“It’s here, it’s here, it’s finally here!” I exclaimed to my husband as he curiously peered into the big white box I was lugging through our front door.

With me working for a baby gear company, he’s seen more than a few new Peg Perego products enter our home, and our lives. In just the last year, there’s been a new everyday stroller that we now can’t live without (the Pliko P3), the lightweight and travel-ready Pliko Mini and the chic, goes-with-everything-and-will-hold-anything Borsa Mamma diaper bag.

But this, this is what I (and it seems, hundreds of other moms across the country) have been waiting for—the Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70 Convertible.

The newest addition to the Peg Perego Viaggio travel series, this seat offers all the safety and style of our celebrated Primo Viaggio SIP 30-30 infant car seat in a reversible convertible. With two growing kids—now 5 and 22 months—this is the car seat I needed.

Right out of the box, I fell in love with the Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70 Convertible. Of course I had seen it before. First at tradeshows and then in our very own Peg Perego showroom. But seeing it in my home, next to my old (sadly not Peg Perego) convertible car seats, it looked different. It looked better. And I couldn’t wait to get my kids out of their old seats and into this one.

It was the adjustable Side Impact Protection (SIP) that got my attention first. I loved that it adjusted (even with my child in the seat) to 10 different positions. I found this an especially good feature for my 5-year-old daughter, who doesn’t quite weigh enough (she weighed just 35 lbs. at her last doctor’s visit) for a traditional booster, but is really too tall for her old convertible.

For my “baby” (yes, I still call him a baby even though he’ll be 2 before I know it), I liked that the Convertible had a higher rear-facing weight limit—45 pounds. At 22 months, he weighs a hefty (somewhere around the 85th percentile at our last doctor’s visit) 30 pounds. But with the Convertible, he’s still got room to grow and stay rear facing until his second birthday, just like the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends.

Installation was also very easy. With summarized instructions right on the seat itself, it was super easy to reposition from rear- to forward-facing with the LATCH connectors. And once it was in the car, I liked the look of the Convertible even more. Not only did the Fresco Jersey seat seem comfortable and breathable, the sleek and tailored seat actually looked good in my car.

Overall, I have to say, it was well worth the wait.

by Emily | Posted in 2012 Collection, 2012 Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70 Convertible, Uncategorized | No Comments

You asked. We answered! Check out how our engineers answered some of your most frequently asked questions. (Looks like a lot of you want to know about car seats!)

 Q: How do the safety features of the new Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70 Convertible stack up to that of other convertible car seats currently on the market?

First off, all child restraints sold in the United States have to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 213 (FMVSS 213) requirements, which fall under jurisdiction of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A few of the features that add to the safety of our Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70 Convertible include:

SAFE: Our Shock Absorbing Foam Element device is located below the shell of the SIP 5-70 Convertible. In the event of a crash, the SAFE will crumple in a programmed manner in order to reduce stress on the child’s shoulder and neck.

SIP: The Side Impact Protection head panel protects the child’s head, neck and spine. It easily adjusts to 10 different positions, even when the child is in the seat, to ensure the best and safest fit.

EPS: Energy-absorbing foam, Expanded Poly Styrene, located in the shell and head panel, protects the child’s head and torso from impact forces.

Q: My child is getting old enough that he’s trying to unbuckle himself in the car. Does Peg Perego offer any additional security on its buckles?

Our buckles rely on a force being high enough that most young children will not be able to activate. Smaller children will not have enough strength to push and unbuckle the locking mechanism.

Q: I’ve been researching convertible car seats. I’ve read a lot about shell height and slot measurements. What are the specifications on the Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70 Convertible, and why do these things matter?

The back height for the Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70 Convertible is approximately 21 inches with the headrest in the highest position. For a proper fit, the child’s head must be at least 1 inch below the top of the head rest. A larger back height can accommodate a larger child.

