The Britax B-Safe Gen2 is the latest release of the safe and popular B-Safe Infant Car seat. The main difference is that it is roomier than its predecessor in the seat and shoulder areas. It has a seat buckle that is easier to operate with one hand, nicer lining material and a sturdier waterproof canopy. Although there are no extra layers of padding, the new material makes it cushier.
Features of the B-Safe Gen2
If safety is your biggest priority for an infant car seat, then you need the Britax B-Safe Gen2 Infant Car Seat. The SafeCell impact protection crumples to help absorb energy from a crash and make this car seat stand out.
You’ll find that in addition to being safe, all Britax car seats have a sturdy, quality feel because of the design and materials they use. This is reflected in their pricing.
Canopy
Britax claims the B-Safe Gen2 includes an extra-large canopy to protect your baby from harsh elements like the sun or rain. It’s also rated for UPF 50+, meaning your baby won’t get a sunburn while under the hood.
Honestly, the canopy is not extra-large but is rather normal-sized for an infant car seat. We would really love to see a peek-a-boo window on the top, too, although it’s not a necessity. Most parents have their child facing them in a stroller, but it could be useful in the car.
Harness and Buckle
A harness is a necessity, but not all are equal. With this car seat, the harness comes with a one-hand buckle release. That means you don’t need to go through a bunch of antics to get your baby out of the car seat.
Furthermore, the car seat includes four different harness slots to ensure your baby gets the correct fit. The slots are at 5-inches, 7-inches, 9-inches, and 11-inches. The buckle straps come with two depths, too at 3.5-inches and 5.5-inches, to allow for overall growth.
Shoulder cushions allow for extra comfort as babies tend to fall asleep in their car seats. Seatbelts have a habit of pinching babies’ skin, and no one wants to sleep that way!
Rear-Facing
The B-Safe Gen2 is an infant car seat that is rear-facing only. If you are looking for a car seat that later changes to forward-facing, then you will want a convertible car seat instead of an infant car seat. The advantage of an infant car seat is that you can leave baby in the seat and pop it out to carry or put in a stroller.
Handle
An ergonomic handle provides a comfortable way of carrying the infant base in your hand. You can also put the handle in the crook of your forearm too. The handle isn’t adjustable, but that’s typical for infant car seats.
Use the easy to see push-buttons on the side of the handle to move the hand easily with two hands.
Base & Safety
The Britax B-Safe Gen2 Infant Car Seat focuses on safety. As safety is paramount, the car seat base includes a steel reinforced base. The more stable the base, the more stable the car seat, so it doesn’t move when you.
Also, it includes a SafeCell crumple zone too that looks like honeycomb webbing in bright red. No other car seat offers this particular cell on the base to absorb crash energy. This feature should definitely be on your radar and help you to consider purchasing this car seat.
With all of the elements together, you get a car seat that’s exceptionally safe and ready to protect your infant. The car seat also allows for Quick-Push LATCH connectors that click into place and easily release with the push of a button. Installation is easy. This car seat includes a SafeCenter LATCH installation that allows for the seat base to be pulled tightly into the vehicle seat.
Moreover, built-in lock-offs provide a snug seat belt installation without a bunch of theatrics. Of course, it comes with an all-angle easy-read level indicator, too, so you know the car seat is in the car correctly.
Installing
Installing the car seat is simple as everything plugs in easily. Parents are even saying this is the easiest base to install, making this a soon-to-be go-to option for parents who want safety and ease of use. Putting and taking out the car seat from the base is equally easy without the need for a learning curve.
Stickers on the base remind you of where to put everything and how to install the car seat onto the base. Furthermore, the car seat includes a spring-assisted recline to get the perfect adjustment to your vehicle. It’s heavy, too, at nine pounds, thanks to the steel reinforcement, which definitely provides more peace of mind.
Comfort
Babies will find this padded car seat extra comfortable. The padding does, of course, serve a dual purpose of providing surrounding protection for your baby’s head, neck, and torso. Infants will also love the extra padding around their heads that doesn’t take away all of their space.
Next, babies will love the improved spacious seat with the right amount of space for snug comfort. Also, the car seat uses tagless smooth fabric for extra softness. Knit fabrics are definitely more comfortable, especially for long rides.
The car seat offers a very sleek and modern appearance making it a beautiful addition to any car or stroller. However, it only comes in one excessively boring color – black. The worse part is black heats up faster and stays hotter longer making this one feature we really do not like about this car seat.
Compatibility
While a stroller is not included with this car seat (as it’s not a travel system), it is compatible with Britax strollers. Using the unique Click and Go compatibility, you can turn this infant car seat into a set of comfortable wheels for your infant. Pair it with any of the Britax Strollers for your convenience and for extra options.
Specifications
Parents will love that this car seat works for any baby as it works for preemies from 4 pounds up to 35 pounds or under 32-inches tall, meaning toddlers can rear-face longer (as long as their legs are not squished). Also, the car seat is not lightweight at 10.9 pounds.
Overall, the dimensions of the car seat are 17.9 x 25.85 x 26.6 inches making it perfectly sized to easily fit into any car. However, the seat can be a bit difficult to use if you need to fit three across. You may want to consider a narrow car seat if you have three children who need to sit in the back row.
The car seat also comes with a 6-year expiration date. It comes with a 1-year warranty too.
Our Video Review
The Britax B-Safe Ultra vs. B-Safe Gen2
The B-Safe Ultra only has a couple of differences as it offers a European Belt Guide and 2 layers of side impact protection, and a no re-thread harness.
If any of these features are important to you, then definitely consider going with the B-Safe Ultra. While the B-Safe Gen2 has some nice upgrades, it doesn’t bring anything unique to the market or the brand. However, it will keep your baby safe and comfortable, which is the priority with an infant car seat.
FAQ’s About the Britax B-Safe Gen2 Infant Car Seat
Can I use the car seat without the base?
The car seat has hooks on the sides that work to allow for use without the base. However, it’s always safest to use an infant seat with the base for extra stability and security.
The Gen2’s ability to be installed with a seatbelt is very convenient when you need to switch cars though. You could also purchase extra bases if you often need to use the car seat in multiple cars.
Are any parts of the Britax B-Safe Gen2 car seat washable?
Yes, the SafeWash Cover is both machine washable and dryable. It’s also flame retardant, which is exceptional for a car seat.
The car seat comes with a sophisticated design that even prevents crumbs and gunk from getting caught in the straps, thanks to the quick release.
How does the Britax B-Safe Gen2 car seat compare to the Chicco KeyFit 30?
Both car seats come with very similar features and safety. We love features of both car seats but for different reasons. The B-Safe Gen2 definitely wins, though, because of the SafeCell, which provides extra protection in case of impact.
The Chicco car seat makes tightening the car seat much easier as almost every aspect of adjustment requires a single one-pull adjustment. Also, the KeyFit 30 has a removable newborn positioner and has two level indicators making it easy to know if the car seat is level.
If safety is your priority, we would definitely suggest the Britax B-Safe Gen2. However, we love Chicco too, and they make quality products with unparalleled comfort. Check out both before making a final decision.
