Chicco Cortina travel system - Discovery - Any Reviews?

[Spart02]

I am considering buying the Chicco Cortina travel system - Discovery from Babies R Us, but have found very few reviews of the product. Does anyone have any experience with this product? Here's the link:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/inde...&cp=2255983.2256189.2256206&parentPage=family

Any positives or negatives that you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[NotUrsula]

As a general rule, Chicco products are excellent quality, but I don't have experience with this particular model.

I personally HATE travel systems, though -- I think that it makes more sense to buy a stroller you like and a carseat you like, rather than compromising on either one so that you can get a set. Most babies outgrow infant carseats by about 5 months, so if the stroller is too heavy for extended use by toddlers, then you'll have to buy another one.

 

[NY Disney fan]

I have the Chicco Sahara travel system and I LOVE the stroller but not crazy about the car seat. The stroller opens and closes with one hand and a flick of the wrist. Easy, easy, easy. Yes, its a big bulky stroller but very comfortable and the seat reclines 100%. Great for malls.

The car seat is ok. Not crazy about the straps. My dd is 4.5 months and she is seriously growing out of it. I can barely fit her in there if she has a snowsuit on or heavy coat. Her arms barely go through the straps. Its great for tiny infants (up to 15lbs.) but over that its too darn small.

I agree with the person above me. I'm not a fan of travel systems. Go with one great stroller and a car seat you really like.

Edited to add: I just read on one of the reviews that the baby might be more comfortable if you removed the carseat interior (padding), so I will try that.

This is the one I have:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/inde...&cp=2255983.2256189.2256206&parentPage=family

 

[NY Disney fan]

I have to update my original post because I just went into the garage after I wrote my post to fiddle with the carseat. I took the inner cushion off and discovered that there is tons more room in the seat! When I did this I discovered different levels for the seat belt which I never knew before! Now I have tons more room for her.

Gee, why didn't I do this before???

 

[GrumpyMom1]

We have the Cortina travel system in Sahara and love both the stroller and the carseat. My dd is 6 months and about 16 pounds and isn't even close to growing out of the carseat. The infant insert is wonderful for newborns but should only be used until the baby is 11 or 12 pounds. The stroller opens and closes very easily and is very easy to maneuver.

We are shopping for an umbrella stroller right now but only because we don't want to take the Cortina to WDW in August.

 

[Spart02]

Thanks everyone! Being that it's the most expensive carseat/stroller combo in the store, I wanted to get many opinions about it before we rushed right out and bought it. It really helps hearing from everyone!

 

[NotUrsula]

Well, whatever you decide, don't limit your choices to your local store. You will almost always be able to find a better price and avoid sales tax by buying nursery goods online.

If you really want to do some serious stroller comparisons, go take a look at Strollerqueen's website. www.strollerqueen.com If it rolls, I guarantee you that Janet has tested it.

 

[PrincessPoohsMom]

I also have the Cortina system in Sahara and it's been great. The stroller does fold easily, but I did find that the carseat was a bit heavier than some of my friends'. As PP's mentioned, travel systems don't necessarily last for long. DD is a big girl (28 inches and 17 pounds at only 4 months!) so she graduated to an infant/toddler convertible carseat this past weekend, mostly because I was having trouble lifting her in & out of the car. But IMO you can't put a price on being able to remove a sleeping baby from the car, snap her in the stroller, and take her inside without having to wake her. A MAJOR motivator for me to just swallow the cost and get a travel system.