Baby Trend Secure Snap Gear 32 Review

The Baby Trend Secure Snap Gear 32 is an exclusive new rear facing only car seat only available at Target.  We’re excited to see how it stacks up against their other rear facing only car seats.

Baby Trend Secure Snap Gear 32

CSFTL Quick Stats

• Weight range: 5-32 pounds
• Height range: <32″
• Shell height: 18″ (top of adjustable back in the highest position)
• Lowest harness position: 8.5″
• Crotch strap position: 4.5″
• Weight (carrier only): 10.2 pounds
• Expiration: 6 years
• Handle position: With base during travel Storage Position, without base during travel Carry Position, storage or non-rocking position

Features:

• Easy to use, push on, lower anchor connectors
• 3 part removable padded insert
• 4 position recline to easily adjust to different vehicle seats
• Individual lower anchor adjustments
• No rethread harness
• Seat angle indicator on carrier
• Multiple recline angle positions for small and larger children
• Seat belt lockoff on base
• D shaped carry handle for ease of carrying
• Front base release lever on the carrier
• Adjustable length crotch strap

Baby Trend Secure Snap Gear 32 installation

Baby Trend put quite a bit of thought into changing up how to install this new seat.  Previous Baby Trend rear facing only car seats had a bit of a learning curve, but the Secure Snap Gear 32 is quite user friendly.  Installation with the base includes easy to tighten lower anchor straps, and an easy to use seat belt lock off for seat belt installations.  The base has 4 recline positions that make installing the seat at the correct angle fairly simple.

Baby Trend Secure Snap Gear 32 Recline Indicator

The recline indicator circles are located on the car seat itself. It also has 2 different allowable recline angles; one for infants who weigh less than 22 pounds and a more upright angle for children who weigh 22-35 pounds.

Baby Trend Secure Snap base install

Installation with the base was very simple with both the seat belt and lower anchors.To install the base with the lower anchors, just pull them out of their handy storage compartment on the bottom/side of the base.

Baby Trend Secure Snap Gear 32 lower anchor installation

The lower anchors are much bigger than those of most other rear facing only seats, but are fairly easy to install.  Both anchors have separate tightening ‘tails’.  This can help get a nice tight installation.

Once the lower anchor connectors are attached to the vehicle lower anchor attachments, tighten each strap until there is 1″ or less of movement at the belt path.  To loosen the lower anchor straps when removing the base from the vehicle, push down on the oval red button. This requires two hands — one hand holds the button down and the other hand loosens the strap.

Baby Trend Secure Snap Gear 32 seat belt installation

The lock off on the base makes seat belt installation pretty simple. Press the red latch on the base to release the lock off door.  Once the lock off flipped open, thread the seat belt through the belt path, tighten the seat belt, then close the lock off door.

Baby Trend Secure Snap Gear 32 Baseless Installation

Installation without the base is fairly straightforward as well.  Set the seat on the vehicle seat, thread the lap portion of the belt through the guides on the side of the seat (leaving the shoulder belt out), lock the belt whichever way your vehicle requires, then push the seat into the back of the vehicle seat and tighten the belt.  Make sure there is no red showing in the circles on the side of the seat.

Baby Trend Secure Snap 32 Gear Newborn doll

Our newborn Huggable Images doll is 7 pounds and 17 inches long. She just barely fit with all of the padding in.  Her fit overall was good except that her shoulders were just barely below the bottom harness slot.  With an 8.5″ bottom harness slot, the Snap Gear may not fit all newborns well.  The inserts can be used at any weight/length and the separate insert pieces can be added or removed at any point.  I would highly suggest using them for newborn fit.  Even just the little boost can make the difference between the infant’s shoulders meeting the bottom harness slot or not.

Baby Trend Secure Snap 32 Gear handle

Delta Multiposition Grip – This type of handle is unique to Baby Trend car seats.  This handle offers a number of options for the most comfortable spot to carry the seat.

Baby Trend Secure Snap 32 Gear no rethread harnes

No rethread harness – With a simple turn of a knob on the back of the seat, the head support and harness move up or down to correctly position it on the child.  When rear facing, a child’s harness should always be at or below their shoulders.

Baby Trend Secure Snap 32 Gear Seat belt lock off

Seat belt lockoff on base – This device locks the seat belt in place and keeps the seat from tilting, which can happen with a lap/shoulder belt installation.

Baby Trend Secure Snap 32 Gear Seat recline angles

4 Recline positions – The recline angle adjusts for different vehicle seat slopes with the push of a button.

Baby Trend Secure Snap Gear 32 lower anchor tightening

Individually adjustable lower anchor connectors – This feature tightens the base.  Pull each side individually to tighten.  The second adjuster makes it easier to achieve a snug installation.

Baby Trend Snap Gear 32 FAA Approval

FAA Approval
The FAA Approval is found on page 64 of the instruction manual and on the side of the car seat.  Airplane use is allowed but only without the base.

Baby Trend Secure Snap 32 Gear Seat expiration

Expiration
The Expiration information is found on page 19 of the instruction manual and is imprinted in the plastic on the bottom of the car seat.  Date of manufacture labels are on both the underside of the base and the underside of the car seat.