The Sit 'n' Stroll: a car seat, stroller,
dining booster in one.
- Rear-facing 5 to 30 lbs.
- Forward-facing 20 to 40 lbs.
- FAA-certified for flying
- Weighs 16.5 lbs.
Find it online at:
Amazon.com
Elite Car Seats
One Step Ahead
Steering handle shown in down position. Below
that, the handle squeezed and slid down (as shown) to deploy wheel
mechanism, or squeezed and pulled up to retract wheels.
Wheels extended, small hard-plastic storage
compartment.
Guides for seatbelt or LATCH, with
forward-facing guide above and rear-facing belt slot below it.
Installed rear-facing with seatbelt.
Overhead of seatbelt through rear-facing belt guides.
Forward-facing belt path.
Comfy 5 pt. safety harness.
Shown in profile with optional sun / rain
canopy.
Shown with canopy--low clearance for the
taller child, but we don't hear any complaints.
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I am often asked by
parents facing travel if I recommend the Sit 'N' Stroll,
or feel it's "worth the money." I've used the Sit 'N' Stroll
with each of my children at various times, and have
experienced using it with an infant, a toddler, and on up to
4 years. As well, I've used other car seats during our
travels, so I feel I can make a pretty fair comparison of
the options. I can certainly offer some insights that might
help you make the decision for yourself.
For around $230, you get a
convertible car seat that you can use rear-facing with
infants from 5 lbs to 30 lbs, and use forward-facing for
toddlers up to 40 lbs. The car seat converts to a light-use
stroller (see details below) when desired, and may also be
used as a dining booster, thanks to its flat bottom that
sits fairly well on restaurant chairs. The Sit N Stroll now
comes standard with the retractable canopy, which I've found
to be a great help in the car and also on airplanes--it
helps keep reading lights and undesirable air currents off
snoozing kiddos.
Don't be surprised.
There are a few details that
may not be glaringly obvious as you contemplate purchasing the Sit N
Stroll. I, myself, was surprised to learn that I am supposed
to "back it" up and down curbs, rather than bear down on the
handlebar like you would with your regular stroller. In
short, this means tipping your child forward to get the back
wheels up a curb or step, and that does feel a little
strange--especially with infants. But while the manufacturer
advises this, I will admit I have pushed my luck with this
on many occasions, though not with a load over 26 lbs., and
have not yet had a problem.
On airplanes, you will need
to ask for a seatbelt extender, though this has never been a
problem for us. I just make a habit of asking the first
flight attendant I see as we board the aircraft, and they
usually have one to us as we're settling into our seats.
Usually, we need to twist the seatbelt over in one place to
keep the latch on the underside of the belt--else wise it's
very easy for a toddler to unbuckle.
The "Flex Grip" steering is
not appreciated by some people, but I have no complaints. In
fact, I feel it steers very nicely on most sidewalks, even
one-handed, which is important to me since my other hand is
often holding onto my other child.
Comparably priced to the Britax
Roundabout, the Sit 'n' Stroll combination car
seat / stroller is a bit pricey for most parents to
consider just for vacation use. So I am giving my two cents here to
help you in case you're considering buying one.
My short answer is, I don't
think it's right for everyone. Frankly, as clever as the design
is, the Sit 'n' Stroll is not necessarily going to be the stroller
you'll want while out sightseeing anyway.
That said, I'm absolutely in
love with my Sit 'N' Stroll, and not just because I can
wheel it through the airport. But as we tested out the
Sit 'n' Stroll, with both a baby and toddler, we quickly
discovered it may have missed its true calling--at least as far as
its marketing is concerned.
Forget about your trip to Tahiti.
This is the car seat you want right here at home.
The dream car seat for running
errands
Many parents lament the day their
child outgrows his infant car seat, that little convenience that
snaps in and out of the car so easily, that also snaps in and out of
the stroller frame (e.g. Snap 'N Go) as you run errands without
disrupting his peaceful slumbers. Add to that a handy canopy to
shield sensitive eyes and skin from sun, and it's indeed a great
convenience both in and out of the car.
By popular demand, car seat
manufacturers have increased height and weight limits on these car
seats just so parents can enjoy that convenience even longer before
finally, inevitably, having to switch to a convertible car
seat--from which they must always remove the baby when leaving the
car.
Not so with the Sit 'n' Stroll.
Babies and toddlers stay buckled in as wheels pop out--yes, you
don't even need to go to the trunk to get your stroller (you might
not even have to keep a stroller in your trunk anymore). Squeeze the little red levers, pull up the handle, and
shout "Sit 'n' Stroll activate!" And, yes, it even has a
retractable
canopy you can add to use for shade in the car and while strolling
(sometimes included as a package).
