Britax Willow Brook Journey System Overview: Willow Rear-Going through Solely Carseat with Aspen Base, Together with Brook Stroller
Identical to automobile producers revamp their automobile lineup each 6-8 years, so do most carseat producers, and this 12 months Britax added a brand new rear-facing solely carseat and journey system to their assortment: the Willow Brook Journey System. It’s at all times enjoyable to study new carseats and their options, however earlier than we do, we have to get our leaves in a pile (*wince*, sorry, that was dangerous!).
That is the Earth 12 months 🌎 at Britax, I feel. Hear me out. It’s actually onerous to provide you with distinctive carseat names (simply ask somebody over at one other carseat firm 😉😉). I’m going to attempt to make this naming scheme as simple as attainable for you. The Willow Brook Journey System is featured on this evaluation; nonetheless, all the pieces talked about will be utilized to the Willow S with Alpine base and Willow Brook S+ Journey System.
Willow Brook: journey system, which incorporates Willow rear-facing solely toddler seat/Aspen base and stroller
Willow: toddler seat service (solely accessible for buy within the Willow Brook Journey System)
Aspen: base
Accessible for Buy Individually:
Willow S: toddler seat service with Alpine base
Alpine: base with anti-rebound bar
Willow Brook S+: journey system, which incorporates Willow S rear-facing solely toddler seat/base and stroller
Willow Brook | Willow Brook S Comparability
Willow Aspen (Base) Specs & Options:
- Rear-facing solely: 4-30 lbs.; 32″ or much less and head should be 1” beneath prime of seat
- 4 harness top positions
- 2 hip strap positions
- 3 crotch strap/buckle positions
- Thick energy-absorbing EPP foam
- SafeCell crumple zone know-how on the service
- Euro belt path allowed when put in with out the bottom
- ClickTight belt-tensioning lockoff with crimson/inexperienced indicator on base
- Multi-recline place base
- Flame-Retardant Free SafeWash cowl is machine cleanable
QR code on inside field that leads you to meeting and set up movies- FAA-approved to be used in an airplane
- Follows NHTSA pointers for alternative after a crash
- 6 12 months lifespan earlier than expiration
- Made in China
- MSRP $449.99 as journey system
Additional Aspen bases can be found for $149.99.
Additional Alpine bases can be found for $159.99.
Willow Aspen Measurements:
- Harness slot heights: 5 ½”, 7 ½”, 9 ½”, 11 ½”
- Lowest harness slot top with out physique insert: 6 ½ ”
- Crotch strap/buckle positions (with out insert): 2”, 3 ½”, 5”
- Inner shell top: 22”
- Size of base footprint: 18” (as much as 4.7” of overhang off automobile seat allowed)
- Width of base at widest level: 14”
- Width of service at widest level: 17”(exterior of deal with)
- Service weight: 9.2 lbs. with insert; 8.8 lbs. with out insert
Match-to-Car
Recline angle indicator – There’s a pendulum recline indicator on either side of the bottom.
For set up with out the bottom, there’s a white indicator sticker with blue arrows on all sides of the service.
Noodles/Rolled towels – Allowed. If the built-in recline foot isn’t enough, put the foot again into its storage place and use noodles or a rolled towel.
Overhang – Britax permits as much as 4.7” for the bottom to hold off the sting of the automobile seat. The handbook I acquired with my carseat says 3”, so I clarified with our Britax contact. 4.7” is it.
Set up with LATCH – ClickTight is designed to be put in with a seat belt. There are situations the place chances are you’ll need to set up with LATCH, comparable to when you have a carseat-friendly tilt for entry to a 3rd row. Let me launch into my LATCH spiel: LATCH isn’t safer—it’s a comfort function. It’s solely safer if it yields a tighter set up, however with ClickTight (CT), you gained’t have an issue getting that with the seat belt.
The Aspen/Alpine base has deluxe push-on LATCH connectors that appear to be staplers. Be certain they’re upright while you push them on the decrease anchors.
The LATCH strap is connected to the bottom with a strap that you could shift to the aspect so it doesn’t intervene with closing the CT.
Middle LATCH set up with non-standard LATCH spacing: Not allowed
Set up with seatbelt – Once more, ClickTight is designed to be put in with a seat belt. Don’t even trouble taking the LATCH belt out of its storage space.
I feel individuals who have had expertise with earlier variations of CT could have probably the most problem putting in this base. It’s totally different. Should you’ve by no means skilled CT earlier than, you’ll catch on quick right here and have issues with future Britax carseats 😆. I made a rapid video and uploaded it to Instagram Reels (@carseatblog) and YouTube.
Set up Suggestions:
- Use extra seat belt than you assume you need to.
- Don’t lock your seat belt! The CT is a lockoff.
- Be certain the lap/shoulder belt is all the best way beneath the CT panel.
- To uninstall the bottom, unbuckle the bottom first, earlier than making an attempt to open the CT panel. This releases the stress within the belt and makes it simpler to open the CT panel. Educate this to everybody who might take away the bottom!
