How To Install The Safety 1st Grow And Go

Grow and Go All-in-One Car Seat

Over thirty years ago (1984 to be precise), Safety 1st released the famous yellow diamond sign that read "Baby on Board." It's hung in millions of cars over the years. Since then, as the name suggests, this company has put safety first and foremost in all their products.

In recent years, they've become philanthropic, donating to parent-founded charities such as The Way Home, Inc. and longer-running organizations like the March of Dimes.

What makes this company stand out is probably their participation in popular events, such as Mom 2.0 and The Biggest Baby Shower. They were also a proud sponsor of Safe Kids Day, highlighting all the work of Safe Kids Worldwide, including a valuable message about preventable injuries.

Using the proper car seat and installing it correctly is one of the biggest ways to prevent injuries to your child. That's why we're taking a look at the Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 convertible car seat. Does it live up to the standards of Safety 1st, and most importantly, does it live up to yours? Let's take a closer look.

Why choose a convertible seat?

rear-facing position

First, you need to know the difference between infant seats, 3-in-1 seats and convertible seats. Infant seats are always rear-facing and are usually designed to safely hold preemies as low as 4 lbs up to a maximum of 30 lbs. Once your child outgrows this, it's no longer an option.

Convertible seats are those that you can use rear-facing to begin with, and then switch it to a forward-facing seat when your child is ready. These car seats last until your child is 60-90 lbs, more or less.

Some brands (like Safety 1st) use the 3-in-1 term for a convertible seat. However, brands differ in that the 3-in-1 seat in some instances cannot be used rear-facing and instead is a seat that transitions forward into a backless booster. The seats have inserts for small toddlers, which can be removed when they're big enough, and then the back of the seat can be removed to use as a backless booster when they're ready for a booster seat.

How do you decide which is best? Consider these questions:

Is this your first child or do you have a newborn? Consider starting with an infant seat, as some experts believe they are the safest options for very young babies.
Is this your last child? Consider starting with a convertible seat so it will grow with your baby and you won't need to buy a second (or third) seat for her.
Will you be switching cars a lot? Many convertible seats don't have a base that allows you to carry the baby from one car to the next. This means you'll have to pick up a sleeping baby and might disturb her or reinstall the seat every time you switch cars.
Are you on a tight budget? Convertible car seats will save you money in the long run so you won't be buying two or even three seats for her.
Do you have a small car? Convertible seats can be heavier and larger, so it could pose a challenge with front passenger leg room or if you need to seat 3 passengers in the backseat.

When looking for a convertible seat, pay special attention to ease of use. If the instructions aren't clear or overly-complicated, chances are you could miss something and end up with an improperly installed seat. Your convertible seat should also have a 5-point harness and good side-impact protection.

What makes the Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 different?

The Grow-and-Go is designed with ease of use in mind. This means not only installation, but daily usage and cleaning as well.

Key features

No-rethread, 5 position harness with separate newborn position (has to be rethreaded)
Infant insert with more head and neck support
An easy-to-remove, machine-washable cover
Harness holders that keep the straps out of the way when you're getting your child in and out of her seat
3 recline angles (with numbered guide on the side of the seat) to lessen the need for a pool noodle or towel for leveling
A level line to guide positioning
Can be used with lower anchors or seat belt in rear-facing position
QuickFit harness allows you to adjust the harness and headrest at the same time
2 removable cup holders
1 year warranty
10-year lifespan before it expires
Earned a "Good Bet" rating from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

What are the child size ranges for the Safety 1st 3-in-1 convertible car seat?

The car seat built to GROW for extended use through 3 stages

Position	Weight	Height
1) Rear Facing	5-40 lbs	19-40 inches
2) Forward Facing	22-65 lbs	29-49 inches
3) High Back Booster	40-100 lbs	43-52 inches

* Note that there are other Grow and Go car seat models, including the Grow and Go Air Sport and the Grow and Go EX Air. They have identical weight limits, except for the EX Air. In the rear-facing position, the EX Air has a weight range from 5 – 50 lbs instead of 5 – 40. They also tend to be more expensive than the original Grow and Go.

How big is this seat, and will it work with your vehicle?

As we mentioned before, there is no separate base and the seat will not work as a portable infant carrier. Though it is designed to offer extra leg room for front seat passengers, it may still be bulkier than most infant seats in the rear-facing position and more of a challenge to fit comfortably in compact cars. Though it is FAA approved as a harness seat, it will be heavy and doesn't fold up for easy carrying through an airport.

baby on booster

Height of shell w/ headrest: 26 inches
Newborn rethreaded harness position: 6 inches with insert
No-rethread harness height: 10 – 17 inches
Highest booster belt guide position: 18.5 inches
Seat depth: 12.5 inches
Weight: 15.4 lbs

Safety tip: A tricky thing to remember is that the LATCH anchor weight limit is 40 lbs. After that, you need to use the seat belt for installation. Install it from the beginning with the seat belt so you won't accidentally forget to switch them out when your child reaches 40 lbs.

How safe is the Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 convertible car seat?

The Grow and Go is designed to lengthen the time used as a rear-facing car seat, which is what most experts believe is the safest position for a young child. You may be eager to turn them forward facing because you're worried about their leg room. Children are much more flexible and comfortable with their legs bent than adults. Crash data has proven a lower rate of leg injuries with rear-facing seats. Plus, they provide much better head and neck protection.

Some parents like forward-facing so it's easier to hand food and drinks to their child while driving. Remember that turning back to hand your child a snack is a distraction, much like texting. If a young child is snacking in the car seat while you're driving, it also increases the risk of choking, and will delay your response time. Save the snacks for when they're older and can help themselves.

