positioning booster seat or Frontier/Pinnacle at that point.
Or there’s definitely no shame in putting her in a Frontier/Pinnacle right now. If you live in a snowy climate and don’t want to deal with snowy feet on the back of your vehicle seat, that’s understandable.
You could try your daughter in both the Boulevard and Frontier and see what her preference is. She may find one seat more comfortable than the other.
Hi,
My daugther is almost 20 lbs and we have to change her from her baby car seat to a convertible one. She’s now in a maxi cozy and for the next step we were to buy a Diono radian RXT at first but we saw the convertible Peg wich seem a great choice. Wich one is the better if you’re not taking the reason that diono is a 3 in 1 and we won’t have to buy a booster later.
Thanks a lot!
Hi Virginie. First, I don’t consider the Diono seats to be 3-in-1 seats–as boosters, they are dangerous because they allow the seat belt to remain slack if the child leans forward. Take a look at our reviews of the RXT: https://carseatblog.com/14805/diono-radian-rxt/ and the Rainier: https://carseatblog.com/29939/diono-rainier-review-diono-adds-depth-to-its-convertible-lineup/ . The RXT review shows a pic of the problem and the Rainier review has a video. So, compare the seats based on their convertible capabilities.
Both seats are well-padded. I think the Peg is easier to install because the belt path is easier to access than the Diono’s. LATCH will definitely be easier to install because it has separate LATCH belts.
I’d suggest seeing both in person if you can and trying your daughter out in each seat. She may have a preference as to which seat is more comfortable.
Hi Heather,
Thanks for all the good info. We love our Peg.
However, my husband noticed yesterday that it was starting to rub through the leather on the seat in his truck. In Canada, is it legal/okay/safe to lay down a thin receiving blanket underneath the car seat to protect the leather? I can’t seem to find any info in the manual or in the FAQs on their website.
Thanks!
Hi Eve. If it’s the vehicle seat back, I’d be fine with putting a thin blanket between the carseat and the vehicle seat, but if it’s rubbing under the carseat, I’d give Peg a call and see what they have to say. It may affect the way it acts in a crash.
Were you happy with the leg room in your mdx when the convertible was installed? We have a chicco keyfit 30 and the front seat needs to be up pretty far and for my tall husband it is uncomfortable. Or would the peg convertible work in the middle seat? I want to be able to do extended rear facing as long as possible as well as have us both be comfortable.
Cg, it’s been a while since I had the Peg in my car, but in looking at the pics, I remember that I had my driver’s seat at it’s normal driving position. I’m 5’6″ and my 6’1″ son uses the same driving position (though I do think he should move the seat back a bit). I think you’ll have more room with the Peg than you do with the KeyFit because I’ve thrown my KeyFit in the car to take to training classes and I have to put it behind the passenger to fit.
We currently have the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible for my daughter (she loves this seat). She just turned 5 and is 36lbs and 41in tall (long torso to where she looks like she is about 1.5 in from top already). Her baby brother is about to outgrow his infant Chicco Keyfit and we were thinking of switching him to the Peg Convertible and finding a new seat for my daughter. We are trying to decide between the Clek Oobr or the Diono Radian/Ranier. Any thoughts? We would like this to be the last set of car seats we buy if possible.
Hi Lindsay. I would definitely go the route you are: hand down the convertible to your son and get a new seat for your daughter. Do you feel she’s mature enough for a booster or should she still be in a harness? That’s the main question right now. If you feel she has the capability of sitting still in a vehicle seat belt without leaning over and grabbing for items or acting silly, the Oobr is a fine choice. The Radian/Rainier is a convertible seat, like the Peg, so I wouldn’t choose that one. They have a booster called the Monterey that’s worth a look at, but it doesn’t have a harness.
If you want a harnessed seat for a while that can then become a booster, try the Britax Frontier ClickTight or the Pinnacle ClickTight. You would probably have to buy a backless after the Frontier/Pinnacle, but backless boosters run around $15, so they don’t have to be expensive at all. They have the highest harness slots, then become very tall booster seats. The Graco Nautilus 80 Elite is another favorite.
I’m having trouble deciding between this Peg and the Chicco Nextfit Zip. Currently, we have the Peg Primo Viaggio 3-35 infant car seat and we really like it. The Peg 5-70 seems to have a lot of the same features. But you seem to hear more about the safety ratings of the Chicco. We’ve seen both seats and my husband is sold on the Peg for its style. My son is very tall and so the Chicco is better from that standpoint. And it looks like the side impact is better on the Chicco since you have to lift the child up more to get him into the seat vs Peg. But my husband likes that the Peg is sleeker and you don’t have to lift him up as much. He doesn’t care that the Chicco has more recline positions than the Peg. He doesn’t think they’ll be necessary with our tall 13mo who is always wanting to look out the window anyway.
I just want the safest option.
