Britax B-Safe 35 Review (2024): A Full Body Protection Infant Car Seat Worth Getting?

Britax B-Safe 35 infant car seat is a rear-facing model that has pretty impressive features. As a demanding parent, I want more from the seat – comfort for my baby and ease of use, simple maintenance, and stroller compatibility. My Britax B-Safe 35 review will address all those aspects and hopefully help you decide if it is the right seat for your baby.

Britax is a trustworthy company and makes several infant seats – B-Safe Ultra, Endeavors, and B-Safe 35. The 35 in the seat name shows that the Britax B-Safe weight limit is 35 pounds.

Overall, the seat is deep and narrow, with convenient sidewalls for protection. The seat comes with a sturdy base, and parents can install it via LATCH or belt system. The seat is also easy to detach from the base, and use as a carrier.

However, I recommend using the seat as a carrier for seats manufactured after 2015. The company has issued a recall regarding the handle for seats produced between October 1, 2014, and July 2, 2015.

Britax B-Safe review will also include an overview of innovative technologies such as SafeCell technology, a feature Britax is proud of, and other parent-friendly features such as lock-offs, removable cover, and installation indicators.

Commonly Asked Questions Before Buying A Britax B-Safe 35 Car Seat

Britax car seat, model B-Safe 35 is an excellent choice for parents switching the seat between the cars. It is easy to install and has a narrow base, so it fits even smaller cars. Also, a narrow base makes it an excellent choice for parents who have two or three children, and you can use it with other baby car seats in the backside.

However, larger babies might not be comfortable in it, or they will overgrow the width soon. If your baby is chubby, consider a seat wider for several inches. Before we continue with the B-Safe 35 review, let’s answer some questions!

Can you use a Britax car seat without the base?

A Britax infant car seat without base is FAA-approved for vehicles. Still, using a Britax car seat with a base ensures better safety because of the sturdy base. It is always better to use the car seat without the base than not to use the seat at all.

How long is a Britax B Safe 35 good for?

Britax B-Safe 35 fits infants from four pounds to 35 pounds with a height limit of 32 inches. You can only use it until your baby overgrows the height and weight limitations.

But, because of a narrow design, it may happen before two years of age, which is average for rear-facing car seats.

It has a car seat expiration period of six years.

Why are Britax car seats so expensive?

Generally, Britax invests in newer technologies and uses premium, industrial-grade materials to produce car seats. For example, the B-Safe model has a high-strength industrial steel base, which is costly to manufacture.

Moreover, Britax car seats exceed the safety standards issued by governmental agencies. So, the seats aren’t produced to pass consumer tests but to ensure maximum possible safety.

What is the difference between the Britax B Safe 35 and Ultra car seat?

First of all, B-Safe 35 has one layer of side impact protection, while Ultra has two. Next, Ultra has up to six adjustable harness positions for a better fit and a flip-forward belly guide. Additionally, you can install the Britax Ulta seat via European belt routing, which doesn’t apply to the B-Safe 35 models.

Ultimately, because Ultra is an upgrade from B-Safe 35 seats and has more added features, it comes with a higher price tag.

Britax B-Safe 35 Features & Benefits

Britax B-Safe has a lot to offer, so let’s go briefly through each feature in my Britax B-Safe car seat review and see how features contribute to the positive impressions!

Ease of installing the car seat with the base

Installing the Britax B-Safe 35 base is relatively simple. The seat supports the LATCH system installment and the seat belt method.

Additionally, the Britax B-Safe 35 manual is comprehensive and includes a step-by-step guide with a checklist to ensure everything is fixed properly.

You start with adjusting the proper recline angle, which is super-easy to do, because of the red marker recline indicator.

A lap-shoulder belt is even simpler to finish, and you can do it in a couple of minutes. Once you’ve installed the base, all you have to do is attach the seat and make sure that the handle is locked in one of the four available positions.

Britax B-Safe installation without the base

In some cars, you might need to use one or more rolled towels behind the base to find the proper recline angle. Because the B-Safe 35 model doesn’t support the European belt installment method, use the lap-shoulder belt method or lap belt only.

Because the carrier has a curved shape, the rolled towels will prevent it from sliding down and keep it secured with the proper recline angle.

Safety features

Britax B-Safe offers full-body protection for your baby, because an impact-absorbing shell covers the head, neck, and torso of your baby, keeping. The base features SafeCell technology, which effectively compresses to reduce the force in case of a crash.

