When we bought our Pacifica, right before Princess P came into the world, we knew she would have to ride right beside one of the doors. The thought that we might be risking her safety by buying a vehicle that did not have a middle back seat almost made us back out of our deal. But after doing some research we went ahead and got it. Still, the thought of us getting into a side impact collision and her being right there scared me to death. Thankfully, I am a little more relaxed because she is riding in the brand new Safety 1st Air Protect Car Seat.
How does the Safety 1st Air Protect Car Seat work?
Air Protect shields children from side impact intrusion through a precise release of air, reducing crash force around a child's head. It achieves this by extending ride-down, the amount of time it takes to slow a child’s movement in a crash.
Air Protects primary focus is defending children from the one of the biggest threats on the road today, side impact collisions. Through the placement of Air Protect Technology on the car seat the crash force is diverted away from a child's head.
"Safety 1st engineers designed Air Protect using next generation testing methods that simulate the most violent types of side impact crashes, those with vehicle intrusion. Using this advanced methodology, Air Protect™ was engineered to defend your child in two vital ways. During a crash, the system immediately shields your child's head from the impact. In a second layer of defense, Air Protect™ allows air to escape from the headrest: channeling crash energy away from your child, creating more ride down time. It is this double layer of protection that makes Air Protect™ technology unique."
Features of the Safety 1st Air Protect Car Seat:
- Perfect for infants rear-facing from 5-40 pounds and 19" - 40" and toddlers forward-facing from 22-50 pounds and 34" - 45"
- Adjustable headrest accommodates growing children in 5 different positions
- Features one click LATCH system that allows for easy and quick installation
- QuickFit Harness System adjusts harness height in one easy step
- Removable cup holder for convenience
When I was pregnant with Princess P C and I took a car seat safety class. There we learned the dos and don'ts of car seat safety and most importantly how to properly install a car seat. Since I was 8 months pregnant C was the one to physically install the car seat complete with the knee in the seat (or base) to tighten it down. Since he is the master I let him install the Safety 1st Air Protect Car Seat, but I know how to do it as I installed her last car seat numerous times.
The Safety 1st Air Protect Car Seat was very easy to install. We do not have the LATCH system in our car so we used the lap/shoulder belt. We easily slipped the belt through the belt path and then tightened the car seat down so when we pulled it from side-to-side it did not move.
Our thoughts:
If I had to sum it up in one phrase, I absolutely love it! The Safety 1st Air Protect Car Seat was a
little intimidating when it first arrived. I was afraid we would not be able to figure it's features out. But after a briefing from the booklet and the helpful instructional videos on the website we were able to tackle it. It is a little more bulky than our other car seat but not much. The cup holder is a luxury we are not use to on car seats but it is coming in quite handy. Also, the head rest is serving dual purposes. A safety and protection device as well as a handy head rest when Princess P goes to sleep. The Safety 1st Air Protect Car Seat reclines a little more than our other car seat in the forward-facing position (I don't know about rear-facing) so she leans back a little. The only thing negative I have to say, and it is purely cosmetic, is the Velcro on P's shoes seem to pick the fabric on the seat leaving little picked places. But like I said that is strictly cosmetic and does not effect the safety or protection of this car seat.
Where to buy:
The Safety 1st Air Protect Car Set comes in two different color combination's, McKenna (Black/Grey) and Harvest (Brown/Orange), and you can purchase it at Babies "R" Us and Toys "R" Us for $249.99.
Signazon.com
37 comments:
Mama, I read your blog with interest. You seem very concerned about safety, especially side impact safety. May I point out to you that your child is tiny, and should be rear facing? In particular, side impact crashes are especially lethal, and the BEST way to protect against them is to have the child rear facing to the weight/height limits of the seat.
Your seat can be used up to 40 pounds rearfacing. I strongly recommend you do some research on forward facing too early, and the deadly consequences it can have, and turn your child back rear facing. I have a five year old, a three year old and a two year old, and the youngest two ride rear facing and will until they outgrow the rearfacing weight limit of the seat, which will be around 40 pounds.
I would never allow a child as small and young as yours to ride forward facing in my car, nor would I ever allow my child to ride forward facing at that size.
If you came through my check station, I would strongly, strongly, strongly encourage you to turn her back rear facing.
Kindly,
Joanna, Child Passenger Safety Technician and mom of 3
i'm curious as to how tall your daughter is. my 21 month old is 75th %tile for height and just hit 34 inches. that seat requires that your child be 34 inches (and 22#) to use it FF. furthermore it is 5 times safer to keep kids RF till they are at least 2 years old and the AAP recommends that children stay RF to the limit of their convertible seat, which would be 40# in this case. One of the huge pluses of this seat is the high RF limit. She would be so much safer if you turned her back RF and kept her that way till she reached the limit. My 21 month old is rear facing and will continue to do so until he reaches the limit for his seat (which is 33#) and then i fully plan on going and getting him a new seat to RF him even longer.
