*This seat has been discontinued* A new name in the baby gear industry company caught our attention when they announced their newest addition would be a rear facing only car seat. The Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro has recently been added to the Ingenuity line of baby gear and we have been given the opportunity to check it out.
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro installed
CSFTL Quick Stats:
- Weight range: 4-35 lbs
- Height range: Up to 32″
- Shell height: 18″
- Lowest harness position: 6.5 without insert, 5.5 with insert
- Weight (carrier only): 10.4 lbs
- Expiration: 6 years
- Handle position: Any locked position
Features:
- Adjustable recline foot
- Push button lower anchor connectors
- Infant insert for smaller infants (required 4-11 lbs)
- SmartAdjust Headrest adjusts both the harness height and headrest simultaneously
- AirInfuse ventilated panels and mesh allows for good airflow around child
- One-handed level adjustment with easy-to-see top and side-view level indicators
- Storage area for instruction manual
- SureClick audible attachment confirmation
- Peek-a-book window in the canopy
- Visor extension on the canopy
Unique Features
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro recline adjuster
One hand push button recline adjuster
The InTrust features a 3 position adjustable recline foot featuring a one-handed push button adjuster. This feature allows you to adjust the recline so that you don’t have to keep pulling the base in and out to make different adjustments. Just push the button with your thumb while it’s on the seat and adjust it to the correct recline position. The double bubbles on each side allow you to see the recline from either side or from the top.
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro push button lower anchors
Push button lower anchor connectors
The push button connectors have a storage spot toward the front of the base.
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro infant insert
Infant insert
The infant insert helps those little newborns fit great in the InTrust with no questioning when there will be any extra space for movement and bumps them up a bit to reach the lowest harness slot. The insert is required from 4-11 lbs.
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro smart adjust head support
SmartAdjust Head support
The most unique feature of the InTrust is the adjustable no rethread harness and head support. Pulling the adjuster tightens the harness, places the head rest where it needs to be and correctly adjusts the harness height with one motion. Some slight manual adjustment of the harness position may be necessary when the harness is fully tightened.
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro AirInfuse
AirInfuse ventilated panels and mesh
The InTrust features AirInfuse ventilated panels and mesh. I unfortunately haven’t had a chance to try out the InTrust in hot weather (Iowa in the wintertime), but the mesh theoretically allows greater airflow around the child to keep her cooler in warm weather.
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro instruction storage area
Instruction storage area
The front of the seat features a storage compartment for the instruction manual so it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. The only issue I’ve had with this is that it comes open easily. My oldest son has to get in the van around the base and there have been a few times when he has hit his knee on the open door.
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro SureClick
SureClick
The InTrust attaches to the base on the sides of the base and handle. This attachment, called SureClick, makes an audible click when it is securely attached to the base. This feature is a bit finicky for me. I really have to make sure I push down hard on the seat to get it to click into both sides. I believe it’s due to the fact of its tight fit against the vehicle seat back in my vehicle. There have been several times I have had to pull up on the release and get it situated again in order for both sides to click in.
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro canopy
Peek a boo window and visor extension
The InTrust canopy features both a peek a boo window window as well as a visor extension. Both features are great when using the car seat outside of the car on the Ingenuity stroller system.
Installation
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro lower anchor installation
- Expiration: 6 years
- Handle position: Any locked position
- Lower anchors can only be used in designated lower anchor positions. The Intrust does not allow for lower anchor borrowing.
With Base
The InTrust base provided an easy, straightforward installation. It can be installed with either lower anchors or seat belt. There is a small gray door that must be opened before installing with either method, then clicked closed after installation. This is NOT a lock off so your vehicle seat belt will still need to be locked after installation. For more information about how to lock your seat belt, read our article Lock It Up.
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro seat belt installation
I had a few installation issues with the seat belt install in my vehicle (’12 Nissan Quest). My vehicle has forward of the seat bight, rigid buckle stalks, along with a very flat seat which makes it challenging to install many seats with the seat belt. Even with the recline foot all the way in the base, it was a challenge for me to get the bubbles in the recline level window between the lines. I had to put quite a bit of weight into the back of the base (by the vehicle seat back) to get it upright enough.
