Are head supports OPTIONAL? I have read that the head support "pillow" is removable, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can remove it and still safely use the car seat without it. I'm leaning toward the LX model for it's other features, but if this headrest MUST be used at all times, I'm thinking an older infant won't like it. Are head supports OPTIONAL? I have read that the head support "pillow" is removable, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can remove it and still safely use the car seat without it.... » Read More Are head supports OPTIONAL? I have read that the head support "pillow" is removable, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can remove it and still safely use the car seat without it. I'm leaning toward the LX model for it's other features, but if this headrest MUST be used at all times, I'm thinking an older infant won't like it. « Show Less
1604228
We have the LX model (Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 LX Car Seat, Rittenhouse), and from what I can tell it can be taken out to washed but you cannot use the seat without the head support pillow. I understand this is different if you have the regular (non LX) model, which will allow you to use the car seat without the pillow insert. P.S. The manual listed in the other answer points to the non LX model.
1604229
The head support in this model is NOT removeable. It is part of the seat. I actually think it would nice really nice for an older infant to help support their head from flopping over when they sleep. The head support is plenty big enough for a larger infant, unlike the pillowlike supports of other models that are really only designed for small infants (and must be removed from the seat when they are older/bigger).
884845
I would say its nice to have but not necessary. You can use your car seat or the bassinet until your child can hold up its head. I am still using the insert pad without the head piece now because it lifts up my son in the deep seat. It allows my son to look around while out in the stroller. This is still possible with the car seat but not in the bassinet.
1884035
I found that this car seat was actually more supportive of my newborn's head and more comfortable for my baby than the Graco Classic Connect 30 Infant seat that I also own. If we are going on long trips I put her in this seat instead of the infant one. (I don't have the infant insert, but my 7 lb. newborn fit in it just fine on the way home from the hospital and every time I put her in it since then.)
545802
Unfortunately the headrest is not detachable but it's not thick so you shouldn't have a problem with baby .. You can take the whole thing off to wash
1826705
You can use The First Years Via infant car seat without the adapter and some other carseats with the adapter. I have Via infant car seat and it weights alot about 10 pounds is very heavy i would not recoment it i weight 110 an im 5"1 an my back hurts the next day from carrying my daugher in it thank God shes one now and i take her out off the seat all the time and the stroller is very uncomfortable when u put it in a seating position and also there is no tray snack to go with it. But if after all this you still wanna buy it and not spend that much on a new one i would love to get rid of mine. Let me know this is my contact info KBarahona@pccc.edu You can use The First Years Via infant car seat without the adapter and some other carseats with the adapter. I have Via infant car seat and it weights alot about 10 pounds is very heavy i would not recoment it i weight 110 an im 5"1 an my back hurts the next day from carrying my daugher in it thank God shes one now and i take her out off the seat all the time and the stroller is very uncomfortable when u put it in a seating position and also there is no tray snack to go with it. But if after all this you still wanna buy it and not spend that much on a new one i would love to get rid... » Read More You can use The First Years Via infant car seat without the adapter and some other carseats with the adapter. I have Via infant car seat and it weights alot about 10 pounds is very heavy i would not recoment it i weight 110 an im 5"1 an my back hurts the next day from carrying my daugher in it thank God shes one now and i take her out off the seat all the time and the stroller is very uncomfortable when u put it in a seating position and also there is no tray snack to go with it. But if after all this you still wanna buy it and not spend that much on a new one i would love to get rid of mine. Let me know this is my contact info KBarahona@pccc.edu « Show Less
1036627
No, this car seat does not require the base. It just attaches into the car and if you move it you move the whole thing. This is not an infant carrier. It does have a recline position but does not recline as much as an infant carrier would. They are the one that has the detachable bases.
512114
On the stroller instruction, it does not suggest you to insert any head support that's not original, for safety issue . At least on ours.
