Scotts Weekly Review – Safe and Sound Car Seat
This weeks product review is on Safe & Sound Car Seat, Pyper has just about grown out of her capsule, I’m a bit sad about that as it meant we had to buy another car seat … so more money down the drain. But once again it’s all about safety so there’s no excuse really.
We got the Safe&Sound Car Seat as a gift and initially I thought “it’s a good looking car seat”. Here’s what I found:
Pros
- Certified up to a weight of 18kgs
- Sturdy with lots of cushions and padding
- Pretty dirt resistant from what I can tell
Cons
- Needs hooks in the car to lock the seat in place
- Only reclines in the back facing position
- Quite expensive
- It has a 3 point (6 straps) harness – quite complicated to put on and secure
This is a car seat that could be made a lot better, and unfortunately it wasn’t until we installed it around 6 months later that we decided that we didn’t like it. It’s hard to use and not very good to get young children in and out (quickly). It’s too bulky (and heavy) and the harness isn’t very user friendly at all.
So my overall verdict is 3/10 … I can’t say I recommend it.
- Scott
After a lot of research and asking questions, about car-seats one stood out above the rest and that was Safe-&-Sound car seats.
Yes they are big, bulky and costly. However they are number one for safety.
Andrea and I are happy to release or adjust the car-seat straps when getting the baby in and out of the car-seat.
Our main reason for going with Safe-&-Sound was safety
I have this exact car seat. I feel that the reviewer is being riduculous. The seat when facing backwards does have the straps in an awkward place. But I think that he will find that all seats uning anchor restraint straps have this in common. I foud it very difficult to put the baby in without loosening these, but it is a small price to pay for the extra safety. in my opinion, car safety is very important as the incidence rate of crashes is high. Turning the seat the other way for an older child removes this problem. Having the car seat not be able to recline when facing forward is a minor bugbear I feel as our boy sleeps when he is tired regardless of position. The restraint system (3 point harness) seems to be very good and is easiest to fit each time if loosened.
Sounds like the reveiwer preferred his momentary convenience getting the baby in rather than safety!
I have reviewed a number of car seats in the 2yrs I have been running our car seat charity. The article does not say what Safe-n-sound model the seat was, but like everything, some fit some don’t.
However some of the issues mentioned by the poster may be caused by the user themselves and not the seat.
The tether bolt has to be used with these seats, some older cars do not have them and therefore they need to be installed. This is at a cost, but it is a one off cost. It also reduces forces to your child’s head during an impact and therefore may save your child’s life. Newer non-sports cars are likely to have these fitted.
When the tether is connected, to get the child into the seat you can either: Loosen the straps, place child over straps, buckle child, tighten straps.
Pass child under the straps and then buckle as per normal. The strap is a pain, but it’s a safety feature and reduces forces to your child’s head and neck, it also prevents the seat from tipping over backwards in an accident.
Some SNS seats can recline from the front, others from the back, most have upright, recline (for forward facing) and full recline for rear facing infants.
The seat has a 6 point harness, 2 straps over the shoulder, 2 straps over the hips and 2 straps attached to the buckle. If you are having to “force” the straps into your child’s belly, then you must be doing something wrong. It is perfectly okay to loosen the straps, before putting the child in, and then tighten them up once the buckle has been done up. The safest seats have a 5 or 6 point harness, other models can pose dangerous risks to your child’s safety.
I suggest you take your seat, car, self and child to a Safe2Go technician, Plunket car seat rental scheme, or other knowledgeable person (note: this excludes baby specialty stores) and show them what you are doing, and they will be able to correct any mistakes, possibly making your job easier!
Try the above, and then re-review the car seat. Alternatively the seat may not be the best match for your car. Try another and then report back.
Trish
Trish,
Any reason for specifically excluding baby specialty stores?
The good folk at Nelson Baby on the Move are trained, and extremely helpful with providing advice and showing you how to fit a car seat, whether you have purchased from them or not.
We too had Safe ‘n’ Sound Seats but changed our minds after about 6 months. However, in our case the main reason was that we wanted our son to be rearfacing for longer. It is now recommended to have children rearfacing until at least 2, but Safe ‘n’ Sound seats only rearface to 12kg. We now have 2 different brands the rearface to 16kg and Mr 2 has only just turned forward facing.
Both of our seats also don’t tether rearfacing, which does make getting children in and out much easier.
BUT there isn’t anything really wrong with S’n\'S seats and we certainly didn’t find them as difficult to use as the reviewer, but all cars are different and there isn’t a one stop solution.
DO have your seat installed and checked by a certified Child Restraint technician (formerly know as Safe2Go techs), which do include Baby on the Move Franchisees, Plunket and other organisations. And DO check the seat in your car before purchasing. ALWAYS use the tether strap if fitted (some are only required forward facing) – the anchor bolts cost about $50 to have fitted in your car.
I hope you bought the best safety car seat there is. When I think of my baby, I always buy the best product considering it’s quality and safety, no matter the cost.
I can’t say I agree with you on this one…
I have 2 daughters under 2, and both are in these seats. I haven’t had any problems with the harness,its easy to adjust as they grow, each strap clips in separately so you can capture one arm at a time. No problems getting them in and out…
The hooks were installed for the grand cost of $20 by a local mechanic, so not an issue.
They are more expensive than some, but they also have a guarantee that if you are in an accident they will replace the seat for you (haven’t had to see how this works, and hoping I never need to).
I did find that when our oldest daughter swapped to front facing that she was slumping in the seat when she fell asleep, however reclining the seat itself back a bit further solved the problem.
When the seats are in and secured they feel very solid in the car, They also have things like a small pocket on the side, seat protectors for under the base and a sunshade (that we don’t use often). All up I’m quite happy with them.
Thanks for sharing.