Inflatable Seat Belts
Britax has decided that none of present carseats will be put in with inflatable seat belts present in some Ford Motor Firm and Mercedes automobiles. You could use LATCH to put in an Aspen or Alpine base in these automobiles.
Set up with out base – The Willow service will be put in safely with out the bottom utilizing the standard American belt routing methodology OR the Euro methodology. Utilizing the American methodology, the service is secured on to the automobile with the lap portion of the seatbelt (do NOT place the shoulder belt via the belt path). That is very useful should you’re touring by taxi or airplane. No have to lug the bottom round with you! Nonetheless, it’s important to know the best way to lock the seatbelt within the automobile that you just’re going to be using in.
With the Euro methodology, the lap belt additionally goes via the belt path throughout the highest of the service, however the shoulder belt routes behind the again of the seat as a substitute of resting towards the again of the automobile seat. This often ensures a really secure set up the place the seat stays extra upright in a frontal crash.
Deal with – Any locked deal with place could also be used within the automobile. Britax recommends the deal with be within the upright, locked place when within the automobile—they are saying the built-in ReboundReduce™ helps scale back rebound movement (study that right here) in a crash. It absolutely reduces rebound within the upright place, however it could present extra anti-rebound impact if it had a extra ahead place over the toes.
Match-to-Baby
Head and Physique Help Inserts
The non-obligatory head pillow will be eliminated at any time.
The non-obligatory physique assist has a weight restrict and should be eliminated when your baby reaches 11 lbs.
Harness pads are non-obligatory. Every little thing is non-obligatory! Yay!
🚨 Changes to Make at 11 Kilos 🚨
The Willow/Willow S comes out of the field set for a new child weighing lower than 11 lbs. (Ha! Most are!) You could make these adjustments at 11 kilos:
- Take away physique assist (that is the piece the infant sits on)
- Change the size of the harness on the shoulders (transfer from inside loops to finish loops on backside of seat; see pg. 45 within the handbook)
- Change the hip harness slots to the outer place should you adjusted them to accommodate a tiny child (see pg. 50 within the handbook)
The Willow has the RightSize™ harness system, which is a elaborate method of claiming that it not solely adjusts in top, but additionally adjusts in width on the hips. That is good in case your child has very small hips so you may tighten the lateral area at their hips they usually gained’t slide side-to-side. Two issues with this:
- The smallest hip adjustment is just for babes 4-11 lbs., and
- There’s just one slot within the cowl, which is each good and dangerous. It’s good in that it’s a frequent error we see that caregivers usually don’t line the slots up with the slots within the cowl. It’s dangerous in that there’s no apparent visible cue which hip slot you’re utilizing except you flip the seat over.
➡️ As techs, we’ll should be flipping the seat over to test on this as a routine half checking this seat throughout an appointment.
➡️ I feel you’ll have to make the adjustment to the smaller slots just for the smallest infants. I had it set on the smaller slots for child H, however assume she may have gone with both setting.
For top, use the closest harness slot that’s beneath the kid’s shoulder.
The harness is easy too!
My candy little mannequin, H, is 3 weeks outdated and about 7 lbs. She is similar measurement because the preemie doll we use to check our carseats and match within the Willow very effectively. We needed to work quick getting her within the seat and getting pics since she didn’t like being nonetheless or having her arms uncovered to indicate the harness. It took two of us techs (one is a postpartum and toddler care doula) making an attempt to calm her and you’ll see how effectively that went 😆. She a lot most well-liked the stroller a part of the evaluation (see her completely satisfied within the stroller)! Alas, no reflection on the Willow since that’s how she responds to being strapped into her carseat and one other one I had on-hand.
*A be aware in regards to the Willow/Willow S not having a no-rethread harness (harness top adjusts by sliding up or down): I’m all in favor of that. Don’t get me incorrect: no-rethread harnesses are nice: they’re simple to regulate the harness top somewhat than having to manually take every harness strap off the splitter plate on the again of the carseat. However on an toddler seat it’s no massive deal. You don’t do it that usually and it’s simple to do. Plus it provides bulk behind a baby’s head which will push it ahead and trigger chin-to-chest points (respiration), and it provides weight to a seat. So, yeah, if it may be accomplished proper (and it has been), it’s nice. Phew! I’m accomplished. ☺️
Cowl/Ease of Use/Upkeep:
Eradicating the duvet for cleansing is straightforward, however you could take away the cover first in addition to undo the harness from the steel splitter plate on the again of the seat. There are additionally just a few elastic bands to unhook. It took me solely a few minutes to do that. Reverse the steps to place it again on.
💡 To place the cover again on, put the elastic across the round hub first, then slide the plastic piece into the channel till it clicks in.
💡 At all times take pics or a video as you’re taking the duvet off so you already know which harness and buckle slots to make use of and the place to tuck elastics. Britax additionally has a good video on altering the duvet.
The harness is replaceable if it turns into nasty past cleansing.
Britax has probably the greatest producer assist pages with a sturdy FAQ, booklet handbook, and video handbook library. You’ll find a full complement of movies supporting the Willow Brook household of merchandise.
