Posted by When looking for a car seat, the first thing most of us think about is finding the safest option for our precious passenger. The Safety 1st brand puts this top priority right in the name so you can expect the best protection for your child. Whether you’re taking baby home from the hospital or it’s the first day of 2nd grade, Safety First car seats transport your little one safely and comfortably.
Why choose Safety First Car Seats?
All Safety First car seats meet or exceed Federal Safety Standards and strict crash test standards. But so do all other car seats on the market. So why go with the Safety 1st brand? Here are some reasons to consider:
- Safety First car seats are super affordable with 4 out of 5 styles on this list coming in at under $150. You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a high-quality car seat (unless you want to, of course). Finding an affordable car seat that fits your budget is especially handy when you have to buy more than one for multiple vehicles or if you are having twins or triplets.
- If you have multiple children or a small car, Safety First car seats take up less space in your vehicle offering either the option to fit 3 car seats in the same row or more leg space for you in the front seat depending upon the style.
- Don’t want to worry about buying a new car seat every time your child hits a milestone? Most of the Safety First car seats on this list are 3-in-1 convertible styles, which give you a long period of extended use. This means having to buy less car seats over the course of your child’s youth and saving more money to go towards other expenses.
- Safety First car seats are some of the easiest to clean. With all the crumbs and nightmares of kids getting sick in the car, you’ll enjoy the innovative seat pad design featured on specific styles, which snaps off and can be thrown in the washing machine and even machine dried.
- Safety 1st is a charitable brand that donates their time and products to organizations that benefit children including March of Dimes, Cradles to Crayons and more. What better feeling than to know you’re purchasing a car seat made by a brand that supports others in need.
5 Best Safety First Car Seats
Below are the 5 best Safety First car seats, each of which are available on Amazon with Free Shipping right to your front door. Remember though, that proper fit equals safety, so choose one based on the size of your child first. Then consider the pros and cons of each for your lifestyle.
Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
Child Size: Infant to Big Kid
Rear-Facing: 5-40 lbs. | Forward Facing: 22-65 lbs. | Belt-Positioning Booster: 40-100 lbs.
The Safety 1st Grow Go 3-1 is an all-in-one convertible car seat that grows with your baby transforming from rear-facing to forward-facing to a belt-positioning booster seat. Over the many years of use you’ll get from this car seat, you’ll never have to deal with the arduous task of rethreading the harness straps. That’s because the QuickFit harness adjusts automatically with the headrest.
The Safety 1st Grow and Go is not only designed with baby in mind though. It provides some nice features for you too. When positioned rear-facing, the car seat takes up less space so that when you’re driving you can enjoy 7 inches of extra leg room. Perfect if you have long legs! You’ll also love how easy the seat pad is to remove – just unsnap and throw it in the washer and dryer for super easy cleaning.
Pros:
- Converts from rear-facing to forward-facing to booster seat
- Side Impact Protection
- LATCH equipped for easy installation
- QuickFit Harness adjusts automatically with headrest
- Harness holders keep straps out of the way for easy in and out
- 7-inches more leg room for parents in front seat when rear-facing
- 3 position recline for optimal fit in car
- Dual cup holders
- Removable head and body pillows
- Easily removable seat pad with snaps
- Machine washable and dryer safe seat pad
- Very affordable under $150
Cons:
- No detachable base for infant hand-carrying or use with stroller (car seat stays in car)
- Heavy design makes switching cars often difficult
- The wide design means it could only fit with 1 other car seat in same row
Safety 1st Continuum 3-in-1 Car Seat
Child Size: Infant to Big Kid
Rear-Facing: 5-40 lbs. | Forward Facing: 22-50 lbs. | Belt-Positioning Booster: 40-80 lbs.
The Safety First Continuum has many of the same features as the Safety 1st Grow and Go mentioned above. The main difference is the child’s weight capacity. The Safety First Continuum can be used in the forward-facing position harness until 50 lbs. and the Safety 1st Grow and Go until 65 lbs. The Continuum booster can be used until 80 lbs. and the Grow and Go booster until 100 lbs.
Additionally, the Safety First Continuum has only 1 cup holder and a body pillow whereas the Grow and Go has both a head and body pillow, 2 cup holders, and harness and buckle covers. If you don’t need the additional bells and whistles that come with the Grow and Go, you’ll be happy to know that this car seat can be purchased for around $100+.
Pros:
- 3-in-1 car seat converts from rear-facing to forward-facing to booster
- Side Impact Protection
- LATCH equipped for easy installation
- QuickFit harness adjusts with headrest at same time
- Harness holders keep buckles out of the way for easy in and out
- 7-inches more leg room for parents in front seat when rear-facing
- 3-position recline in rear-facing position
- Removable body pillow
- Removable, dishwasher safe cup holder
- Easily removable seat pad with snaps
- Machine washable and dryer safe seat pad
- Very affordable under $150
Cons:
- No detachable base for infant hand-carrying or use with stroller (car seat stays in car)
- Heavy design makes switching cars often difficult
- The wide design means it could only fit with 1 other car seat in same row
Safety 1st onBoard 35 Air 360 Infant Car Seat
Child Size: Infant
Rear-Facing: 4-35 lbs.