531589
It offers an appropriate level of head and neck support. Granted there are better ones in the market. I bought 2 because I have twins. The head support can be adjusted vastly to meet the needs of the child. The best thing about the head support is that it is extremely padded, soft and cushioned. One of the best. I am very happy with my purchase and have been using it for 8 months.
2091655
The head rest does not recline. To make the seat fit better in our car, we removed the head rest that is behind this booster, and then the booster back was completely flushed with the car's seat and this helped my son's head to not flop forward when sleeping. The seat of our car reclines a few inches and the entire back of this booster reclines with our car's seat, which is a nice feature when we are traveling at night.
1481482
I have become a pro at switching my children's car seats from different vehicles. I have two convertable car seats & an infant carrier car seat with two bases. it's definitely easier to install the base for the infant seat but I really like & feel my kids are safe n the convertable seats & the convertable seats really arnt very much more work at all to install.
2091653
The headrest doe not recline. The entire seat back adjusts to the angle in your vehicle, and the upper headrest area adjusts up and down to position it properly for your child. We particularly chose this model for the extended side protection in that event. Our daughter does not sleep much in the car, however if she does we find she rests her head on either side of the padded side protection because of the design.
608308
Maybe? This has come up on car-seat.org several times. It seems Diono has said yes it is OK, but they had to draw the line somewhere. If you feel your child is OK in the more upright position, then I guess it becomes a parental decision. I will point out, though, that my 2 1/2yo often slumps in this seat when sleeping, so with an 8mo, it might be even worse. I don't think you're going to get a hard and fast yes or no. You could call diono yourself and see what they are currently saying. http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=2139611&postcount;=35
413184
This seat is designed to keep baby in an upright position. I have a few if these seats, one for each car for each family member. I found getting a travel pillow to be usefull as the sides of the headrest are design for protection not sleeping.
531588
By the time we went to this size seat for my grandson at 10 months of age it provided very good neck and head support. For a small infant, I always used addition cushion with his other infant car seat.
2087221
Yes we took the headrest out. We have a Graco Click Connect. You don't need the headrest that the car seat comes with. My baby is now 5 months and she still uses this. It's on the cool side now. Works great to keep her head up when she falls asleep. You just have to make sure you position your baby right. The head needs to fit in the headrest part with the cushion surrounding the head. The head should not actually be resting on the cushion or his/her head will be leaning forward. Then pull the little side pillows toward you and to the center so they can almost touch each other, that way it's almost under the baby's chin and his/her head won't fall forward. Yes we took the headrest out. We have a Graco Click Connect. You don't need the headrest that the car seat comes with. My baby is now 5 months and she still uses this. It's on the cool side now. Works great to keep her head up when she falls asleep. You just have to make sure you position your baby right. The head needs to fit in the headrest part with the cushion surrounding the head. The head should not actually be resting on the cushion or his/her head will be leaning forward. Then pull the little side pillows toward you and to the center so they can almost touch each other, that way... » Read More Yes we took the headrest out. We have a Graco Click Connect. You don't need the headrest that the car seat comes with. My baby is now 5 months and she still uses this. It's on the cool side now. Works great to keep her head up when she falls asleep. You just have to make sure you position your baby right. The head needs to fit in the headrest part with the cushion surrounding the head. The head should not actually be resting on the cushion or his/her head will be leaning forward. Then pull the little side pillows toward you and to the center so they can almost touch each other, that way it's almost under the baby's chin and his/her head won't fall forward. « Show Less
2397
I have a britax car seat and it worked great. The head rest comes off via velcro if you need to adjust it or anything. I didnt have a premie but used it early on. I loved it.
2219494
If you find the car seat support not enough for the baby, then go for this product. Also, it's important to keep the newborns head correctly positioned (straight), and to have cushy padding under it to eliminate the possibility of flat head. I don't think this extra comforting insert could cause any safety issues, just fill out your car seat, and if you find it too hard, or notice your little one isn't snug in it, by the insert.