The Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX is the budget-friendly toddler automotive seat that’s simple to like. Graco has used the SnugRide title for a number of toddler seats over the previous 20 years, and it’s clear that they is aware of tips on how to create automotive seats which are simple to put in and use accurately. The “SnugRide Lite” is Graco’s most elementary toddler automotive seat nevertheless it nonetheless has all the pieces you want and also you gained’t discover a higher worth for the value.
SnugRide 35 Lite LX Specs & Options:
- Rear-facing solely: 4-35 lbs.; 32″ or much less and head should be 1” beneath high of seat
- 4 harness peak positions
- Euro beltpath routing allowed when service is put in with out the bottom
- 2 crotch strap/buckle positions
- Thick energy-absorbing EPS foam
- Straightforward to take away cowl is mechanically cleanable
- 4 recline place base
- FAA-approved to be used in an airplane
- 7-year lifespan earlier than expiration
- Graco ProtectPlus Engineered™
- Appropriate with all Click on Join and SnugLock bases
- Made in China
- MSRP $119.99
There was once 2 variations of the SnugRide 35 Lite however the base mannequin (which was solely obtainable at Walmart) was discontinued final yr and now solely the “LX” mannequin continues to be obtainable.
The “LX” model SnugRide 35 Lite LX, reviewed right here, has nicer comfortable items, comparable to a separate head and decrease physique insert, and an easy-to-read recline angle indicator on the aspect of the bottom.
The bottom mannequin SnugRide 35 Lite (non LX) model, which was solely obtainable at Walmart, is discontinued. The variations had been that it didn’t have a decrease physique toddler insert and the recline angle indicator on the bottom was only a purple degree line on a sticker label.
It was at all times value getting the LX mannequin and now it’s the one possibility in order that’s excellent news for fogeys!
When you want an additional base, SnugRide Lite bases are obtainable for $69.99, BUT for only a few {dollars} extra, I extremely recommend shopping for a SnugRide SnugLock base. The SnugRide 35 Lite will match on the SnugLock base and the SnugLock base is simpler to put in due to the belt-tensioning lockoff.
SnugRide Lite Base
SnugRide SnugLock Base
SnugRide 35 Lite LX Measurements:
- Harness slot heights: 6 ¾”, 8 ¾”, 10 ¾”, 12 ¾”
- Lowest harness slot peak with physique insert: 5 ¾”
- Crotch strap/buckle positions (with out insert): 4”, 5 ½”
- Inside shell peak: 20”
- Width of base footprint at belt path: 13 ¾”
- Size of base footprint: 17” (80% should be on car seat)
- Width of base at widest level: 14 ½ ”
- Width of service at widest level: 17 ½”(exterior of deal with)
- Service weight: 7.4 lbs. with insert; 7.0 lbs. with out insert
Match-to-Automobile:
Recline angle indicator – There’s a recline indicator on the aspect of the bottom. Use the adjustable foot on the bottom (there are 4 positions to selected from) to attain the right angle in your car. The sunshine blue wheel ought to line up within the heart of the indicator.
Set up with LATCH – That is our most popular technique of set up with the SnugRide Lite base as a result of this base doesn’t have a lockoff. Our expertise is that it’s simpler to get a great, tight set up should you use the LATCH strap as a substitute of the seatbelt (don’t use each).
Loosen the LATCH strap first by urgent and holding the grey button on the strap whereas concurrently pulling the webbing till it’s lengthy sufficient to simply attain each LATCH anchors within the car. Route the latch strap by way of the beltpath on the bottom after which connect the two hooks on both finish to the decrease LATCH anchor bars within the car. Hooks ought to at all times connect to the LATCH bars with the hook opening dealing with down, by no means up.
Subsequent, take the unfastened tail finish of the latch strap again and convey it again into the middle of the belt path. Pull the strap to tighten whereas additionally pushing down on the bottom. SnugRide bases have at all times been simple to put in rock-solid with LATCH as soon as you already know the trick about pulling the latch strap in the direction of the middle and never from the aspect.
