A great buy for what you get

Let me first say that I am an American new mom living in the Middle East. There is not a lot of selection on strollers and car seats, mainly just the navy blue plastic monstrosities that I wouldn't enjoy pushing around.

I ordered this system plus the bassinet and rocker from the United States, and it was a great decision. My daughter is now seven weeks old, and I am already planning to purchase the toddler seat when it's time for her to move up.

The infant system consists of a car seat, a car seat base, and the stroller which is basically the wheels and handles that the car seat snaps into. The stroller comes with a "pod" which is a bag that slides into the bottom of the stroller and I use as a diaper bag; it is nice and roomy, although I don't care too much for the puffy, oblong shape when I carry it alone.

The stroller handles really well, maneuvering tight corners with ease. It has adjustable height handles (to three different heights), two cup holders, and spare innertubes and pump for the rear tires. It folds down with a twist of a bar and snaps securely closed. It opens with another twist of the bar and a shake, and snaps securely into place. Its weight limitation is up to 40 lbs. There are two wheel brakes that are simple to push up or down with your foot.

The car seat base is pretty simple to install. I used the included step-by-step directions and it took me maybe 20-25 minutes to install. (I'm not really sure since I didn't time myself, but it didn't take long and I didn't get frustrated at all) It uses the LATCH system, or if you have an older car it installs with the seat belt.

The car seat is good up to 22 lbs and 29 inches and the child's shoulders must be below the Shoulder Limit Lines marked in the upholstery. The car seat snaps into the stroller and car seat base from any direction, you just depress the side handles and it rotates into place. It rotates 360 degrees, but for the car seat obviously you put it in the rear-facing position.

There's a sun shade and something they call the "paparazzi shield" which is a fun but a little obnoxious term. It's a white piece of light, breathable fabric that extends from the sun shade and snaps into place to cover the entire front of the car seat. It's good protection from the dusty environment in which we live. The carrying handles are two rigid pieces that snap in place for secure transport. I don't know how much the car seat weighs, but even without my daughter in it, it is very heavy to me. This doesn't detract from the Orbit's appeal though, I just need to work out more! It makes me think the car seat is durable and offers good protection.

I haven't had to wash the upholstery for the car seat yet, but I purchased the bassinet which uses the same upholstery and the fabric for that washed and dried beautifully.

Someone asked how my daughter enjoyed this system. This is the first time I've used an infant seat and first time putting an infant in one of these seats, so I don't have anything else to compare it to. My daughter doesn't fuss when I put her in it. She is kind of laid back about it as I put the straps around her and snap her in. In the car, she just falls asleep.

The car seat has a 5-pt harness and it took awhile to adjust the straps to her size (maybe 45 minutes) because it is really a two-person job. You have to push a button at the front of the car seat to release the straps, then reach to the back to make the adjustments, and kind of shimmy the straps back and forth until you get to the appropriate length for your child. Then you have to put your child in it to see if you got it right, and if it's not, take her out again because for me at least, I had to turn the car seat upside down to make the adjustments.

The stroller rides very smoothly and feels durable. I can push it with one hand and guide it in any direction. Overall, I'm very pleased with this purchase. It is expensive but to me was worth the price. I enjoy the looks and it's simple to use and is a system that can grow with the child.