The Safety 1st onBoard 35 is a rear-facing infant car seat that gives you the option to easily transport your baby both in and outside of the car. The curved, comfort grip handle allows you to hand-carry your little one so you don’t have to take her out of the seat at every stop. This baby car seat can also be paired with any compatible stroller to make a complete travel system. If your baby is in her first year of life, this is a huge convenience that the other car seats on this list simply don’t have.
Not only does the Safety 1st onBoard 35 make getting around with your baby a breeze, but it’s also easy to clean. A must-have feature for any parent! If your baby spits up or has an unexpected blow out in the car, you can machine wash and dry the seat pad cover.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Removable infant cushion insert for babies as small as 4 lbs.
- Stay-in-car base
- LATCH installation
- Crash tested from every angle
- Energy absorbing race car foam
- Canopy for shade
- Hand-carry baby with comfort grip handle
- Pair with compatible stroller
- Machine washable and dryer safe seat pad
Cons:
- Babies outgrow infant car seats quickly typically reaching the height maximum before the weight
- Harness must be manually rethreaded
Safety 1st Guide 65 Convertible Car Seat
Child Size: Infant to Toddler
Rear-Facing: 5-40 lbs. | Forward Facing: 22-65 lbs.
The Safety 1st Guide 65 convertible car seat is designed to hold infants and babies in the rear-facing position from 5-40 lbs. and growing toddlers in the forward-facing position from 22-65 lbs.
One of the best features about the Safety First Guide 65 is the lightweight, compact design. Not only is this car seat great for use in small cars, but if you have triplets or a combination of young babies and toddlers, you can fit 3 across in the back seat of a mid-sized car. Many other car seats on the market are simply too wide to do this.
The Safety First Guide 65 is also approved for use in aircraft. Weighing at only 15 lbs., you can easily lug the car seat through the airport and onto the aircraft. Plus, with a price-point under $100, you really get a lot of desirable features for your money.
Pros:
- 5-point harness with up-front adjust
- 2-position recline in rear-facing position with level indicator
- Multi-position adjustable headrest
- LATCH equipped
- Side Impact Protection
- EPP energy absorbing foam
- Great fit for small and compact cars
- Fits 3 across in back row of mid-sized car
- Removable body pillow
- Removable cup holder
- Lightweight design
- Approved for use in aircraft
- Very affordable under $100
Cons:
- Hand wash only seat pad
- No detachable base for infant hand-carrying or use with stroller (car seat stays in car)
Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite Convertible Car Seat
Child Size: Infant to Big Kid
Rear-Facing: 5-35 lbs. | Forward Facing: 22-40 lbs. | Belt-Positioning Booster: 40-100 lbs.
The Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite is a 3-in-1 convertible car seat that can be used beginning at infancy and throughout your child’s journey to big kid. The car seat transitions from rear-facing to forward-facing and finally to a belt-positioning booster seat, giving you a long period of extended use.
The Alpha Omega Car Seat comes at an affordable price point under $100. This car seat stretches your dollar and still gives you all the best including a unique rotating armrest feature to make getting in and out of the car seat easy for your child.
Pros:
- 3-in-1 convertible car seat
- 5-point QuickFit Harness System with up-front adjustability
- Headrest adjusts automatically with harness as child grows
- LATCH equipped for easy installation
- Side Impact Protection
- EPP energy absorbing foam
- 3-position recline in rear-facing position adjusts with one hand
- Rotating armrests for easy in and out
- Removable infant head pillow
- Removable cup holder
- Removable machine washable seat cover
- Very affordable under $100
Cons:
- No detachable base for infant hand-carrying or use with stroller (car seat stays in car)
- Heavy design makes switching cars often difficult
Conclusion
As you’ve seen above, 4 out of 5 of the Safety First car seats on this list are convertible styles for extended use from infancy to big kid. The exception is the Safety 1st onBoard 35 Air 360 Infant Car Seat, which is the only one that allows you to hand-carry your baby or pair with a compatible stroller. So unless your child is past this stage or you don’t need these conveniences, your decision on the remaining 4 convertible styles may come down to a few lifestyle questions.
Ask yourself, “Do I want the car seat with the longest use?”
If so, choose from the Safety 1st Grow and Go or the Alpha Omega Elite (both for children 5-100 lbs). Between those 2 you can narrow it down by selecting between all the bells and whistles of the Grow and Go or going for the under $100 budget of the Alpha Omega car seat.
The Safety First Continuum is also a great choice if you want to keep your budget on the lower end, but want the style that’s more like the Grow and Go. The only drawback is that the weight capacity for the Continuum goes only to 80 lbs. instead of 100 lbs., so there is always the possibility that you may need to purchase another booster seat in the future depending upon how tall your child is at the 80 lbs. mark (children 4’9” don’t require a booster anymore).
With the Safety 1st Guide 65, you will need to purchase a booster seat after your child has outgrown the 65 lbs. threshold, however, this car seat has benefits that the others simply don’t including being lightweight, great for compact cars and aircraft approved. Since this one is also under $100, having to purchase a booster seat down the line may not be such a big deal.
It all really comes down to preference.
Still have questions about what style of car seat you should be looking for? Read our Car Seats Buying Guide or watch this video.
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