For your Baby Travel needs- Think Safety 1st™

A week before my wife was due to give birth, the birthing center we were registered at (same with hospitals) made it mandatory for us to have a infant carrier if we wanted to take our child home with us. So we visited our favorite retail store, and we were happy to find they had a sale special on Stroller and infant carrier combos, and one of them was the Safety 1st™ Acella LX Travel System Stroller. We figured why not kill two birds with one stone by buying this Travel system?

Kicking the tires on the Acella LX Travel System

My line work in aviation maintenance causes me to look at consumer products in a whole different view. I look for safety, durability, quality level, and features. What I immediately liked about the Acella LX was its "beefiness". The frame is made of aluminum-alloy, so it meant it would be light, but thicker, and more resistant to corrosion. A high degree of craftsmanship in the Acella LX is evident in its construction. There are no sharp edges on this stroller, the compression rivets are installed with the bucked ends in, and not out. All aluminum extrusions has rounded corners and edges so that your tiny tot won't get injured. Quality plastics are used in this stroller; the thickness, and the overall sturdiness of the plastics is good. All fastening hardware are properly installed which means there is little to no play in the frame. The entire stroller weighs in at 24-lbs.


The Acella LX comes with a lot of features:

-Large 8-inch wheels front and back.
-One-hand operation when it comes to unfolding and folding. the Acella LX. It will also stand on its own when folded.
-Thick padding in the seat.
-3-point Harness system with 2 buckles for easy egress.
-Drink trays for Parent and Child.
-Full Canopy that has a viewing window at the top for Parent, and a side pocket to hold a cellphone.
-Simple adjustable reclining seat back.
-Large undercarriage storage with mesh sides for easy viewing.
-Easy to activate brakes, and the front swivel wheels can be locked.
-Removable seat cover.
-Adapter bar for mounting Infant carrier included, and has a storage holder on the rear of the seat back.

Child Limits:
Maximum 40 lbs.(18kg)

The stroller's infant carrier was equally impressive. The entire construction of the carrier is of strong plastic. Held together with high grade hardware. It comes with a mounting base that you install in your vehicle that makes securing the infant carrier for travel hassle-free. All you do is place the carrier in the base, and pull the red handle under the carrier to engage the locks; this the same for securing the carrier in the stroller using the Adapter bar. Even if you don't have the base, the infant carrier can be secured using either a Lap or Lap & Shoulder seat belt systems. There is a special clip that is stored in the carrier when using lap & shoulder seat belts, this clip keeps the belt from loosening.

Features on the Infant Carrier:

-Anti-slide skids on the bottom of the carrier, prevents the carrier from sliding on smooth surfaces (counter tops, tables, etc.).
-5-point Harness system.
-Removable Hip/Head Roll cushion.
-Seat belt harness that can accommodate a growing infant.
-Removable Canopy.
-The Canopy and Seat cover are washable.

Child Limits:
Minimum and Maximum Weight= 5-22 lbs.(2.3-10kg)
Minimum and Maximum Height= 19-29 inches(48-74cm)

Just a note: The manufacturer has an expiration date for each infant carrier that leaves the factory. Once the expiration date is reached it must be retired from use. I received an email from Dorel Juvenile Group Consumer Relations office about this detail. They stated since the product does age and since they are unable to see the product and how it is used and treated. They recommend replacement after 6 to 8 years. Also they point out their products are always subjected to safety testing, and are redesigned to meet their standards. Which is another reason for the expiration date.

Taking my Acella LX for a cruise

I really liked the one hand operation when it came to unfolding the the stroller. There were many moments when I found myself testing this feature; I had the infant bag in one hand, and with my free hand I just flicked the lock off. Then gave the stroller handle a firm yank upward, and the stroller folded out without any resistance at all. Installing the infant carrier into the stroller was a breeze too. However I wish the infant carrier's handle was "one hand operation", when it came to folding it down. I discovered this feature does exist in their "Eddie Bauer" stroller combo. Another thing when there was a strong breeze blowing, the cover on the infant carrier had tendency to come undone, thus exposing your baby to the elements. It would have been nice if the lower edge of the cover was secured by velcro strips.

When navigating the stroller through various terrains, the 8-inch wheels were really good at shedding off mud, and rolling over any bumps in the road without disturbing my daughter's nap. The storage bin underneath the seat was roomy enough to carry a medium size infant bag. What I dislike was the drink trays. The tray at the stroller handle can hold small drinks or a baby's bottle in the outboard location, but the for the center location I wish they made it large for those BIG-Gulp type drinks. I found it could hold a soda can or 20 ounce water bottle. The tray at the baby's location is good enough to hold those spill-proof bottles. What is good for both trays is the fact they can unsnap from their locations so they can be cleaned.

There were a couple accessories that Safety 1st™ sells for their strollers and infant carriers, that I thought deserved mentioning. The stroller rain cover, it is a clear vinyl covering that covers the entire stroller from handle to just above the wheels. Then there is the plush shoulder strap coverings for the infant carrier. It is of a terry cloth material that soaks up whatever the baby spits out, and can handle numerous wash cycles.

Overall I was quite satisfied with the quality, construction, and price of the Acella LX. I would recommend it to everyone.