Britax One4Life Car Seat Review: Our Take on the Newest Britax Seat

Editor’s Note

Britax has added the word “clicktight” to their car seats so the Britax One4Life is now called the Britax One4Life ClickTight Car Seat. Britax was concerned about the large number of car seats that were installed incorrectly so they strived to solve this issue to make it easier and safer for parents and kiddos.  They developed a 3-step, self-tensioning system to make it easier to achieve secure installation, every time. This is called the ClickTight Installation, which is why they added that to the names of their car seats.  Parents can instantly recognize that the seat has this easy system that uses your car’s seat belt rather than anchors.  

It’s common for parents to request big items like a new car seat or bassinet at their baby shower. What many don’t realize, however, is that their baby will likely grow out of their first car seat within the first year. As their little one doubles in size, they’ll need new baby gear.

That’s where the Britax One4Life car seat comes in.

The latest Britax model safely grows as your little one does, keeping them safe through all stages of their life from rear-facing infant seat to high-backed booster. Britax has included all their safety technologies like Safe Cell, the V-shaped tether, steel frame and Click Tight into this seat.

The Only Car Seat Your Child Will Ever Need

The Britax One4Life is meant to be the only car seat your little one needs, from newborn all the way to 120 pounds.

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At the first stage, the Britax features a rear-facing seat that can be used from 4-50 pounds. There is a layer of soft padding that is used when your little one is an infant. This provides an extra layer of side protection and cradles a newborn head snugly.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum specifications of the car seat.

The forward-facing car seat works from 22-65 pounds. At this stage, the recline of the seat can easily be adjusted to keep your little one safe. 

Finally, this seat can be used as a booster seat from 40-120 pounds. Once your child grows out of the booster with the harness, the harness tucks away into a compartment behind the padding of the seat and the top headrest extends. This reveals seat belt guides that allow your child to sit safely in the backseat of your car until they are at least 120 pounds.

Safety Features

The Britax One4Life test model has already undergone rigorous safety testing to ensure the safety of your little one. There are two layers of side-impact protection in infant mode. Even when used as a high-back booster, parents can feel confident that their older child is safe.

As Britax constructed this car seat, they kept their best features in mind. The One4Life features a ClickTight mechanism for an easy install. This uses a squeeze function instead of a dial, similar to the release mechanism that was used on the Britax frontier car seat.

The Versa top tether is also back. Top tethers are incredibly important for forward-facing children in a car accident, as it reduces head movement by a full 6-8. This can be critical for preventing injury. The release mechanism of the Versa tether is also easy to use, so there are no excuses for parents, babysitters, or relatives not to fasten your child in securely.

Something else that parents familiar with Britax will notice is their Safe Cell technology. You can see the Safe Cell design in this car seat. This is instrumental in dispersing energy appropriately in an accident. The car seat absorbs the impact, which lessens the impact felt by your child.

Yet another safety feature is the anti-rebound bar. This helps absorb energy in a crash and keeps your baby safer. In true Britax fashion, it can also be attached upside down while the seat is used in forward-facing mode. This makes it a useful footrest for your child, so that no part or space is wasted.

Functionality

Other features added to the Britax One4Life car seat increase its comfort and convenience.

On the side of the car seat, there is a button that can be used to recline the seat in nine different positions. This is especially beneficial in rear-facing and forward-facing mode. Since your little one can recline or sit up, they can sit however they are most comfortable.

The outside of the car seat is designed to have a smooth shell and base. This smooth design makes installation easier. Once you use the extended headrest for the booster, it should not interfere with most car designs. Of course, we’ll see that for ourselves once we test it out.

The Britax EZBuckle also adds to the convenience of getting your child in their seat. This buckle naturally falls forward when your little one gets in and out of the seat. Hopefully, this means you’ll spend less time digging around under their legs to find the belt before buckling them into their seat.

There are also two cup holders that your little one can use for their drinks, snacks, or toys. These cup holders appear sturdy. They are removable and safe to wash in the dishwasher.

Finally, your little one will appreciate the thick, soft padding on this. There are also mesh airflow vents, which will keep your child cool when they are in their seat.

One4Life Color Options

Car Seat Guidelines

One of the great things about the Britax One4Life car seat is that it offers safety for all ages. Parents want their children to be safe but may not realize they are at risk. Shockingly, car accidents are the leading cause of death from children age 1 to 13 in the United States. Car seats remain the best prevention from tragedies like these.

Guidelines for car seats are provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Of course, choosing a seat appropriate for your child’s height and weight is important. Something else to consider is age, especially before age two. When your child is young, their head and neck muscles have not developed fully. This means that they need extra protection in a car accident. Remaining rear facing prevents that.

Here are some other car seat safety guidelines you should follow:

• Never use a car seat after an accident. There could be unseen damage in the structural integrity of the seat.
• Always install the child seat properly. Features like anchors can seem like a hassle, but they serve a major purpose in keeping your child safe. You can visit a police station, hospital, or fire station to see if the seat is installed properly.
• Check the safety ratings before buying a car seat. The National Highway Safety Traffic Association ranks car seats according to their safety and ease of use. You can compare some models here.

Britax Car Seat FAQs

How long should I keep my child rear facing?

New research has led the American Academy of Pediatrics to move their recommendation from one year of age to two years of age. One reason parents turn their child around early is that they seem cramped when rear-facing. However, young children are susceptible to head, back, and neck injuries, or even death if they are thrown forward too hard in an impact.

Fortunately, the One4Life features an anti-rebound bar that sits against the seat and provides extra leg room. This lets your precious cargo sit rear-facing longer.

When will the Britax One4Life be available?

The One4Life will be available October 3, 2022 and can be pre-ordered now.

Of course, parents who are expecting their little one before this time might need to invest in another car seat. Here is some information on the best convertible car seats. These transition from rear-facing to forward-facing. They are just missing the booster feature offered by the One4Life.

How long does my child need to sit in a booster seat?

As a general guideline, children should sit in a booster seat until they are 4’9 tall. At this height, children are usually tall enough to sit comfortably and safely without a harness or belt-positioning device. If your child needs the belt positioned, they should still be in a booster seat.

A good way to test your child’s safety is to have them sit flat on the seat with their back against the rear of it. If the seat belt naturally falls across their chest, they are tall enough to sit without a booster. If the seat belt sits on their neck or needs to be tucked around their belly, they should still be in a booster. Otherwise, they could suffer internal injuries in a car accident.

Can I use a secondhand seat?

Some parents (especially those on a budget) might be tempted to buy a secondhand car seat or accept one from a relative. The safest answer is never to use a secondhand seat. If you are in a budget crunch, you can find low-cost, but new seats that don’t have all the features but still pass safety standards.

If you feel like you must take advantage of a used seat, make sure you know and trust the person you are receiving it from. Be confident that the car seat has never been in an accident and remember that you cannot always see damage from the outside.

You would never want to buy a seat at a yard sale and other places where you do not know the person selling the seat. You should also check models for recalls, expiration dates and other brand information before buying or accepting a secondhand seat.

Britax One4Life Final Take

The Britax One4Life car seat is an All-In-One option from a leading brand. While it is in the upper price range, it is a great investment for any parent looking to avoid the hassle of buying several car seats through their child’s life.

The wide weight range for each mode allows this to fit many kids, while features like a nine-position recline and anti-rebound bar make your little one safe and comfortable.