Review: Britax infant carrier the BABY-SAFE plus SHR II
A new car seat available to buy this summer is aiming to cut the number of child deaths in side-on car collisions.
Findings from Loughborough University in 2009, revealed that one in every four car accidents occurs side on. Further research from child car seat specialists Britax, showed that these types of side collisions resulted in twenty per cent of all child car crash fatalities.
This high statistic was the driving force behind the new patented technology in their robust new car seat the BABY-SAFE plus II and BABY-SAFE plus SHR II which launched this summer.
What’s new?
A D-shaped ring called the D-SIP – Superior Side Impact Protection, has been placed on both sides of the new infant carrier.
This feature will make first contact with the car door in the event of a side collision.
The ring is designed to absorb the energy from and disperse it away from the baby around the entire shell of the infant carrier instead.
There is a D-SIP located on both sides of the seat, either folding away neatly when not needed or quickly folding out and locking into place when secured in the car.
The BABY-SAFE carriers have also been designed with a Recline System, to allow a newborn baby to lay as flat as possible when the headrest and harness is set in its lowest position.
This is essential for good spine development and to stop a young baby’s head from falling forwards blocking off their airway.
Available in a range of colours and fabrics, the carriers are compatible with the B-MOBILE, B-SMART and B-DUAL Britax pushchair and for ease, operate through the single-Handed Release system (SHR).
For Chopsy Baby, Stay-at-home dad James Mason, spent a month testing out the BABY-SAFE plus SHR II with his newborn son Kai.
James used the seat in his people carrier the Toyota Lucida and Skoda Felicia.
James says: “This rear facing car seat fits easily into my cars unlike a few others we looked into buying. I wasn’t really aware until now that baby car seats really need fitting before you buy as they won’t fit well in every make and model.
“It seems to fit well onto the gradient of the seat allowing the baby to lie back without his head flopping forward onto his chest while I drive.
“I found when travelling alone, although not ideal, I liked to have the baby in the front seat next to me so I could keep and eye on him. I found that its sunshade did not block the side mirror like other makes of car seats I tried out before purchase. It would have been even better if it had a mesh extension coming down a few inches lower to keep the glare out of the baby’s eyes as I think a sun shade on the front passenger window is illegal.
“I was impressed that the seat though substantial enough to contain and protect the baby, it is also light in weight. This is good for me as I struggle to carry bulky or heavy things due to an old injury. I should also imagine this would be good for women who have just had a caesarean section and are not allowed to carry anything heavier than the weight of their baby.
“The side D rings pretty much flipped up into place in seconds. It provided an additional mental comfort for myself as I am regularly up and down the M5, should something decide to drive into the side of us.
“ I also like the fact that it fits onto a pushchair so you don’t need a car with a huge boot.
“Luckily, the soft fabric was also easy to clean and wash after the inevitable baby milk explosion from both ends.
“I do really like this car seat and having tried it out would be highly likely to get the pram to go with it.”
The BABY-SAFE plus SHR II features the D-SIP technology, SHR mechanism, Height adjustable headrest and harness system, Integral Recline System and can be secured in a car through either ISOFIX Base, BABY-SAFE Belted Base or vehicle seat belt.
Group 0 car seat
Birth to 15 months
0-13kg
£129.99
www.britax.eu