Introducing…The New Graco Snugride Click Connect 40!

Every once in a while, I get REALLY lucky.

A few weeks ago, an email was sent out from SITS that asked if anyone would like to participate in a blogger event for Graco.  As you all know, I have been on a bit of a hiatus in regards to blogging, but I since I’m trying to get back in the swing of things, I thought I would sign up in hopes I would get an invite to the event.

Getouttatown, I got one!

So, this past Saturday, I battled TCU football traffic and  headed on down to the Babies R Us at Hulen Mall to check out the premier of the new Graco Snugride Click Connect 40 carseat.  I must say, I was pretty darn impressed.

See, this is what Baby C has been riding in for the past eleven months :

For the record, I love this carseat.  We bought it before J3 was born and I searched high and low for the perfect gender-neutral pattern that fit the rest of our decor.  Since I have an undying love for most things red, this was the perfect option.  Of course, it’s part of the Graco Travel System, so it includes a matching stroller.  *LOVE*  Alas, it IS over three years old and no matter what I do, it smells of sour milk and spit up.  Yuck.  That is reason alone to start thinking about another seat…and why not preview the latest thing on the market?

Amy of Oh So Savvy Mom and Melissa of Home Grown Families were kind enough to host the event, and Amy, at six months pregnant, did a stellar job of educating the group of us in attendance (although I had a minor heart attack when she lifted the stroller up off the table and on to the ground…).  Here’s a peek at the amazing new seat…

 

 

One of the coolest features of this seat is that it’s the only rear-facing newborn to two-year old infant car seat on the market.  Meaning, your baby can stay rear facing until they’re TWO (or 40 pounds).  When J3 was 19 months old I gave in and turned him around because he had to twist himself up like a pretzel due to his freakishly long legs.  Not with this seat!  Why?  Because it reclines!

This big, bad boy has eight recline positions that allow your little one to kick back and relax without taking up any more room in your backseat.  For someone who is already having to move their seat forward to make room for a carseat, that feature is awesome!

So is this feature…

It has this cool little footrest that pops up so that your little one doesn’t mangle your seats.  I already have all kinds of nasty stuff on my seats from Baby C, and let me tell you, spit up looks incredibly gross on black leather.

Another cool feature of this seat is the head rest.  When we moved up to a front-facing seat for J3, we bought a (shhhh) Britax because we didn’t feel there was enough head protection in the Graco seats.  Well, that is no longer the case.  There is ample protection and these seats have been through a multitude of tests to measure their safety.  Not to mention that head rest moves with the twist of a knob.

Another awesome feature?  No more having to re-thread the harness if you move anything or if you wash the covers.  It’s all adjustable from the back.

Last, but not least, I really love the colors.  The Mena pattern is more for girls, but the Moonstruck pattern is perfect for a boy and also works for a gender neutral seat.

This seat is sold exclusively at Babies R Us, and if you’d like more information, check out Graco’s Product Page for the specifics.

Now for the super-coolest part of them all…

At this VIP event, Graco was kind enough to give away a car seat to one lucky participant from each session.  Of course, I entered because as mentioned above, Baby C needs a new ride!  So when Amy called my name as the winner of one of the new Snugride Click Connect 40’s, I think my jaw hit the floor.  I sat there for a second before it kicked in and then I squealed like a stuck pig.  Because I WON. A. NEW. CARSEAT.

Holy cow!

So, yes, I won a car seat, but that in no way, shape, or form had anything to do with my review.  I was planning on going home and begging J2 for permission to buy this seat when Baby C outgrew his current one.  But now C gets to ride in style!  Of course, I’ll be following about six months after I receive the seat with a more in-depth review, but until then, if you have questions about how I like the seat, just drop me a line (email, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, however…)

Thanks again to Graco for such an awesome event and to Amy and Melissa for being such gracious hosts (not to mention is was wonderful to meet them each in person!!)  Now…if you’re looking for a new car seat, go check out the Snugride Click Connect 40!!