Chicco Fit2 Review: Is It The Best Car Seat For Infants?
Most baby car seats available today will only last until the first birthday of your child. This is the time where your baby will likely begin approaching the weight and height restriction of the seat.
Chicco addresses this issue by designing Fit2 with a unique smart adjustable 2-stage base feature. So once your baby outgrows the infant stage, you can switch the safety seat instantly to its toddler stage. However, that convenience comes with a price tag to match.
If you’re a bit tight on the budget, you may want to check out other best infant car seats out there at https://bestcarseathub.com/safest-infant-car-seats/. But if you’re always worried about the comfort of your toddler and have the budget for it, the Chicco Fit 2 may just be the convertible seat you’d want to invest in.
Key Features Of Fit2
Chicco is a brand that parents all over the world trusts. The company is always offering innovative new features on their latest products, and the Fit2 is no exemption.
Here are some notable features of the car safety seat to look out for:
- It has the SuperCinch technology for its center LATCH strap with push on connectors.
- A two-stage recline system which can accommodate preemies and older babies.
- Adjustable base with anti-rebound bar.
- One-hand adjustment lever.
- Newborn insert.
- Bubble level indicator.
- Seat belt lock-off on its base.
- Its harness is no-rethread.
- Allows for Euro seatbelt routing in its baseless mode.
- Recline foot is adjustable.
- Two-position crotch strap.
- Italian made.
You can use stage 1 or infant mode of the Chicco Fit2 the entire time or until your baby outgrows it. On the other hand, stage 2 or toddler mode is meant to provide toddlers and older babies with a further upright position. It is also listed for babies aged 9 to 24 months old. You can learn more about it on the Chicco Shop.
The seat may not be the best choice for the extended rear-face position though. The AAP recommends that children should be rear-facing for as long as they can, even when they’re more than two years old.
What Are The Weight And Height Restrictions Of The Chicco Fit2?
Stage 1 for Infants
- Age: 0 to 12 mos.
- Weight: 4 to 35 lbs.
- Height: Up to 35 in
Compared to traditional rear-facing only infant car seats, the Fit2 comes with two recline positions. Stage 1 can accommodate infants with a weight ranging from 4 to 35 lbs. This means that your little one can use the infant safety seat more at its recline setting for the entire time he’s using the seat.
Stage 2 for Toddlers and Older Babies
- Age: 9 to 24 mos.
- Weight: 15 to 35 lbs.
- Height: Up to 35 in.
Stage 2 is meant for toddlers and older babies weighing between 15 to 35 lbs. According to its manual, this stage is only for babies who are already crawling or walking.
Chicco Fit2 also has a newborn insert that can provide good neck and head support for babies with a weight of up to 11 lbs. It also has a 7-position headrest and 2-position crotch strap that can handle your growing toddler.
Fit To Vehicle
- Height: 21 in.
- Weight without the base: 12 lbs.
- Widest width: 17 in.
- Lowest harness position: 7 in. without the newborn insert
- Highest harness position:5 in. without the newborn insert
One of the best things about the Fit2 is that it will not take too much room in your car compared to other convertible car seats in terms of depth and width. However, if you have a smaller car, it may be a tight fit when extending its headrest or when you need to add another safety seat at the backseat.
The biggest drawback of the Fit2 is the carrier’s weight, which is a bit heavier than most infant car seats at 12 lbs. Although the extra couple of pounds may not seem like a lot for now, but wait until you place your 10 pounds or more baby in it. You may see yourself wearing your back and arms out pretty quick.
Ease Of Installation
It is vital to know how to install an infant car seat properly, as the safety and protection of your child will highly depend on it in case of a car crash. This is probably the best selling point of the Chicco Fit 2. Everything about the installation of this safety seat is pretty straightforward.
Its LATCH connectors are push-on making it more straightforward to install compared to car seats with hook connectors. It also features a center LATCH strap with a one-pull system which operates its SuperCinch system, a feature that increases the tightening strength without too much effort on your part to get a perfect tight fit.
Overall Thoughts
The Chicco Fit2 has so much to offer. It’s an infant and toddler car seat that comes jam-packed with features and can accommodate most children up until they turn two years old. Almost all its features are simple to use and install as well. It’s a bit pricey though, but as they say, you get what you pay for.