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Understanding Car Seat Accessory Safety
Before looking at specific products, it’s important to understand a key safety principle: the only accessories guaranteed to be safe with your car seat are those that came in the box or are specifically sold by the manufacturer for your exact model. Everything else is aftermarket and hasn’t been crash-tested with your seat.
Safety 1st (owned by Dorel Industries, the same parent company as Cosco and Maxi-Cosi) doesn’t manufacture an extensive line of accessories, so most add-ons for Safety 1st seats will be universal third-party products. The safest approach is to stick with accessories that don’t go between your child and the harness system.
Accessories Worth Getting
Vehicle Seat Protector Mat: A non-slip mat that goes under your Safety 1st car seat to protect your vehicle’s upholstery. This is especially useful with the popular Guide 65, Grow and Go, and EverFit models, which press firmly against vehicle seats in the rear-facing position. Look for mats with non-slip backing on both sides and make sure the mat doesn’t prevent you from getting a tight installation. Brands like Diono, Britax, and Lusso Gear all make good options in the $15-25 range.
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Backseat Baby Mirror: A shatter-proof mirror that attaches to the rear headrest and lets you see your rear-facing baby through the rearview mirror. Since this attaches to the vehicle (not the car seat), it works with any Safety 1st model. This is one accessory I genuinely recommend for every family with a rear-facing child. It’s both a convenience feature and a safety feature — you can check on your baby without turning around while driving. Most quality options cost $10-20.
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Car Seat Travel Bag: If you fly with your Safety 1st seat (several models are FAA-certified), a padded travel bag protects it from the rough handling of airport baggage systems. While Safety 1st doesn’t make their own travel bag, universal bags work fine — just measure your seat dimensions and compare them to the bag’s capacity. Padded options with shoulder straps are worth the $25-40 investment if you fly more than once a year.
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Universal Cup Holder: Some Safety 1st convertible seats don’t include cup holders (or include only one). Aftermarket clip-on cup holders that attach to the side of the seat shell can hold sippy cups, juice boxes, and small water bottles. These don’t interfere with the harness or installation since they clip to the exterior. The Trustic Universal Cup Holder is a popular option at around $10-15, though it can wobble during drives.
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Window Sun Shades: Static-cling or suction cup sun shades for rear windows are simple, cheap ($5-15), and effective at reducing sun exposure and heat for your child. Since they attach to the window and not the car seat, there are no safety concerns. Particularly useful for rear-facing babies who face directly into the back window.
Accessories to Avoid
Aftermarket harness strap covers: The thick padded covers sold for harness straps can prevent the harness from tightening properly against your child’s chest and shoulders. In a crash, even a small gap between the harness and your child can increase injury risk. Only use strap covers that came with your Safety 1st seat.
Third-party infant inserts and head supports: Safety 1st includes infant body support inserts with their seats when appropriate. Adding a different insert changes the child’s position relative to the harness and could compress in a crash, creating dangerous slack. If your seat came with an insert, use it. If it didn’t, the seat is designed to work without one.
Car seat sleeping bags and bundling products: Products that go behind the child and under the harness (like “Bundle Me” or car seat cocoons) create a compressible layer that reduces harness tightness in a crash. The safe alternative: strap your child into the harness without any extra layers, then place a blanket or poncho over the harness straps after buckling.
Aftermarket recline adjusters: While it can be tempting to add something under a Safety 1st seat to adjust the recline angle, only use the recline adjustment features built into the seat. Pool noodles or rolled towels can be used under the vehicle seat cushion (not between the car seat and vehicle seat) in some installations — check your specific Safety 1st manual for guidance.
Maintaining Your Safety 1st Seat
Before buying accessories, make sure you’re taking care of the basics. Most Safety 1st seat covers are machine-washable — remove the cover according to the manual (usually without removing the harness straps), wash on gentle cycle, and air dry. The plastic shell can be wiped down with mild soap and water. Never use bleach or harsh chemicals on any part of the seat.
Check the harness webbing regularly for fraying or damage. The chest clip should sit at armpit level. And always verify the expiration date on your seat — Safety 1st seats manufactured after December 2013 have a 10-year lifespan.
For more on choosing the right Safety 1st seat, browse our best-rated convertible car seats guide, or see our safest car seat brands comparison for how Safety 1st stacks up against the competition.
