Baby Trend EZ Flex-Loc Review

The Baby Trend company has been in the juvenile products business for over 26 years. They design many types of baby-centric gear, from diaper pails to car seats. The company offers affordable baby products with a lineup that includes innovative products like the first sit and stand stroller.

Performance Comparison

Crash Testing

This seat has a slightly higher-than-average crash test analysis score. This result potentially makes it an exciting find for those looking for higher scores in this metric paired with a lower price.

All car seats in this review should be considered safe and meet the federal guidelines for crash testing. In our updated review, we decided to run a test that goes a bit quicker and mimics modern cars a little more closely. We hoped to find the seats that stand out compared to the average seat. Our analysis is derived from the HIC (head) and chest (chest clip) sensor results. The lower the result in these sensors, the better, as it indicates less G forces on the dummy. This seat had one of the lowest chest clip results in the group and a respectable HIC sensor result that was lower than the average. As a result, we think there is every reason to believe that this seat potentially offers a margin of protection above the average option in our tests.

Ease of Installation LATCH

This seat has one of the lowest scores for ease of installation using LATCH that we've ever had. It is far more difficult than other seats in the lineup. This seat has a flexible strap LATCH, with no anti-rebound bar or load leg. The LATCH connectors are stored under the carrier and are a pain to remove.

This is the only seat where we had to use a rolled-up towel to install correctly. The base feels flimsy compared to the competition, and leveling requires two hands (see recline adjustment below). It is a sort of pinch device to release the connectors, which might be better than clip connectors but not as nice as those you press with a single finger, more like a seat belt.

Overall, this LATCH installation is annoying and more exhausting than most. With the oddly designed recline adjustment and the level indicator being on the carrier and not the base, it can take multiple installation attempts before finding success. If you add on the rolled towel, which you don't know if you need until you are done, and try to wiggle it, you have a mess we didn't experience with most of the competition.

Recline Adjustment

This base has four settings, and leveling is a struggle. It takes two hands, and you almost have to pull them apart because the level indicator is on the carrier, not the base; you'll have to wait to find out if you chose the right angle. If it's not, you're starting over.

Ease of Installation - Belt

If installation using LATCH is difficult, this is darn near impossible, earning one of the lowest results in this metric. This installation method uses the vehicle belt and the base for installation. This seat has no color coding, and no built-in lock-off or tensioner is in place. The base doesn't require threading since it goes through slits on the top, so maybe they aren't needed if you've done this before. We had to hunt down an installation video online to determine how to get the vehicle belt tight enough to pass the wiggle test for stability. It does come with a lock-off clip, but it takes some practice to use correctly. We suspect some new parents won't know what this clip is (we didn't) and might think it is a throwaway spare part or useless. This kind of clip is common in less expensive seats, but it isn't clear how you use it. Even after using the clip, it struggled and was wobbly perpendicular to the belt path. Trust us; it doesn't have to be this hard.

Ease of Installation - w/o the Base

Things don't get much better installing the seat without the base; while it is the highest installation score it manages, it is still one of the lowest scores for this installation method.

This seat uses the American belt path method, which utilizes the lap portion of the vehicle belt only and goes across the foot area of the carrier. It isn't hard to thread the belt, and with only one location, it is even easier. However, no color coding or indicators help guide new parents.

We had trouble when trying to tighten it enough to be stable, as the back of the seat will pop up as you tighten down the foot area. How easily it sort of twists up is disconcerting. It was easier to accomplish in the sedan than in the SUV. We struggled to get it to feel stable and think it would benefit from the European style of threading to help position the shoulder strap around the back to prevent twisting and popping up.

Ease of Use

This Baby Trend seat is one of the hardest to use in the group, with features and functionality that are below the average and disappointing.

Buckle

This is a nesting buckle, meaning the two sides must be combined before inserting them into the buckle. There is no good place to grasp the parts when nested to hold them before putting them into the buckle. The buckle and the button are both on the smaller side, making the whole thing a debacle ready to happen, especially if your baby is fuzzy and uncooperative. The prongs also have plastic, not metal, inside, and it isn't enough to stop them from slipping down and getting lost with the baby in the seat. The chest clip also doesn't work as easily as it should, and we don't like that the included diagram doesn't indicate where it should be placed on an infant.

