What are the best Chicco car seats? You may easily find the answer to this question because the Chicco brand does not have many product lines.
Unlike Graco which has released a ton of car seats to dominate the market, Chicco is very similar to Britax. Both focus much on simplifying the lines and providing the best car seats for choice. I love this idea, though Chicco is less popular than Graco because they are more expensive.
Chicco car seats are very different from other brands, like the Graco, Safety 1st, Britax, and more, because of the ergonomic design. You may know that it is a Chicco car seat at first sight.
In this ultimate guide for the best Chicco car seats, we reviewed the top 6 models of different types. We also list and compare all Chicco car seats belonging to the same type. Click the button below to explore the Chicco car seats in that type – infant, convertible, and booster.
Top 4 Chicco Car Seats
Best Chicco Car Seats List
Don’t worry, we’ll list all the best Chicco car seats of the same group in the second half of this post, dividing the group based on the car seat types: Infant, convertible, and booster.
Infant
All 3 Chicco Infant Car Seats Comparison
Convertible
All 7 Chicco Convertible Car Seats Comparison
Booster
All 6 Chicco Booster Seats Comparison
Chicco MyFit - Best Chicco Booster Seat
Chicco MyFit Harness Booster
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 25-65 (FF); 40-100 (Booster)
- Height limits: ~54" (FF);38-57"(High Back)
- Stage: 2nd, 3rd
- Lifespan: 8 years
- Suitable: from 2 to 7-8 years old
The Good
- Longer harness time
- Armrest on both sides
- Comfortable padding
The Bad
- A bit price
$219.99
If there is one reason to choose the Chicco MyFit, it should be the higher harness height limit.
The Chicco MyFit is a combination car seat. There are two modes to use it: forward-facing (65lbs/54″) and booster (100lbs/57″).
When using it in harness mode, this Chicco car seat has a really high top height, up to 54 inches. That’s 5-inches more than other 5-point forward-facing car seats, meaning your child can sit for a longer time in the harness mode.
The Chico MyFit is a tank. It carries on the Chicco car seats’ style with an ergonomic design. This Chicco car seat has a solid build, construction of a metal frame, and plenty of padding. The cushion is very thick, making it very comfortable for your kids to sit in.
The MyFit feels very durable. It does. According to the manufacturer, the Chicco MyFit has a usable life as long as the NextFit Zip (8 years for both).
The material is soft, comfy, and most importantly, machine washable. Getting the mesh for big toddlers in this Chicco combination car seat is very commonly seen. Regular cleaning is a good way to keep the seat clean and comfortable for your little precious. Machine washable fabrics help to save you time, making this Chicco car seat good for both your child and you.
It’s easy to install this Chicco car seat. There is a bottom tether that hooks and secures its bottom portion to the backseat. The top tether will help to secure the top portion of the seat in addition to the seat belt crossing which is easy to feed it. If you unsnap the back part. This seat did not budge one bit! Don’t forget to use neck protectors and chest protectors.
You won’t believe that Chicco MyFit is one of the best narrow car seats. That can’t be easily noticed with eyes. But it’s the truth. This Chicco car seat has a narrow profile, only 17.5 inches at the widest point. Some parents reviewed it with a good point for this slim design and have at least two Chicco car seats installed in the back seat.
But it may be a bit difficult to achieve three cross fittings. This is doable if you have a large SUV or full-size car.
Chicco KeyFit 30
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 4-30
- Height limits: 30"
- Stage: 1st
- Lifespan: 6 years
- Suitable: Birth to 9-12 months old
The Good
- Lightweight for carrying and switching
- Most popular for preemie
- Large and removable canopy
The Bad
- A bit pricey
$199.99
The KeyFit 30 is one of the most popular Chicco car seats. It’s the best-recommended infant car seat by clinics for preemies
This Chicco car seat earns the highest rating on Consumer Reports. Many parents choose to ride their newborns home from the hospital.
Let’s get a quick overview of this most popular Chicco car seat. The infant car seat without the base is comparatively lightweight, but adding the weight of your child will mean a heavy load for you, especially when you need to carry them upstairs or for a long distance.
Luckily, it’s widely compatible with Chicco strollers. If you want to take the little one to a museum, you don’t need to carry the infant car seat, but just stroll them.
When you plan to take the baby back in the car for a ride, just disconnect the infant carrier from the stroller and attach it to the base. The base can be installed fixedly in the car so that you don’t need to install it every time.
