Editor’s Note
While the Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 Booster Seat is still available, Chicco has updated this car seat with a newer version, the Chicco KidFit Adapt Plus 2-in-1 Belt Positioning Booster Car Seat. Both car seats measure at the same size, however, the KidFit Adapt offers humidity-regulating fabric with patented 37.5 Technology and breathable mesh to help control your child’s comfort in their seat. The newer version includes both the SuperCinch one-pull tightener plus a one-hand, quick-release latch, offering safety and ease of use. It is designed with extra safety features which always make a parent feel better when buckling in their precious kiddos. This newer version is slightly more expensive but worth it for the added options that the older model does not offer.
The car seat options on the market can appear pretty daunting. You have an array of colors, patterns, safety ratings, and even style options. Long gone are the days of two or three infant car seats on the store shelves. Of course, safety is a concern when it comes to car seats, but since you will be using this daily, its appearance, durability, and functionality really does matter as well.
In this post, I review the Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 Booster Car seat. This car seat is a forward-facing convertible backed and backless booster car seat. This would apply to children ages three or four through seven to eight years old who have outgrown their harness seat.
Kidfit Zip pictured below:
The Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat Quick Features
I will go into detail of the KidFit’s numerous features later in the post, but here are some of the eye-catching features of this booster seat.
- 10 position headrest
- The headrest is fully lined with EPS foam
- Removable arm rest and seat pad covers
- Can be used from 38 to 57 inches tall, and 30-110 pounds
- This car seat would be used for children above 4 years of age through ages 7 or 8, or until the weight or size limitations are exceeded
- 2 removable cup holders, which fold away into the seat when not in use
- Backrest can be removed to be used as a backless booster
- SuperCinch Latch attachment and one-hand pull tightener
- DuoZone side impact protection
- A handful of fun colors with mesh material (i.e. stain hiders)
Safety & Use
DuoZone head and side impact protection keeps your little one extra safe while in the backed booster position. The one-pull tightener and SuperCinch latch ensure that your little one is snug in the seat without a lot of pulling. DuoFoam padding ensures that your child is comfortable during the ride. In fact, in most reviews, parents noted how their children were really comfortable in this car seat -which can be hard to find for a booster seat. Between the side and headrests and LATCH system, this booster seat tops the safety rating charts.
To raise or lower the headrest, there is a one-hand latch. Numerous parents in reviews noted that this seat was not only simple to install, but also extremely easy to adjust.
Cleaning
If you’ve been a mom for more than a minute, then you know that how easy something is to clean is right up there in priorities with safety. This car seat’s pad covers remove to wash, which is beyond great. There is also a Chicco KidFit version of this booster, for which the arm and seat pads actually unzip to remove. What’s even better is that the cup holders remove to be washed (i.e. throw those bad boys in the dishwasher). If you have ever had to wash melted chocolate, granola bar leftovers and gummies out of a car seat cup holder that does not pop out easily – you know how important this is.
Appearance
This car seat is offered in Atmosphere (black, gray mesh, with a red accent), Aurora (two shades of purple), Monaco (teal and gray), and Wimbledon (navy blue and light gray). The KidFit Zip, a is offered in and Jasper (two shades of gray) and Genesis (black and dark gray) Dimensions are 32.75 inches high, 16.5 inches wide and 18.75 inches deep. The seat itself weighs in at 10.2 pounds.
The latch button and other buttons to change the booster’s position are in bright yellow – which is nice when you’re fumbling in the dark to get the seat adjusted. The mesh and two-tone colors will hide any stains, which is a great perk, too.
Availability
This car seat is sold at a handful of major retailers (Target, BuyBuy Baby, Toys R’ Us, Bed, Bath and Beyond), as well as online (Amazon).
Other Options
This booster seat also comes in the KidFit Zip model, which will cost a bit more and have additional features. While the regular KidFit offers two layers of seat padding, the Zip offers a third layer for comfort. The Zip also offers zipper removable arm and seat pads for ease. Finally, the Zip also offers a kid console for storing snacks or other car entertainment. Most parents noted that it was worth the extra spend to get these beneficial features.
Belt Positioning Booster
More details can be found in the product’s manual here.
Cost
Considering this car seat doubles at two and can span a car seat life of 8 years, it’s a very good deal cost-wise. The KidFit Zip will cost on average $30 more than the regular version, but offer additional features as well (see Other Options above).
Car Seat Safety and Laws
Car seat laws have changed a lot over the last few years. If you ask the grandparents, they are confused why you ever need to purchase more than one car seat. Let’s quickly go through all the different stages of car seats that are available today, and what current laws mandate their use. Learn the state laws per state here.
Infant Car Seat – A rear facing, infant car seat should be used through the age of one.
Convertible or All-In-One Car Seat – These should be kept rear facing from one through three or four years old. Rear facing is much safer than forward facing for this age.
Backed Booster – At the age of three or four, a child may move to a backed booster seat and face forward. It’s best to keep the child rear facing up to age three (or four for smaller children, as long as the child meets the car seat’s size limits). A child should stay in a backed booster until they no longer meet the car seat manufacturer’s size limits though age 7 or 8.
* The Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 car seat would be able to be used as a backed booster for 30-100 pounds, four years of age or older.
Backless Booster – A bottom booster should be used through age 8 and a height of 4’9″ and even beyond for smaller children. Check with your state’s laws as to when a child can safely and legally ride safely with just a lap belt. A child must pass the five-step test to be able to safely move to a standard lap belt.
*The Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 car seat would be able to be used as a backless booster for 40-110 pounds.
Always read the entire car seat manual and install the seat per instructions. You can go to your local Fire Department or NHTSA office for free assistance installing your child’s car seat.
Another Color Option
Product Videos
What do other parents say?
After reviewing this car seat’s features, I was pretty impressed. But I was even more impressed with the reviews across the board of what other parents had to say. Here’s a snapshot of how they feel about this convertible car seat:
- They love the fun colors.
- Review after review said that this car seat is super simple installation – which is unbelievably important.
- It’s no shocker, but moms loved how you could zip off the pad covers as well as pull out the cup holders for easy washing.
- The cup holders are spacious!
- A lot of reviews noted how comfortable their children were in the seat. Big win!
- Parents noted that it was simple for the children to latch themselves, which, let’s be honest, can really help out.
- On the Toys R’ Us review, this car seat earned a 96% positive feedback rating, which is common across all review sites.
- This booster seat trumps some of the bulkier car seats, allowing more space in the car.
- This booster seat was rated Best Booster Seat by Consumersearch.com, which is pretty amazing. It appears that most parents entirely agree.
- This seat makes our best child booster seat list, so go check that out.
What are the drawbacks?
There are only a few issues I found with this booster seat. If you have a car with a headrest that protrudes forward, the booster headrest may interfere. For that situation, you may need to remove the headrest in your car if you wish to place the car seat in that seat, which is simple for most vehicles. A small handful of parents noted that they had a difficult time assembling the car seat. Other parents noted that booster headrest does not go as high as other booster models, which makes sense since many noted it was very compact compared to bulkier models. Besides these two issues, I could not find many negative reviews or parents who had issues with the car seat.
Some parents noted that they wish they had splurged on the additional features of the KidFit Zip, which I noted above. Review both seats before purchase and decide if the additional features are something you really need in your life.
Overall, I was very impressed with this car seat’s usability, safety features, and price tag. The high amount of positive reviews from many parents sealed the deal for this booster car seat. There’s nothing better than purchasing an item (for a child no less) that will last you for years, and this booster will fit the bill as it covers eight years of use.
