These baby seat systems that lock into a bunch of other things like strollers and travel systems seem pretty involved. There are lots of versions and revisions within a single system and the systems themselves are not cross compatible. Infant car seats are really what I am talking about.

I looked at the store and found that I really like the Graco Click Connect system. Compared to every other system, the locking mechanism is the clearest and most obvious. It is just under the release lever. It is very obvious and direct. A lot of the other systems have the attachment mechanism on the bottom side where you can’t see anything.

I wound up with a Chicco Keyfit 30 infant baby seat. By many measures, it is a better seat. I was reading reviews from a website I found very entertaining and this one is pricier, fancier and better than any Graco. Graco is apparently an economy brand. While I appreciated the review, especially the writing and how system orientated it was, it didn’t ever mention the locking mechanism. Buy maybe that is because it doesn’t really matter.

The site was http://www.lucieslist.com/. I found it VERY helpful for not just the seat but for the whole process of having a baby. It was very comprehensive and the writing is fantastic.

Update 2016.04.23: It turns out after using 2 systems for a while that I totally had my concerns wrong.

1. The system rarely is used. I mean I only use the car seat and seat base. And once every two months I put the car seat into a light stroller frame. I think we used the big stroller frame once. My concerns about how well the seat latches to random things was misguided.
2. Weight matters. I like how light and better built the Chicco is.
3. The sunshade matters. The Graco sunshade is kinda loose and feels crappy but it provides MUCH better coverage. The Chicco is sewn in and feels quality but doesn’t cover the baby’s head enough.
4. Size matters. The Graco is big and heavy. But with the amazing BundleMe, it is the only one that I expect our chubby baby to fit reasonably. The BundleMe is so important that I cannot imagine how painful taking the baby around would be without it. So the car seat needs to fit baby and BundleMe.

Which would I buy with the experience I have? I think the Graco. I think the Graco even if the price was the same. And I would continue to lust after the build quality of the Chicco while struggling with the weight. But the Graco.