If you’re a multi-car household and want to ride your baby in different cars, you just need to purchase another seat, no need to get another car seat. In this way, you don’t need to wake the little baby up and change them into another infant car seat.
This Chicco car seat can be installed without the base as well, commonly with the seat belt. It’s a bit more difficult than using the LATCH. When using the LATCH connectors for installation, you just need to pull on the strap to get a tight and proper install.
How comfortable is the Keyfit Infant Car Seat? It’s one of the most comfortable car seats I’ve seen. The ultimate test for comfy is to put a fussy baby in it. Many parents reported that when they have put their little ones in the infant carrier, they do not fuss anymore.
The only down point for the Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat is the size. It allows a baby to stay in the car seat until he or she reaches 30lbs/30″, ideally for 12-month infants. But a few parents reviewed that their babies outgrow the KeyFit 30 at around 9 months old. That means, you absolutely need another car seat for extending rear-facing.
KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seats Comparision
| Car Seats Comparison | Chicco KeyFit 30 | Chicco KeyFit 30 Zip | Chicco KeyFit 30 Zip Air |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $229 | $229 | $239 |
| Weight limits (lb) | RF:4-30 | RF:4-30 | RF:4-30 |
| Rear Facing Weights | Up to 30" | Up to 30 | Up to 30 |
| Newborn positioner | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Machine-washable fabrics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Large canopy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quick-remove seat pad | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cozy all-season boot | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| Premium zipper features | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3D AirMesh breathable backrest | - | ✓ | ✓ |
Chicco NextFit Zip
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 5-40 (RF): 22-65 (FF)
- Height limits: ~43" (RF); ~49” (FF)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd
- Lifespan: 8 years
The Good
- 43-inch high rear-facing height limit
- Zip-and-wash seat pad
- Removable newborn positioner
- 8 years of lifespan
The Bad
- A bit pricey
- A bit heavy
- Too wide to fit 3 across
$299.99
Chicco NextFit Zip inherits the ergonomic design of the Chicco car seats and is the best convertible car seat from this brand.
Though it is on the pricey side of the car seats out there, I highly recommend the Chicco NextFit Zip to you if you’re a Chicco fan!
The ergonomic design of this Chicco car seat is very roomy for infants and toddlers and it is very easy to get your boy or girl in and out. But the high profile is not good for toddlers to climb in and out by themselves. So they always need their parent’s help.
The Chicco NextFit Zip is also one of the most comfortable car seats. It includes a lot of padding. The cushion is super comfortable to be in too. I’m sure your baby will calm down and fall asleep quickly once get in this Chicco car seat. Plus, there is ample head support and there are 9 recline positions to find a perfect fit.
The 9-positioning headrest and 9-positioning recline are great to grow with your baby, making the NextFit Zip a good car seat option for a 2-3-year-old toddler or even a 4-5-year-old preschooler.
The Chicco NextFit Zip is one of the best car seats for extending rear-facing. It has a great size limit: 40lbs/43″ and probably allows your baby to go rear-facing until 2-3 years old.
One of the most impressive features of this Chicco car seat is the zip-off design. It’s my favorite function. You can effortlessly take the seat pad off by unzipping it on the edge and throwing it into the washing machine for cleaning.
The NextFit series, except the Sport, has this feature and is highly appraised by most parents. This is an entry-level version. Higher-end models are available with premium features and more comfortable fabrics.
It’s a pity that there is no harness holder or clip on the sides, and sometimes the harness will be in the way when you get the baby in and out. Chicco MyFit fixes this problem with two harness holders on the sides.
The Chicco NextFit Zip is a classic convertible car seat. You can use it in two modes: rear-facing (40lbs/43″) and forward-facing (65lbs/49″). It is designed to grow with your kids. So it’s no surprise that it’s bulky and heavy.
As a matter of fact, its 19-inch width is not as wide as the all-in-one car seats. But it’s just not as narrow as those slim-fit car seats to do 3 across. My friend has a 2013 Ford Taurus and installed this Chicco car seat in the rear-facing on the passenger-behind side, but just found that the space to get her son inside of it was extremely limited.
Every time she put him in now, she had to do it at an almost horizontal angle so as to not hit his head on the top of the door opening. This is probably more of a specific problem for small cars or sedans. I don’t think it would be an issue for larger SUVs or full-size cars.
