This is a sponsored post for Chicco written by me on behalf of Mom Central. I do not have experience with Chicco car seats and the content provided here is informational only.
Car seat safety is a hot topic. Believe me, I know it's not an easy task. It seems the rules change "all the time" and with so many seats on the market, it's not easy. I have THREE in car seats, from an infant bucket seat to a five point harnessed booster, and the research is daunting at times. I've done tons of research, and I'm always looking for new information. My kids will all be in car seats until they outgrow the limits of their seats, from my infant son to my pre-kindergartner who is still in a 5 point harness.
It comes down to finding the right seat for my child, that fits in my car and that I can install quickly and easily without using brute force. It's a bigger challenge than it sounds.
Is your child in the right seat?
The NextFit™ Convertible Car Seat from Chicco might be the end of your car seat woes. It adjusts to fit from 5-65 pounds, with 9 recline positions and both rear and forward facing configurations. The harness straps do not require rethreading and adjust in height AND width in connection with the position of the headrest! Plus chest clip features two positions to fit the torso of smaller and larger children.
o Simply: No need for rolled towels or tubes to position your convertible car seat correctly in your car! The NextFit’s ReclineSure™ 9-position Leveling System adjusts with one hand for an accurate fit in a wider range of vehicles and vehicle seats
o Accurately: Just like the KeyFit, the Chicco NextFit takes the guesswork out of installing the seat thanks to the two RideRight™ bubble levels which clearly indicate the correct seat angle in both rear and forward-facing modes.
o Securely: Parents of any size or strength can easily install the NextFit correctly with the SuperCinch™ LATCH tightener, which uses force-multiplying technology to help achieve a tight and secure fit – no strong muscles required.
Not only will be the only car sear you'll need to buy until the preschool years, the NextFit™ also comes in a variety of fashions for you to choose from available at a variety of retailers.
o Infiniti – Exclusively at Babies R Us
o Gemini – Exclusively at Babies R Us
o Gravity – Exclusively at Target
o Intrigue – Exclusively at BuyBuyBaby and Specialty stores
o Mystique – Other retailers
Check out these great car seat safety tips.
Five Helpful Hints from Julie Prom, Car Seat Safety Advocate for Chicco
Rear-facing is safest. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend rear-facing as long as possible. Parents should keep child rear-facing until at least 2 years old, longer if the car safety seat weight and height limit allows. Young children are fragile and are best protected in a rear-facing car seat. To ensure a child can stay rear-facing as long as possible, purchase a convertible seat when your baby outgrows the infant seat.
Most children younger than 5-years old are not mature enough to sit without a full harness. Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until at least 5 or 6 years old.
Most common mistakes can be avoided by simply following manufacturers’ instructions. All car seats must meet stringent Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to be sold in the U.S. It is when they are not used correctly that makes them unsafe. Always read and follow the instructions for the safety seat. Also, read the vehicle owner’s manual section on child restraints.
Always buckle your baby into the safety seat first, and then cover the baby with blankets. Avoid bulky clothing and add-on products such as car seat buntings. This can interfere with proper harness fit and crash performance of the seat. A good trick for older children is to buckle them in without their jacket and then put it back on them backwards over the harness. Not only do these techniques ensure proper harness fit, but also avoids overheating by allowing the baby to be easily uncovered or the child to take his jacket off once the car gets warmer.
Always use the top tether when installing a forward-facing car seat. The tether reduces movement of a car seat in a crash and helps to achieve a tight installation.
Do you have any car seat safety advice for someone buying a new seat?
Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Chicco and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation
Meghan
While I think it's great they are advocating rear facing until 2 with their photos, I have heard children should remain rear facing until 4 years or until they reach the rear facing limits on the seats. If a parent or caregiver is unaware of this info, they may think at 2 years the child is safer to ride forward facing.
TheMaven
I agree with you Meghan! I do believe in keeping your chid in the limits od the seat as well. Same goes for companies (that I won't name) that sell "backless boosters" for children that are 4 years of age and 40 pounds. Sure, they've been tested, but it's still SAFER for a child to be in a five point harness. My own five year old is still in a five point harness and will be in one until he outgrows it.
I wish there wasn't so much misinformation or misleading information out there in regards to car seat safety!
Cassandra Surette
Thank you! It’s is important to be sure kids reach right height/weight and age minimums before letting them sit in a seat without a booster.
Tyler Car
Nice reviews and tips. So if I am not mistaken, it will depends on the age and types of car seats that we use so that we can keep babies safe while traveling?
Kerri Jablonski
That's correct Tyler! In some instances, the type of car you drive will also play a factor in which car seat you use. It's always good to check with a certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technician if you have questions.
Lisa Edwards
Hi Kerri,
It is really a great post. Definitely car seat safety is more necessary for our kids. We should check before and after installation of child car seat. Your tips are really helpful and more appropriate. I agree with you. Thanks for your wonderful article….