Hi Connie, I don’t think you can go wrong with either choice, in terms of safety or features. Both are excellent carseats. In fact, as is often the case with such good products, it may simply come down to how easy you find them to use yourself. If that can’t help make the choice, just pick the fashion you like best! Please make sure you purchase from a store like Amazon that has free returns, or a store that offers local returns like Target or Walmart. That way if the one you pick just doesn’t work out, you don’t have to pay $50 or more to ship it back!
Hi, will this fit well in Honda Civic 2014 sedan? I really love it. Hoping it would fit really well. Can not try it in our car in enough time.
Sharon, the Peg tends to fit well in small spaces because it is a pretty compact seat. Just make sure to buy it from a place that has a good return policy and keep the box.
I have three Peg convertibles and love them. However, I have never been able to figure out how to get a good install rear-facing with a seatbelt. I know basically nothing about installing with seatbelt as I have always used LATCH. We have a sitter who has no LATCH anchors in her vehicle. From what I understand from the car seat manual, I am not to lock the seatbelt to install it (leave in ELR mode), and then use a locking clip. I find this confusing. Why would you not use the automatic locking retractor on the seatbelt?
Kristen, Peg says not to lock the seat belt retractor because they don’t want the carseat to tip. However, I’ve found that it isn’t a terrible problem with convertible seats like it can be with some infant seats, so I don’t mind ignoring that instruction. They’ve told me that’s the only reason for not locking the retractor, so if you feel you can get a good install by locking the retractor, go ahead. I find many more parents can install their carseats that way vs. using a locking clip any day.
Hi!
Can u please help me make a decision between clek foonf, clek fllo and peg ???
What is the basic difference between them? Making one better than the rest?
TIA!
Hi Mona. All 3 are really nice-looking and sleek; the Clek seats have Crypton fabrics (except for the Drift fabric), which are comfortable and easy-to-clean, and the Peg has that sweet Italian fit and feel to it. For initial setup, hands-down, it’s the Peg. Clek seats require a lot of setup rear-facing before even being put in the car, but will last longer rear-facing because they’re taller seats. If extended rear-facing is your goal, one of the Cleks will be better. As for the Foonf or the Fllo, it depends. Will you be installing it with LATCH? If so, I’d buy a Foonf to take advantage of the REACT system when forward-facing.
Please help!! My 3 month son SCREAMS and cries EVERY time he is buckled into his primo viaggio infant car seat (5-35lbs) . He is only 14 lbs.
I have adjusted-
-his padding, taking out the extra padding.
-his straps, both by sliding the straps up and tightening/ loosening them
– the air, he has a noggle and I cool the car before he gets into it, and then use a light blanket that he usually kicks off.
– he has a pacifier that clips to his straps that he refuses to use when he is upset and screaming unless I am sitting in the backseat holding his hand and the pacifier in his mouth. Even then I get little sighs and tears.
– he has a mirror. With the option of lighting up and singing if I turn it on for him by remote.
– he has little toys attached to his handle bar that don’t hang in his face but are within reach if he wants them.
I have tried everything I can think of. I sing to him, talk to him, roll down window for distraction…
I make sure to feed him before we go so I know he isn’t crying from hunger. Because when we stop the car he has already been screaming the whole car ride and is so upset he wants to eat immediately or just simply be held.
To be honest, most of the time the very moment he is taken out of the car seat the screaming and crying and hurt feelings stop. Right then and there. I don’t know what to do. We spent, what, $300 on a top of the line safety car seat and now he is absolutely miserable whenever we are in the car, and as a mother it makes me feel so upset and sorry for him. I feel bad that I chose this safety seat that brings him so much misery. Please give me any advice you might have for what could be causing this distress. I am out of ideas. And if you suggest a new car seat, which one? I am desperate for a solution to his sadness and discomfort. Thank you!
Aw Victoria, I feel your pain. My first was a screamer. My dh and I used to joke that we could only keep the car going above 45 mph because that’s when he would calm down. My ds also had colic and was nicknamed, “Mr. Fussy.” Fun times!
As you’ve found out, the price and luxury of a carseat has nothing to do with the happiness of the child riding in the seat (this comes later when they develop taste, lol). Since you’ve made sure all his needs are met before you leave the house, it’s either his carseat or his nature. It’s easy to fix the carseat part. First, another idea to try. How does he like swaddling? Make sure the harness is adjusted so the straps come from below his shoulders and that it’s snug enough so you can’t take a pinch (https://carseatblog.com/32635/the-pinch-test/). Then instead of just laying the blanket on top of him, tuck it in very snugly around him.
For a new carseat, you can go either low-budget, like the Evenflo SureRide, which is actually well-padded, all the way to the $450+ Clek Foonf. Since he may have an opinion, I’d suggest taking him to Babies R Us and trying him in several seats to see if one suits him better. Also try the harness adjuster–some are definitely better than others when there’s an actual baby in the seat vs. empty. Our Recommended Seats List is a good place to start since we give Pros and Cons and links to reviews: https://carseatblog.com/carseatblogcoms-recommended-car-seats/ .
Good luck! Let me know if you find a solution to his distress. I’m always curious to see what works!