One essential be aware – Graco latch straps may be very troublesome to loosen should you get them tremendous tight so don’t go loopy tightening the latch strap. Simply get it tight sufficient in order that the bottom doesn’t transfer greater than 1″ from side-to-side if you verify for tightness on the beltpath.
Set up with seatbelt – The SnugRide 35 Lite LX may be put in with a seatbelt; nevertheless, this seat does NOT have a built-in lockoff so it’s crucial to grasp how your seatbelt locks should you’re going to put in with seatbelt as a substitute of with decrease LATCH anchors (bear in mind – decide one technique or the opposite however don’t use LATCH and seatbelt collectively).
All automobiles made after 1996 have seat belts that may lock in a roundabout way to carry a carseat tightly in place throughout routine driving. Most automobiles have “switchable retractors” which suggests the seatbelt locks should you pull the shoulder belt all the way in which out till you attain the tip. It’s essential to grasp how these options work prior to installing this carseat with a seat belt. See your car’s proprietor’s handbook for particular data on tips on how to set up a carseat in your car utilizing the seat belt.
Heart LATCH set up with non-standard spacing:
All Graco SnugRide Lite bases (normal & LX model) enable LATCH set up within the heart seating place if the car producer permits it and if the decrease anchor spacing between the two anchor bars is 11” or larger.
Inflatable Seat Belts
Graco has decided that NONE of their toddler seat bases may be put in with inflatable seat belts present in some Ford Motor Firm and Mercedes automobiles. You need to use LATCH to put in a SnugRide base in these automobiles. Nonetheless, should you select to put in your SnugRide with out the bottom, it’s possible you’ll use a Ford inflatable seat belt to take action.
Set up with out base – The SnugRide 35 Lite LX may be put in safely with out the bottom utilizing the standard belt routing technique OR the Euro routing technique. Utilizing the stsandard technique, the service is secured on to the car with the lap portion of the seatbelt (do NOT place the shoulder belt by way of the belt path). That is very useful should you’re touring by taxi or airplane. No must lug the bottom round with you! Nonetheless, you need to know tips on how to lock the seatbelt within the car by which you’re going to be using.
With the Euro belt routing technique, the lap belt goes by way of the belt path, throughout the highest of the service, and the shoulder belt routes behind the again of the seat. This often ensures a really steady set up and may be useful in a frontal crash.
Match-to-Youngster:
These are the one fashions I may scrounge up in the mean time. And I’ve principally given up on the sofa cushion. Lol.
Head and Physique Help Inserts:
The decrease physique suppor
t insert (which works underneath the child’s backside) has a weight restrict and should be eliminated when your little one reaches 12 lbs.
As you may see within the pics beneath, the SnugRide 35 Lite LX matches the preemie doll nicely with a rolled washcloth within the crotch space to forestall sliding down. Blankets or different padding ought to NEVER be added behind a baby, it doesn’t matter what. It additionally matches common newborns nicely, like Romeo, my facial-haired 20″ doll pictured beneath as nicely.
When utilizing the underside two harness slots, the harness should be connected to the metallic splitter plate utilizing the UPPER loops, which makes the harness shorter. When utilizing the highest two harness slots, the harness should be connected to the splitter plate utilizing the underside loops, making the harness longer for older kids. The labeling on the underside of the service may be very clear—so superior!
Cowl/Ease of Use/Upkeep:
The SnugRide 35 Lite LX cowl is bathe cap-style, however you’ll have to slide the harness straps by way of the slots to take away it. I recommend taking a pic along with your telephone of the splitter plate on the again of the seat so that you bear in mind tips on how to put the harness again on when it’s time to rethread the harness. No must take away the cover—simply shove all of it the way in which again. Machine wash light cycle on chilly and air dry. When you’re in a rush, roll it in a towel and place in entrance of a fan and it shouldn’t take too lengthy. Comply with the identical directions in case your cover must be cleaned.
