Safety 1st Guide 65 Review – Cheap and worth it?

My friend’s 12 months old was riding in the car when they got rear-ended…

The car skidded left then right, nearly hitting a lamp post. The crash was loud. Luckily no one got hurt. The little one had a small burn mark at her neck.

I can’t imagine what the parents felt when the crash happened. Since their little one was so young, they were rear-facing. This has helped me a lot.

Look:

Nobody can’t predict if they will get in an accident. In most cases, it’s someone else’s fault. Remember this old military saying: “Hope for the best, plan for the worse.”  All the car seats that are on the market today are designed to keep your little ones safe.

If there is any kind of issue, you will hear about a recall. Here is the recent frightening statics about the car seat. According to a recent study, 75% of car seats in the US are installed wrong. If the seat is not tight enough, it can’t do its job.

This is why you need it to make it as secure as possible. The Safest 1st did a great job of protecting the small boy since this car seat has proven a winner, the family already but the same one.

Let’s get this Safety 1st Guide 65 review started. If you stick with me until the end, I will tell you the pros/cons. Some of them are unexpected, to say the least.

Who is the Safety 1st Guide 65 Convertible Car Seat?

This car seat is cheap and durable. Parents who do a lot of traveling chose this car seat. It’s light and easy to carry around. Also, since it’s small, you can do 3 across.

The Safety 1st Guide 65 convertible car seat is ideal for parents with small cars.

What can the Safety 1st Guide 65 car seat do for you?

This Safety 1st is a great car seat. It’s light and easy to carry around. Plus, it’s FAA approved. You can go through the airport without issues. Since it’s so small, you will be able to fit it into an airplane seat. Do remember that on planes, the best position is forward-facing.

So the car seat is cheap but is it bad? Well, if you recall the story, it did an excellent job protecting the little one in the rear impact crash. From a safety standpoint, it’s OK.

The pictures on the website don’t do justice. It’s way better in real life than on these pictures, especially the grey colored one.

It’s a small seat, so 3 across is doable. The material is not removable, but it’s easy to wipe it clean. It’s comfortable, and it’s at a great price.

Here’s a hot tip: adjust the car seat first and only then install it. This trick alone will save you a lot of time.

More: What type of car seat for a 3 year old?

Safety 1st Guide 65 shortcomings

All car seats have some flaws. Let’s see if they are a deal-breaker for you. I’m feeling good about this section. I have a lot to share, so enjoy it.

You know the saying you get what you pay for? It’s partially true for this car seat. It’s cheap, no doubt about that. It’s not the easiest install. First of all, if you’re using the latch system, then it’s OK if you want to fiddle around with the belt, good luck to you.

No matter how you look at the car seat, it feels cheap. Take a look at the strap adjustments. Forget about auto-leveling. It gets worse than manual rethreading. There’s only one strap. Yes, I know you see two, but there’s only one, and it’s extremely hard to adjust.

I’m here to say it’s my kryptonite. I always have to ask my husband for assistance to get it right.

To make things more time-wasting, the straps twist every time you use them. To make life even harder, if your little one is in a cranky mood, it will be hard to get it secured.

Parents reported that the crotch buckle is short. And it digs into their little one’s thighs.

So these are the flaws. Certain things like the straps there’s only one way around them, which is buying a higher tier seat. Let’s move to the next section.

How To Get The Most Out Of Safety 1st Guide 65 Convertible Car Seat?

Once you get the car seat, you need to decide where you will place it. The safest place is in the middle. Now for some, that’s not practical, so here’s the second safest place which is behind the driver.

If you’re installing it with the latch system, you’re in luck because that’s the easy way. Even a 5”1 pregnant mama managed to do it with ease.

I mentioned earlier how many bad car seat installations are in the US. Join the 25% club so your little one will be the safest.

How do you know that the car seat is tight enough?

When you wiggle it, the movement is less than an inch. If you want to be extra careful, then ask for advice from a certified professional.

Conclusion for the Safety 1st Guide 65 Review

As you have seen, this car seat has a lot going for it. First of all, it was crash tested in real life, and the little boy got a small burn mark on his neck. Secondly, it’s affordable and a great companion. It goes through airports and fits on any airplane seat.

We have reached the end of Safety 1st Guide 65 Review review. I hope you have learned something valuable from this article. If you feel this is the right fit, then take action because supplies are running low.

If you have used this car seat, do share your experience with us below. If you have any suggestions, send me an email.

Catch you next time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

What is the weight limit and weight range for the Safety 1st Guide 65 convertible car seat?

For the guide 65 convertible car seat, the weight limit is 65 pounds in forward-facing position. The weight range for forward facing is 22-65 pounds. The weight limit for rear facing it is 40 pounds. The weight range for rear-facing 5-40 pounds. It’s ideal for growing families.

Is there an infant insert for the seat safety 1st convertible car seat?

Yes it’s an infant car seat so there’s an infant insert and it’s called removable body pillows. These body pillows will make the road comfy for little ones.

Can the guide 65 convertible car seat fit three across?

Yes this convertible seat has a narrow profile so you can fit three across.

How can you install this safety 1st guide 65 convertible car seat?

This convertible car seat can be installed in rear facing mode and forward-facing position. You can use the vehicle seat belt or the latch system. Since it’s latch equipped that’s the easiest way to install. Before you start anything make sure you check out the manual. Also, make sure that the car seat is aligned properly. For more information check out the safety first guide 65 review. This convertible car seat seat weight is 65 pounds. Now the latch system and the harness system usually taps out at 65 pounds for more car seats. The belt path is handy when you’re using the seat belt installation.

What kind of safety features does the safety first guide 65 convertible car seat have?

When it comes to car seat the safety 1st convertible car seat is top of the list. These are the safety standards they abide by. Extended rear facing up to 40 pounds. It was tested for side impact protection. It comes with a 5-point harness which is the safest on the market. The side impact protection is a must have nowadays.

What kind of features does this Safety 1st convertible seat have?

This infant carrier comes with one removable cup holder. Sadly there’s just one cup holder not two of them. It has an adjustable head rest. There’s no harness rethreading ever thanks to the adjustable head rest. Perfect fit for any year old. This car seat will serve your child well until 49 inches tall. It is meant for a back seat install. It has good side impact protection and it’s easy to install.

How comfortable is this guide convertible car seat from safety 1st?

These car seats are very comfortable. There is no head slump thanks to the multiple recline position and harness position during long car rides. For additional angle in seat rear facing mode you can use pool noodles. When you’re installing make sure that the recline stand is folded in. According to the child weight you have to adjust the harness heights and the harness slots (harness slot). The belt paths are well designed and easy to use.

Last Updated on October 29, 2023 by Brian Beasley