There are a few good safety features to remember. Grow and Go has removable infant padding to ensure a better harness fit while in the infant (lowest) harness position. You must use this insert while using the infant harness position, which could mean using it until your baby is around 6 to 9 months. As a booster, the high back and shoulder belt positioner helps you adjust the seat belt to the safest position for a booster seat rider.

As the biggest manufacturer of child restraints, Safety 1st uses extensive crash testing to ensure they exceed federal safety standards.

Real-mom testimonials support the safety standards of the Grow and Go. One mom reported the car seat did great in a 45 mph crash. Her toddler (18 months) was perfectly fine and even slept through the accident.

Possible flaws: Several parents reported they had difficulty tightening the straps in the rethreaded (infant) position, so the car seat flopped around. Others could not get a proper recline angle so the child's head wasn't supported enough while sleeping. Both of these issues could be due to a flaw in the car seat design or with the model of car and type of backseat (i.e. bucket seats). If in doubt, call the company or do some research to see if your vehicle is compatible with this seat.

A few people didn't like the wide chest clip because it made their baby uncomfortable and left marks on the skin. One parent in Arizona said the chest clip melted and warped in the heat while they weren't in the vehicle.

The seat pad is machine washable and dryer safe so parents find it easy to clean. The pad has snaps that make it simple to take it on and off the seat for cleaning without having to remove the harness. Previously this car seat had fixed cupholders, but the new model has removable cupholders that are easy to take off and dishwasher safe.

How hard is the Grow and Go 3-in-1 to install?

Keeping the recline and belt positions accurate could be a challenge for new parents. There are 3 recline positions to help children find a comfortable ride. For newborns who need head support, you must fully recline the seat to position 3. For older babies and toddlers in the rear-facing position, you can use recline positions 1 or 2. Then in the forward facing and booster mode, the seat back must be upright and reclined positions should only be used to keep it flush against the vehicle seat. Always consult the owner's manual when installing.

The 5 position no-rethread harness slots are only for older babies and toddlers. While your child is a newborn and young infant, you'll need to use the infant (lowest) rethread harness slots. This means you'll have to manually thread the harness through these slots. For new parents who've never had experience with rethreading car seat straps, there's a higher chance of incorrect installation. You very well may need some help from experienced parents to get it right.

Since getting these straps tight enough is an issue for several people, you may want to consider using an infant car seat for your newborn and then switch to this one when she's big enough to use the 5-point no-rethread harness positions.

Possible flaws: Parents discovered the splitter plate sometimes got stuck on some plastic ribs between the bottom of the seating area and base, which could be why it's so hard to tighten them for some people. This may or may not have been addressed by the company. Call and ask them and be sure to check for product recalls as well.

Optional Accessories

While there aren't any specific add-ons for the Grow and Go, here are a few things other parents like to use with it:

Munchkin Auto Seat Protector – Not only does this protector keep your vehicle seats cleaner, but the non-skid surface helps prevent the car seat from slipping, which could be very handy if you have slick vinyl or leather seats. The front pocket is great with the booster position for storing crayons, small books, tissues, and snacks for your older toddlers.

Lebogner Car Seat Protector + Kick Mat Seat Back Protector – If you have a problem with the forward facing child who always kicks the seat in front of her, leaving dirty shoe marks all over the upholstery, this combo pack is a great option. The seat back protector also has pockets to keep storing crayons, coloring books, etc. within easy reach of your child for those long car trips.

Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup – For the older toddlers who can handle cups easily, you can make use of the Grow and Go's cup holders with this non-spill, spout-free, 360 degree drinking edge cup! It comes in a 2 pack and is BPA free, plus the handles make it easier for small hands to hold.

Best Car Seat Hub's Final Verdict

Let's sum up the positives and negatives about the Grow and Go 3-in-1.

pros

3-in-1 use as rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seat to fit a wide age and size range
Easy booster conversion for vehicle belt use with storage for harness straps
Quick fit 5-position harness makes it easy to secure your baby as she grows
Harness holders keep the straps out of the way so you can get your baby in and out without getting tangled in loose straps
Provides more front seat leg room in the rear-facing position than other car seats on the market
12 Attractive colors to choose from
Easy to remove machine-washable and dryer safe cover
10-year expiration
Made in USA

cons

Newborn straps must be rethreaded and are hard to tighten for a lot of parents
Takes up more space when fully reclined (rear-facing) so it might lessen the front passenger leg room
May not fit well or at all in compact cars or in certain vehicle seat types such as bucket seats.
Can't use LATCH with the booster option
Wide chest clip may be uncomfortable for some babies

As a convertible car seat, the Grow and Go does the job, but may be better for children old enough to use the 5-position harness as opposed to the newborn setting. For use with older children in rear, forward and booster modes, it's a great option.

The IIHS rated it a "good bet" for the booster seat setting, and there are positive testimonials from moms who were in car crashes, so we are pretty confident in the safety features. It's also more affordable than many other convertible seats.

Grow and Go Go 3-in-1

We love the fact that the cover is easy to remove and machine wash. Moms will definitely appreciate that feature, but we'd like the cup holders to be removable for dishwasher cleaning as well.

If you have a compact car or a newborn, this is probably not the seat for you. We recommend an infant seat for the littlest ones. Do your research to find out if your car is compatible with the Grow and Go, and check for product recalls.

Overall, the Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 convertible car seat is a solid option for older babies, toddlers, and young elementary age children, especially if you don't want to spend the time and money changing car seats every few months. It'll last through several growth spurts, which will happen quicker than you realize.

Check Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Price

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