Evenflo Quality with OshKosh Styling

The wife and I spent several hours reviewing the available stroller & car seat systems for our infant. We had just a few requirements.

1) Safe and sturdy
2) Light enough for my petite wife to lift
3) Easy to operate

We tried out more than a dozen systems at our local Baby megastore and even interviewed a few passers-by about their preferences. They raised a lot of good points that were helpful in making our final decision.

Some of the features of this system that came to light were

1. the single button folding feature of the stroller
2. The offset handle design that makes it easy to carry the car seat in an ergonomically correct position without fatigue
3. The simplicity in using a car seat with a locking base for installation.

Our past experience with an inherited infant seat that did not have a separate mounting base made us really appreciate the ease with which you can install a system like this in daily use. You don't need to position belts across the top of the seat. The base station can stay installed in the car and you simply pop the seat right into place and can release it with one hand.

Whatever car seat you purchase - be sure to get one with a separate mounting base. The $30-50 difference in price will easily be recovered in the time and aggravation you'll save in mounting the seat.

The infant seat's shoulder straps are wide and the shoulder snaps are oversize with the intention of making them easy to operate. This is our one complaint with the system so far - the oversize hardware can be a bit difficult to manage within the confines of a newborn's small frame. I expect this to improve as the child gets a few months old and we have some experience with the system.

L.A.T.C.H System.

The newest version of children's car seats come with the LATCH system which newer cars are supposed to adopt. Check your stroller system to be sure that it features this option because the stroller may outlast the car! The easy way to tell is to look at the bottom of the car seat and see if there are a pair of metal stirrups under the area where the childs feet will be. Those are the mounting points for the advanced LATCH system. The 2003 version of this model is updated.

STROLLER

The stroller folds with a single hand's action. Once collapsed you'll need to press down on the top a bit to latch it. It fits into the rear access of our 2000 Mazda MPV when positioned sideways. Unfolding is fairly straightforward. A single finger latch on the side needs to be released, then the unit can be unfolded. There is also a nice foot pouch that can be folded up over the child's feet or folded out of the way of larger children. The backrest can be reclined fully for sleeping.

The car seat and stroller have an attractive denim finish that will be rugged enough to withstand heavy use and still look good. We also like the fact that the stroller has an easy-to-operate lock on the rear wheels and the front wheels can even be locked into a forward position to make it easier to steer on long walks.

The stroller has a drink holder that can accommodate a 48 Oz soda, and a covered snack/utility tray that could be used for a cell phone or essentials. A large mesh basket beneath is accessible and you can even pull it out a bit for easier access. I would like to see a latching cover on the tray to prevent it from opening and spilling its contents when folded.

The bonnets on the car seat and the canopy on the stroller can be extended to make a sheltered carriage. The car seat faces towards the parent, so the infant can be supervised, and a small acrylic window in the canopy makes it possible to see the child even with both bonnets covering him.