The two significant things to look out for when choosing a car seat for your little one are Safety and Comfort. While every car seat manufacturer claims its car seats are safe, some brands tend to be safer and comfier than others.
Chicco is one of the most popular brands of car seats on the marketplace. With over 60 years in operation (founded in 1958), one would want to believe that Chicco should have some of the safest car seats.
However, there are a lot of factors that come into play when considering the safety of a car seat. In this article, we will go through these safety factors to determine whether Chicco car seats are safe or not.
Related: Do Chicco car seats expire?
Table of Contents
How Safe Are Chicco Car Seats?
Chicco car seats are as safe as other top brands of car seats on the market. The Chicco KeyFit 30 infant car seat is rated as one of the best for babies between 0 and 2 years old.
To determine whether a car seat is safe, it needs to be easy to install and well-secured after installation. It must also be free from harmful chemicals that could negatively affect your child’s health.
Chicco puts all these critical factors into consideration when making car seats.
To understand how safe Chicco car seats are, it is important that you know the key safety features that make Chicco car seats safe and comfortable.
Read about Chicco car seats and stroller compatibility
Safety Features Of Chicco Car Seats
The following are the safety features of Chicco car seats.
Non-Toxic Car Seats
Non-toxic car seats are free from potentially hazardous chemicals known as flame retardants. Flame retardants are usually applied to some materials to prevent the spread of fire in case of any fire outbreak.
To meet federal flammability standards, child car seats need to be treated with flame retardants. However, prolonged exposure to these harmful chemicals could have negative effects on adults and especially babies (due to their developing organs).
To save your child from the effect of flame retardants, Chicco and other safety-conscious car seat brands use materials that are naturally fire resistant. That way, you and your baby are free from inhaling harmful chemicals.
Find out where Chicco car seats are made!
GREENGUARD Gold Certification
The GREENGUARD Gold certification is another good way to be sure that your car seat is free from harmful chemicals. This certification is gotten through rigorous annual testing by a third-party body.
Most Chicco car seats have the GREENGUARD Gold certification label on them, which tends to give parents some sort of peace of mind when looking for safe car seats.
Chicco car seats are GREENGUARD Gold certified – this shows that the company cares about children and the quality of the air they breathe.
Easy And Secure Car Seat Installation
If you want to know a good and safe car seat, you need to check how easy it is to install the seat and how secure the seat is after installation. Chicco car seats are some of the easiest car seats to install.
The bubble level indicator on the base of Chicco infant car seats ensures a proper angle during installation.
Chicco Car Seats Meet And Exceed Federal Safety And Crash Performance Standards
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has rated Chicco car seats to meet every safety standard required of car seat manufacturers.
The EPS foam used for Chicco car seats absorbs impact in case of a crash. This is a key safety feature that helps prevent serious injury in case of an accident.
Recommended: What you need to know about Chicco car seat bases
Best Chicco Car Seats You Should Consider Buying
Having looked at the major safety features of Chicco car seats, knowing the right Chicco car seat to buy is also important. Since Chicco has different car seats, it could be daunting for most new parents to choose just one.
To help make the selection process easy for you, we will list the car seats you should consider buying from each category of car seats – infant car seats, convertible car seats, all-in-one car seats, and booster car seats.
The Best Chicco Infant Car Seats
Choosing the best Chicco infant car seat can be tough because virtually all the seats have excellent reviews. The average rating for Chicco infant car seats is 4.9 out of 5. This is the best you can get from any car seat.
Notwithstanding, if we must pick two of the best Chicco infant car seats, we’ll go for the KeyFit 30 and KeyFit 35 infant car seats.
The Chicco Fit2 infant & toddler car seat is also a good one, but it is heavy and not too comfortable to carry around with your little one inside.
The Best Chicco Convertible Car Seat
For the best Chicco convertible car seat, the Chicco NextFit Zip convertible car seat has all that is needed from a convertible car seat.
With NextFit Zip convertible seat, your child can ride rear-facing when weighing 12 – 40 lbs. The forward-facing mode is for toddlers weighing 25 – 65 lbs.
Some of the features of Chicco NextFit Zip convertible car seats include head and torso protection, it is easy to install, machine washable fabric, and easy transitions from rear to forward-facing and from vehicle to vehicle.
