Safety 1st Jive
The Safety 1st Jive convertible car seat is inexpensive and easy to install. It can rear-face most children to at least three years old, forward-face to around five, and is very lightweight. For families looking for a travel-friendly car seat, a backup for the babysitter, or simply the most cost-effective option, this amazing little car seat might be the one!
- You need the most bang for your buck.
- You often travel via Uber/Lyft/taxi.
- You frequently fly with your child.
- You need to fit car seats 3 across in your vehicle.
- You plan to use this seat from birth
- It’s fairly compact rear-facing.
- It’s lightweight.
Our Review of the
Safety 1st Jive
The Safety 1st Jive convertible car seat is inexpensive and easy to install. It can rear-face most children to at least three years old, forward-face to around five, and is very lightweight. For families looking for a travel-friendly car seat, a backup for the babysitter, or simply the most cost-effective option, this amazing little car seat might be the one!
Our recommendation: From 6 months until the seat is outgrown (average 5-6 years old)
A convertible car seat that can be used rear-facing and forward-facing
Fits from about 6 months due to a high harness height
Stand Out Features of this Car Seat
It’s fairly compact rear-facing.
This seat has 2 recline lines. The car seat has to be level to one of these lines depending on the child’s stats and ability to sit unassisted. The more reclined line is for kids under 22 lbs. Once the child is above 22 lbs and can sit unassisted, you can reinstall the seat at a more upright recline that is anywhere in between the 2 lines.
Seat is good for you if
You need the most bang for your buck.
This seat is a great combination of long-lasting and affordable! It retails for $110, but you can often find the Jive (or its nearly-identical sister seat, the Cosco Mightyfit LX) for about $80. It’s a bit more expensive than the Cosco Scenera Next, but lasts several years longer — most kids can use this seat from around six months old until they’re five or six. That’s a worthwhile investment if you ask us!
You often travel via Uber/Lyft/taxi.
The Safety 1st Jive car seat is very lightweight, so if your child has outgrown their infant seat and you want something longer lasting than the Cosco Scenera Next, this may be a great option for you! You can easily attach it to a stroller handle with a bungee cord.
You frequently fly with your child.
After your child has outgrown the infant seat, the Safety 1st Jive may be a great next step for you if you fly frequently. It’s lightweight at just 10 pounds, and it’s fairly narrow as well, so it works on any plane. It’s a fan favorite of our Wheels Up private Facebook group members and our team member Sandy’s favorite travel seat!
Use caution if
You need to fit car seats 3 across in your vehicle.
This seat is 18″ wide, so it wouldn’t be our first choice when trying to fit 3 car seats in one row of a vehicle. It may work if the other 2 seats in the 3 across configuration are more narrow than this one or if it’s a vehicle with a wide back seat.
You plan to use this seat from birth
The lowest harness slot on the Safety 1st Jive is 9″ tall. Most newborns have a torso height that is 7″ or less. This means that the harness will be 2+ inches above their shoulders, which will not be an acceptable fit since the harness needs to be coming from at or below the shoulder. We know this seat has a 5lb weight minimum on paper, so it’s really frustrating that the reality of the harness fit doesn’t match that. Unfortunately, it’s not super uncommon to see this problem with convertible car seats, but it’s extra dramatic in this case. The Jive is best for families who will use an infant car seat for their baby’s first several months before they upgrade to a convertible car seat.
Quirks to be aware of
Use the inside-out trick to install.
The Safety 1st Jive doesn’t have any fancy features to make installation easier, but that’s okay if you know this installation technique! Whether you’re installing with lower anchors or the vehicle seatbelt, pull the car seat cover up off one of the sides and tighten from inside the belt path. With the inside-out trick, this car seat can be securely installed in no time!
It has 2 allowed reclines for rear-facing.
The more reclined line is for kids who are under 22 lbs or cannot sit unassisted. This line must be level with the ground until the child is both 22lbs and is able to sit unassisted. Once both of those criteria are met, the car seat can be installed at a recline that is anywhere between the 2 recline lines. Once you have the seat in this more upright position, it’s very compact.
Child Fit Information
Installation Information
Airplane Use
The Safety 1st Jive is an FAA-approved car seat. It’s a very lightweight car seat, which makes it a very popular travel car seat option. Because it is so lightweight, you can bungee it to your stroller, use a car seat strap and attach it to your carry-on suitcase, or use a travel cart to maneuver through the airport! 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 Safety 1st Jive offers excellent affordability and value for money. While it’s not recommended for newborns due to its high harness height, it serves as a great next-stage seat once you transition from an infant seat, lasting until most kids are ready for a booster. Weighing just 10 pounds, its lightweight construction adds to its practicality, especially for families who frequently travel using ride-sharing services, taxis, or airplanes. It can be conveniently attached to a stroller handle with a bungee cord or ratchet strap. Overall, the Safety 1st Jive combines affordability and travel convenience, making it a practical choice for families on the move or on a budget.
Similar Car Seats
Specifications
Safety 1st
Product Information
Weight: 10lbs
Width: 18"
Highest Harness Height: 16.5"
Rear Facing Limits
Height: 19-40"
Weight: 5-40lbs
Head Height Rules: at least 1″ below the top of the shell
Lower Anchor Connectors Weight Limit: 40 lbs
Forward-Facing Limits
Height: 29-43"
Weight: 22-65lbs
Head Height Rules: Ears must be below the top of the headrest
Lower Anchor Connectors Weight Limit: 40lbs
No Back Booster Limits
Highest Belt Guide Settings
High Back Booster Limits
Other Important Details
Newborn Fit
not recommended; lowest harness height is too high for newborns
Expiration Limit
10 years
Crash Replacement Policy
replace after a moderate or severe crash
Harness
rethread
Lock-off
no
Vehicle Seat Protector
This brand allows a thin towel between the child car seat and the vehicle seat.