Other great applications for the
Sit 'n' Stroll
Flying - Okay, it is awfully nice
to get through airport security with one less piece of equipment
(even if you bring your travel stroller, you can check it at the
front counter). Rolling a car seat to the gate with your child
in it also takes care of a couple logistical challenges, as
well. Just don't expect to roll the Sit 'n' Stroll down the
aisle of any aircraft smaller than a 747. On the bright side,
it's made to be lifted and lugged with a child in it, so if you
must carry them both down the aisle, you will at least have a
relatively lightweight car seat with two good handles to hold on
to.
Dining - The Sit 'n' Stroll is
also designed to work as a dining booster, and does feel fairly
solid resting on a variety of chair seats and benches. This can
be especially helpful when your baby is not yet ready to use
standard-issue restaurant high chairs. The plush cover repels
food and liquids fairly well, but there may be phases you'd
rather not have your child feast in the seat. If he does, a good
plastic or vinyl bib that covers straps and buckles may be helpful. Since
it does not strap to chairs, you will want to practice extra
caution when using it in restaurants.
Taking a taxi - One of the
Sit 'n' Stroll's big claims to fame is the ability to strap it
into a taxi cab quickly, then pop it out and roll. Having the
belt path rout around the car seat rather than through slots in
the seat (rear facing) or in the back of the car seat (forward
facing) does indeed simplify installation of the car seat in
unfamiliar cars.
Cruising - If ever there
were a convenient time to have three pieces of baby gear in one,
a cruise is it. No more worries about whether or not to bring
along the car seat, and / or the stroller, and / or a dining
booster--and where they will all fit in your cramped quarters at
sea. The Sit 'n' Stroll provides just what you need for pleasant
strolls on deck, light sightseeing, and even touring when you
decide to grab a taxi at your port. In your cabin, it also
works as a handy seat for your child.
My favorite moments with the Sit
'n' Stroll
Election Day - We arrive by car, baby
snoozing in her car seat. I extend the stroller wheels to roll on in
to our polling place. In line, she snoozes peacefully in the
stroller-car seat. Finally, I roll on over to my voting booth, and
guess what? The Sit 'n' Stroll fits perfectly beneath my booth, with
handle pushed down. Fellow voters watch in awe, commenting, "I sure
wish I'd had something like that back when I had little ones!"
Favorite Mexican Restaurant - A short
wait for our table? No problem. Baby rests in her car seat-stroller
until it's our turn to be seated. We roll her through the restaurant
in between the tables until arriving at ours. Handle down, lift her
up, wheels retract, and the Sit 'n' Stroll is placed on a chair.
Voila. Dining booster.
Quick Trip to the Post Office -
Hurry, scurry, a trip to the Post Office, quick before they close.
No need to fuss with getting the stroller out of the trunk or the
front pack carrier, or un-strapping the child from the car seat and
struggling through protests of strapping her in to another
conveyance--only to repeat the procedure after mailing my package. I
just open the door, lift out the baby in her seat, extend wheels,
and roll on in!
The afternoon nap - The drive-induced
nap continues on after rolling the baby in and parking her in a
quiet corner next to the sofa where I, too, catch a few zzzzs.
But how does it really work?
In the rear-facing position, your
seatbelt goes through guides just as it would
when using an infant carrier car seat without its base. In the
forward-facing position, the seatbelt uses a different set of
guides, but the seatbelt still buckles around it rather than through
the back, facilitating simpler, quicker installation and removal.
When you get to your destination:
- Unbuckle the seatbelt and take
hold of the car seat's two handles with each hand--one just
under the front of the seat, the other on the seat's back.
- Lift the seat out of the car and
squeeze the handle on the back, then push it downward until it
clicks, indicating the wheels are out and locked.
- Set the seat down on its wheels
and squeeze the red levers together while pulling up the handle
to the desired height.
When you return to your car:
- Squeeze the small red levers
together to push the handle back down.
- Lift the seat by the same
handles, this time squeezing the handle on the back and pulling
up to retract the wheels.
- Set the Sit 'n' Stroll on your
car's seat and buckle the seat belt around it once more, pulling
the seatbelt to ensure it's snug.
Note: The wheels must be extended and
retracted while the seat is being held in the air--not while it is
sitting on a surface (the ground, etc.).
Still, it isn't perfect.
There is definitely a learning curve
one masters before using the Sit 'n' Stroll with grace, and you
would be wise to practice extending the wheels into locked
position--and testing it to be sure--a few times to familiarize
yourself with the process before doing so with your child strapped
in.
When using this car seats with
infants, which you can do from 5 lbs, you will most likely want to
use a Sit Rite Leveler (see our
recommended car seat accessories) or
a rolled-up towel to help achieve a sufficient recline. Once your baby
is old enough to support her head well, the seat's normal recline
should be adequate.
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In
the car - Use a Sit Rite leveler or rolled towel to help infants
recline. When using the seat rear-facing, slip a baby-safe travel
toy with link over the seatbelt where it crosses over her lap. If
your car has very slippery leather seats, you may want to use a
square of non-slip drawer liner beneath the car seat to help hold it
in place during installations.
