The more intricate design includes removing the shoulder straps from a splitter plate on the back and physically moving the straps from one slot height on the seatback to thread them through different slots (above right). Either way, we recommend ALWAYS following the manufacturer's directions for installation, no matter what they call the method or component. Installing infant car seat shell using the lap and shoulder belt. You can see by his stats that hes nearing the height limit, but not the weight limit. Angle: Any of 9 recline positions can be used to achieve the best recline for your vehicle and child! The Cybex Sirona S also has a strange chest clip, with a button that requires pressing to clip and unclip. Reset your password. Installing car seat base using the lap belt. Overall, the Nuna is a quality seat with impressive scores in most metrics, and for families where budget is less of a concern and quality is number one, the Nuna is one for your list of contenders. Is the seat as secure when anchored to the center seat with a vehicle belt as it is in the side position using LATCH. Forward-facing LATCH weight limit: 35 lbs. BabyGearLab was founded by a Pediatrician Mom with a mission to provide a reliable, independent, source of information to new parents. If youre familiar with the Marathon, Boulevard, and Advocate ClickTight convertibles, the forward-facing belt path on the One4Life is oriented differently. Maximum weight (lbs.) We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. Read more: Britax Boulevard ClickTight ARB review. My new-to-a-booster model didnt find it difficult at all but you can see in my pictures that the base is right up against the buckle. A rating of how compatible, easy and secure a child car seat can be correctly installed in certain test vehicles. This convertible seat is not the best for families on a tight budget. This rating is based on a forward-facing installation using the vehicle belts. The amount of slack you remove dictates how tight the installation will be, obviously. The Clek Foonf is also easy. It drove me insane as I dressed and undressed the carseat and tried to figure out which way was up, but as a daily use type of thing, I can see it being quite helpful in keeping the harness covers in place and in keeping them out of the way of the chest clip. The Emblem angle adjusts with an under seat handle that is easy to use but can be tricky one it is installed rear-facing. How can we improve BabyGearLab? This is due to the type of splitter plate used to hold the harness ends and will happen on other seats as well. Just forget the LATCH strap is there altogether because the LATCH install is more complicated (though there may be situations where you might need it and Ill discuss those later). In our tests, the Britax Boulevard ClickTight ARB earned one of the highest overall results with perfect LATCH and belt installation scores, creating a virtually foolproof convertible car seat anyone can install. The most I needed was recline 2 before it was too upright according to the recline indicator in the Model X and the Town & Country. This car seat will go in a Mazda CX-5. Each section has a couple of elastics to secure, but its more a hassle than it is difficult. 2 Year Baby Electronics Protection Plan from Asurion Consumer Solutions of Canada Corp . Videos. The One4Life uses EPP impact foam which doesn't off-gas and is less brittle than the more common EPS foam. Belt fit is good, but Alicia reports he is somewhat tight in the seat. This rating is based on a rear-facing installation using the vehicle belts. The seats lacking a lock-off did not score as well, except for the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible. The LATCH connectors stow in the seat back sort of wadded up and shoved in (above left). The Britax Allegiance earned an 8 for crash test results and is among the least expensive in this review. The Frontier CT was not tested with the weighted 6-year-old ATD since its harness capacity is 90 lbs. I installed the One4Life (black shell) to a recline suitable for a newborn and a Marathon ClickTight (white shell) to a recline suitable for a newborn as well. The Graco Extend2Fit earned our best crash test rating with 9 of 10, thanks to excellent Chest Clip (g) and HIC scores. BabyGearLab contracts with the same crash test facility that the NHTSA uses to perform our convertible seat crash tests. And, we combine our review work with gobs of expert parenting advice. The chart above shows a comparison between the Sirona S and the top-scoring seat for chest clip, the Clek Foonf. The soft knit, well-padded SafeWash cover contains no added flame retardants and can be thrown in the washing machine on gentle cycle, then dried in the dryer on low, but double-check the labeling on the cover first for specific fabrics. The cover on this seat comes off surprisingly easily. Privacy | Cookies | Terms, In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician. Heres G again (6 years old, 43 lbs., 45 ), this time forward-facing in the harness. You should check weight capacity too, but more often than not, the height limitwill force the switch to a convertible