SecureSafe Defend

Works perfectly as its designed to do – I think this is one of the only convertible car seats in this style that would fit in my hatch back car. We have two cars, my little Focus and mum’s mid sized SUV X-Trail. In mumma’s car, she has a similar style seat to this with the larger base and it fits well. That seat does not fit in my hatch back. This one does. So with that being said, I’ve used this seat almost daily for the past 4 weeks and will give my thoughts on it. A car seat protector is included. I personally don’t like the included seat protector. It is quite thin, not long enough for the seat back, and won’t protect my leather upholstery from indents. I will change this seat protector to a more rugged type. But it is nice to see one included and would benefit fabric seats more than leather. My car is fairly old now, a 2010 model, and doesn’t have isofix connectors. So I have secured the seat by the seatbelt method. It is good to see both options given with this seat to secure the seat. Isofix is much easier and definitely my preferred method for installation. Instruction book given was very well detailed and easy to follow. A big red clip supplied for the belt ensures that the belt will not loosen or slip. The top belt keeps the seat steady in place and secures to the car’s bolt down point, whilst not being too obstructive to put baby in or take out of the seat. It has been a difficult for the past 6 weeks since new bub came along in regards to having only the one car between the both of us to use for going anywhere with baby. I take baby out during the day when mumma is resting and then on weekends or after work, we all go out in the bigger family car. The seat is very well built. Lots of padding which looks comfortable. Baby seems happy in the seat and looks comfortable to us. The seat is solid. Has many safety features and a great harness. I’ve adjusted the headrest height to the appropriate position and the method of adjusting is very simple and smooth. SecureSafe call this TruFit and it does work well. This can’t be done with baby in the seat which would probably be more beneficial to get the position correct but I guessed the correct position first go which worked out well in my case. Harness is easy to adjust and clicks very securely. We have not had to clean the seat or covers yet but it does look straight forward enough to properly clean it when required. If my car were ever involved in an accident, I would feel confident with the safety of baby in this car seat. I have seen some seats in stores where I would have no confidence at all in the seat’s integrity if involved in an accident. Although car seats are made to abide by standards, they are not all created equally and the higher build quality of this particular seat is evident in the look and feel of it.

A compact carseat – This is a really neat looking carseat with a few a positive features but also a few things I would like to see on a future model. I've been using the seat for my 18month old while rewardward facing. The "cons" aren't deal breakers as they don't seem to impact the safety of the carseat. Pros - Soft material and comfortable padding - The seat is very compact - doesn't take up much room at all. I suspect it would fit nicely in smaller cars. - Easy to install with isofix anchors - Safety seems to tick all the boxes

Cons - Isofix anchor - The length of the anchor and buckle means it is never completely tight and it can't be adjusted. - The height adjustment lever is behind the childs shoulders beneth the padding. Other designs have the height lever on top so you can adjust easily while your child is seated. - The lever to loosten straps is hard to get to when reward facing - it makes it very difficult to tighten while the child is in the seat

Nice to Haves - It would be also great to see a pocket for a small drink as other carseats have. - The Protection mat is too small. It doesn't provide any protection for the cars seat back which means shoes make it grubby and could cause damage

Better (Secure)Safe than Sorry. 4.5 stars! – The SecureSafe Defend convertible car seat is designed for children from birth up to four years old, making it a good option for parents who want to invest in just one car seat for a few years. It comes with the standard features you’d expect of modern baby car restraints: ISOFix, a five-point safety harness and a detachable insert for newborns and wee babies. However, it’s the Protect Plus technology and its related features that make the SecureSafe Defend a promising contender for the safest baby car restraint in the Australian market - and when it comes to baby car seats, safety should be the #1 priority.

Hubby and I checked out the SecureSafe Defend with our six month old baby, Master B. Here are the pros and cons - including the all-important ‘Cry Baby’ factor:

PROS

SAFETY: InfaGroup, the parent of the SecureSafe Defend, claims bragging rights as the first and only Australian child restraint brand to meet safety best practice according to independent testing. ‘Protect Plus’ is the umbrella term for the SecureSafe Defend’s safety technologies, which, in the event of an accident, work together to protect your little munchkin. Protect Plus consists of:

-Armour Tech: a layer of air in the entire shell of the car seat. -Active Air Pads: head cushioning layer of air. In the event of a car crash, the Active Air Pads expel air and eight domes absorb shock. -Side Impact Pods: More air cushioning, this time in the headrest. The side impact pods keep your child’s head in the optimal position if there is a car crash, and the air layer distances their head from the point of impact.

The five-point safety harness is strong and secure and the webbing is comfortable. Along with the Protect Plus ‘baby air bag’ system, I feel pretty confident that Master B is safe when travelling.

