Britax Willow S
The Britax Willow S is one of the latest infant seats from Britax. Unlike its predecessor, the Willow, which is only available as part of a travel system, the Willow S can be purchased separately. Additionally, the Willow S features an anti-rebound bar on the base for enhanced safety. Like the Willow, this seat also has a ClickTight mechanism on the base, which we love due to how easy it makes getting a tight installation!
- You would like a car seat with flame-retardant-free fabric.
- You want a seat with an easy installation.
- You need to fit 3 across
- You have a specific stroller in mind to use or if you already bought one.
- Anti-rebound Bar
- Clicktight lock-off
- European Seat Belt Routing for Baseless Mode
Our Review of the
Britax Willow S
The Britax Willow S is one of the latest infant seats from Britax. Unlike its predecessor, the Willow, which is only available as part of a travel system, the Willow S can be purchased separately. Additionally, the Willow S features an anti-rebound bar on the base for enhanced safety. Like the Willow, this seat also has a ClickTight mechanism on the base, which we love due to how easy it makes getting a tight installation!
Our recommendation: From birth until it’s outgrown, between 9-12 months
An infant car seat
From birth
Stand Out Features of this Car Seat
Anti-rebound Bar
The base has an anti-rebound bar (ARB) built into it. The anti-rebound bar is an added safety feature for rear-facing that can reduce the secondary movement of the car seat, called rebound, during a crash. When a collision occurs, the car seat will move forward, towards the front of the vehicle, and rotate downward. And as we all know from high school physics, every action has an equal and opposite reaction — so after that initial movement, the car seat will rebound, or “bounce back” towards the backrest of the vehicle seat. The ARB minimizes this bounce-back effect, helping limit the car seat movement and your child inside it! ARBs may also limit the side-to-side rotation of the car seat in a side-impact collision. Overall, it’s a great feature on a rear-facing car seat!
Clicktight lock-off
If you want to install your car seat in the middle and your middle seat does not have lower anchor points, then you will need to do a seat belt installation. The Clicktight mechanism on the base makes getting a solid installation quick and effortless.
European Seat Belt Routing for Baseless Mode
This seat can be installed baseless with European or American/Standard belt routing. You can find a video showing both of those methods here. The European routing method is preferred! European belt routing means the shoulder belt portion of the seat belt is routed behind the shell of the rear-facing seat, limiting its ability to rotate down in a frontal crash. This routing functions similarly to a load leg. Pretty cool, huh?!
Seat is good for you if
You would like a car seat with flame-retardant-free fabric.
All of the Willow S fabric options are free of flame-retardants, so you can choose any color that you prefer!
You want a seat with an easy installation.
Britax has added a Clicktight mechanism to the Willow S’s base that makes installation effortless. You really don’t have to do much except route the seat belt, buckle it in, and then close the Clicktight mechanism. The mechanism removes many inches of slack for you so you don’t even need to tighten the seat belt.
You need to fit 3 across
Like most infant seats, the Britax Willow S is very narrow. Thanks to its 17″ width and easy installation, this could be a good option in a 3 across configuration.
Use caution if
You have a specific stroller in mind to use or if you already bought one.
At this time, there are only a few strollers that the Britax Willow S is compatible with. You can find a chart of which strollers are compatible here.
Quirks to be aware of
Child Fit Information
Installation Information
Airplane Use
The Britax Willow S is a recommended choice for both domestic and international travel as it is FAA-approved. When traveling within the United States and Canada, installing the seat without the base is a breeze, as the seat belts in these countries have locking mechanisms that ensure a secure fit. For international travel, it is recommended to pack the base in your luggage and utilize its seat belt lock-off or lower anchors for installation because, typically, seat belts in other countries will not lock. If you choose not to travel with the base, you will need to contact the manufacturer for a locking clip and learn how to use it before you travel. For help with all things airplane travel and car seats, check out our Wheels Up Course and private Facebook group.
Videos
SITS Bottom Line
The Britax Willow S infant car seat offers several standout features for safety and convenience. It comes with flame-retardant-free fabric options and an easy-to-use ClickTight mechanism for effortless installation. The seat is also narrow enough to fit in a 3 across configuration, ideal for families with multiple young children. However, compatibility with strollers is limited, so consult the manufacturer’s chart if you have a specific stroller in mind. The anti-rebound is an additional safety feature that we love to see.
Similar Car Seats
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Specifications
Britax
Product Information
Weight: 9lbs
Width: 17"
Rear Facing Limits
Height: 32"
Weight: 4-30lbs
Head Height Rules: at least 1″ below the top of the headrest
Forward-Facing Limits
No Back Booster Limits
Highest Belt Guide Settings
High Back Booster Limits
Other Important Details
Preemie Fit
good bet
Expiration Limit
6 years
Crash Replacement Policy
replace after a moderate or severe crash
Harness
rethread
Lock-off
yes
Handle Positions for the Vehicle
any locked position
Vehicle Seat Protector
This brand does not permit a vehicle seat protector.