Getting the right item for your child is one of the most difficult purchases to make because your baby can’t articulate a feedback on their experience. They may fuss or relax, but then again, that’s what babies usually do. This Maxi Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30 review should help you with your search for an excellent car seat option.
- Factors to consider before buying a car seat
- Main differences between Maxi-Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30
- Maxi-Cosi Mico 30 Infant Car Seat With Base
- Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30 Infant Car Seat with Base
- Why Maxi Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30 are a necessity
- Alternatives
- Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX
- Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite
- UPPAbaby MESA
- Conclusion
Factors to consider before buying a car seat
Price
What’s the amount you’re willing to spend on your car seat purchase? Before anything else, you have to decide how much money you’re prepared to spend. It will form a baseline for the variations and brands you should browse through for your purchase. The Mico Max 30 and Mico 30 options have different price points, with the former costing more.
Type
These safety seats come in different variants. You need to first know which type you need before looking at the available brands. Generally, you’ll come across five options. These are the rear-facing, rear-facing convertible, forward-facing, forward-facing convertible, and booster seat. Both the Maxi Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30 are rear-facing options. That means they’re ideal for newborn babies up to about three years, or 30 pounds. The seat gets positioned with your child facing the vehicle’s rear window. It’s a safe position for younger children, especially in the event of collisions at the front of the car.
Installation
Car seats have to get strapped into your vehicle’s actual seats. To save time you want to go for the possibility of an easy installation process. You can easily install both the Maxi Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30. They also allow you to secure the safety seat with or without their bases. That enables you to use it with your little one for rides in someone else’s vehicle or even a taxi. That’s quite nice if you’re looking for such flexibility of usage.
Child’s age and weight
Your child’s age and weight play a significant role when deciding which car seat variant to get. Seats for younger infants won’t work for bigger children below ten years. Therefore check the specifications, such as the minimum and maximum child weight, as well as their height. The height specification is an additional measure to ensure your child gets something with enough room for their stature. If you have a child who’s under 30 pounds, you can use the Maxi Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30 comfortably.
Your car
How does the interior of your car look? Do you have bucket seats or ordinary seats? Whether you have a sedan, an SUV, or a sports car, the interior matters. That’s because child safety seats come in different sizes. The Maxi Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30 are suitable for various vehicles. However, you may need to push the passenger seat a little forward to accommodate the safety seat. Most stores these days will assist you when you visit them to help you get a suitable option.
Safety features
The primary reason you purchase a car seat is to guarantee your child’s protection during road trips. Therefore, a brand with extra safety features is what you should get. The Maxi Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30 have a 5-point harness to hold your little one in their seat securely. Additionally, they come with a LATCH system to quickly secure the base into your car’s back seat.
Stroller compatibility
These days you don’t need to purchase a stroller and separately a car seat. You can simply purchase the latter, then get a stroller frame so you can go for walks with your little one. But note that the stroller should come with adapters to for attaching your baby’s seat. You can use either the Maxi Cosi Mico 30 or the Max 30 with premium stroller options.
Portability
Sometimes you would like to move around with your child without bundling them in your arms or using a stroller. With Maxi-Cosi’s Mico 30 and Max 30, you can detach the seat from its base to carry your baby around. Both become much lighter without the base and also come with a contoured handle. The handle design makes it easier to walk without the carrier bumping into you every now and then.
Brand new or used
Purchasing a used car seat means you’ll get them for much less than a new option. However, to comply with safety regulations by car seat manufacturers, these safety seats have an expiry date. The reason is that the more you use it, the less reliable it may become. Instead of opting for a used one due to its low price, go for a Maxi Cosi Mico 30 or Max 30 that’s brand new. These will give you between 8-12 years’ worth of service before you need to discard them. Another reason to stay away of used options is that you can’t tell how safe your purchase is just by looking at the seat itself.
Accessories
Buying a car seat with added features is a plus whichever way you look at it. For instance, you can get a safety seat that has an angle indicator. During installation, this will help to ensure younger infants are correctly seated, leaving their airways open. Other accessories your child seat may come with include a chest clip, harness slots, a top tether, among others. Maxi Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30 seats both come with an anti-rebound bar, attached to the base for extra protection during rides.
Main differences between Maxi-Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30
These two car seat options are similar in most of their features. However, the prices differ, and you get more color options with the Max 30 seat. The Max 30 can also hold babies that weigh a minimum of four pounds, while the Mico 30 holds a minimum of five pounds. For a lighter model, the Mico 30 is your best bet. It weighs less and it also has a slightly smaller base for a better fit in your car.