seat. All opinions expressed are those of CarseatBlog. Installs in the other vehicles were seriously easy, which is what makes the ClickTight system so awesome! The Foonf is relatively easy to install using the vehicle belt, offering impressive comfort and quality in its design. The chest clip is where the harness comes together above the buckle, across the chest. When I first saw this I thought it was cheesythis is a Britax, after all. It tucks under the edges of the seat and is four pieces, making for easier removal and replacement and also means you can remove just the part that is dirty if your mess is isolated to a single area. The Britax Advocate ClickTight ARB is also easy to install using the vehicle belt, earning a 9. Does the One4Life take up more room than a Britax clicktight convertible? As CPST-Instructors with 20+ years of expertise, plus personal experiences with almost every car seat on the market, our in-depth reviews will help you understand both the pros and cons of any seat that you might be considering. Probably the most straightforward and unique cover is on the Chico NextFit Zip, which has a cover that zips off all the way around for easy removal for machine washing. This foam choice is a good example of thoughtfully using a higher-end quality material than the average seat. Hi Patrick. In this Britax One4Life review, we are giving you an overview of its features, benefits, specs, disadvantages, and much more. However, the Graco Extend2Fit is an excellent option for anyone who wants the best crash test results and finds value in the safety potential of a rear-facing seat. However, we feel it deserves a nod and is a worthwhile option to save you money. The weight difference is the angle adjustment pad and the anti-rebound bar. Brea arrest records. If in your vehicle, like my Tesla Model X, the V-tether slides down the sides of the vehicle seat, you can tie the tail of the tether around the tether to turn it into a Y shape or order a tether extender from Britax to make the same shape (see pic). We get it and were here to help. And, if necessary, a tightly rolled towel or pool noodles may be used to supplement the recline positions in the event of deeply scooped vehicle seats (hello Mustang and Camaro!). Full Body Protection: 2 layers of side impact protection surround your child's head, neck & torso. 705 E Birch St, #Suite P, Brea CA 92821. . One of the most critical aspects of seat installation is ensuring the car seat is securely and tightly anchored to the vehicle. While the seat weight is potentially not as critical as an infant seat's carrier weight, it can be a consideration if you regularly travel or use public transportation (like Uber or Lyft). Other buckles are stiff, but at least they don't require cussing to use. LATCH installation on the One4Life is straightforward using the ClickTight system. This rating is based on a rear-facing installation using the LATCH system. Passwords are 6-20 characters with at least one number and letter. We suggest you keep your baby in their infant car seat until they are 9-12 months old or as their height starts to push the infant seat's maximum length (always follow the manufacturer's limitations of your infant seat to guide you). This is his daily seat and he says its comfortable. That smooth base can also help with some installations. We take convertible car seat testing very seriously because the stakes are so high. The harness is easy to tighten and release with a smooth strap and a button that is easy to find and push. This information makes it an excellent option for those who want top safety indicators. The Clek Foonf has the highest weight limit for rear facing installation out of all the car seats we tested. If Britax is your brand of choice, we believe the. Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One Convertible Car Seat Cool Flow Teal. Thats it. This model is ideal for those who plan to use a full car seat well into childhood years. Privacy | Cookies | Terms, In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician. Just like any other harness, spot clean with a cloth dipped in water and a drop of mild soap, then wipe with the cloth rinsed in water. FAQs or access your The Nuna RAVA is a very high-end convertible car seat with deep comfort padding, super soft fabric, and a sleek look with quality construction and impressive attention to detail. The Nuna is relatively expensive, making it a possible no-go if your budget is limited. Specialties: Combining smart technology with modern, welcoming clinics, Carbon Health provides virtual and in-person appointments for primary care and urgent care. The harness is stored on-board in the storage compartment. The Cybex Sirona M with SensorSafe 2.0 also has a unique chest clip that includes SensorSafe technology that relays various information to a device connected to the car and your smartphone. Given that some injuries result from an incorrectly installed car seat, this Britax is a contender for parents concerned with proper installation, thanks to the stupendously easy ClickTight installation design. Im going to show all the ARB pics right here. Contact Information. After