The Chicco NextFit Zip is a car seat with cup holders. But it has only one cup holder. You can attach it on either side, for your child’s or your convenience. But one cup holder might not be enough for big toddlers who want to store drinks, snacks, or toys. At this time, you may need to purchase another.
Chicco Fit4 4-in-1
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 5-40 (RF): 22-65 (FF); 40-100 (Booster)
- Height limits: ~49" (RF&FF); ~57” (Booster)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
- Lifespan: 10 years
The Good
- Easy to install tightly
- Scan QR code to get guide tips
- Ergonomic designed
- Solid build
The Bad
- Less headrest and recline
- Lower height limit for booster (only 52")
- Not fit 3 across in small cars
$379.99
It’s a well-made car seat that works well enough for most parents and kids. It’s on the pricier side, but I would still recommend it, if you’re up for the price tag.
This unit is an all-in-one Chicco car seat, meaning that you can use it for the rest of your little guy’s car seat journey after the infant stage. But it’s good to fit newborns as little as 4 pounds as well.
It boasts of 4 stages, dividing the rear-facing into infant (4-16 pounds) and toddler (12-40 pounds), along with the forward-facing and booster. If we take all the other car seats that are good for extended rear-facing in this way, most of them can have an extra stage. So we don’t think it’s a real 4-in-1 car seat like the Graco 4Ever DLX and Evenflo EveryFit. Both of them have a backless booster mode, but the Chicco Fit4 doesn’t.
But this does not mean Chicco Fit4 is not a good choice. It has a few amazing features.
The 100lbs/57″ size limit is good enough to accommodate big kids around 7 or 8 years old to the end of the day when your child doesn’t need a car seat. If you’re a parent like us who love to put the little passenger in harness mode for as long as possible, I’m sure you’ll be in favor of the Chicco Fit4.
Its 5-point harness allows a child to stay forward-facing to 54″ tall. That’s 5 inches more than the average harness height limit of a forward-facing car seat (54″ vs 49″). The harness booster from Chicco – MyFit, has the same harness height. But this top height does not apply to all Chicco car seats in 5-point harness forward-facing mode.
Just like I said above, the Chicco Fit4 has an ergonomic design, making it very different from car seats from other brands. This is good for keeping the little child stably and safely in the hollow space. But this is not as friendly as those low-profile car seat for a toddler to climb in and out. Anyway, it’s not biggie.
The Chicco Fit4 is not a slim fit and lightweight car seat. It’s as bulky and heavy as most all-in-one car seats. It takes up a lot of space. So if you have 60/40 folding rear seats in the back and you’re installed on the 40% side of the car, to access the cargo space, you’ll have to collapse the cupholder before putting your seat back down.
We love the removable cup holders on both sides. They are large to hold most types of water bottles. They’ll definitely increase the width, but can be removed if needed.
Unlike other cheap car seats that have short straps, the Chicco Fit4’s straps are long enough to lay over the side of the seat pads to keep them out of the way while you are putting your little one into the seat. The “crotch pad” that goes over the buckle receiver is a little big and can sort of get in the way and get pinched in the buckle, if you’re not careful.
Loosening can be a little difficult, as there is only a small slit in the cover to access the button, but this is good to keep big kids from learning to unbuckle them easily and resulting in any potential risk. You definitely do not want to see this happen during the trip.
Chicco Infant Car Seats Comparison List
| Model | Weight / Height Limits | Recommended Age | User Manual |
|---|---|---|---|
| KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat | 30 lbs/ 30" | Newborn- 6~12 months old | User Manual |
| KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat | 35 lbs/ 32" | Newborn - 12~18 months old | User Manual |
| Fit2 Infant & Toddler Car Seat | 35 lbs/ 32" | Newborn - 12~18 months old | User Manual |
Chicco Convertible Car Seats Comparison List
| Model | Weight / Height Limits | Recommended Age | Online User Manual |
|---|---|---|---|
| NextFit Zip convertible car seat | 65 lbs/ 49" | Newborn - 5 years old | User Manual |
| NextFit Zip Air Convertible Car Seat | 65 lbs/ 49" | Newborn - 5 years old | User Manual |
| NextFit iX Zip Convertible Car Seat | 65 lbs/ 49" | Newborn - 5 years old | User Manual |
| NextFit Sport Convertible Car Seat | 65 lbs/ 49" | 3 months - 5 years old | User Manual |
| NextFit iX Zip Air+ Convertible Car Seat | 65 lbs/ 49" | Newborn - 5 years old | User Manual |
| Fit4 All-in-One Convertible Car Seat | 100 lbs/ 57" | Newborn - 8 years old | User Manual |
| NextFit Zip Air Convertible Car Seat | 65 lbs/ 49" | Newborn - 5 years old | User Manual |
Chicco Booster Car Seats Comparison List
| Model | Weight / Height Limits | Recommended Age | User Manual |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyFit Harness + Booster Car Seat | 100 lbs/ 57" | 1 - 8 years old | User Manual |
| MyFit LE Harness + Booster Car Seat | 100 lbs/ 57" | 1 - 8 years old | User Manual |
| KidFit 2-in-1 Belt Positioning Booster Car Seat | 100 lbs/ 57" | 4 - 8 years old | User Manual |
| KidFit Zip 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat | 100 lbs/ 57" | 4 - 8 years old | User Manual |
| GoFit Backless Booster Car Seat | 100 lbs/ 57" | 4 - 8 years old | User Manual |
| KidFit Zip Air 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat | 100 lbs/ 57" | 4 - 8 years old | User Manual |
How long Chicco car seats are good for mainly depends on the types.
