Design
The Platinum AHR Air Cushion car seat is a reversible rear facing & forward facing seat suitable from birth to 4 years. It's suitable from birth to 12 months rear facing and up to 4 years (18kgs) forward facing.
It's jam packed full of fancy features and its comfy seat comes in Grey Frost and Praline.
Features
This car seat features an infant insert and a fully adjustable multi-position harness. It also has multiple recline positions in forward facing mode.
Included is a sun hood with flip out sun visor which is great for our climate and a seat mat to keep your car clean from inevitable spills. There is also shoulder straps, a crotch pad, an infant insert, speakers and side pockets (also three additional pockets in the seat mat).
Performance
Safety-wise all car seats accredited in Australia offer excellent protection for babies & toddlers. Where the Platinum AHR Air Cushion differs is the additional head and neck protection it offers for side impact crashes. The airbags you can see on either side of the head rest release air at a controlled rate which absorbs the energy created by side impact.
In rear facing mode the Platinum AHR Air Cushion has a stabilising bar and infant insert (under the bum & around the legs) to further absorb the impact of an accident.
In forward facing mode it's got a seat belt locks on either side of the seat that prevents the Platinum AHR from sliding about the rear seat.
This car seat is very easy to install, it won't take longer than 10 minutes to have it ready to go. The safety harness automatically adjusts when you adjust the head rest which is really convenient.
While we are talking about adjustment, it's quite amazing how this car seat adjusts from infant size to child size (in less than a minute). For an infant the addition of the insert makes this a comfy and snug seat. Fully adjusted, it's as tall as your average booster seat. It's easy to determine the right height for your child thanks to the little indicator on the bottom of the head rest.
Also unique are the harness holders on either side of the seat which holds the harness open making it easier to place your baby in, and take them out, of the seat.
Take a look at this demonstration from Britax.
The Platinum AHR Air Cushion is seriously plush. It's lucky I'm a big fan of velour otherwise I might suffer from an overdose. Even the hood has a plush finish. Our toddler tester found it very comfortable and was happy to have a snooze. It also has multiple recline positions (forward facing) for comfort.
The seat lining is reversible with snug winter side and a cooler, breathable side for summer. It can be fully removed and is machine washable.
The side pockets are useful for a bottle of water and a little toddler treasure.
Safe-n-Sound puts its money where its mouth is with a 5 year structural warranty (2 years on the fabric accessories) and the Platinum AHR Air Cushion is covered by the Safe-n-Sound Crash Exchange Program which offers you a free replacement in the event of an accident.
Drawbacks
It's best to install the Platinum AHR Air Cushion over the seat mat and use the car seat belt locks on either side to prevent the seat sliding around as you drive.
The head support is designed to enclose your child’s head to offer them maximum protection in the event of an accident. However, it does obscure your child’s side window vision. Most children will be used to this by the time they are facing forward however, when it comes to little people, there's always an exception.
Conclusion
The Platinum AHR Air Cushion is more expensive than many of its competitors, however, it's worth the money for its superior safety features & longevity of use. All the other features and accessories are a bonus.
To take full advantage of the safety features, keep your child rear facing for as long as they find it comfortable and don't move your child into a booster seat until they have physically outgrown the Platinum AHR Air Cushion.
Safe-n-Sound car seats are often discounted online and at Baby Shop sales. Keep your eyes open for great deals.
It is also worth paying extra to have a professional install your seat for you. Ring your local transit authority for their recommendation in your local area.
You can never know enough about car safety for your baby. Find more information on the NSW RTA website or from your local state roads and traffic authority.
About Safe-n-Sound
Safe-n-Sound is part of the British company, Britax that makes a range of car seats suitable for infants, babies and toddlers at different stages of their development and size.
