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

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 identify seats that stood out from 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.

The Safety 1st is shown here in black compared to one of the best options in green.   Credit: BabyGearLab Staff, MGA Research

The Safety 1st HIC sensor results are shown here in black, compared to one of the best head sensor results in the group in green.   Credit: BabyGearLab Staff, MGA Research

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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.

We had to access the installation angle prior to installation, given the lower angle adjustment handle on the Safety 1st.   Credit: Abriah Wofford

It is easier to use the Safety 1st belt pathway by removing the cover somewhat for visibility.   Credit: Abriah Wofford

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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.

The recline adjustment handle for the Safety 1st is low on the foot portion of the chair, making it more challenging to adjust after rear-facing installation.   Credit: Abriah Wofford

Pulling the Safety 1st LATCH strap required us to get in the car for a better angle.   Credit: Abriah Wofford

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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 tell us what we were doing, but everything here is black, and we had to be careful to follow 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.

The Safety 1st has the safe but frustrating LATCH connectors that resemble hooks instead of the push-style options we belive are easier to use.   Credit: Abriah Wofford

The leveling decal line on the Safety 1st is not the easiest to use, given its short length.   Credit: Abriah Wofford

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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 occasionally gets hung up on something. It is easier to tighten this configuration in both test cars, and the final result was much more stable than rear-facing.

While you can thread the belt without lifting the Safety 1st cover, it is easier to see what is happening if you lift it up.   Credit: Abriah Wofford

The forward-facing installation pathway for the Safety 1st has an indicator that is reed with arrows on a sticker, but we'd prefer it to have color coding on the path itself.   Credit: Abriah Wofford

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Ease of Install - Belt

Installing the Safety 1st using the vehicle belt wasn't the hardest in the group, but it was disappointing. 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, with 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, it 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 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.

The forward-facing installation of the Safety 1st lacks an indicator, color-coding, or a lock-off. Threading the belt isn't as easy as in some competitors' models, 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 final installation's stability, 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 in terms of day-to-day features.

Harness

The buckle is different from most, but still reasonably straightforward to put in the prongs and press the button to release. The clip is much larger than the competition's, but it works well with minimal 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 exited 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, 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 the strap will even make much of a difference to harness fitting. The five height levels may also not be enough to provide a good fit for all children across the size range outlined by the manufacturer. The adjustment handle button is hard to squeeze, and it feels flimsy. There is an additional slot lower on the back for tiny babies.

The LATCH hooks clip on the back side of the Safety 1st shell.   Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Safety 1st user manual slides under a clip on the base of the seat.   Credit: Abriah Wofford

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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 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 in comparison to the competition for comfort and quality.

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 closer to 25 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 close to 18 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 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. The Graco Extend2Fit 3 in 1 will give you a slight bump in crash test scores and comfort ratings, with similar installation performance, and costs only a bit more.

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