- Chicco infant car seats are good for 6 years after the date of manufacture.
- Chicco convertible car seats are good for 8 years after the date of manufacture.
- Chicco all-in-one car seats are good for 10 years of use since the date of manufacture.
- Chicco booster seats (including harnessed boosters) expire 8 years from the date of manufacture. That’s the same as the convertible type.
We have a post that explains when Chicco car seats expire, including the reason why Chicco car seats expire and how to find the expiry date label.
Luckily, the expiry date of each Chicco car seat is imprinted on a white label that is stuck to the car seat on the back of the car seat.
The safest spot to install Chicco car seats is the center of the back. The seating positions behind the driver or passenger are both good and ranks #2.
According to the study published in Pediatrics, newborns to 3 years old toddlers, with all installs being equal or proper installation, sitting in the rear center seat is 43% safer than sitting on the window side in the back seat.
The rear center seat is typically the furthest position from any impact in any type of crash, and from the airbag impact of the front-passenger seat, which is supposed to cause fatal injury for kids if it is active.
However, the proper installation is more important than where to install the Chicco car seats. Make sure you have read and followed the instructions in the user manual to install a Chicco car seat.
We draw this list of recalled Chicco car seats in 2022 based on the data of the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator). You can check what Chicco car seats have been recalled and confirm if your Chicco car seat has been on the list or not.
We do this list to help you avoid buying a car seat that has been through a recall event.
It’s best to register the Chicco car seat once you receive it. You can do this via the user manual, or contact the manufacturer’s customer service.
If you want to know all Chicco car seats that have been recalled, please go to the NHTSA recall page and type Chicco for search.
If you’re finding a Chicco car seat, I hope this ultimate buying guide will be helpful. More than that, you can apply these tips to choose any car seat that best fits your child and matches your family’s taste.
Safety
This is #1 factor to consider buying a Chicco car seat or any other branded car seat.
You won’t want a car seat that can’t work as it advertised for protection. Luckily, all car seats sold in the United States have passed the safety standards and prove themselves to be protective to a child for safe riding.
The more additional safety features a car seat has, it definitely performs better protection.
For example, the metal frame is better than the plastic frame because the former is stronger and can work well to distribute the crash energy if an accident happens.
Side impact protection is a good point. The more layers, the better.
Most Chicco car seats have at least two layers. Combining a high-strength shell (metal frame) and EPS energy-absorbing foam, the company gives this a name called DuoGuard. So if you see this word in any Chicco car seat description, you know it has two layers of side impact protection and a solid build.
However, this is very basic for most convertible car seats and some booster seats.
The DuoGuard used in the Chicco car seats is very different from the Graco’s ProtectPlus engineering. From this point, Chicco is less competitive than Graco.
Install
Car accidents have been the top reason for the death of toddlers under 3 years old. Improper installation or use should be the leading factor.
So you’ll know how important the install is. We have it ranked #2 of our top priorities.
Chicco car seats provide two ways for installation. You can use the LATCH or seat belt.
If you choose LATCH, then the enhanced rigid LATCH connectors would be a good helper. Chicco car seats have SuperCinch LATCH connectors for an easy, tight, and proper installation.
If you prefer the seat belt installation, you would absolutely appreciate the LockSure belt system.