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro seat belt install issue
This in turn caused the latch plate and buckle to rub on the base making it difficult to tighten. The combination of leather seats and a smooth base bottom makes it slide next to the latch plate not allowing me to pull it away from the buckle. After contacting Ingenuity I was told that I have an incompatible seat belt install and it needs to be installed via lower anchors. I believe this may be an issue with other vehicle with rigid buckle stalks since it can’t pull into the belt path, especially with the recline foot fully in the base. I recommend always trying before buying and this especially holds true for this base.
After seeing this incompatibility in the Nissan, I tried it in our other vehicle, 2012 Chevy Volt. It also has rigid buckle stalks, but much more sloped seats. I dropped the recline foot as far down as possible to achieve the correct recline, threaded the seat belt through the belt path and proceeded to lock the belt, and tighten. It looked like the buckle would lie right outside the base, but when I pushed down to tighten it the recline foot popped back into the base. Uninstalled to make sure it was actually clicked and retried again with the same result. Tried several more times, each with the same outcome. I’ve contacted Ingenuity and will update with any information they have. Hoping it’s only my base, but definitely something to keep an eye on, if you are using it reclined.
*UPDATE on the faulty recline foot*
After 3 different bases being sent my way, I finally received one that the recline foot stayed down. After being in contact with another tech, I found she had the same problem and received a base without a faulty foot after the 2nd replacement was sent out. We’ve been told by Ingenuity to make sure to install pushing on the handle on the base rather than by the seat back. This helped in some instances.
Without Base
The baseless install was very easy and to the point. Set the car seat on the vehicle seat at the correct recline, put some weight back into the seat, lock the belt, and tighten and you have it installed. Always make sure you have 1″ or less of movement at the belt path and that the shoulder belt lays against the seat back when installing this method.
Fit to Child
- Weight range: 4-35 lbs
- Height range: Up to 32″ or 1″ from the top of the head to the top of the head support
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro Jo – Preemie, 4 lbs, 17″
Jo – Preemie Huggable Images doll – 4lbs, 17″
I was very pleased with Jo’s fit in the InTrust. Since she is under 11lbs, the infant insert is being utilized and does a great job of positioning her correctly in the seat. The headrest and harness were able to be moved low enough so that her shoulders are just barely above the bottom harness click. She does have a bit of room between her hips and the harness strap, but the insert takes up enough room that it should keep her from slouching too far to the side. My one main concern is that the head support might be too open for preemie and newborn infants. This could cause some side head slump, but could be easily remedied with a tightly rolled receiving blanket.
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro Fiona – Newborn, 7 lbs, 17″
Fiona – Newborn Huggable Images doll – 7 lbs, 17″
Like Jo, Fiona had a great fit with the infant insert. I would have the same side head slump concern with her, but her fit was great in every other way. The one feature I really like for both Jo and Fiona is the small chest clip which helps to be able to position the straps correctly on a small baby.
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro – 9 months, 22 lbs, 28″
9 months, 22 lbs, 28″
This has been one of my favorite seats for my little guy. He has the most room left in it than any other I’ve had him in. It is a heavy seat though and adding 20 pounds of baby to it does make it hard to carry at times. I love how deep it is which seems to be what gives it that extra growing room.
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro – 13 months, 23 lbs, 30″
13 months, 23 lbs, 30″
Our model is right at the max height for the seat now reaching the 1″ from the top of his head to the top of the shell limit. He still has quite a bit of room side to side with it being so narrow. I do notice that it pushes his head forward quite a bit as well. After several months of use, I have found that the canopy now comes out quite often off one side of the carrier and doesn’t ‘lock’ into place anymore. Other than that, everything has held up well and it has worked well for this short time period.
Important Information: Where to find
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro date of manufacture and expiration stickers
Date of manufacture can be found on the inside of the base under one of the attachment clips and on the underside of the car seat by the child’s feet.
Expiration date can be found on the sticker with the date of manufacture on it on both the seat and base.
Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro FAA approval sticker
FAA approval sticker can be found on either side of the car seat in both English and Spanish. Installation instructions for airline use can be found on pages 38-39 (base) and page 47 (baseless).
Overall Impressions
Overall I’m really impressed with the Ingenuity InTrust 35 Pro car seat. The adjustable head support and harness straps along with the amazing fit for both small and large infants makes this a great rear facing only seat for a wide variety of kids. Due to the installation issues with both the recline foot and seat belt, I would definitely recommend trying before buying this seat though.
Ingenuity graciously provided the InTrust 35 Pro car seat used in this review. As always, the opinions are our own.
Originally written by Angela Tastad. Edits maintained by CSFTL.