INSTALLATION : Hubby and I wanted to film the installation but it was during that ridiculously windy weekend and our cars are kept outside! Take it from us: installing the SecureSafe Defend is easy. And we were surprised that it fits more securely than our current Maxi-Cosi Moda; there is less rocking side to side. One of the best features of the SecureSafe Defend concerns the ISOfix’s level indicator. When you pull the strap, it’s red; it only turns green with the correct tension to ensure that the car seat is installed correctly. We’re not sure if this is a common feature in the latest car seats (Master B’s sister is almost six so it’s been a while since we’ve had a brand new car seat!) but it’s a welcome addition.

Note that an extension strap may be required for vehicles that don’t have a parcel shelf (we had one handy).

EASY ADJUSTING: Babies grow quickly and whether it’s upsizing their clothes or bumping them from bassinets to toddler cots, their gear needs to adjusted or updated regularly. Innovations that make this process quicker or easier are always applauded by parents! The SecureSafe Defend boasts ‘TrueFit’, where you simply slip your hand under the headrest, turn the red dial (see photo) and slide the headrest up or down to adjust the level from the front of the car seat. The headrest then locks securely into place. The TrueFit eliminates the need to re-thread straps or (*gasp*) uninstall the whole car seat… and with a little practice, you can adjust with one hand. Perfect if you’re juggling a squirming baby with bags, blankets and other baby paraphernalia.

SIZE: Despite all the air layers and cushioning, the SecureSafe Defend is a narrow car restraint. The narrow-ness allows for easy ISOfix connection. The narrow-ness creates more room in the middle seat. The narrow-ness creates more space between two children, which means less slapping, kicking and screaming… and whole seconds of peace for mum and dad.

LONGEVITY: A solid feature of the SecureSafe Defend is its versatility: it can be used from birth through toddlerhood. It includes a removable infant insert and adjustable recline positions (more on that next) which means it’s suitable for newborns as well as growing toddlers. It also feels like a solid, quality car seat: you won’t have to replace it simply because bits of cheap plastic have broken off.

CRY BABY FACTOR aka COMFORT: I would’ve loved to have tried the SecureSafe Defend with Little Miss Six when she was an infant. She was that baby who cried when you strapped her into the car seat, and several times more if it was a long trip (such was the case for us, from the Surf Coast to Melbourne every week), necessitating early leave times and pit stops to try to remedy a stressful journey. Master B is a cruisy, chilled-out baby - but does cry on occasion when being secured into the car seat, and certainly if the car stops moving.

The SecureSafe Defend is a comfy fit for Master B. No tears when being strapped in, no tears during our drives, and only a bit of grizzling when the car stops. I can attribute this at least in part to the plush padding - courtesy of the Advanced Contour Cover - and nine recline positions. In the SecureSafe Defend, Master B is further reclined than in his usual car seat: similar to his positioning in the baby bouncer. He’s happy, and so is mum and dad.

WASHABLE STAY-DRY COVER: The SecureSafe Defend has a flame-retardant, removable cover, which makes it easy to clean (inevitable) spills and messes. The fabric is Cocotex, a premium coconut charcoal fabric that wicks away moisture to keep your baby cool and dry - essential if bubba works himself into a hysterical fit while trying to strap him in. It certainly feels soft and comfy.

AUSSIE OWNED & OPERATED: It’s terrific to see Aussie businesses in the baby gear market, which is typically dominated by overseas companies.

CONS

RECLINE SECTION DOES NOT LOCK IN: When preparing the car seat for installation, we had to secure the recline section (a hinged plastic bar) so that the car seat could face the rear. The recline section locks securely into place when flipping it to make the car seat forward-facing, but it just does not lock into place on the opposite panel to make it rear-facing (see photo - I’m holding the section in place). It seems to be an oversight, and a simple manufacturing adjustment to the mould would solve this issue. It’s not a big deal - and the car seat works just fine - but you just have to be aware of this section dangling when you install the car seat.

WEIGHT: At almost 10kg, SecureSafe Defend is heavier than other car restraints we’ve used. This can make it bothersome for parents who need to frequently install/reinstall the car seat between cars (especially if you’re a sleep-deprived mum with a sore back and shoulders from regular breastfeeding).

LACK OF COLOUR OPTIONS: While black is a safe option when bringing out a new car seat, I’d love for InfaGroup to consider other colour options in the future, such as a grey/charcoal palette. Still safe, but on-trend and not so… black.

PRICE: The SecureSafe Defend retails at $799, placing it at the higher price range.

OVERALL

The SecureSafe Defend is an excellent car seat that’s well thought out and designed (except for that little flaw with the recline section). It’s easy to install and clean, comfortable for bubba, has longevity - and importantly, boasts impressive safety features. We certainly feel confident driving Master B around in it! If you value safety for your little cherub and you’re in the market for a quality, robust car seat, the SecureSafe Defend is worth the investment.