In addition they have accommodated for compatibility with different producers, each for utilizing the Willow/Willow S with different strollers and utilizing different carseats with Britax strollers. Producers comparable to CYBEX, Nuna, Maxi-Cosi, and UPPAbaby are listed. You’ll find compatibility charts on their assist web page.
To wash the harness, wipe with a moist washcloth and a contact of gentle cleaning soap and towel dry. DO NOT wash within the washer or use chemical compounds on it.
FAA-Approval/Lifespan/Crash Tips:
- FAA licensed to be used on airplanes
- 6 12 months lifespan earlier than expiration
The Willow/Willow S should be changed after a reasonable to extreme crash, utilizing the NHTSA pointers:
- The automobile is ready to be pushed away from the crash web site.
- The automobile door nearest the automobile seat is just not broken.
- Not one of the passengers within the automobile have been injured within the crash.
- If the automobile has air baggage, the air baggage didn’t deploy through the crash; and
- There is no such thing as a seen harm to the automobile seat.
The Brook Stroller
The Willow toddler carseat with Aspen base presently is barely offered with the Brook stroller as a journey system. The Alpine S is a standalone carseat or comes with the Willow Brook S+.
What does the Brook S+ have that the Brook doesn’t?
- Father or mother tray (it’s a snack tray, let’s be actual 😆) that has telephone and a pair of cup holders
- Two-toned colour scheme on the toddler chair
You come to CSB for carseat opinions and information and that’s our educated background—it’s been a very long time since I used or wanted a stroller, so my feedback might be superficial at finest (simply so you already know the place I’m coming from on this one!).
After simple meeting following the video, the stroller was up and operating, however not actually although because it’s not a jogger. The push is so easy and straightforward—I liked it—and it turned on a dime. It’s nothing like those I used for my children that continuously ran over folks’s toes regardless of my finest intentions. It drove effectively over asphalt, concrete, and pretend grass.
It has the requisite brakes on the again wheels. Folding was simple, although possibly too simple? I may need most well-liked the mechanisms down additional on the deal with so I wouldn’t be inclined to seize them with out considering.
First automobile is my Tesla Mannequin X, second automobile is my daughter’s Nissan Kicks for trunk area comparability.
It’s mild for a full-size stroller and I like you could put the carseat on both dealing with you or dealing with out—similar with the stroller seat. The stroller seat doesn’t recline to a full flat recline, so the toddler seat should be used on the stroller body till a child has head and neck management.
Willow/Willow S Benefits:
- 4 harness top positions with 2 hip slot positions
- 3 crotch strap/buckle positions
- Thick EPP foam
- SafeCell crumple zone know-how on the service
- Euro belt path allowed when put in with out the bottom
- ClickTight belt-tensioning lockoff with crimson/inexperienced indicator on base
- Multi-recline place base
- FR-free cowl is machine cleanable
- Follows NHTSA pointers for alternative after a crash
- Giant, quiet cover that doesn’t intervene with deal with
- Matches preemies effectively
- Clean harness
- Effectively-padded with optional-use inserts
Disadvantages:
(In equity, these aren’t essentially issues however I record them right here to tell potential customers of particular Willow/Willow S points)
- Plenty of complicated names for issues: the bottom is named one thing totally different from the service, the deal with has a reputation in its upright place (ReboundReduce™), RightSize™ for the harness, and so forth.
- ClickTight panel will be tough to make use of should you don’t have it pulled up all the best way
- Need to take away cover to take cowl off for laundry
Conclusion:
Other than the complicated naming scheme, the Britax Willow with Aspen Base that’s included with the Willow Brook journey system is welcome replace to the Britax rear-facing solely toddler seat lineup. Including ClickTight to the Aspen and Alpine bases make for a meld-with-the-vehicle-seat set up. The power to regulate the harness to get a extra customized match on a smaller child will put new dad and mom relaxed when utilizing the carseat at a time for the primary time (or the second or third!).
Fundamental Toddler Seat Security
Toddler seats are so commonplace that oldsters usually copy what different dad and mom are doing with their seats. I do know my husband and I did, and that may be harmful, particularly when misuse charges prime 90%. I’ve already coated a few of the fundamentals above concerning match to your automobile and baby. So what do you see out and about that you just shouldn’t copy your self?
- DO NOT put the service on prime of a purchasing cart
- WHENEVER the kid is within the service, ALWAYS buckle your entire harness and tighten it
- Some dad and mom unbuckle the crotch buckles when in a retailer or will solely buckle the chest clip when buckling in child, however that piece of plastic is just not designed to resist crash forces. Infants also can wiggle down within the seat and strangle on the chest clip.
- Don’t depart the kid within the service to sleep
- Research have proven that infants desat, or have a discount in oxygen, once they sleep for too lengthy in toddler seats.
- Do not forget that the rear-facing solely toddler carseat is a security gadget, not a secure sleeping area
For extra info on the Britax Willow Brook Journey System, go to Britax’s web site: https://us.britax.com/store/travel-systems/willow-brook-travel-system
Thanks to Britax for offering the Willow Brook Journey System pattern for this evaluation. No different compensation was supplied. All opinions expressed are these of CarseatBlog.
