Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Car Seat – 2021 Review & Verdict

en.clix.vn22 November, 2022

0 17 7 minutes read

why choose a convertible seat?

First, you need to know the difference between infant seats, 3-in-1 seats, and convertible seats. Infant seats always face the rear and are typically designed to safely hold premature infants as low as 4 pounds to a maximum of 30 pounds. once your child outgrows this, it is no longer an option.

Convertible seats are seats you can use rear-facing to start with and then switch to a forward-facing seat when your child is ready. these car seats last until your child is between 60 and 90 pounds, give or take.

Reading: Safety 1st booster car seat reviews

Some brands (like safety 1st) use the term 3-in-1 for a convertible seat. however, brands differ in that the 3-in-1 seat in some cases cannot be used rear-facing and is instead a seat that converts to a backless booster seat. The seats have inserts for toddlers, which can be removed when they are big enough, and the seat back can then be removed for use as a backless booster seat when they are ready for a booster seat.

how do you decide which one is better? consider these questions:

Is this your first child or do you have a newborn? consider starting with an infant seat, as some experts believe they are the safest options for very young babies.
is this your last child? consider starting with a convertible seat so it grows with your baby and you don’t need to buy a second (or third) seat for your baby.
Are you going to change cars a lot? many convertible seats do not have a base that allows you to carry the baby from one car to another. this means you’ll have to pick up a sleeping baby and could disturb them or reinstall the seat every time you change cars.
Are you on a tight budget? convertible car seats will save you money in the long run, so you won’t be buying two or even three seats for her.
Do you have a small car? convertible seats can be heavier and larger so it could present a challenge with front passenger legroom or if you need to accommodate 3 rear seat passengers.

When looking for a convertible seat, pay special attention to ease of use. If the instructions aren’t clear or are too complicated, you’re likely to miss something and end up with a poorly installed seat. Your convertible seat should also have a 5-point harness and good side impact protection.

what makes safety 1st grow and be a 3-in-1 different?

The grow-and-go is designed with ease of use in mind. this means not only installation, but also daily use and cleaning.

key features

5-position harness without rethreading with separate position for newborn (must be rethreaded)
infant insert with extra head and neck support
an easy-to-remove, machine-washable cover
harness holders keep straps out of the way when loading your child in and out of their seat
3 recline angles (with numbered guide on side of seat) to reduce the need for a pool float or leveling towel
a level line to guide positioning
can be used with lower anchors or seat belt in rear-facing position
quick-adjust harness allows you to adjust the harness and headrest at the same time
2 removable cup holders
1 year warranty
10 years shelf life before expiration
got a “good bet” rating from the iihs (insurance institute for highway safety)

what are the child size ranges for the safety 1st 3-in-1 convertible car seat?

* Please note that there are other models of grow and go car seats, including the grow and go air sport and the grow and go ex air. They have identical weight limits except ex air. In the rear-facing position, the Ex Air has a weight range of 5-50lbs instead of 5-40lbs. They also tend to be more expensive than the original Grow and Go.

how big is this seat? will it work with your vehicle?

As we mentioned before, there is no separate base and the seat will not function as a portable baby carrier. Although designed to offer extra legroom for front seat passengers, it can still be bulkier than most rear-facing infant seats and more difficult to fit comfortably in compact cars. although it is faa approved as a harness seat, it will be heavy and will not fold up for easy transport in an airport.

height of shell with headrest: 26 inches
newborn rethread harness position: 6 inches with insert
height of harness without rethreading: 10 – 17 inches
highest position of booster belt guide: 18.5 inches
seat depth: 12.5 inches
weight: 15.4 pounds

Safety Tip: A hard thing to remember is that the weight limit for the latch anchor is 40 lbs. After that, you need to wear your seat belt for installation. install it up front with the seat belt so you don’t accidentally forget to change it when your child reaches 40 pounds.

how safe is the safety 1st grow and go 3-in-1 convertible car seat?

grow and go is designed to extend the time of use as a rear-facing car seat, which is what most experts believe is the safest position for a young child. you may be anxious to put them forward-facing because you’re concerned about legroom. children are much more flexible and comfortable with their legs bent than adults. Crash data has shown a lower rate of leg injuries with rear-facing seats. In addition, they provide better protection for the head and neck.