Harness Tightening/Loosening

The webbing on the harness is one piece on this, not two. This means the wrapping is a little convoluted, with more friction than we saw in most seats. Because it is all one piece, you must ensure both sides are even before tightening the straps. If you don't, one side will potentially get too tight, and the other side won't be tight enough. This could result in a poorly fitted harness and/or pain to little ones. During testing, we had to take our test baby out of the seat to make the sides even. We imagine this will be annoying for parents to hassle with.

Releasing is easier with a large button hidden under an easy-to-move fabric flap. However, the button moves backward, not straight down, making it not our favorite. Yes, you'll get used to it, but why the weirdness?

Harness Adjustment

The Baby Trend has a rethread style adjustment with three shoulder height options and one crotch strap position. This rethread is particularly frustrating as the two sides are lumped together on one clip instead of two. There isn't much give, and you must squeeze both webbing sides in the same clip. They are easier to put on than take off because of the lack of space. The padding on the straps also slides too freely and seems never to be wherever you might want them.

Carrier to Base Connection

The release handle is on the base near the vehicle side. This means you use your left hand, not the right, a standard in most seats. The handle center has a nice rubbery feel, which makes it easy to grip and pull the carrier free from the base. Our tester thought this design was better for movement ergonomics than the standard release on the back of the carrier.

Handle

The handle buttons don't change in feeling when you depress them to let you know you can rotate. The buttons are somewhat difficult to push, and with no tactile feedback, it is worse. The handle rotates pretty smoothly.

Canopy

The canopy on this seat runs in its own channel and opens and closes smoothly using two hands. However, it isn't a great canopy and always looks like something you pulled from the dryer after it sat in there damp for a week. There is no mechanism to keep the canopy in place in the back, so it moves out of place frequently whenever you rotate the handle.

LATCH and Manual Storage

LATCH storage is under the base, and the connectors push onto metal pins. It isn't hard, but we pinch our fingers once or twice. The LATCH connectors push on and have a release button. To put them into storage, you must loosen the webbing fully, which takes effort and hurts our thumbs. It almost seems more of a hassle than it's worth. The manual stores under the carrier, which is nice if you use the carrier without the base. This allows you to reference it if need be on the go.

Comfort/Quality

The Baby Trend also disappoints when it comes to quality and comfort. Given the lower price, this isn't a huge surprise, but with disappointing scores in most metrics, it makes it a tough pill to swallow.

Fabric and Padding

The fabric has a somewhat plastic feel and appears much cheaper than the competition. The upper section is scratchy and not skin-friendly in our tests, and the seam where the upper fabric and lower fabric meet could easily become irritating. The lower material is nicer but not nice enough, in our opinion. Some users complain about the fabric getting abnormally hot in the sun.

Handle and Canopy

We like the triangle grip on its seat, and while a bit of an eyesore, it is better for holding than the straight-across design on most seats. The canopy doesn't stay taunt and looks frumpy compared to others. The canopy runs in its own track instead of sharing a rotation with the handle, but it still looks unpleasant.

Shell

The shell on this Baby Trend has several more slits and exposed slots than the average seat. This increased structure exposure could lead to a harder-to-clean seat than those with smooth and solid shells.

Weight/Size

Compared to the competition, this carrier is relatively lightweight. With a measured weight of 8.7 lbs, it is one of the lightest in the group and could be a good fit for those who frequently plan to carry their baby in the carrier portion of the seat.

Should You Buy the Baby Trend?

This baby trend will likely attract parents with a super tight budget, and we get that. The low price makes it feel like an attractive option to meet the needs of car seats required by law. However, the lower performance and generally disappointing performance in our test metrics make it one we think isn't worth whatever money you might save.

What Other Infant Car Seat Should You Consider?

For around ten dollars more, you can get a seat with a much higher crash test analysis score in the Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX. While this seat is also somewhat lackluster, this Graco is easier to use than the Baby Trend and is lighter for easier carrying. If you want a great all-around seat and your budget can stretch somewhat, the Chicco Keyfit 35 is a favorite with a reasonable price tag and much higher overall score.

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