receiving the crash test data we commission, we perform a detailed analysis of the sensor data from each car seat's crash dummy to determine how they compare to the competition and the federal standard. None of the buckle buttons in this lineup are easy to press with a simple thumb push. According to Britax testing, the anti-rebound bar helps stabilize the seat in a crash, reducing rotation by 40 percent. Push down on the panel to close it. How can we improve BabyGearLab? There was enough friction between the puffiness in the fabric and the shoulder belt guide so that the shoulder belt didnt retract when G sat forward. I set the front seats of my 2011 Acura MDX to as similar a recline and distance as I could to make this a fair test. Hi Rebecca. An optional anti-rebound bar is available as an accessory and retails for $64.99. The One4Life is FAA-approved when used with the harness. Range in inches of children allowed by the seat in forward-facing harnessed mode. . Ad-free. The Ease of Use metric includes the functionality of standard features, including harness adjustment and chest clips, ease of tightening or loosening the harness, and fabric cover removal for cleaning. The One4Life has one of the lowest crash test analysis results in our best convertible car seat review, with disappointing results for the chest sensor data and better than average HIC results. Britax Boulevard ClickTight ARB with perfect scores for all installation methods, Impressive option with quality features and super easy installation parents will love, Best crash test results on a budget-friendly seat that lets little ones sit rear-facing for longer, A lightweight, easy to use seat with excellent crash test result and price, Child's head must be at least 1 in. Our testing methods include buying two safety seats for each model, one for crash testing and one for in-house lab testing and real-world use. The sides pop out on their own when the button is pressed. The low price translated to disappointing scores for comfort and quality, but the fabric is easy to remove and clean. Premium Performance: Exclusive combination of StayClean fabric: stain, moisture, and odor-resistant technology + SafeWash fabric: washer/dryer friendly, naturally flame retardant with no added chemicals. The seat bottom stays out of the way, leaving it open to thread the belt. Our convertible car seat testing is divided across six rating metrics: Over the last several years, we've purchased more than 18 convertible car seats (two of each, actually). Dr. Spurrier's kids loved it, and she likes the quality and ease of use. Repeat, if necessary, until straps are even. It also isn't the most comfortable, with less padding and an unbolstered headrest. The Britax Boulevard ClickTight ARB has the highest score for tightening and loosening. MGA test the seats using the same protocol that NHTSA uses based on the FMVSS 213 safety standard. Britax Safety: Patented v-shaped tether, high strength steel frame and crumple zone absorb crash energy to help keep your child safe. Brea, CA Urgent Care & Primary Care - Brea Marketplace. without padding. The Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible, Britax Boulevard ClickTight ARB, Britax Advocate ClickTight ARB, and the Clek Foonf also feature clip storage retention that works well. With a 7 of 10, the Allegiance is somewhat harder to install using the vehicle belt than some competition. BabyGearLab is reader-supported. Car seats have come a long way in the past decade, and it seems like every manufacturer has some special feature to sell you on their product. Given that many of the products have a weight limit of 50-80 lbs, it is clear that most children will utilize the vehicle belt at some point. Convertible car seats have similar designs with few apparent differences that are not cosmetic. The cup holders are twist and lock to secure to the One4Life. Downloads. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Manufacture Date: 12/01/14 - Present. Rear-facing installation using vehicle seat belts. This convertible seat is a unique choice that we believe many families will love. A rating of how compatible, easy and secure a child car seat can be correctly installed in certain test vehicles. No ads. The label on the side of the seat helps you determine where it should be. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. It is also easier to use than most of the competition. In the event this happens, Britax recommends that the use of a car seat be discontinued if it has been in a moderate to severe crash. However, this shouldn't be a deal-breaker unless you have limitations that prevent strap pulling. 10 Years of Use: One4Life convertible to booster car seat grows with your child up to 63" in height. Theres a tag labeling it. This rating is based on a rear-facing installation using the vehicle belts. The Chicco NextFit has a unique LATCH design with a 2-step strap tightening system that is very easy to tighten, requiring no extreme strength. While it isn't the heaviest option in the group, it is over the average of 21 and certainly not light enough to consider lugging through an airport or city sidewalk. It seems fairly contained, but it could potentially get soiled if there is a significant vomiting incident or spilled drink. below the top of the head restraint. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that "car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13.". The graphs provided above include the actual test data with the Britax in black and the top-performing seat results in green for comparison purposes. We include the details parents require to make an informed decision about which convertible car seat is the best option for their child and budget. We worry parents will put off adjusting the harness when needed with the rethread style because it requires an empty seat and more effort. This seat has a detachable angle booster, an anti-rebound bar, and an adjustable headrest, making it a convertible seat parents and little ones love. B Safe 35 User Guide. This rating is based on a forward-facing installation using the LATCH system. One the one hand, theyre super easy for parents to remove for cleaning. Unlock for unbiased ratings and reviews for products and services you use everyday. The whole operation moves smoothly and is easy to use. I will say, however, if you do buy one, make sure the place you buy from has an easy return policy so if youre not satisfied, you can return it. Pull the slack out of the shoulder belt. While also an intriguing device, it emits EMF, and each parent will need to decide if this feature is compelling enough to expose their child to EMF. This Britax has much in common with its brothers, and being easy to use is one of those things. This group has budget-friendly options with winners and lower-priced seats to meet your needs and safety goals. We spend tens of thousands of dollars crash testing car seats. Unbuckle the seat belt first! Installing car seat base using the lap and shoulder belt. I usually measure the front passenger seat for me and Im 56. It depends on the position of the seat and direction for the Britax options, as rear-facing requires the locking of the vehicle belt, which indicates the ClickTight is more of a tensioner than a lock-off. The shell is almost completely encased (above right) for easy cleanup and fewer places for the gunk to hide. The Clek Foonf ties with the Britax Boulevard ClickTight ARB for the highest LATCH installation score, as both products do not need manual strap tightening. We purchase two of each car seat we review, one for crash testing and one for in-house testing, so you can trust that our results are unbiased and honest. Outdoor adventures are better with a baby on your back. Influence-free. Some lock-offs work a little better than others, but even those that are challenging, still provide a more secure feeling installation in our tests than seats without a lock-off. The forward-facing installation of the Clek Foonf for kids over 2 years old using the vehicle belt is very secure feeling and easy to accomplish. Youll open the CT panel, but the seat belt (or LATCH belt) is threaded behind it, behind the childs back, like a regular FF belt path. We will tell you which seats are the easiest to install using the vehicle belt and provide information on the correct installation or where to get help if you are unsure or if something doesn't seem right. Our reviews also rely on intense product research and observations from multiple testers to compare each product side-by-side with the competition. The Chicco NextFit Zip has one of the shortest tightening straps in the group, and it took more effort to pull than some of the competition. Our innovative . Width of seat base as measured from underside of seat. The Allegiance has the second-highest score for crash test results, with one of the group's best head sensor results. They each offer additional padding with well-fitted fabric and considerations for everything. Unlock to see our ratings and compare products side by side. Heather, Kecia, Darren & Team: The Most Trusted Source for Car Seat Reviews, Ratings, Deals & News Since 2008. Powered by consumers. The LATCH system of installation was designed to help parents install car seats safely every time. These are the rules you must follow to restrain your children safely. Best Convertible Car Seats 2022: Crash Tested. Some options have designated pockets for LATCH clips, while the most common storage method includes attaching the clips to points on the shell or each other. Our experts have tested thousands of baby and kids products to share key performance, health, and safety findings. The insert is not mandatory to use but it MUST be removed when your child reaches 20 lbs. The Clek Foonf is the heaviest option in the review, with a rear-facing configuration of over 38 lbs using the anti-rebound bar and angle attachment; the forward-facing version is over 33 lbs. For fun and to show the true rear-facing range, the model I recruited for booster pictures decided he wanted to try the seat rear-facing. We like that it is easy to use and the better-than-average crash test analysis indicates a potential margin of safety over the average seat in this review. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing by people who care. The Nuna offers top performance for comfort and quality and is easy to install, no matter which option you prefer. If the LATCH strap or connectors interfere with the vehicle buckle or seat belt in any way, store it in its pouch under the CT panel. The Britax One4Life will take your child where theyre going in style and comfort for years to come. Our panel of experts also includes Dr. Juliet Spurrier, a Board-Certified Pediatrician, mother, and founder of BabyGearLab with a background in urgent pediatric care. The One4Life HIC result is 399, where the max allowed is 1000, and the best is the Britax Allegiance with a 186. The Chicco fabric is softer, and the seat is sleek without a bunch of useless nooks and crannies. If its really bad, you can replace the harness. Some seats are easier to install using a seat belt than competitors, and most of these seats have a trick by way of a belt lock-off located on the seat. To install the seat, follow the same steps as listed above, but use the green belt path. The MY will feel similar, but again, leg room wont be a problem. This fact can be a relief when you need to install the seat with a belt, which is highly likely given the weight limitations of LATCH systems. The manual stores behind a fabric flap under the main padding of the seatback (above right). Highly recommended!! The final B recline position is for booster mode only. We contracted with the same crash test facility used by NHTSA to test the seats in this review. She literally fell asleep as soon as I put her in the seat! Using the belt lock-off/tensioner on the Sirona S isn't difficult but it is a two-step process. Buy Now. The widest car seat in the group is the Britax Advocate ClickTight ARB at 20 inches, and we believe it will be extremely challenging to use it with more than two car seats in a row in most vehicles. We crash-tested convertible seats from Britax, Nuna, Chicco, Graco and others to determine which will keep your child comfortable and safe for years. Here are the installation steps, which are conveniently outlined on the cover you lift to access the ClickTight panel: To remove the carseat, its not quite the reverse process. In this update, we bought and crash-tested the top 17 convertible seats available today to find the best. 5.0 out of 5 stars Livraison . It comes in 3 pieces: a cover for the head wings and down behind the childs back, a cover for the torso side area, and a cover for the seat portion (nice since you wont have to remove the whole cover just for a pee accident). Britax Frontier ClickTight Crash Test Results: The headrest adjustment and harness support structures on the Frontier ClickTight broke when tested with the 6-year-old dummy (ATD) who weighs 52 lbs. Got feedback? We consider the padding, fabric, and foam and how well they come together compared to the competition. Side overhang is not allowed. With several award-winning seats offering reasonable prices and better-than-average crash results, you can find a convertible car seat with a potential additional margin of protection without draining the bank. The Clek Foonf lock-off (above left) is super easy to use, even though you need to lift the seat bottom to access the rear-facing lock-off. The Britax One4Life ClickTight is part of the Car Seats test program at Consumer Reports. I want the most safest, comfortable, best crash test ratings car seat for my baby. When its in booster mode, though, no overhang is allowed and the entire base of the car seat must be on the vehicle seat. $199.00 . Rear facing seat belt installation of the Boulevard is easy to achieve with the ClickTight system. The further below the Federal HIC maximum of 1000 indicates a better result, so a taller bar indicates potentially better protection. One4Life Weight and Height Limits: Rear-facing: 5-50 lbs. While this design is interesting, we think it makes the clip's operation significantly more challenging. To keep the harness as even as possible, pull the harness loose from the chest clip to keep it even. Britax One4Life base The One4Life has a smooth and flat base, without any protrusions or sharp angles that could damage the vehicle seat. This Britax has the push-button connection (above left) we prefer and a strap that is easy to tighten without much effort. Forward facing installation for the Emblem using the vehicle belt is a little trickier but the belt lock-off works well to stabilize the seat. A small collection of just some of the convertible car seats we've tested over the years. Britax has been creating juvenile products for over 70 years. Its easy to get overwhelmed when youre trying to sort through the barrage of marketing ads and videos. We rated each seat compared to the competition using a 1-10 scoring system using crash test report analysis. Because buckles are more challenging, focusing on buckle use over the chest clips is best. Our favorite seat LATCH installation is the Clek because of the forward-facing rigid LATCH installation. Maximum weight (lbs.) We spend tens of thousands of dollars crash testing car seats to inform our ratings. Each seat has a harness tightening strap and a harness release button to loosen the straps.