Car Seats
Car Seats. If you are a parent, you’ve been there. Looked, compared, tested and such. After having 2 little boys, and 4 carseats, I tend to know what I like and don’t like about a seat. Car seats are something I won’t skimp on. My child is much too important to me to buy the cheapest seat on the market that doesn’t protect like it should. The First Years True Fit Premier Convertible Car seat is one that has only been on the market a few months, but it does much more than protect.

Pros
Convertible Carseat
The First Years has done an excellent job with this car seat. A convertible car seat is one that can be rear facing, and then forward facing as well. Many times, you have to transition from a convertible to a forward facing car seat. Not the case with the True Fit Premier. Your child’s weight can be between 5 and 65 lbs, and the height limit is 50 inches or less. There is a removable headrest which helps accomodate this. When an infant is rear facing, you remove the headrest. When your child gets older and meets the height,weight, and age requirements, they are forward facing, and you add the headrest. To give you an idea of how old and tall child can be, Chandler just turned 4 last fall. He is currently 41 inches tall and weighs around 37 lbs. Compared to other kids his age, he is 75% for height and 25% for weight. So although he’s a bit on the skinny side, he’s tall. I would guesstimate that he would be able to use this carseat, a convertible carseat, until he is 6 or 7. Birth until 6 or 7? That’s very accomodating for a carseat.

Rebound Bar
The True Fit Premier is the first convertible to have rebound energy management when it is rear facing. The rebound bar helps reduce the chance of broken bones and other injuries that happen in an accident when a car is rear facing. It actually acts as a rebound. Plus, it’s super easy to install when it is rear facing and the bar helps act as a guide. When you aren’t using the car seat for rear facing, you tuck the rebound bar underneath, and away you go.  You can see the rebound bar in the video later in this post.

Recline & Zone Angle Indicator
I’ve never seen a car seat that can recline while it is rear facing, but this one can. It also reclines forward facing and it is really simple to use the recline. Another great aspect is the Zone Angle Indicator.

If the carseat is in zone 1, it is at the correct angle for infants, zone 1 or 2 is recommended for toddlers. If the ball falls into the red zone with an x, you need to reposition your child, the incline is not safe for them. I know that other car seats have an indicator, but they are on the side and aren’t always visible. I like that this indicator is right by your child’s feet which means that you can check it while you are tightening straps.

Adjustable Straps
With every carseat I’ve owned in the past, when one of my boys gets to tall for the strap, I have to pull them out and re-thread, which can be a real pain. The harness height adjustment releases completely get rid of that problem. Just pull out on both of the releases, and move the straps to the correct position. Love this feature.

Comfort
I think comfort is incredibly important in a car seat. My child will be spending a lot of time in it over the years, so I like getting something that will be comfortable for them. The True Fit Premier has nice padding, is incredibly roomy, and has really soft fabric. Plus, the strap covers are also made of a soft fabric so that the straps won’t rub and irritate. I can also tell it’s super comfy because Rowan has a tendency to fall asleep in it, and he just looks comfy, doesn’t he?  There is also a cup holder on the side which adds to comfort, what little boy/girl doesn’t need their sippy?  And those comfy fabrics are easy to pull off and are machine washable!

Safety
Although this is the last point I am covering, it is the most important to me. The True Fit Premier has so many features that make it one of the safest carseats around. The ease of use is first. I think we can all safely assume that if a carseat is hard to understand, hard to use, or hard to install, it might not be used properly. If it isn’t being used properly, your child might not be protected like they should. The National Highway Transportation Administration gave this carseat a high “Ease of Use” award which speaks volumes. It was actually awarded 5 stars for ease of use. I have to agree. The instruction manual that it comes with is a small pocket one that is 70 pages. After looking through it for 15 minutes, I was ready to install the carseat and had no questions. Directions were easy to use, and there were great pictures that helped me each step of the way. It only took a few minutes to install, the latch connectors on this seat are super easy to use. I also fits nicely in our SUV as well as our compact commuter car. It’s easy to tighten and loosen the straps, as well as get your child in and out.
The EPP side impact is also a definite plus. I worry about side impact at times because both my boys sit by the doors. When Chan was an only child, we naturally had him in the middle of the seat as it is the safest place, but when you get more kids, you can’t always have them in the middle. The fact that it has the EPP side impact gives me peace of mind.

To see my favorite features in action, watch the video below

Cons

Width & Weight
The True Fit Premier is a pretty wide carseat. I know there are some that have to fit 3 carseats in one backseat. I think this would be very hard to do with this seat. Also, because it is a wider seat, it’s not really convenient in moving it from car to car. So if you are looking for a seat to transport, this might not be it. Adding to the bulk, the seat is 19 lbs, which makes it a bit heavy as well. I would rather take the wide and heavy anyday as it means it is safer, but it might be a con for some.

Other Cons
As for other Cons, I really struggled finding any. I may find things that I don’t like over time, but for now, it’s been a really nice seat. It has all of the safety features your child needs, and could be the last car seat you buy until you need a booster.

Price: $269.99

Where to Buy: Find an Online Retailer or Retailer Near You here.

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The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

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