Maxi-Cosi Mico 30 Infant Car Seat With Base
Product Information
- Weight: 18.5 pounds
- Color: Violet Caspia, Night Black, Aventurine Blue, Emerald Tide, Red Rumor
What makes it a good option
The Mico 30 Infant Car Seat is ideal for children between 5 and 30 pounds. It’s lightweight and portable for moving around with your baby.
Pros
- Has a 5-point harness
- Removable fabric that’s easy to clean
- Has adapters for compatibility with strollers
- Easy installation
Cons
- Some users say the canopy doesn’t hold up well
Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30 Infant Car Seat with Base
Product information
- Weight: 20.8 pounds
- Color: Nomad Black, Frequency Black, Nomad Blue, Frequency Blue, Nomad Sand, Frequency Pink, Nomad Grey, Onyx Bliss, Nomad Purple, Sparkling Teal
What makes it a good option
The Mico Max 30 Infant Car Seat can accommodate babies as little as 4 pounds up to 30 pounds.
Pros
- Has an infant insert
- Comes with a removable base
- Can still be used for car rides without the base
- Can be used a stroller frame to convert it into a stroller
Cons
- The seat is a little big for infants
Why Maxi Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30 are a necessity
One opinion isn’t typically enough to persuade anyone about the Maxi Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30 seats’ quality. Getting different perspectives helps you make a more informed choice before you make your purchase. By doing some more research online, I was able to get quite a few statements from other satisfied parents. These addressed features such as the easy to install and detachable bases, the extra infant inserts, and the secure yet comfortable harnesses. Some parents also say it’s an exceptional seat in case you’re looking for one to add to your existing travel system. Plus I’m also a big fan of Maxi-Cosi brand and I’ve used several of them, incl. these two options during car rentals.
Alternatives
There are some alternatives to the Maxi-Cosi car seats by other brands and this review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning them. Have a look at these below and make sure to read the differences between the alternatives and the Maxi-Cosi Mico 30, Max 30.
Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX
It is a lightweight car seat with a detaching base. It comes with removable support cushions for infants. Like the Maxi-Cosi Max 30, it can accommodate babies who have a minimum weight of 4 pounds. It comes with a 5-point harness to keep your baby in their seat. However, unlike the Maxi Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30, this alternative:
- Has a Silent Shade canopy
- Costs less
- Has an adjustable base
- Comes with True Shield Technology in case of side impacts
Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX vs Maxi-Cosi Mico / Max 30
The Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX is for those looking for more affordable options than the Maxi-Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30. Apart from the cost, you’ll also get an adjustable seat base. The canopy is also silent enough to be adjusted while your baby sleeps. Several parents go for this as it has additional features at a lower price point.
Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite
Like the previous alternative, the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite also comes with a level indicator for precision installation. It can also hold younger infants up to a maximum weight of 35 pounds, just like the Maxi Cosi products in this review. It’s also compatible with every Graco Click Connect base and stroller. By opting for this seat, you get:
- A RapidRemove cover for efficient cleaning
- Simply Safe Adjust harness mechanism to simultaneously adjust the headrest height and harness
- An option that undergoes rigorous crash testing
- Safety Core feature to protect from frontal collisions
Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite vs Maxi-Cosi Mico / Max 30
With this option, you get similar functionalities as the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX, and these exceed both the Maxi-Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30 options. However, one major drawback is that with the canopy open, it overlaps with the handle. So it’s harder to carry the seat around.
UPPAbaby MESA
Out of all the alternatives in this review, in addition to the Maxi Cosi Mico 30 and Max 30, this is the highest-priced option. The UPPAbaby MESA offers side impact protection, just as with the Graco variants. With a removable infant insert, you guarantee your newborn’s comfort. Additionally:
- Can combine with strollers as a travel system
- Has a no re-thread harness
- Has an indicator window for secure installation
- Has a one-hand stroller release
- Comes with a lower harness for preemies
UPPAbaby MESA vs. Maxi-Cosi Mico / Max 30
If the cost isn’t a problem for you, then the UPPAbaby MESA is worth a try. It comes with benefits listed with all the other options in this review. Apart from those, it’s the lightest of them all. One drawback, however, could be the tightness of the release buckle. You may find it difficult to unlock the harness to get your baby out.
Conclusion
Whenever you need to drive around with kids, keeping them safe is an absolute must. The only way you can achieve this is if you have a car seat. Your car’s seats just don’t get built with a child’s size in mind. As such, you can’t keep your child secured during car rides. In general, only children from about eight years onwards can comfortably strap themselves into an adult seat. Now it’s your turn to decide getting either the Maxi Cosi Mico 30 or the Max 30. You cannot really go wrong with them.
Last update on 2024-04-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
