EDITOR’S NOTE
The outdated Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 car seat has been replaced with the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35. The updated version does use the click connect technology to click down into the base and compatible strollers. The base uses SnugLock technology which utilizes an arm to get a secure fit of the base into your vehicle. This new lightweight car seat still measures in at a lovely 7.5 pounds for easy carrying.
The Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat weighs practically nothing, clicks into place and can be used in all Graco connect strollers. But sometimes you hear a click when the car seat isn’t attached lulling you into a false sense of security, it also wiggles and could be a few years into its 7-year lifespan upon arrival! Is this car seat worth the price tag despite the pitfalls?
Reviews
The Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat has great reviews overall. It also has enough reviews that you can read through them and get a really good sense of the quality in this car seat.
- 4.6 stars, 309 Reviews- Target
- 4.5 stars, 484 Reviews- Walmart
- 4.4 stars, 282 Reviews- Baby Center
- 4.6 stars, 281 Reviews- J.C Penny
For the full list of brand choices in this category see the best rated infant car seat reviews!
Key Features
Light Weight: The Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat is one of the lightest infant car seats around! Weighing a mere 7.5 pounds it is large but easy to handle and maneuver due to its light frame. This is an invaluable feature because it makes it much easier to carry your baby inside his or her car seat. It also makes transferring this car seat from the car base to a stroller a snap.
Clicks Into Place: As the name suggest the Graco Click Connect car seat slides into the base and clicks securely. There are no additional buttons, straps or harnesses that you have to secure. You just need to fit your baby into the 5 point harness, tighten it, then click them into the base.
Clicks Into Graco Strollers: The other nifty aspect of the click feature is that it snaps into any of the Graco Click Connect strollers. You can get whichever stroller best fits your needs then easily move your baby in their car seat into the stroller. This is excellent for any type of outing as you can leave your sleeping baby happily in their car seat and move them to the stroller with no additional hassle.
Comfortable: The Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat has plenty of soft cushioning and is made of a smooth material. Babies are easily comfortable enough to be lulled to sleep in this car seat, especially while the car is moving.
Latches to Car: The base of this infant seat easily attaches to most modern cars with two metal hooks that loop into the docking points in the car. To make it more user-friendly or for additional safety, you can also secure the base with a seat belt. Then the actual infant seat can click into place and keep your baby safe and snug.
Fits 4 to 35 Pounds: One of the nice things about this baby car seat is that it can be used for babies as little as 4 pounds. There’s nothing more frustrating than having a premature baby and in addition to all of the health concerns you’re facing you have to purchase a new car seat since the one you had doesn’t give preemies the support they need. This car seat also works great for babies up to 35 pounds which makes it ideal for keeping your baby rear-facing as long as possible.
Read more about the best preemie car seats.
Removable Newborn Insert: This Graco car seat can accommodate preemies as well as newborns with the supportive newborn insert. The insert gives their heads and necks the support they need. It is also removable so that it won’t get in the way as your baby grows. It can also be removed for washing.
6 Recline Positions and Level: The Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat has 6 different recline positions as well as a pendulum level that can help you make sure that your car seat and base are correctly installed into your car. More than 46% of car seats are incorrectly installed in the US and car crashes are the leading cause of death in children. You don’t want to take any chances with your baby and the recline positions and level help make it possible to know when your car seat is done right.
Meets or Exceeds Safety Standards: Last, but most certainly not least, the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat meets or exceeds every safety standard and requirement for infant car seats. They are a best seller for a reason and have saved many babies’ lives.
Product Videos
Cautions
False Clicking: One of the bigger selling points of the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat is that it quickly and easily clicks onto its car base and into the click connect Graco strollers. Sometimes, however, this car seat makes a clicking noise even when it isn’t securely attached to the base or stroller. The potential dangers in this are enormous. If your baby isn’t correctly clicked into the car base then the car seat will not be secured and if you get into an accident or even take a turn too hard the car seat could tumble off injuring your child.
Loose Fit With Base: Another cause for concern is that the Graco infant car seat isn’t secure in the base. It tends to wobble some from side to side. Though this may or may not actually affect the safety of the car seat it seems quite precarious and is something to consider when purchasing your infant’s travel seat.
Manufacturing Date: As of 2011 all infant car seats must now have an expiration date that is usually 7 years from when it was manufactured. Whether you believe that a car seat’s safety legitimately runs out at exactly 7 years or that car seat companies are using this to boost sales, you are still required to get a new car seat if your old one expires.
One of the issues with this car seat is that by the time the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat gets to you it could be a year or two from the manufacturing date. That means you have fewer years to use it. You also won’t know how many years it will be useful for until after it arrives.
Small Black Canopy: Almost all car seats have canopies, the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat is no exception. However, this canopy tends to run on the small side and since it only attaches at the back it doesn’t move to cover the infant from all angles. This could be annoying in the car if the sun is constantly in your baby’s face or outside at a park if there is any amount of wind or dust.
Overheating: Another issue this click seat has been known to have is overheating your baby. All car seats can get a little warm for your baby every now and again since they have a lot of contact with the cushiony material. However, this car seat, even when compared to the same car seat of older models, has been known to have more issues with babies staying cool.
Can’t Use Old Bases: The last somewhat annoying issue with this car seat is that it only clicks into its base. Not older Graco base models. So if you had another Graco car seat and were hoping to reuse the bases you have, you’d be out of luck and have to purchase a new one.
Color Options (regular, LX, Elite)
Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX Infant Car Seat, Studio
Pros
- Light Weight
- Clicks Into Place
- Clicks Into Strollers
- 4-35 Pound Limit
Cons
- False Clicking
- Expiration Date
- Small Canopy
- Overheating Baby Risk
Ease of Use Ratings
Although safety should always be a leading concern when it comes to our children, you shouldn’t obsess about the safety differences between car seat brands. They are required to pass strict federal safety tests before being sold in the US market.
However, getting the installation or usage of a car seat wrong can introduce safety issues. That is why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issues ease of use ratings (see below) for each car seat. The easier to use and the clearer the instructions, the more likely your child is to be buckled up properly every time.
The SnugRide Click Connect received 4 stars in rear-facing mode as you can see in the table below.
My Overall Recommendation
Overall the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat has excellent reviews and is well-loved by many parents due to its lightweight and easy clicking features. Though there are downsides these can be limited with proper installation and a quick check to make sure the car seat is secure, which is something we should be doing every time anyway. I am 8 months pregnant and already have a rear-facing infant car seat however I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase this for any future children we may have.
