For most parents looking for an all-in-one, they want a balance of convenience and value without sacrificing safety.
That means that an all-in-one should be more affordable than buying individual car seats for every stage of a child's growth, with the convenience of simply adjusting the car seat to fit over time, and at an affordable price.
But of course, no parent ever wants to sacrifice safety, so it's important to spend every dollar where it matters most.
That’s where the Safety 1st Multifit EX Air comes in!
Who is the Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air Most Suitable For?
The Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air is a fantastic car seat for parents who want an all-in-one convertible car seat with extended rear-facing.
Rear-facing is the position that is safest for children, and experts recommend that children ride for rear-facing for as long as possible; two or more years, or until they outgrow their car seat. With the Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air, children can ride rear-facing up to a long 50 pounds or 49 inches tall, which is very impressive for an all-in-one.
After children outgrow rear-facing, the car seat converts front-facing, and then into a seat belt positioning booster that keeps kids safe up to 100 pounds or 52 inches tall. In that respect, it's comparable to other all-in-ones, but at a more affordable price.
For parents who want the security of extended rear-facing in an affordable all-in-one, the Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air is tough to beat.
Pros and Cons of Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air
Pros
Cons
Overview of Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air
The Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air is an all-in-one at a great price, rated to protect children from 5 – 100 pounds and up to 52 inches in height.
And it never compromises safety, with enhanced side impact air protection around the head, and a rear-facing rating up to a surprising 50 pounds or 49 inches, for the extended rear-facing installation that experts recommend.
It also has convenient cupholders, comfortable body pillows, and a compact size that makes it a great fit in a wide range of vehicles. For parents looking for great safety at a reasonable price, the Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air is hard to beat.
Safety
What are this model’s NHTSA ratings? At the time of this review, this model does not have NHTSA ratings.
Does this model have:
- Side impact protection? Yes
- Energy-absorbing base? No
- Metal frame? No
Longevity
Ease of Use
Ease of Installation
Comfort and Quality
Expiration
Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air Video Overview
Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air Specs
FEATURE | DESCRIPTION |
---|---|
Rear-facing height limit | 49 inches |
Rear-facing weight limit | 4 – 50 pounds |
Forward-facing height limit | 29 – 49 inches |
Forward-facing weight limit | 22 – 65 pounds |
Booster seat height limit | 43 – 52 inches |
Booster seat weight limit | 40 – 100 pounds |
Car seat weight | 19.7 pounds |
Car seat dimensions | 24.4 x 24.2 x 19.5 inches |
Car seat expiration | 10 years |
Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air Features
FEATURE | DESCRIPTION |
---|---|
Safety features | |
Ease of use | |
Longevity features | |
Quality and comfort features |
What is included with the Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air?
The Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air comes with three body insert pillows for newborns.
Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air Installation
Safety 1st has created a MultiFit overview video that demonstrates some convenient features like removing the cover, and you can see it here.
However, there aren't any installation videos for this specific model of car seat, either from Safety 1st or anyone else. Because the MultiFit is extremely similar in design and function to the Safety 1st Grow and Go, installation videos for that model may be helpful for reference.
Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air Manual
The Safety1st MultiFit EX Air owner's manual can be found here:
Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air vs. Safety 1st Grow and Go
While it's not an expensive car seat, the Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air is still more expensive than another popular Safety 1st convertible car seat, the Grow and Go. To find out if it's worth the extra investment, let's take a look at these two car seats.
Header | Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air | Safety 1st Grow and Go |
---|---|---|
Rear-facing child weight | 4 – 50 pounds | 5 – 40 pounds |
Rear-facing child height | 49 inches | 19 – 40 inches |
Forward-facing child weight | 22 – 65 pounds | 22 – 65 pounds |
Forward-facing child height | 29 – 49 inches | 29 – 49 inches |
Seat belt booster child weight | 40 – 100 pounds | 40 – 100 pounds |
Seat belt booster child height | 43 – 52 inches | 43 – 52 inches |
Car seat dimensions | 24.4 x 24.2 x 19.5 inches | 24.5 inches high x 19.2 inches wide x 24.5 inches deep |
Car seat weight | 19.7 pounds | 18.66 pounds |
Car seat expiration | 10 years | 10 years |
Recline angles | 3 | 3 |
Headrest harness adjustment without rethreading? | Yes | Yes |
Cupholders | Two soft touch | Two soft touch |
Machine washable seat cushion? | Yes | Yes |
Both car seats are extremely similar in size, and have a narrow shape and recline angle that preserves front passenger leg room, as well as space in the back seat. Both car seats suffer from similar drawbacks, in that many people find them difficult to install securely.
However, for younger children, the Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air may be a slightly safer car seat, because it has the advanced Air Protect side impact protection system for more protection around the head, and because it supports rear-facing children for longer, up to 50 pounds and 49 inches. Experts recommend that children remain rear-facing for as long as possible, and with the Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air, they can remain rear-facing for 9 more inches in height, or 10 more pounds in weight.
However, once the seats are forward-facing, there are very few distinctions between them, so for parents of bigger or older children, it makes sense to choose the more affordable Safety 1st Grow and Go. For infants and newborns, the Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air is probably a better choice.
Vivian Risby Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air Review
Conclusion
The Safety 1st MultiFit EX Air has the extended rear facing that safety-minded parents are looking for, along with the convenience of an all-in-one that converts to a belt-positioning booster and protects children up to 100 pounds.
It's compact, lightweight, and affordable as well, making this all-in-one a great choice for parents who want the most value and safety for their money.
With two kids of my own, I’m passionate about child safety! I’m a research nerd who’s on a mission to make the world a safer place for kids – starting with car seats!
To contact me directly please click here.
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