The Best Chicco All-In-One Car Seat
If you want a Chicco all-in-one convertible car seat that you can use from birth to when your child is about 10 years (and ready to use the vehicle seat belt), go for Chicco Fit4 4-in-1 convertible car seat.
The Chicco Fit4 convertible car seat is the most purchased of all Chicco all-in-one seats.
Chicco Fit4 is very easy to install, thanks to features such as the ReclineSure leveling system, LockSure belt-tightening system, SuperCinch LATCH tightener, and RideRight bubble levels.
The Best Chicco Booster Car Seat
If you want a harness + booster car seat, the Chicco MyFit Harness + Booster car seat is your best bet. You can easily convert it from a 5-point harness to a belt-positioning booster.
Most parents prefer the MyFit Harness + Booster car seat and it is one of the most purchased 2-in-1 booster car seats on the market.
If what you want is just a highback or backless booster without a harness system, go for the Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster Car seat. You can easily convert it from a highback to a backless booster.
You might want to read: How much do Chicco car seats weigh?
Where Is The Safest Place To Install A Chicco Car Seat In Your Car?
The middle back seat is considered the safest place to install your Chicco car seat or other brands of car seats. However, there are factors you must put into consideration to determine the best place for your car seat.
You need to consider your vehicle’s rear seats and determine the best place that would allow you to install your car seat securely. Any place in the back seat would be fine as long as the car seat is installed correctly.
Conclusion
Chicco car seats are safe and are one of the most reliable car seats among parents. To enjoy what other parents are enjoying from Chicco car seats, you may want to choose any of the recommended car seats listed in this article.
Rest assured that you are making a good decision trying to buy a Chicco car seat. They are safe, comfortable, durable, and sturdy enough to give you and your little one a wonderful riding experience.
FAQs
Are Chicco car seats safe? ›
In terms of crash test results, Chicco KeyFit 30 performed very well. It provides protection than most of the other seats with lower G-force levels in case of an accident. The seat provides significantly better protection than what is required by the Federal safety standards.
Is Chicco safe for babies? ›Chicco is a name trusted by many parents. The company has been around for over 60 years, and the Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat, in particular, is known for its ease of installation, comfortable design, and safety features.
Is Chicco FAA approved? ›Can I take my car seat on an aircraft? All Chicco infant and convertible car seats are certified for usage on aircraft (FAA approved). Typically, you can also check car seats as baggage and most airlines will allow you to check in a car seat free-standing.
Is Chicco KeyFit 30 FAA approved? ›FAA Approval, United States: the Chicco KeyFit 30 is FAA approved for use aboard aircraft.
What brand of car seats are safe? ›| Name | Length | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat | 20.75" | 4-position adjustable extension panel |
| Maxi-Cosi Mico Max Plus | 28" | Safety & Comfort |
| Primo Viaggio 4/35 | 29.5" | Innovative shell design |
| Safety 1st Grow and Go | 24.5" | Adjustable 3 Position Recline |
The Graco Extend2Fit earned the best score in our analysis of crash test results. The Graco had one of the best-combined head and chest sensor results, indicating an additional margin of protection over the competition. This convertible seat has excellent results for LATCH installation.
Are Chicco car seats chemical free? ›For added peace of mind, the ClearTex line of car seats complies with FMVSS 302 without the use of added fire retardant chemicals. All car seats and strollers do not contain added perfluorinated compounds, PFAS. Our suppliers must adhere to our stringent Restricted Substance List for all Chicco products.
Is Chicco brand non toxic? ›Non-Toxic Car Seats at Chicco
ClearTex® is our innovative fabric that's free from added flame retardants while still meeting federal flammability standards.
I love the Chicco Next2Me crib and would definitely recommend it to a fellow mum. It's the perfect way to safely co-sleep with your baby from day one, and they can happily sleep next to you for six months as there is plenty of room to enable growth.
Are there any recalls on Chicco car seats? ›Chicco – KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat
While the Chicco KeyFit has been said to be one of the best car seats on the market for its ease of use, owners of this car seat need to be aware of the dangers. The issue that prompted a recall of the KeyFit 30 was that the seat did not meet the requirements for chest acceleration.
Is the Chicco KeyFit 35 FAA approved? ›
FAA-APPROVAL/LIFESPAN/CRASH GUIDELINES
The KeyFit 35 is FAA-approved without the base.