Moreover, the steel frame stabilizes the shell during the collision and diverts energy from the baby.

The seat doesn’t have an anti-rebound bar, but you can purchase a second base with the anti-rebound bar separately. Without the bar, the seat is still one of the safest infant car seats on the market, and the bar isn’t a federal requirement.

The Britax seat seems well-built and has received the maximum 5-star rating by the National Traffic Safety Administration agency for its features.

Seat weight

The seat weighs 10 pounds without the base, which makes it a moderately heavy car seat. However, the heavy-duty shell and the safety it provides overcompensates the weight. Still, if you plan to use the seat as a carrier often, it might be too heavy for you as the baby grows.

The base weighs 20 pounds. Also, if you have two cars, you might want to consider buying a second base to prevent moving heavy base from car to car.

Seat usage limit

Britax B-Safe 35 is similar to other infant car seats because you can use it for babies from four to 35 pounds and with a maximum height of 32 inches. It comes with an infant insert to ensure maximum comfort for newly born babies, and you can use it for the first baby ride from the hospital to your home, as long as the baby meets minimum weight requirements.

Ease of cleaning

One of the things I like about this seat is the removable cover. Unlike some other cars, Britax B-Safe 35 features easy to remove the cover because of the convenient tab on the back that loosens the cover.

Unfortunately, the cover is only suitable for hand washing in cold water and with a mild soap. Most parents would appreciate a machine-washing safe cover, but this one is relatively easy to wash, and the fabric doesn’t stain easily.

You can use a sponge or wet cloth to clean other parts of the seat, including harness and shell. Rinsing the buckle is safe, and you should avoid soaking it.

If the canopy gets dirty, you can also easily detach it and wash it by hand.

Overall, the seat isn’t too challenging to clean, but hand washing is time-consuming.

Watch the video on how you can remove the cover and clean Britax seat easily:

Stroller compatibility

If you purchase a Britax B-Safe 35 travel system with a car seat and compatible stroller from the same manufacturer, you can even save a few bucks. Generally, buying a car seat with the same-brand stroller has the highest chances for compatibility.

But, if you don’t like this Britax B-Safe 35 stroller combination, you can pair the seat with other strollers using the adapter. You can purchase the adapter separately, but your options are still limited.

For example, with the Britax adapter, your car seat becomes compatible with the Baby Jogger double stroller. It is an excellent combination if you have twins, too.

Here is a list of strollers compatible by default:

• Britax B Agile
• Britax B Ready

Here is a list of strollers compatible with Britax B-Safe 35 using the appropriate adapter:

• Austlen – Front, Rear
• Baby Jogger – City Select, City Select Lux, City Premier, City Mini, City Mini GT, City Tour Lux
• Bob – Revolution
• Bugaboo – Fox, Buffalo, Cameleon3, Bee3, Bee5
• Contours – Options Elite, Options, Curve
• JOOVY (comes with adapter) – Caboose, Big Caboose, Caboose Too
• Quinny – Moodd

Seat comfort

When it comes to comfort, the Britax seat, model B-Safe 35, is less comfortable than its competition. The padding seems thin, and the mesh fabric isn’t as soft as I would like it. However, the seat gets bonus points for a head pillow because you can adjust it to make the baby as comfortable as possible. It also keeps the baby safe from the harness and prevents itching.

The Britax B-Safe 35 infant insert is removable and great for babies under 11 pounds.

The ergonomic handle is practical for moving the baby from car to stroller and vice versa. You can also lock it in four positions and find the one that is the most comfortable for you.

Canopy

The B-Safe 35 has an extra-large canopy to protect the baby from sun and other weather conditions. It is especially useful for rear-facing seats because the sun coming from the rear glass can make the baby uncomfortable. I also like that the canopy is easy to detach and clean.

The B-Safe model is available in several color combinations, but almost every combo features a black canopy. It can attract the sun and make the baby hot. To prevent it, you can get the version with a red canopy.

Travel friendliness

If you travel a lot, I recommend the Britax B-Safe 35 car seat because it is FAA-approved for airplanes. However, keep in mind that when you use the car seat in planes, it is approved without the Elite base, so make sure you are familiar with the baseless installation.

Compatible accessories

Britax makes useful accessories that you can use with the B-Safe 35 car seat.

I already mention the adapters and extra-base for the second base, but there are practical accessories.