Your little one would be 500% safer rear facing, and would reduce her change of serious injury or death by 75% if you were in an accident. The AAP recommends rear facing for at least 2 years, but children up to age 4 benefit the most from rear facing. With the 40 pound rear facing weight limit on the Complete Air, there is no reason your child should be forward facing. She absolutely needs to be turned back around and remain rear facing for quite some time.
I must say that I agree with the other posters. I am another Child Passenger Safety Technician and the mother of two children - a 3 year old and a 13 month old - who BOTH ride rear-facing. It is well worth a few minutes of your time to do some research on the benefits of rear-facing beyond the bare minimum. :-)
I appreciate all of your comments and concerns about my daughter being in the forward-facing position. However, my daughter is in the recommended measurements for the forward-facing position. I understand that the rear-facing position is the safest for children but my daughter is so uncomfortable and hates to ride that way and screams the entire time. After speaking with her pediatrician, who did also reinstate the rear-facing is the safest, felt that it would be fine to face her forward. Again, thank you for your concern
wow she must be super tall for her age then since an 18month old girl who was 34 inches tall (the min height to use that seat FF) would be above the 95%tile. but regardless of all that i urge you to reconsider. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8gU9zzCGA8 watch that video at least. personally i'd rather a screaming child than one with horrible injuries or worse
Thank you all again for your concern. The information you have provided me, which was touched on in our car seat safety class, has been very insightful and we are reconsidering our decision to face her forward. I do want to reiterate that she IS in fact within the weight and height limits to face forward regardless of what you might assume. And with that being said I am not going against the manufacturers directions in any way by facing her forward.
Also, I know you are trying to keep my daughters safety first priority but I have never had and never wish to have conflict on my blog or other public forums. If you disagree with something said please state it to me directly either by email or direct message. This was a review for a car seat not on which way my child should be facing in her car seat. I want to say once again thank you for your concern because it must be a lot to talk about my decision on multiple sites.
My daughters safety is the most important thing to me so we will be switching her to the rear-facing position. I hope all who have commented, and others who have not, come back to see how that goes.
I am so very glad to hear you are turning your child rear facing! (Relieved, actually, I had a pit in my stomach seeing that sweet child in a forward facing position.)
Incidentally, I hadn't heard of you being discussed on forums. I followed the link to your blog from FaceBook :-)
(PS, your daughter must be off the charts tall. I've never met a 34" 15 month old before.)
Feel free to message me privately if you have any concerns about the installation, want a recommendation for a Child Passenger Safety Technician in your area, or would like more information about why forward facing at 15 months can actually be lethal.
Peace,
Joanna
(Also throwing this in there, pediatricians often give terrible car seat advice. In particular, your pediatrician ignored the advice of the AAP, which is to rear face to maximum of the height and weight limits of the seat, and recently, is suggesting that two years be a minimal goal. More recent research suggests that children be rearfacing to the age of four.)
Looks like a great car seat - love the 'personal air bags' :)
What a fabulous car seat! I love all of the great features you listed. And she looks so adorable "modeling" it :)
I was also lucky enough to review this carseat. It really is incredible. My Paige is 2, and albeit tiny, but within the height and weight limits to face forward.
You do what you need to do. Don't let others get you down. Of course we all want what is best for our children.
Keep on keepin' on friend!
That looks like a great carseat and I'm sorry you're getting so much slack. We all of course want what's best for our children and I think as a mother, you know what's best for yours :)
Those car seats look so fabulous! I love the side wings at the ear level on the seat. Looks comfy and safe for the crash forces. What is the max weight? Always nice to have a car seat that will last a while as well. Since kiddos grow out of those infant carriers so fast. Great review.
Karie
We all want what's best for our children, however, physics don't change based on opinion ;-). Keep an open mind. If you hear something that conflicts with what you are doing, do your research. The OP is not getting slack. She's getting information! If people thought that she wasn't a wonderful, intelligent parent who clearly was doing the best for her child that she could, they wouldn't waste their time telling her the facts about forward facing too early. The fact that so many people stopped in to 'help' is a testament to the fact that the blogger is clearly a wonderful mother.
A tiny two year old is safer forward facing than a 15 month old, but even so, she would still be much safer in a rear facing convertible. The 'weight and height limits' to face forward are based on OLD information (really old) from back when there were no seats in the US that rear faced for more than 20 pounds.
What is important is age, and the fact is that kids under four are at significant risk in forward facing seats, no matter how big or small they are.
That's why it's so wonderful that Dorel has made a seat available that will get most kis rear facing to the fourth birthday!