The quilt harness slots don’t line up with the harness slots within the shell, which may lead dad and mom to route the harness by way of the incorrect slots within the shell as they re-thread the harness. So long as you might be cautious when re-threading the harness, this shouldn’t be an issue.
To wash the harness, wipe with a moist washcloth and lay flat to dry. DO NOT wash within the washer or use chemical substances on it.
FAA-Approval/Lifespan/Crash Pointers:
- FAA licensed to be used on airplanes
- 7-year lifespan earlier than expiration
- Should be changed after any crash
Stroller Compatibility:
To discover a stroller suitable with the SnugRide 35 Lite LX, head on over to the Graco web site and comply with the Merchandise hyperlink to Strollers. All Graco strollers that may be paired with a automotive seat will work with the SnugRide 35 Lite.
Adapters can be found to be used with sure strollers from Child Jogger, phil&teds, Mountain Buggy, BOB, Joovy, Bumbleride, and Contours. Some dad and mom favor to not create a journey system from the beginning and use a stroller body, pushing aside shopping for a much bigger stroller till their little one is older, which isn’t such a foul thought. This lets you spend extra time researching your likes and dislikes and listen to from dad and mom who’ve spent the large bucks on their strollers already to appreciate that spending over $300 might not essentially be such a foul thought (want I had put more cash right into a stroller when my children had been younger!). The Graco SnugRider Elite is a stroller body that’s suitable with all Graco toddler seats.
Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX Benefits:
- Very light-weight service
- Thick EPS foam
- Euro belt path allowed when put in with out the bottom
- 4-position base
- Appropriate with all Click on Join and SnugLock bases
- Suits small newborns nicely
- 2 crotch strap/buckle positions
- Giant cover
- Straightforward to take away cowl
- Cowl is mechanically cleanable
- Appropriate with many premium model strollers
Disadvantages:
(In equity, these aren’t essentially issues however I checklist them right here to tell potential customers of particular SnugRide 35 Lite LX points)
- Lacks a no-rethread harness—which actually isn’t an enormous deal for a rear-facing solely toddler seat, it simply signifies that you need to detach the harness from the splitter plate and route the straps by way of the subsequent set of harness slots as child grows. The trade-off is that the harness may be very simple to tighten and loosen, and the service is light-weight.
- Toddler inserts usually are not substantial
- Lacks lockoff gadget for tremendous simple seatbelt installations
- Primary hook-style LATCH attachments and the LATCH strap may be very troublesome to loosen
Primary Toddler Seat Security
Toddler seats are so commonplace that oldsters usually copy what different dad and mom are doing with their seats. I do know my husband and I did and that may be harmful, particularly when misuse charges high 90%. I’ve already coated a number of the fundamentals above relating to match to your car and little one. So what do you see on the grocery retailer that you just shouldn’t copy your self?
- Don’t put the service on high of a procuring cart
- Every time the kid is within the service, at all times buckle all the harness and tighten it
- Some dad and mom unbuckle the crotch buckles when in a retailer or will solely buckle the chest clip when buckling in child, however that piece of plastic isn’t designed to resist crash forces. Infants may also wiggle down within the seat and strangle on the chest clip.
- Don’t go away the kid within the service to sleep
- Research have proven that infants desat, or have a discount in oxygen once they sleep for too lengthy in toddler seats.
Conclusion:
Graco has been making the SnugRide for many years and has it all the way down to an artwork with their rear-facing solely seats. The carriers are light-weight and the bottom is simple to put in accurately, particularly with LATCH. The harness adjuster is clean and dependable and it’s doubtless that you could find a stroller to satisfy your wants to make use of along with your SnugRide 35 Lite LX should you want a journey system. The Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX is a superb rear-facing solely toddler seat that gives wonderful options for a improbable value.
For extra data on the Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX, go to Graco’s web site: https://www.gracobaby.com/en-US/Toddler-Automotive-Seats/snugride-35-lite-lx
Thanks to Graco for offering the SnugRide 35 Lite LX pattern for this assessment. No different compensation was supplied. All opinions expressed are these of CarseatBlog.
