The Graco SnugFit 35 DLX Infant Car Seat brings an innovative car seat to the market with impressive features. From an anti-rebound bar to a silent canopy, this car seat offers function to parenting. It’s a little pricey but well worth it when you take a look at the features.
Highlights of the Graco SnugFit 35 DLX Infant Car Seat
Graco makes so many car seats it can be overwhelming to look at all the options. We love this newest option as it combines a few key features for one incredible car seat to make life comfortable for babies and easy to use for parents. Let’s take a look at what makes the Graco SnugFit 35 DLX tick.
Basics
While the fabric is nothing to get excited about, and neither are the color options, the car seat uses a soft and quality material. If you are looking for a breathable car seat, though, this is not the best option as the fabric does not breathe. Don’t worry, this is one of the very few downfalls with this car seat.
What’s great about the car seat is it works with babies as small as four pounds and all the way up to 35 pounds or 32 inches tall. If you have a preemie, you can use this seat which can prevent running out for a new car seat if you end up with a surprise preemie.
The car seat is light too at just 10 pounds. This is definitely on the low side for infant car seats, making it much easier to carry your baby.
Also, the car seat is easy to wash. The seat pad can go in the washing machine and then drip dry. Everything else requires a surface clean but still is a manageable job.
Infant Insert
The SnugFit 35 DLX includes a premium head support that acts as an infant insert. Use it for the first couple of months to keep your baby more supported for their newborn stage. it’s easy to remove the single-piece item
Canopy
Most canopies on infant car seats tend to be loud when opened or closed. Not this one, it’s intentionally made to be quiet to not disturb your baby. Also, you can adjust the canopy with a single hand making it an effortless addition to the car seat and your life.
It does not have a peek-a-boo window which would be a nice addition, especially when the car seat is in a stroller. However, the fabric is breathable, so your baby can have it up for protection without overheating. It provides protection for the elements, too, and offers your baby some privacy.
Handle
The comfort grip handle is a thing of beauty. You can adjust it with one hand on the button at the center instead of with two hands on either side. It’s so easy to adjust, you can do so when twisting in the front seat of the car to reach behind you!
Moreover, the gripping material makes it more comfortable to hold the handle and carry your baby around. The only issue is your hand will bump into the canopy when you thread your arm through to hold the handle in the crook of your elbow. Not a big deal, honestly, but it would be nice to have a little extra space there.
Harness and Headrest
The harness and headrest work together to create another incredible feature. A few other car seats offer this option, but often it drives the price up much more drastically than with the Graco SnugFit 35 DLX.
Not many infant car seats have an adjustable headrest; you have to get a convertible or all-in-one car seat to get this feature normally. This feature is included with this unique car seat.
Moreover, the headrest and harness go up together to fit your baby without needing to rethread the harness! Hello, lifesaver and happiness! There is nothing worse than having to rethread a car seat in the baby world.
Extra padding on the harness keeps your baby comfy, and an extra clip on the front centers the five-point harness on your baby’s chest in the correct position.
Additionally, another great feature is the car seat has built-in pockets to keep the harness out of the way while you put your baby in or take your baby out of the car seat.
Base
Babies are safest in the car when rear-facing and even safer with an anti-rebound bar. The bar adds an extra layer of protection and sturdiness to ensure your baby is protected if something goes wrong on the road. It limits rotation of the seat in the event of an accident or impact.
The rest of the base is simple to use too. As a matter of fact, you can set the base up in under a minute, whether using the LATCH system or the cars seatbelt. It’s really that simple and takes very little time to ensure the proper fit in your car.
Moreover, the base is adjustable with five recline positions to ensure the proper fit for your vehicle. No need to spend an hour or more trying to get the right fit! Check the bubble indicator to make sure the seat is level and you are done!
When in doubt, use the car seat stickers on both the base and the seat frame to ensure you are following the instructions. It’s a simple click to get the car seat into the base too.
Finally, the car seat includes Protect Plus Engineering, which is a combination of rigorous crash tests to protect babies in front, side, rear, or rollover crashes. Snuglock technology allows for fast and secure installation. InRight LATCH makes for even faster latching to the car.
Compatibility
Use the easy-click connections to use this car seat with any Graco stroller that uses a one-step secure connection. It’s an easy process you will love. Also, Graco offers a wide range of strollers, so you can find exactly the right option for your family.
Specifications
- Works for infants from 4 pounds to 35 pounds or 32 inches tall.
- Measures 17.5 inches allowing it to work for three children across
- Weighs 10 pounds
- Includes a base with an anti-rebound bar
- Safety tested
Pros
- Lightweight
- Great for preemies
- Easy to wash insert
- Buckle pocket
- 5 Position recline
- No re-thread
- 1 Minute installation
- Adjustable headrest
Cons
- The seat fabric is not breathable
- When hand carrying the car seat with arm linked in the handle, your arm pushes on the canopy.
- The head support is very firm instead of plush
Full Video Review of the Snugfit 35 DLX
How the Snugfit 35 DLX Compares to Competitors
SnugFit 35 DLX vs. Baby Jogger City Go Air
The main difference between the Snugfit 35 DLX and the Baby Jogger City Go Air car seats is how the rebound bar installs. Otherwise, they are extremely similar. However, the Baby Jogger City Go Air is lighter at just 8 pounds instead of 10 like the 35 DLX.
Furthermore, the canopy on the Graco car seat is a dramatic improvement over the Baby Jogger option. The City Go Air’s canopy detaches and makes noise while the Graco one is silent and less in the way.
The main difference, though, is the adjustable headrest on the Graco car seat which you do not get on the Baby Jogger. Also, the price on the City Go Air is much higher.
SnugFit 35 DLX vs. Britax B-Safe Gen 2
The Britax B-Safe Gen 2 costs a significantly higher price than the SnugFit 35 DLX and does not include an anti-rebound bar. However, it does include a SafeCell crumple zone for protection in the event of a crash. Both are wonderful, you would need to decide which works best for you.
We love that both of these options work for the same weights and heights and several recline positions. Neither requires rethreading, and they both include adjustable headrests!
Britax wins in the cleaning department as the cover can go in both the washing machine and the dryer. Also, they offer a buckle pad for crotch protection. Graco wins with pockets to keep the buckle out of the way.
If you want the crumple zone protection and the rebound bar you can get the B-Safe Gen 2 FlexFit.
SnugFit 35 DLX vs. KeyFit 35
Chicco makes an exceptional car seat similar to the Snugfit 35 DLX. With the Chicco Keyfit 35, you get a car seat with an extendable headrest and no-rethread harness just like with Graco’s but with a slightly higher price. Both car setas way the same and come with an anti-rebound bar, both with easy installation.
The main difference is Chicco claims their anti-rebound bar provides extended legroom. This can allow for a longer time rear-facing. Also, their carrier can be used without the base if you need to travel in a different vehicle, which is possible with the Graco car seat but not as easy.
Finally, Chicco’s canopy offers more coverage but isn’t as quiet as the Graco option.
Final Thoughts About the SnugFit 35 DLX Infant Car Seat
The Graco SnugFit 35 DLX Infant Car Seat offers wonderful features ready to make taking care of an infant easier. From a quiet canopy to pockets for the buckle, it’s meant for real people and babies. The only flaws are minor at best, with a firm infant insert and a larger canopy.
Overall, this is a fantastic car seat with high end options in an affordable price range. Keep your baby safe with an anti-rebound bar and comfortable with an adjustable headrest.