There are 10 different harness slot heights on the Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70 Convertible, which can be adjusted even with the child in the seat. The slot measurements are:

9.6”
10.3”
11.1”
11.9”
12.6”
13.4”
14.2”
—
15.0”
15.7”
16.5”

The lower seven positions can be used for rear-facing mode. This allows for a 14.2-inch maximum harness slot height for rear-facing mode. Slot measurements are important because they ensure that the harness is properly adjusted for the child.

Q: We live in a very warm climate. Do any of your car seats come in a fabric that will keep baby cool?

We have upholstered the Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70 Convertible with our FRESCO Jersey material. This fabric is breathable, easy to clean and absorbs moisture—keeping your child cool and comfortable. The Primo Viaggio SIP 30-30 infant car seat is outfitted with our “Confort Dry” microfiber cloth, which is durable, hand washable and keeps baby dry and allows for proper ventilation.

Don’t see your question? Ask it by commenting below. We’ll do our very best to get you the answers you need. And, if you’re interested in the Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70 Convertible, stay tuned! Next week I’ll be blogging about my real-life love affair (as a mom of two) with this new car seat.

by admin (Erica) | Posted in FAQs | 13 Comments

 We have a winner of the Peg Perego Valentine’s Day “Giveaway to Love”!  The winner is…

Cassie K., who shared:

“We are expecting our first sweetheart this Spring! We absolutely love learning about her development inside me & watching her (& me) grow! It’s amazing watching her move from the outside now – we are already in love with her!!”

Cassie and her baby will soon be the proud owners of a Sdraietta Melodia musical bouncer. (Check your inbox Cassie, you’ll soon be getting an email from us.)

Thank you all for participating and helping us spread the love this Valentine’s Day!

by admin (Erica) | Posted in Big News! | No Comments

We love Valentine’s Day! And as parents, we know there’s no kind of love like baby love.

We couldn’t think of a better way to mark the holiday than have all of you help spread the baby love that makes Valentine’s Day with little ones so very sweet.

Plus, we’ve got a little Valentine of our own … We’re giving one lucky new mom (or dad) a brand new Sdraietta Melodia bouncer in Moka for their baby.

For a chance to win, leave a comment below and tell us what you love about being a new (or expectant) parent.

We will randomly select one lucky winner to receive a Sdraietta Melodia. Please comment by 3 p.m. EST Wednesday, February 15. (One comment per person please.)

Good luck! And Happy Valentine’s Day!

by admin (Erica) | Posted in Big News! | 65 Comments

Looking to fall in love…with a stroller? With a reversible handle that quickly converts this stroller to a carriage, our luxurious Uno could easily be “the one.”

For most of us at Peg Perego, it was love at first sight with the Uno. And every time we show someone new how easily the Uno converts from baby facing you to the world ahead (even with baby in the seat), there’s always a few “oohs and awes” in the room.

Any busy parent can appreciate how the Uno follows baby from infancy to toddlerhood without requiring extra components or accessories, but it turns out that versatility may also be what’s best for baby. Researchers at the University of Dundee in Scotland found that caregivers were more likely to speak to the child when he or she was riding in a rear-facing stroller, compared to a forward-facing stroller.

If that’s not enough, check out these other great features:

• Reversible handlebar with variable height adjustments and a detachable adult cup holder
• Travel system compatibility that allows our Primo Viaggio SIP 30-30 car seat (sold separately) to attach easily to the retractable hooks
• Smooth zero-radius turning in rear-facing mode for effortless turning in tight spaces
• Large, handy storage basket
• Hood converts to a sun canopy with two-way zipper
• Child’s snack tray with drink holder attaches easily to front bar

A true luxury stroller, the Uno is a perfect lifestyle fit for parents looking for a versatile, all-in-one answer to the many stroller systems available on the market today.

What do you think? Please share your thoughts and questions about the Uno below. We’d love to hear from you!

by admin (Erica) | Posted in 2012 Collection, 2012 Uno | 8 Comments