That looks like a gorgeous looking carseat. Thanks for the review!
That looks like a great carseat! I'm going to have to look into that for my baby!
Don't let others get you down, I've had slack about my kids' carseats, booster seats and everything else. My kids were forward facing before a year old (they were huge kids, well over 20lbs) and both of my kids are in booster seats now (4 and 3yrs old) they were uncomfortable in harnessed carseats, so I asked a local police station about putting them in booster seats (because of the law of having kids in proper seats) he police chief himself told me as long as they meet the height and weight requirements (mine do!) they are fine (might I add the police chief has 7 kids of his own, so he knew what he was talking about safety wise too)
Mother's know best!
Again, great carseat!
Jackie,
You were seriously misinformed. Having seven kids and being the chief of police doesn't make one an expert, and in this case, the chief of police gave you seriously dangerous information. Also, depending on the state you are in, you could also be in violation of the state law.
I repeat, this police officer did not give you safe or accurate information. He gave you potentially fatal information.
You might want to google Kyle David Miller, who was a three year old boy who died as a direct result of being in a booster. His parents have dedicated their lives to getting harnessed seats to parents who can't afford them.
As for forward facing before a year...I'm actually appalled. Your kids are young. The information that that is NEVER acceptable has been available for years. You chose to put your children at serious risk of injury or death.
"Mothers" do not always know best, as you have illustrated in your comment. Furthermore, your advice...that other parents directly put their children in harms way...is shameful
VERY informative post and replies. HUGS to all Mamas :) I hope everyone has a good day!
Great job with this review!! Stopping in from Extraordinary Mothers and I have a sister looking for a new car seat... will recommend this one per your review! Seems like everyone is turning this into a safety issue and thats fine but I thought the review itself was very informative!! Thanks!!!
ThreeBeans,
Yes mothers do know best! My kids are in the height and weight requirement for everything, the only thing I dont listen to is age limits. The purpose for the height and weight is to make sure they fit properly in the seatbelt to be safe, and for your information I trust a seatbelt that is designed to hold hundreds of pounds of an adult than a teeny little belt and plastic harness on my child.
And for your information, the police cheif I've talked to has taken safety seat classes and such, he helps install them. He does know the law, hence the reason he's a police officer.
Just because you THINK you know everything, don't mean you do...I do what **I** feel is safest for my kids. Every state has different laws, and my kids are well into the legal limit to be in booster seats in my state (look up VA laws) My son is 50lbs and 47in, and my daughter is 40lbs and 42in. My daughter is in a high back booster and my son is in a regular booster, they are within their seats limits too.
Wow I understand what everyone is saying but really this review is about the carseat not the persons personal choices. YOu really should comment negative review on the post if you like to mention to her about your concerns you really should Personal email her not use a carseat review to post this this is a review and the coments should be about the review!
Now my comment about the review of the carseat is..... The car seat seems awesome! It looks very comfy and safe. I like that it holds bigger kids. In our state kids 8 and under must be in a child safety seat or booster and my kids are huge and dont fit in traditional car seats. I love this one and will have to look into getting my girls these. I have my 17 month old in a carseat forward facing, my 3 year old in one and my almost 5 year old in one and they really dont look as safe as this one. Thanks for sharing the info about this awesome carseat!
P.S. dont let the negative commenters get to you! I would erase and block them since they are not commenting correctly like i said it is about the carseat not you! Do what you and your doctor feel is right for you! Many carseat say you can change to forward facing at 1 year of age and thats what i did! I stand by my decision!
Great Review!
I am also looking into this car seat!
There will always be those who think they know everything even when they don't. I'm sure you are following everything correctly, who is anyone to question your judgement! the guidelines are on the manuals, so i really do not understand why people are telling us otherwise. Are we suppose to listen to a random person who posts their idea of what is the right age or follow the manual approved by the state for each car seat?
Well, I actually have a question about the car seat itself. My 17 month old son is a bit on the active side and being strapped down in the car is not his favorite thing:) We have a Maxi Cosi Priori right now that we love and I'm looking for a second seat that would last bit longer so I'm considering the Air. My only concern is actually the air wings. I'm worried that my son would find them even more restrictive. Did your daughter have any issue with having them so close to her face - and do they block her view?
Thanks so much.
Thank you so much for your review on the carseat. I have been back and forth on the seat as opposed to the Graco Nautilus for quite a while now. I think this one might be safer, as the Nautilus is not rear facing. We also have a Honda Element, and did not take into consideration that he would not be in the middle but right next to the side of the car.
I am sorry that so many people have decided to bash your decisions with forward/rear facing your child. I believe in freedom of speech, but I also believe in Respect and think that people should be commenting on your REVIEW of the car seat...not the fact that you're deciding how to face your child.
