Essentials By Britax Allegiance Car Seat Review

Today I’m sharing my Essentials By Britax Allegiance Car Seat review. This seat was provided to me at no cost to facilitate this review.

I was, what many would consider, a young mom when we had our first child.  My husband and I married when I was only 20 and he was 28.  Since I’ve always wanted to be a mom and was already running my own daycare, it only made sense to start trying to get pregnant right away.  And we actually got pregnant a month after our wedding.  But unfortunately, our first pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 13 weeks.  Six long months after that, we thankfully found ourselves pregnant with our first daughter, Hannah.

Car Seat Safety

Even though Hannah is just 12 years old now, car seat safety and awareness has come SO far since 2005.  When we entered our third trimester, we literally went to Target and bought a travel system without any research.  (There was only two available that day as they had put the older models on clearance and only two new ones had arrived.)  Since that day, our knowledge about the best car seats has improved.  And I’m happy to report that Britax has been a baby gear brand we’ve trusted for years now. In fact, the Britax B-Agile Travel System is one of my favorites!

Essentials By Britax – Affordable Safety for Everyone

The arrival of the Essentials By Britax line brings a value brand built upon the main focus that every family deserves the peace of mind that coincides with over 50 years of Britax safety heritage.  Because “safe enough” is never “good enough”, every innovative safety feature has been designed with your family in mind.

The Essentials By Britax Allegiance Car Seat Review

The Essentials by Britax Allegiance car seat is a convertible car seat which means that it can be used both rear facing and forward facing. Let me tell you about some of the features we love about this car seat.

10 Position Harness With Headrest Adjuster

One of my favorite features is the no re-thread harness.  Simply squeeze the red handle at the top of the car seat and the harness can be slid up and down between 10 different positions.

I have 8 positions shown below to give you an idea of the range but the harness slot heights run at: 8.5″ / 9.5″ / 10.5″ / 11.5″ / 12.5″ / 13.5″ / 14.5″ / 15.5″ / 16.5″ / 17.5″.  Since children grow so fast, this is always a must have feature in my book.  It makes keeping the correct fit easy since I can adjust in seconds.

Remember: Forward-facing children should have the harness at or slightly ABOVE the top of their shoulders.  Rear facing children should have the harness at or slightly BELOW the top of their shoulders.  Car seat safety is so important!

SafeCell Impact Protection Including Side Impact Protection

Featuring a deep foam-lined shell, this system of patented technologies works together to direct crash forces away from your child.  This includes side impact protection which can be the most harmful of collision types.

Stabilizing Steel Frame & Impact Absorbing Base

Also featuring a strong steel frame, this seat will provide stability and strength in the event of a crash.  Plus, the impact absorbing base is made to compress and reduce the force of that crash by diverting the negative energy away from your child.

Longevity – Convertible Car Seat That Grows With Your Child

The Essentials By Britax Allegiance Convertible Car Seat can accommodate children through a variety of ages and stages. This includes using it with your baby right from the hospital!  Especially helpful for the budget conscious family who wants to skip the infant carrier-style seat that most kids outgrow within 6-12 months.

In rear-facing mode, the Allegiance fits children from 5 pounds up to 40 pounds.  (The child’s seated shoulder height should be in the 9″ – 16.75″ range for rear facing.)  In the forward facing mode, it’s geared for children 20 pounds through 65 pounds.  (Seated shoulder height range for forward facing in the Allegiance is 12″ – 16.75″.)

LATCH System

Designed with an easy to use LATCH System, connectors lock into place with a click for easy installation.  Simply release with the push of a button to free the seat.  Plus, there’s a built-in LATCH storage area on the back of the Britax Allegiance car seat, perfect for when the child outgrows the LATCH system and needs to use the seat belt to secure the seat or when the seat is not in use.

Comfort

The Britax Allegiance car seat features a removable infant position insert for children up to 22 pounds.  There is also strap covers at the top of the harness for added comfort too.

Convenience

The Essential By Britax line has even paid attention to the small details.  I like the little extras such as the velcro strip that helps hold the buckle out of the way.  This makes finding the straps just a little bit easier once the child is in the seat.

The Drawback

While the cover is removable for easier spot cleaning, it is not machine washable.  So even though I rarely wash car seat covers, in the event of vomit or a blowout, a machine washable feature is a huge plus.

Overall Thoughts on Essentials by Britax Allegiance Car Seat

Overall, the Essentials By Britax Allegiance Convertible Car Seat is a nice option and currently retails for about $200.  Available in six different fashion prints, it’s a well-made seat that offers function, safety, comfort, and style at an affordable price. You can purchase this car seat at the major baby retailers or add it to your Target baby registry and maybe someone will purchase it for you! For more details about the Britax Allegiance Car Seat or the lineup of Essentials by Britax, visit Essentials by Britax online.

Accessories By Britax

Britax doesn’t just make car seats.  They also offer a variety of strollers (like the Britax B-Agile Double Stroller) and accessories too!  One handy accessory that we were delighted to try out is the Britax View-N-Go Backseat Organizer.

Honestly, we struggle to keep our van clean and organized.  (We do have five biological kids and currently three foster children though, so I feel it’s just a struggle we will have.)  It’s like one step forward, two steps back.  In part, that’s because we just don’t have adequate storage in our van.  So this Backseat Organizer from Britax was a welcomed addition!  It easily attaches to the back of seats in just seconds.

And it quickly becomes a distraction to our toddler, who doesn’t always want to be stuck in a car seat.

Designed with a variety of different pockets, it’s perfect for storing small toys, books, snacks, a sippy cup or water bottle, and can even accommodate a tablet.  I like that it lets everything have a place while still being in close range for kids (and parents) to access.

You can purchase the Britax View-N-Go Backseat Organizer at Amazon.com or look for it at your favorite baby retailer.

Whether you’re in the market for a new seat, accessories, or both, Britax has you covered! Visit Britax online to see their full lineup!