Some parents like to face forward to make it easier to give their kids food and drinks while driving. remember that coming back to get your child a snack is a distraction, just like texting. If a young child is snacking on the car seat while driving, it also increases the risk of suffocation and will slow their response time. save snacks for when they are older and can help themselves.

There are some good security features to remember. The Grow and Go has removable child padding to ensure a better harness fit in the (lowest) child harness position. You should wear this insert while using the infant harness position, which could mean using it until your baby is around 6-9 months. As a booster seat, the High Back Shoulder Belt Positioner helps you adjust the seat belt to the safest position for a booster seat passenger.

As the largest manufacturer of child restraint systems, safety 1st uses extensive crash tests to ensure they exceed federal safety standards.

testimonials from real moms support grow and go’s safety standards. One mom reported that the car seat worked great in a 45mph crash. her little one (18 months) was perfectly fine and even slept through the accident.

Potential Failures: Several parents reported having difficulty tightening the straps in the remade (infant) position, resulting in the car seat tipping over. others were unable to get a proper recline angle, so the child’s head was not sufficiently supported while he slept. Both of these issues could be due to a fault with the car seat design or with the car model and rear seat type (ie bucket seats). If in doubt, call the company or do some research to see if your vehicle is compatible with this seat.

Some people didn’t like the wide chest clip because it made their baby uncomfortable and left marks on the skin. a parent in arizona said the chest clip melted and warped in the heat while they were not in the vehicle.

The seat pad is machine washable and tumble dryable, making it easy for parents to clean. The pad has snaps that make it easy to put on and take off the seat for cleaning without having to remove the harness. Previously, this car seat had fixed cup holders, but the new model has removable cup holders that are easy to remove and dishwasher safe.

how difficult is it to install grow and go 3-in-1?

Maintaining the precise position of the recline and belt can be a challenge for new parents. There are 3 recline positions to help children find a comfortable ride. For newborns who need head support, you should fully recline the seat to position 3. For older babies and toddlers in the rear-facing position, you can use recline positions 1 or 2. then in forward-facing mode. Forward and in booster mode, the seat back should be in the upright position and recline positions should only be used to keep it flush with the vehicle seat. always consult your owner’s manual when installing.

5-position no-rethread harness slots are for older infants and toddlers only. while your child is a newborn and toddler, you will need to use the infant (lower) rethread harness slots. this means that you will have to manually feed the harness through these slots. For new parents who have never had experience rethreading car seat straps, there is a higher chance of improper installation. you may need help from experienced parents to get it right.

since tightening these straps enough is a problem for many people, you may want to consider using an infant car seat for your newborn and then switching to this when they are old enough to use the harness positions 5 stitches without rethreading.

Potential glitches: Parents found that the divider plate sometimes got caught on some plastic ribs between the bottom of the seating area and the base, which could be why some people find it so hard to adjust them. this may or may not have been addressed by the company. call and ask them and be sure to check for recalls as well.

optional accessories

while there are no specific plugins for grow and go, here are some things other parents like to use with it:

Munchkin Car Seat Protector: Not only does this protector keep your vehicle’s seats cleaner, the non-slip surface helps prevent the car seat from sliding, which could be Very helpful if you have slippery vinyl or leather seats. The front pocket is great with the raised position for storing crayons, small books, tissues, and snacks for older children.

lebogner car seat protector + kick mat seat back protector – If you have a problem with your forward-facing child always kicking the seat in front of them, leaving dirty shoe marks all over the upholstery , this combo pack is a great option. . The seat back protector also has pockets to store crayons, coloring books, etc. within arm’s reach of your child for those long car rides.

Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup – For older kids who can handle cups with ease, you can use the Grow and Go’s Cup Holders with this 360 degree cup that won’t leak or spill. It comes in a 2-pack and is BPA-free, plus the handles make it easy for little hands to grip.