Size Limits
Size limits of Chicco car seats are the best place where you can save money without compromising security. The secret is to pick up a car seat that has a great size limit (range) and can last multiple stages.
Chicco all-in-one car seats have the biggest size limit (100lbs/57″) and last from rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster and should be the longest run car seats.
Chicco convertible car seats are good for both rear-facing and forward-facing at a 65lbs/49″ size limit; while the combination car seats (harnessed boosters) can be used for forward-facing and booster for kids under 100lbs/57″.
Fabric
Not only does the fabric decide how comfortable the car seat is for your child, but it also means a lot for parents’ convenience sake.
All Chicco car seats are made of breathable fabric to provide max comfort. High-end models may have air channel fabric that performs better to keep your child cool, avoiding them getting sweaty in the car seat.
If you’re living in hot areas, Chicco car seats with this premium feature are better, like the Air and Max series.
You won’t want to hand wash the seat pad, right? Luckily, all the Chicco car seats come with machine washable fabrics.
A plus point for some Chicco car seats is the zip-off design, for example, the NextFit Zip and its high-end siblings. You can easily take the cushion off in seconds and have it cleaned and dried in the washing machine.
What is the best car seat brand?
That depends on your needs and taste.
For example, Chicco could be the best car seat brand if you look for a stylish and ergonomically designed car seat.
Britax could be the best car seat brand if you want easy installation. Graco could be the best car seat brand if you want an affordable car seat with the best safety. Safety 1st Jive is the best brand if you prefer a low-priced car seat.
Is Chicco a good brand?
Yes, Chicco is a good brand. The car seats from Chicco have a very unique ergonomic design. Some Chicco car seats have a zip-off seat cover to deliver the best convenience for busy parents. Besides making safe car seats look cool, it makes the ultimate big kid seat and it stands out.
What is the weight limit for the Chicco KeyFit 30?
The weight limit for the Chicco KeyFit 30 is 30 pounds. That’s the lowest among all infant car seats on the market.
The Chicco KeyFit 30 was designed to ride small babies. But this 30-pound weight limit means less riding time than those infant car seats with a 35-pound weight limit.
For example, infants around 9 months old could reach the 30-pound weight limit; but the 35-pound weight limit could be good for infants at 1 year old.
What are the weight limits for Chicco convertible car seats?
There are two modes to use Chicco convertible car seats. So there are two weight limits for them: 40 lbs for rear-facing and 65 lbs for forward-facing.
How to properly install the Chicco car seats?
First and most important, make sure you read the manual.
The Chicco comes with easy to install car seats. They have rigid LATCH connectors for easy installation. Some Chicco car seats have the LockSure belt system for easy seat belt installation.
The safest spot to install Chicco car seats is the center of the back seat. You can try that seating position first. If your vehicle does not have LATCH in that position, try to use the seat belt for installation, or choose any window seat to place the car seat.
The Chicco car seats have bubble indicators to show you the level and right recline for your child. Follow the instructions in the user manual to read the bubble levels.
Which are the best Chicco infant car seat models?
The Chicco KeyFit 30 might be the best Chicco infant car seat. It’s the most popular model and recommended by a lot of clinics for preemies.
The KeyFit 30 is the very entry-level model. It comes with the zip air version and multiple versions with a higher 35-lbs top weight.
The Chicco infant car seats include a newborn insert (infant insert) by default.
Which is the best belt positioning booster seat from Chicco?
The best belt positioning booster seat from Chicco is the Chicco MyFit. It has two modes: forward facing and booster.
That means, after your child reaches 65 pounds or 54 inches tall, they can use the Chicco MyFit as a belt positioning booster seat until they don’t need a car seat any more.
What safety standards does Chicco car seats have?
Chicco car seats are one of the safest on the market. All of the seats have passed the crash tests meeting or exceeding the federal safety standards. They all have side-impact protection.
As you know, the more layers of side-impact protection a car seat has, the safer it is. Most Chicco car seats have two layers of side impact protection.
Proper head support enhances the protection while providing the best comfy.
The rigid shell is good to disseminate the crash energy while the EPS energy-absorbing foam can absorb the crash energy. Both are good to protect your little precious.
Chicco or Graco, which car seats are better?
That depends. Chicco car seats are the better choice for ergonomic design. But Graco car seats are better from all the other aspects, safety performance, price, and popularity. You can find one or more alternatives for any Chicco car seat from the Graco car seats.