Considering that babies under two years are supposed to ride in the rear-facing position, I always struggled to see what the baby was doing. The Britax back seat mirror is easy to install with straps in your car, and it is a shatterproof mirror with a soft frame.

You can get a waterproof seat protector, which is useful when the baby makes a mess on the backseat.

Finally, Britax also offers an All-Weather car seat cover that is waterproof and has a UPF rating of 50. The cover protects the entire shell and is very useful when you have to transport the baby from the car to your home, and outside is pouring rain.

Britax makes a compatible rain-cover for the seat, but I prefer the all-weather one because it keeps the baby safe from the harsh wind and hot sun.

Britax B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat Review Summary

Alternatives

If the Britax doesn’t meet all your preferences, please consider the next three alternatives.

UPPABaby MESA

This is one of the most popular high-end car seats for several reasons. It is pricier than the B-Safe 35 model, but it has naturally flame retardant materials. The merino wool blend is soft and breathable, and more comfortable for the baby.

The UPPABaby Mesa weighs less than Britax B-Safe 35 model and is more practical to use as a carrier.

Similarities between UPPABaby Mesa and Britax B-Safe 35 model:

• The same height and weight limits
• Both are easy to install
• Both are rear-facing options
• Both seats have an extendable canopy

Differences:

• Britax B-Safe 35 has a steel frame base
• UppaBaby seat has self-retracting LATCH connectors, which make installing quicker
• Britax seat is heavier
• UppaBaby has naturally flame-retardant materials

You can also find out more about the UPPABaby Mesa infant car seat from our comparison between the UPPABaby Mesa vs Nuna Pipa review.

Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35 Nido

The Primo Viaggio seat is more expensive than the Britax B-Safe, model 35 seat. It comes with the load leg, an additional safety feature that model B-Safe 35 doesn’t have. You can adjust the load leg to one of ten positions, and it has an energy-absorbing foot. It is a useful safety feature in case of a collision.

Moreover, the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35 Nido has an anti-rebound bar for extra protection.

Next, the Primo Viaggio seat supports European belt routing, which makes securing the seat without the base simpler.

The Britax seat is simpler to clean, but the Primo Viaggio has additional features that make the seat more comfortable for growing babies. Those are dual-stage cushions.

Similarities between Britax B-Safe 35 and Peg Perego seat:

• Both can be used without the base
• Both weigh 10 pounds without the base
• They have the same weight and height limitations
• Both can be installed either via LATCH or Seat belt method

Differences:

Peg Perego has a load leg

• Britax seat features an ergonomic handle
• Britax seat has a narrow base
• Primo Viaggio has adjustable side impact protection
• Primo Viaggio supports European belt routing for baseless installment

Check more cool features from our in-depth Peg Perego Primo Viaggio seat review!

Maxi-Cosi Mico Max Plus

The Maxi-Cosi Mico Max Plus is a quality seat that accommodates babies up to 30 pounds. Unlike Britax B-Safe 35, Maxi-Cosi has an anti-rotation stability leg that further secures the car seat alongside the LATCH installment method.

The seat features self-wicking fabric and has a zipper on the canopy for extra-breathability. Like the Britax seat, it comes with a head and body support pillow.

But, the Maxi-Cosi seat is simpler to clean, because the cover is machine-washable.

Similarities between Britax and Maxi-Cosi car seats:

• Both have side impact protection
• Both seats come with the base
• Both feature removable cover for washing and an extra-large canopy
• The seats don’t have an anti-rebound bar

Differences:

• Britax fits babies up to 35 pounds
• Maxi-Cosi has a load leg
• Maxi-Cosi features machine-washable and dryer-safe fabric
• Britax seat is slightly heavier
• Britax seat has a steel frame

Conclusion

Britax B-Safe 35 seat offers excellent safety features, bit medium comfort, especially for larger babies. It is easy to install and has indicators, which is always a plus.

The curved shell design is compact, and the narrow base fits small cars, but if you want to install it without the base, you need rolled towels. However, I don’t find it such a big issue, because I always recommend installing the seat with the base.

Also, Britax B-Safe 35 is safe for use in airplanes and is relatively simple to maintain.

Overall, it ensures maximum safety, which is the most important aspect of the car seat. A few minor issues are improved in upgraded versions of the seat, but this one is the most affordable.

Find out more details about the Britax B-Safe 35 car seat here.

Did you find my Britax infant car seat review useful? Would you buy it for your baby?

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Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API