The Baby Jogger City GO AIR Infant Car Seat has a lot of really well-thought-out features and one minor problem. Overall, the car seat brings valuable options to the infant car seat market, but the canopy needs a little work. What’s amazing about this option is how easy it is to use without the base, and the base is pretty amazing too!
Highlights of the City GO AIR Infant Car Seat
If you thought all car seats were the same, think again. The Baby Jogger City GO AIR brings a unique set of features, making it a fabulous option for first-time or experienced parents. Let’s take a look at the great features and the one minor problem.
One of the best features is the lightweight design. Most infant car seats weigh around 10 to 12 pounds, while this one weighs only 8 pounds. Once you add in an infant, the weight goes up, of course, but those fewer pounds definitely make it more comfortable to carry your baby in their car seat.
Base
Ever wonder if the car seat base is in the car correctly, so your baby doesn’t sway while you take a turn? No need to worry, thanks to a Rapidlock base belt-tensioning technology! You can use this technology with the vehicle seat belt or the LATCH system.
The car seat even includes a Securestop anti-rebound bar to reduce rearward movement in a frontal collision. Moreover, the base includes four positions to ensure a proper, level fit in your vehicle. Two green bubble levels on the sides ensure you get a proper fit without having to drag out the toolbox.
All these pieces work together to ensure the car seat stays exactly safe and secure in the back seat. Remember, as with all infant car seats, this one needs to be in the rear-facing position. You can get a mirror to help you see your baby better if necessary.
Fabric
While the color options are quite boring in a granite gray or deep blue, the fabric offers a lux ride for your baby. The fabric is soft, supple, and oh so snugly – just what a baby needs for comfort. Keep the softness as the same fabric extends to the canopy, but of course, your baby won’t be sleeping on the canopy!
Also, the fabric extends to the shoulder straps and even to the crotch buckle. Not many car sets offer padded fabric around the buckle to keep babies cozier. This also helps with buckling too!
Handle
Handles need to be comfortable and easy to use. This one flicks down quickly and out of the way to add protection and ease of use. Pull your baby out quickly with the bar out of the way.
A grip on the top makes it easier to carry. However, the handle isn’t necessarily ergonomic but does not get in the way. It’s the lightweight frame coupled with the easy-to-hold handle that helps to keep the infant car seat easy to carry.
Also, the canopy holds up with strings on the handle, which can make it frustrating to carry.
Infant Insert
A removable infant insert makes the car seat more snugly and comfortably for the tiniest infants. The fabric is lined to keep its shape and extra roomy and padded. What’s unique about this option is the bottom and the top separate for better positioning.
The fabric with OptiVent performance fabrics to keep your baby from overheating. Unlike the fabric on the main car seat, the infant insert comes in a lighter gray making it easy to remove.
However, it does not attach to anything, including the bottom of the insert, which makes it pliable but also less structured. Baby Jogger should have added velcro or something to ensure it’s securely connected and doesn’t pose a safety hazard.
Harness
A five-point harness keeps your baby tucked in tightly to the car seat, all with an easy to snap buckle. Simply push in the red button to loosen the buckle too. A clip on the front keeps the seat belt positioned correctly on the baby’s chest while padding keeps it comfortable as babies often sleep on their shoulders.
Canopy
We both love and hate the canopy. First, the canopy has little clips to connect it to the handle. However, once you put the handle on your arm, the canopy clips come off, and then it flops back to the base.
Furthermore, the canopy does not have a lot of structure either, nor does it have a peek-a-boo window. While not a necessity, a little mesh window would make visibility better in a stroller.
However, the magic of this car seat is the Flex Shade Canopy Drape. This is fabric you can tuck away safely into the canopy and then pull out to slip completely over the car seat.
Don’t the fabric is extremely breathable and includes open mesh on the sides to allow your baby fresh air. No matter the weather, you can protect your baby with this canopy drape and tuck it out of the way when you need it out of the way. If you don’t want to show your baby off or they are sleeping, turn their car seat into a private suite.
Using in Other Vehicles
Use the car seat without the base for travel in other vehicles. Whether taking an Uber to the airport or Grandma is taking the baby for a ride, you can buckle this seat into a car without the base and still enjoy an easy and secure installation.
Mind you, the car seat does not have the rebound bar without the base. However, it’s still extremely safe with foam and a durable frame.
Installing The Car Seat
Installing the car seat is an easy process with an extra step. Use the wording on the base and the colored parts to ensure the right fit with the seat belt or the latch system. After, lock the rebound bar into place once the car seat base is correctly leveled.
Next, you can install it easily with blue-colored indicators with a seat belt, too, without the base. Either way you install it, the car seat will be safe and securely locked into place.
Compatibility
The car seat works with any Baby Jogger Stroller. We recommend the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Stroller as it’s lightweight and offers a valuable piece of equipment to your baby days.
Baby Jogger offers an entire line of strollers ready to fit any lifestyle and most budgets too. Find ultra-compact, everyday, all-terrain, jogging, and even double strollers.
Maintenance
You can wash the seat and the canopy in the washing machine on gentle and then air dry. Surface wash the rest, including the harness.
Specifications
- Use from 4 lbs to 35 lbs or up to 32 inches
- Car seat weights 8 pounds
- Latch System
- Polyester Material
- Includes a base, car seat, infant insert
- EPP energy absorbing foam
Pros
- Flex Shade Canopy Extension completely covers your baby in mesh
- Four-position recline for a proper and level installation into the car
- RapidLock technology
- 3 Ways to ride
- Anti-Rebound Bar in the base for safety
- Extremely lightweight car seat at only 8 pounds
- Easy to adjust the harness
- Great for preemies
- Usable in with or without the base
- Two-piece infant insert
Cons
- The Canopy does not stay linked when you are holding the car seat
- If you use the infant insert top separate from the bottom, it can be a safety hazard.
Full Video Review of the Baby Jogger City GO AIR
Baby Jogger City GO AIR vs Competitors
Baby Jogger City GO AIR vs. City Go 2 Car Seat
The main difference between the car seat above and the only other car seat available from Baby Jogger is the rebound bar. With the City Go 2 car seat, you get the rebound bar in the back against the seat instead of in the front to protect against front crashes. Otherwise, the car seats are exactly the same with the same functions.
Although the City Go 2 is a little more affordable although both are rather pricy.
Baby Jogger City GO AIR vs. B-Safe Gen2
If you like Britax, the B-Safe Gen 2 Infant car seat offers a fantastic option. However, the main difference besides brand is the rebound bar. The Britax offers a gel layer for impact protection that absorbed shock energy. Both car seat s are amazing but which you prefer depends on your personal preference.
Baby Jogger City GO AIR vs. SnugRide SnugLock 35
The Graco SnugRide SnugLock 30 infant car seat (now the updated-but-same SnugRide SnugLock 35) offers a dramatically lower price than the City Go Air but does not include a rebound bar. Both offer a 4 position leveling base which is a rather unique feature, but the rebound bar in the front has an extra layer of protection. Also, the City Go Air can hold five more pounds than the SnugRide and only allows up to 30 inches in height.
Final Thoughts About the Baby Jogger City GO AIR
While the canopy sounds a bit frustrating, the two main features of this infant car seat more than makeup for a minor annoyance. Pick the Baby Jogger City GO AIR because of the front rebound bar and the Flex Shade canopy drape. No other infant car seat offers as much privacy and safety making this an incredible option you need for your new baby.