Thank you so much for your time!!
SLR90245 -
The air cushions do seem to impede my daughters view from side to side a bit. For example, when I am in the back with her she cannot see me nor can she lean forward to see me. But so far they haven't seem to bother her much. They do make great head rests for when she falls asleep though! I hope this helps.
To everyone else -
Thank you for the kind words and support!
Hi--I noticed here that it would seem that infants can stay rear facing in this seat to 40 inches--but I went to Toys R Us and the employee said it was till 36 inches--anyone know which is correct?
My 3 1/2 month old son will be out of his 30 inch bucket seat very, very soon (unfortunately), as he's basically in the 100 percentile for height (tall parents and relatives). I'm looking for a car seat in which he can stay rear facing for as long as possible--and for him, finding such a seat is not going to be easy. I'm pretty sure he'll be forward facing more quickly than I like! It seems as though the majority of convertible car seats only go up to about 32 or 34 inches!!
I also heard that the Britax Marathon might be a good choice...
Any comments from parents of tall babies would be appreciated--and Piece of Me, sorry if it's inappropriate to ask these questions in your post!
Wilma, never trust what the TRU/BRU employees say, they rarely have the slightest clue. they are NOT trained CPST. as per the safety 1st reps that seat has a 40in max for RF and they are sticking with that. all other seats have a max height that is just a guideline and go by the rule of the child can stay RF as long as they have 1 inch of shell above their head -this goes for your infant seat as well- provided they are still within the weight limits (which are set in stone). feel free to email me - amyg530 at hotmail dot com and i can give you some other recommendations that would work for a tall child (my 4yo is 95% so i know tall)
Hi, i was wondering what kind of car the seat is in? I read that its so big that people have trouble fitting it in RF. I love this carseat, and will probably buy it, but i wonderif it will fit in my small car
Anonymous-
It is in a Chrysler Pacifica.
I bought this for my 11 mth old son and planned to keep him rear facing for as long as possible. Yesterday my husband went to install this in our 99' Volvo and it was way too BIG! This really saddened me because I have heard nothing but great things about the safety standards this gives. Does anyone know what other great car seat is available that is similar to this one?
Safety 1st has some very nice car seats!
We have this car seat installed in our 2001 Honda Odyssey Van on driver side, and my husband is not able to put the seat into his most comfortable position because the seat reclines so much. WE love the seat, except for the straps, that always seem to leave marks on my daughters neck. I have bought covers to help with this now. I also had to buy a special car seat adjuster so that it sat correctly in the seat. It's a very big car seat and I can't imagine it fiting into a small car, or SUV. Our van is roomy and it's a tight fit. Other then that I would like to tell you that, everyone is an expert in their own minds.. Follow your heart and the rules posted on the side of your car seat. My daughter is still RF but absolutely miserable!!! Any car ride is a nightmare because she's 13 months old and sick and tired of looking at a seat.. the only relief we get as a family is when she cry's herself to sleep during a drive. My god - I came home from the hospital (as a newborn) and my parents drove 8 hours back to our home (we lived in the middle of nowhere), in a basket on the back seat.. YES A BASKET... not saying that was safe.. but... I think we as a society are getting a little stupid with rules and regulations/ safety. What was safe two years ago no longer is... what is safe today no longer will be tomorrow... Heck.. i have 4 kids that my oldest and youngest are 13 years apart.. Apparently everything I did with my 13 year old as an infant.. should have killed my 13 month old daughter... It's beyond ridiculous..
I couldn't make it through all of the comments so I'm sorry if this has already been said, but:
If my child is in the back seat, RF and he's hysterical - MY DRIVING IS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED and I promise you I'm much more likely to have an accident then if we can see one another.
I keep my son RF if someone can sit in the back seat with him, but if it's just the two of us I FF. There's no escaping anxiety.
That said, my mother just bought this car seat for me - haven't even taken it out of the box yet - have been looking up reviews first - so THANK YOU for all of the insight!
My husband and I are looking into buying this car seat for our 1 year old son. I just wanted to ask how the material breaths. We live in Phoenix AZ and his infant seat is of a microfiber material and it seems like he is soaked by the time we arrive at our destination. He would continue riding rear facing until he reached the newest recommended weight and height requirements but want to be sure that he is more comfortable.
I live in Phoenix too and my son gets pretty sweaty in this car seat, but when its 110 that will happen no matter what :) Overall, I think it breathes pretty well.
It is a very big carseat and we can not use the front seat of our car (mazda protege 5) but that is small price to pay for my son's safety.
Overall I love this car seat!
This has been a very informative review!! All said and done I think this is the seat we've been waiting for!! Also it's on sale this week at Babies r Us (in Canada)
Thanks for the review!!!
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