Britax B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit Britax B-Safe Gen 2
The original Britax B-Safe infant car seats proved to be extremely popular products that were manufactured with many important and unique premium safety and convenience features. While those seats are no longer being produced, that is because Britax have made improvements and introduced the B-Safe Gen 2 infant car seats onto the market.
The Britax B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit and the B-Safe Gen 2 infant car seats are just 2 of the models available within this 2nd generation of Britax B-Safe infant car seats.
Although the Britax B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit seat looks almost identical to the B-Safe Gen 2 seat, there are some important differences for you to consider prior to making a purchasing decision.
So, what exactly are the similarities and differences between the Britax B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit and the Britax B-Safe Gen 2 car seats? Is the “Flexfit” model worth the extra money?
Britax B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit vs B-Safe Gen 2 – The Similarities
#1 Child Weight Limits
The B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit and B-Safe Gen 2 seats both come with child weight limits of between 4lbs and 35 lbs.
#2 Child Height Limits
The maximum child height limit is also 32 inches for both seats.
So, both products are amongst the best infant seats available on the market when it comes to maximum child height limits. Children very often outgrow their infant seats by height before they outgrow them by weight and so this is a very important number to consider when choosing a seat.
NB: Looking at the maximum height limit is usually more important than looking at the maximum weight limit.
#3 Seat base Weight/Dimensions
Since neither of these seats comes with the Anti-rebound bar that can be found on the base of the top-of-the-range B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit Plus model, the Gen 2 Flexfit and standard Gen 2 infant seat bases both weigh just 9 lbs.
The Gen 2 Flexfit and standard Gen 2 models also share the same seat base dimensions of 26.6 x 17.9 x 25.9 inches.
Other important measurements on both seats include a shoulder width of 10 inches, a seat back compartment height of 20 inches, and a seat area depth/width of 12.5 inches and 8.5 inches respectively.
#4 SafeCenter LATCH & Safecell Crumple Zone
Both seats take advantage of Britax’s unique patented SafeCenter LATCH installation system.
The seat and base are installed within your vehicle in 3 easy steps. You simply connect the lower anchors, pull straps to tighten, and then click the seat into the steel-reinforced base.
Both seats and bases are also manufactured with Britax’s Safecell crumple zone for added protection in a collision and better peace of mind. In short, the impact-absorbing Safecell base comprises a red “honeycomb” structure that help to absorb crash forces.
So, follow those 3 simple installation steps and you’re good to go!
#5 Easy-read Level Indicators
Both seats come with easy-read level indicators to confirm when the seat has been installed at a safe and correct angle within the car, which provides much needed peace of mind to parents of young babies.
The level indicators are called “easy-read” because they can be viewed from all angles.
Other similarities include:
- Steel reinforced seat base
- Stroller Compatible
- UPF 50+ Extra Large Canopy
- 1-Hand Harness Buckle Release
- Quick Push LATCH Connectors
- Certified for Aircraft Travel
- 6 year seat expiration
Britax B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit vs B-Safe Gen 2 – The Main Differences
#1 European Belt Path
The Britax B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit seat comes with a European style Belt Guide. The B-Safe Gen 2 seat does not.
The additional European style Belt Guide option on the Flexfit seat means that you have the extra option of being able to safely and securely fit that seat in your vehicle without using the seat base and/or LATCH connectors. Whilst most modern cars are fitted with LATCH connectors and it is much more convenient to simply click the seat in and out of the seat base on every journey, there are situations in which this additional belt path option is very useful.
If you need to use the seat with multiple vehicles and cannot afford to buy multiple seat bases, or if you have grandparents or other occasional carers that need to transport your baby in their vehicles, the option to install the seat using an easy European style belt method is very convenient.
#2 Side Impact Protection
Both seats come with Side Impact Protection features that significantly exceed the federal minimum safety standards.
However, whereas the Britax B-Safe Gen 2 seat comes with standard side impact protection, the Britax B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit model comes with 2 layers of side impact protection.
Both seats enjoy the benefits of the steel reinforced base.
The side impact protection features are focussed on adding more padding to the head, neck and torso areas of the seat, which are naturally the most vulnerable parts of a child’s body during a collision situation.
You can find images of the side impact protection features here.
#3 Seating Adjustments
The Britax B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit and standard Gen 2 seats both have a large selection of harness slot height positions – many more than can be found on budget infant car seats, which makes it much easier to find a perfectly safe and comfortable fit for your baby’s unique shape.
The Flexfit model is, however, more flexible and has a larger number of adjustment options.
The Britax B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit options are:
- Harness Slot Heights at 5/7/9/11 inches
- Crotch Buckle Strap Depths of 3.5 & 5.5 inches
The Britax B-Safe Gen 2 options are:
- Harness Slot Heights at 5/6.2/7.4/8.6/9.8/11 inches
- Crotch Buckle Strap Depths of 3.5 & 5.5 inches
#4 Harness Adjustments
Both seats come with a 5-point harness.
The difference is that the Flexfit model has a superior harness that can be adjusted very quickly and simply, and without needing to re-thread it every time.
Personally, I would always pay extra for the convenience of being able to make these seat adjustments without having to re-thread the harness each and every time, which can be a real pain for busy parents and other carers.
Imagine having to rethread the harness each and every time on an infant car seat that comes with so many shoulder harness adjustment options!
#5 Seat Weight
The B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit seat weighs approximately 11.6 lbs, which is pretty average. The standard B-Safe Gen 2 seat is a little lighter at 10.9 lbs, which is largely due to the less comprehensive side impact protection provided with that seat.
They are not particularly heavy seats when compared with other premium models on the US market. At the end of the day, additional safety features often add a little extra weight to a seat, but these seat weights are perfectly normal and manageable.
Both seats can be used as part of a comprehensive travel system to reduce the need to carry the seat around.
A Helpful Video Review …
Here is the “Baby Cubby” video review of the B-Safe Gen 2 Seat …
Here is the “Snuggle Bugz” video review of the B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit Plus model (it has the extra ARB, but other features are the same …
Buy the Britax B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit and B-Safe Gen 2 Seats
The B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit and B-Safe Gen 2 models are both premium infant car seats, but as you can see from my comments above, the Flexfit version has a couple of extra features. You will have to decide for yourself whether or not those extra features are sufficiently important for you and your child to justify the slightly higher cost.
Check Best Price of the B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit
Check Best Price of the B-Safe Gen 2
If you remain undecided, you can read more user reviews of these seats here:
Britax B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit User Reviews
Britax B-Safe Gen 2 User Reviews
Safety Information
After purchasing any child car seat, you should always read the User Manual thoroughly before using it. It is also advisable to visit your local Fire Department or NHTSA Child Car Seat Inspection Centre to ensure that the seat is definitely suitable for your child’s specific requirements and that you have installed it correctly. These services are usually provided free of charge.
You can find your nearest NHTSA Centre here.
Get in Touch
If you have any comments to share or questions to ask about my Britax B-Safe Gen 2 Flexfit vs Britax B-Safe Gen 2 Comparison Review, please leave a comment in the box below or send me an email.
Leave a Reply