Graco Frame: A Must Have For C-Section Mommies!

As a new parent, I have come to the realization that babies need a lot of stuff. Fortunately, I spent the past year doing what I like to call a “(paid) SAHM internship”. This involved taking care of two children, one of whom was an infant. This little girl’s carseat that I used in my car was from Graco, and I was also provided with a stroller frame with a similar design to this one. We used the carseat with the frame daily until she outgrew her infant carseat.

I found the stroller frame so easy to use in conjunction with the carseat that I placed a frame on my baby registry, and I was lucky enough to receive one as a gift.

What exactly is this frame?
The frame is a frame. It is made of lightweight plastic and metal. The frame is not a stroller in and of itself, but when you plug a Graco brand “Snugride” carseat into the frame, you get a stroller. It’s like Voltron or something.


Assembly
The frame is so simple and no-frills that I was surprised that it needed assembly. But when we opened up that yellow and white Graco box, we were pleasantly surprised with…a project! In the interest of full disclosure, I did not assemble this frame- my husband and mother-in-law put it together, but the information I am about to relate to you is a direct account of the assembly process. You don’t need any tools, and assembly mostly consists of snapping some pieces to each other, attaching the wheels and putting the undercarriage basket onto the frame. My husband says that assembling the frame was not difficult, but that the directions in the manual could have been clearer than they were.


Using the Frame Out and About On The Town
My baby was delivered via Caesarean section, which has placed severe limitations on how much I can work. I am not supposed to lift anything heavier than the baby, and while technically this frame weighs more than the baby, it is only a difference of a few pounds ( she is 9 lbs versus 12 lbs for the frame).

Our regular stroller, which works with the carseat and also functions as a stand-alone stroller, is very heavy. It folds up nicely, but there is no way that I would be able to lift it and get it in and out of the car.

Having this frame enables the baby and me to go out and not be stuck in the house all day. We don’t have to wait for my husband to be home if we need to run errands.

Unfolding the frame is easy. I simply stand the frame on its wheels and lift the handle to snap it into place. Then I push the red clasp (conveniently labeled “push”) to release the lock mechanism. The frame will click when it is completely open.

The Snugride carseat fits snugly into the frame. Simply align the hooked bit on the underside of the carseat to the bar of the frame. When it is properly aligned, there will be an audible click. There are two small red plastic flaps on either side of the base of the handle and the bottom of the carseat which should be moved inward to provide better attachment of the carseat to the base.

Because the frame is light, it is very easy to maneuver the stroller, especially in stores. I was able to pick up to big packages of diapers and stow them in the undercarriage on a recent shopping expedition to Target. Unfortunately, not everything fits in the space under the stroller- it can be hard to maneuver bulkier objects into that space. Also, while medium sized drink cups fit into the cupholder, I have had a hard time getting sport top water bottles to fit into the cupholder. There is also a square holder that is great for keys, and surprisingly enough, it is a better fit for the water bottle than the actual cupholder!

The one downside is the cost. The frame is on the expensive side if purchased new in the store, considering that it is just a frame and it can only be used for as long as the child fits in the infant carseat. The bulky stroller certainly is bulky, but at least you can use it on its own. However, having had a c-section (and the weight restrictions that come with it), I don’t know what I would do without this frame. We received this as a gift, but knowing what I know now, I would not hesitate to purchase it on our own if we had not gotten this as a gift.

I highly recommend the Graco stoller frame. The frame is lightweight, and it allows for an almost seamless transition from the car and back. The carseat snaps on to the frame easily, and the frame is surprisingly maneuverable. This is a must have for c-section mommies- once the driving restrictions have been lifted, getting out and about is very easy with this frame!