Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1 Review

In 1985, the Safety 1st company launched its now historic “Baby on Board” vehicle badge. Since then, Safety 1st has created various child-centric products, becoming a leader in child safety products. You can find child-proofing and other gear by Safety 1st almost anywhere that sells products for babies.

Performance Comparison

Crash Test

The Safety 1st earned a below-average result in our crash test analysis metric with one of the lowest results in the review.

This booster had some of the highest recorded G-forces in the test dummy HIC and chest clip sensor. Both results were almost the highest in the group.

While all of the boosters are considered safe, including the Safety 1st, and have passed the federal guidelines, we were not impressed by the results from our commissioned tests. Our tests were a little faster than the standard and we utilized a sled with a stiffer cushion more akin to modern vehicle designs.

Ease of Use

The Safety 1st earned a below-average result for ease of use and was frustrating for both adults and kids to use. While the front of the seat is wide, it tapers in the back, giving better access to the seat belt buckle. The shoulder positioner is where things go south, as ours essentially didn't work, and we had to rethread it every single time. Something many younger booster passengers might struggle with. Once you get the belt in, the positioner orients it in a weird way to make it slip right back out.

There is limited adjustability on this seat, and the headrest doesn't move. Since the shoulder positioner is attached to the headrest, it makes it difficult to ensure a good position for the shoulder belt to rest.

It is awkward to carry, and the open back includes plastic components that jot out strangely. It has hook-style LATCH connectors that are easy enough to use, and given the lack of tightness required for boosters, they were also easy enough to remove. We did have a problem when pulling the LATCH strap tighter we had to shove our hand through the cover hole to thread the strap to get a better angle to pull it.

The Safety 1st has two cup holders and they fit our kid's water bottle used during testing. The cup holders pull off from the front. They are not super deep, but deep enough.

Weight and Size

The Safety 1st is a rare high-backed bird that is both fairly light and narrow. It's too bad it doesn't have better crash test results because we might have really loved it for those looking for these paired attributes.

This seat weighs only 8 lbs and measures 17.3 inches wide. Both are below the average in our booster test group.

Comfort

Given the light overall weight of this booster, it isn't surprising that it scored lower for comfort. There are a lot of missing features for comfort, starting with the padding. The seating area is hard, and you can feel the ridge seam on the back of your legs.

The fabric is smooth and feels good, which is the main plus here, but it isn't enough to provide genuine comfort and is more for fooling you into thinking it is going to be okay once you sit in it.

The headrest isn't really a headrest on par with the competition. It has much in common with infant inserts from the convertible car seat group, and it looks like a placeholder for the real thing. It is wide and flat, like an unsupportive airline pillow you get for free.

Quality

The Safety 1st earned one of the lowest results for quality, which isn't a big surprise. One could argue that the price is equivalent to the quality, but we think it should still offer more than what it does.

The padding is largely for impact with little added for comfort. It has a flimsy feel that reminds of a child's toy and not a real safety seat. The padding that is there compresses easily, making it feel like nothing fast. The cover attaches with loose elastic strings, and the front flap doesn't have enough resistance and flips up like it's saying hi. It looks ill-fitting and cheap.

Should You Buy the Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1?

There isn't much we like about the Safety 1st, and the crash test results alone make it one we hesitate to recommend. While we understand it has an attractive price, we think you get what you pay for here, and it earned some of the lowest scores in every metric and overall. Aside from being relatively lightweight, there is no compelling feature or function that would make us put this option on our favorites list.

What Other Booster Seat Should You Consider?

If you need lightweight and budget is a concern, the BubbleBum earned better crash test results than the Safety 1st and is super compact and light for travel. While it wouldn't be our go-to for everyday use, it certainly performed better than the Safety 1st, and we'd choose it over the 1st. If you want an everyday option but money is a factor, we think the Diono Cambria 2 is one to consider. This below-average priced seat has compelling crash test results and offers a high back with good features for comfort. While it may not be an ideal or high-ranking option for everyone, it did perform better than the Safety 1st, and the crash test results imply a potential for an additional margin of safety over the average seat.