Safety 1st Grow and Go All-in-One Review

Safety 1st started in 1985 with the well-known “Baby on Board” car badge, which most of us are familiar with even today. In the 30 years since, the company has created multiple safety-related products, becoming an industry leader in home safety for children. Safety 1st sells items like plug protectors, baby gates, cabinet locks, car seats, and more.

Performance Comparison

Crash Test

The Safety 1st has a slightly above-average crash test analysis result. All the car seats we tested meet federal guidelines, and all are considered safe. We ran our tests somewhat hotter than the federal test to find those seats that stood out compared to the competition.

The HIC sensor recorded significantly higher than average results (lower is better), which really brought down the analysis score as the chest clip sensor showed fewer G-Forces and was pretty impressive.

This option is not a standout but is better than some. However, given our difficulties during installation testing and the importance of correct installation for safety, this is not our top choice.

Ease of Install - LATCH

Installing the Safety 1st using LATCH is not a fun experience, and we struggled with it significantly compared to the competition. It has hook-style LATCH connectors, a line level of a decal, and no lock-off. These components are lacking compared to the competition, making it hard to install.

Getting the seat installed using the line decal is hard. We had to duck down and back up to compare the line to the ground. It also requires level ground to begin with. The recline adjustment handle design is similar to other seats that didn't score well, and the strap threading area is congested. It would have helped to have some color coding or other indicators to help you know what you are doing, but everything here is black, and you'll need to be careful about following the manual. The Safety 1st required 1-2 towels to install depending on the test car. We had significant struggles getting the seat tight or secure, and it didn't pass the wiggle test in the first test car.

We can't say enough about how awful clip or hook-style LATCH connectors are to work with. While they are safe and do the job fine, they are a pain to put on and take off. You can't remove them until you release the tension in the strap, and you need enough slack to push the hook forward to twist it off the anchor. We'd rather spend a few more dollars to get the push-on connectors with a push-button or pull-tab release mechanism. We had to sit in the seat to release the tension.

The forward-facing installation of the Safety 1st has a similar level of frustration with no lock-off and hook LATCH connectors, but at least you don't need to mess with a level indicator. The threading path is straightforward, and the handle works okay, though it gets hung up on something occasionally. It is easier to tighten this configuration in both test cars, and the final result was much more stable than rear-facing.

Ease of Install - Belt

Installing the Safety 1st using the vehicle belt wasn't the hardest in the group, but it was disappointing in our tests. With a metric result significantly below average, we think most parents will find this a frustrating install.

The Grow and Go only offers a line on a decal for leveling, and there is no color-coding or lock-off, making installation a frustrating experience that feels like they don't care if you succeed. Installation is a fight to keep it upright because it is top-heavy, and you have to take some of the cover off to access the path, all while you keep the towels in the right spot to get the right angle for installation. While you need the towel to get the angle right, they must also be pretty mushed down to get the best angle. We used 1-2 towels depending on the test car. The belt pathway is pretty straightforward, but with no lock-off or tensioner, you are pulling and pulling, and even after you've done your best, it only just passes the wiggle test. The back of the seat was raised off of the vehicle seat on one test car, and overall, we felt uncomfortable with the final product. We suspect many parents will be disappointed by the stability.

Forward-facing installation of the Safety 1st has no indicator, color-coding, or lock-off. Threading the belt isn't as easy as some competition since the headrest can't be moved out of the way. Getting the belt tight enough in either test car was difficult, and it took a lot of effort to get the slack out when a lock-off would have solved this problem. The installation process was annoying, in our opinion, and we didn't like the stability of the final installation, even though it passed our wiggle test.

Ease of Use

Compared to the convertible competition, this seat was also one of the hardest to use regarding day-to-day features.

Harness

The buckle is different than most but still reasonably straightforward when putting in the prongs and pressing the button to release. The clip is much bigger than the competition but works well without much resistance. The buckle and crotch strap are lower than most.

Tightening the harness is more challenging, and we had trouble with it tightening lopsided on each side. We felt more resistance than most, and there was more drag where the webbing came out of the slot. Even other online reviews report similar frustrations with this system. There is a similar resistance when you press the release button and try to pull the harness loose to remove it.

This seat has an odd and somewhat unique semi-rethread method with five height adjustment options and three crotch straps. The crotch positions are all really close to each other, and we aren't sure that moving it will even make much of a difference to harness fitting. The five height levels are also potentially not enough to provide a good fit for all children through the size range outlined by the manufacturer. The handle button for adjustment is hard to squeeze, and it feels sort of flimsy. There is an additional slot lower on the back for tiny babies.

LATCH Storage

The LATCH connectors on the Safety 1st stow away on the sides by connecting them to hooks on each side. The hooks are sort of deep in a crevice, and we think it is annoying for bigger hands.

Cover

The cover is quick and easy to remove on the Safety 1st. It has a couple of buttons in the back, but most of it drapes over the side. It is one of the best in the group.

Comfort/Quality

The Safety 1st failed to compare to the competition for comfort and quality, much like the other test metrics.

The main seat fabric feels good on the cheeks, much like the insert, which is nice as they are often different, with one being rougher than the other. The material is smooth, cooling, and similar to more expensive seats. We wish the padding were as good as the fabric. We noticed a step down in the amount of padding and the quality. The shell looks and feels like cheaper plastic, and the dual cup holders are integrated but removable.

Weight/Size

The Safety 1st is one of the lightest seats in the group, with a weight of 13.4 lbs. This compares favorably to the average, which is 24.3 lbs, and the high, which is over twice the weight of the Safety 1st.

It is somewhat wide for the group, measuring 18.7 inches at the widest point. The average for this convertible group is 18.6 inches, so while it isn't as wide as the biggest option, it isn't particularly narrow either.

Should You Buy the Safety 1st Grow and Go All-in-One?

We think there are better ways to spend money and better seats in this price range than the Safety 1st. This seat earned one of the lowest overall scores in the group of over 20 seats, making it one that disappointed in almost every metric, including the crash test analysis. Whether you want the safest seat, the easiest to install, or the easiest to use, this is not the seat for you.

What Other Convertible Car Seat Should You Consider?

If budget is a concern, which is why you are looking at the Safety 1st, we think the Evenflo Tribute 5 is a better option. This option has one of the highest crash test results in the group, and it is easier to install in both methods (though, in fairness, it still isn't easy). If your budget can stretch a little, the Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 is the best bang for your buck. It sports impressive crash test analysis results, is easier to install and use than the Safety 1st, and is of higher quality with a comfy design.

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