Safety 1st Complete Air Convertible Car Seat: Air Protect(TM) technology for side-impact protection

As a mom of three young kids, I've gone through my fair share of car seats. So when I heard about the new Safety1st Complete Air convertible car seat with Air Protect(TM) technology, I must admit I was a little skeptical. Perhaps my feelings would be different if I had experienced a side-impact collision with my kids in the car.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO), side impact crashes represent 30% of all fatalities in passenger vehicles -- head trauma being the most common of all injuries suffered by children. After I watched the side impact video, I could understand why.

I was fortunate enough to try one of the new Complete Air car seats with my two year old. Now I wasn't about to test the safety aspect of the car seat on my vehicle, but according to Dorel, the distributor of Saftey1st products in Canada, the Complete Air is the first car seat to provide protection against side impact crashes:

When I compared hitting the headrest on my daughter's old car seat to the new Complete Air with Air Protect(TM) headrest, what a difference. My hand is cushioned on the Air Protect(TM) versus hitting covered plastic on the old seat. And that's my hand. I'd hate to think if it was my daughter's head.

What I was able to try was the easy of installation and use as well as comfort.

The seat was actually quite easy to install, especially with the Universal Anchorage System (UAS). I believe this is an updated LATCH system. As a convertible car seat, it's designed to be used from infancy (2.3-18kg/5-40lbs and 48-91cm/19-36in) to child (10-23kg/22-50lb and 74-114cm/29/45in). There is a built in stand at the bottom back of the carseat that enables you to set it up in the reclined rear facing position when folded under and the upright forward facing position when it's pulled out (like a kickstand). We set our seat forward facing for my daughter. The stand made it easy to fit snuggling in the bucket seat without any concern or wobbling.

The car seat actually looked wider than our current seat but we were able to fit it in the second row seat with the cup holder AND have both armrests down (we couldn't do that with our last seat).

You can install the Complete Air car seat using either you vehicle selt belts or the Universal Anchorage System (UAS), which we used and most new cars in Canada have anchors built in already. In our van our we installed the Complete Air car seat in the second row with our two older kids (in booster seats) in the third row. The tether strap adjustor (which is required in Canada for forward facing child seats) sits right where my oldest daughter's feet rest. I don't believe my daughter could release the slack accidently (it's released by just pulling the tether adjuster down toward the hook) but it isn't in an ideal position.

My daughter is still able to get into the seat on her own, which is important since she's going through her independence stage. I like that the buckles snap in individually versus connecting as one and than snapping in. We had a seat with that combined buckle structure and always seemed to struggle getting the final buckle to latch. The chest buckle is similar to our last car seat with the exception that it has an illustration indicating exactly where the chest buckle should rest on your child. I actually liked this little reminder. Even after all my carseat experience I sometimes forget where that positon is.

My husband, who has bigger hands, mentioned that he felt the fabric flap over the buckle release (located between your child's legs, at the bottom front of the car seat) is kind of tight to get your finger under to reach the release. But it hasn't stopped him from being able to release my daughter from her seat.

I really like the easy to adjust headrest height, especially as my daughter grows. I now avoid the hassle of removing the car seat in order adjust the height straps and the head protection is always where my daughter's whole head is. The car seat is easy to transfer to my husband's car if he needs to take our daughter someplace. And if you are flying and need to take a car seat on the plane (required for kids under 2 when sitting in their own seat), the Complete Air is aircraft certified.

If you were to ask my daughter what car seat she prefers her old one or her new one, she'll answer her new one. She really likes her new car seat. I was worried that the headrest would block most of her view, but the way the seat seems to sit she can still look out her window, no problem.

The seat doesn't have much padding in the seating area which can make for a bit of discomfort on long car rides, but it's not that different from any of the other car seats we've owned and actually my daughter doesn't seemed too bothered. My daughter actually looks more comfortable in the Complete Air than in her old seat; she seems to sit back more and be surround more in the seat and upper body part of the chair.

I know the Air Protect(TM) head rest is designed for safety but it's also great for regular use. If my daughter falls asleep in the car, and what toddler doesn't, it's like she's resting her head on a pillow.

Like most car seats, the material can be removed for washing, except for the material around the headrest. These parts, if they become dirty, can just be spot cleaned with soap and water, as can the straps. Honestly, I honestly find removing and replacing the material is so much work, I usually try to spot clean any mess.

The Safety 1st Complete Air with Air Protect(TM) convertible car seat is only available at Babies R Us (in store or online) and retails for $299.00 Cdn. The price point puts the Complete Air car seat in line with most of the highend car seats, plus it includes added safety and convenience features. I know if I was in the market for a new car seat, the Complete Air would be at the top of my list. It has safety features no other car seat seems to offer, it's easy to install and use, looks stylish and my daughter seems very comfortable in it.

Product:
Safety 1st Complete Air Convertible Car Seat with Air Protect(TM) technology

Weight/Height usage:
infancy (2.3-18kg/5-40lbs and 48-91cm/19-36in) to child (10-23kg/22-50lb and 74-114cm/29/45in)

Available Colours:
McKenna (Black/Gray), Harvest (Brown/Orange)

Retail Price:
$299.00 Cdn

Available:
only at Babies R Us (in store and online)

 

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