Strollers, car seats, research...OH MY!

OVER. WHELMED. I am pretty sure that my dad and husband might be on to something when they both laughed when I told them (on separate occasions) that I'm researching the "necessities" for the upcoming mini-human.

My husband said: What? Why don't we just go to a store and BUY a car seat? What's the difference?
My dad said: Seriously? I would just go pick one out at the store.

At the time, I thought they were being plain silly. Males. Putting short-term simplicity ahead of long-term satisfaction.

But GEEZE. I'm knee-deep in reading reviews and so forth and I tell you what...I'm thinking of sending my dad AND my husband to Target and letting them pick out whatever they want.

Case in point...car seats.
I think I have indeed figured out that I need to get an infant carrier....and later upgrade to a convertible car seat (I'm reading that you make this transition at around 12-18 mos....?)...but from there, it's not clear. It seems there isn't one HUGE "heck yes, that's the carrier I need to get" feeling. I'm religiously referring to the BABY BARGAINS book and Web site (I even paid for the membership!) so the features I am gradually understanding that I want are:

--easy to install
--easy to use
--affordable (I'd like to get one no more than $175 and one cheaper than that...because ANOTHER thing I'm reading is that I will probably want two, one for each vehicle so you don't end up "screwed" if one of us leaves it in the wrong car...though I'm also toying with getting ONE and two bases...which is not an option for ALL brands...sigh...see where this is going??)
--front adjustable
--somewhat attractive looking (I'm anti super girly or masculine...and I'm against something that is super babyish)
--as light as possible (though I know the lightest ones are most likely not the best in quality)
--side-impact protection
--changes diapers for me (JUST KIDDING)

So thus far, I have it narrowed down to......


The Graco Snugride Infant Carrier (35) and the And the Chicco Keyfit 30

Let's see if I can make a decisions by talking it out with all three of my readers. (Now, here is where you would say, get one of each! And hell, I just might. But They both come in at just shy of $200 (there are a few cheaper models, but their look is so god-awful that I just can't do it.) But both come with extra bases, so maybe that is the way to go.

GRACO 32/35

PROS:

• it is front-adjustable...BUT, it's hard to tell which ones are (I read that not all are...)
• works with lots of strollers

CONs:

• No side impact protection
• Some of them are ugly. And that matters to me a bit. Not going to lie.
• it weighs 9.5 lbs sans baby

CHICO FIT 30

PROs:

• front adjustable
• cute fabrics
• better reviews (just by a bit)
• works with the stroller I think I want
• side-impact protection

CONs:

• weighs 9.4 before the bundle o' joy is in it

Ok, I think I made my choice. I think I'm going with the Chicco Keyfit 30. I think. Maybe. Yeah...that's what I'll get. I think.

EDITED the next morning: I have instead decided to get the Chicco Keyfit 30 travel system, which includes the stroller (and matches the infant carrier). So this is what I'm going with.

Also, please note, Chicco, I just learned...is pronounced KEY-CO...not Chee-Co... so get with it. ;)