Chicco KidFit Review

As part of the Artsana Group, Chicco (kee-ko) is a popular baby-centric brand from Europe. They make favorite car seats, the best bottle warmers, strollers, and more. Launched by Pietro Catelli, Chicco makes baby gear for little ones from pregnancy to preschool. Chicco can be found in 120+ countries.

Performance Comparison

Crash Test

The KidFit earned just over the average crash test analysis result in our review. This seat underwent crash testing slightly hotter than the federal guidelines and on a sled that is more similar to modern vehicle seats. MGA Research facility is the same facility that works with NHTSA, and we tested all of the boosters under the same methods for an apples-to-apples comparison.

The KidFit had lower results in its HIC sensor than the chest clip (lower is better). Both sensors recorded results below the average, but neither stood out in this competition.

While all of the seats in this review pass federal guidelines and are considered safe, we are looking for those that perform better than average to identify those that could potentially offer an additional margin of safety.

Ease of Use

The KidFit is so easy to use; it is almost like they knew a child would be doing it. This seat earned one of the highest scores in this metric for saving parents from the frustration of a finicky seat.

Threading the shoulder portion of the belt is easy, and there is little friction when you pull it, making it easy for little ones. The seat base is on the wide side, and while we didn't like that the buckle rubbed the side of the booster, our child tester had no trouble getting the belt buckled without help. Unbuckling required a little pull after pressing the button, as the booster side can hold it awkwardly in place. The shoulder positioner is at a good angle and keeps it in position without rubbing on the passenger's neck.

This Chicco has a LACTH installation method, and the seat isn't too big, making it easier to maneuver any way you need to to finish the job. The LATCH connectors are the push style that is easy to attach and disconnect, and while you want to pull the slack out, it isn't as tight as the convertible car seats as the passenger safety largely relies on the vehicle seat belt.

The cup holder fold-in if you need the seat to be narrower for other passengers. We were able to fit our Thermos water bottle inside, but it was snug, and a larger bottle likely won't fit.

Weight and Size

The KidFit is lighter than the average seat in the group at 10.3 lbs. This is neither ultra-lightweight nor is it heavy. While it wouldn't be our choice for lugging about town, it isn't prohibitively heavy for moving from car to car frequently.

It is, however, one of the wider options in this lineup. At 18.4 inches, it is wider than many boosters and some convertible car seats. The widest in the group is 3 inches wider, so it isn't the worst.

Comfort

The KidFit performed better than average in our comfort tests. The padding is above average and is similar to a microform that doesn't compress too much under passenger weight. This seat had padded armrests, which were appreciated by our kid tester, and the shoulder padding was much appreciated during testing. We wish there was more padding in the low back area, but overall, it was well-distributed and felt good to our testers. The headrest is nicely padded, but it is sort of far away from where you'd want to tilt your head for napping, and the fabric cover is rough and not as friendly as we'd like.

Quality

The KidFit performed well in our tests for quality. The foam throughout the seat is of higher quality than most; it is thick, condenses well, and doesn't disappear when a passenger sits on it. The material is nice, and the cover is seen well with tabs that tuck in where they are supposed to. The cup holder goes over the cover, and we think the fabric trim is a nice accent that looks good. The shell is one cohesive piece with few places for gunk to collect, but it seems easily scratchable in our tests.

Should You Buy the KidFit?

There is much to love about the KidFit, including higher ease of use performance and better quality than the price indicates. However, it struggled to move out of the average range for crash testing (though still better than many), and it is heavier than some might want. While there is nothing amiss here, and we think many families will be happy with it, there are better options that offer more without stretching your budget much.

What Other Booster Seat Should You Consider?

The Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 is one of these boosters. This big brother of the KidFit has much in common with the KidFit but also includes some better crash test results and a cool pull-out leg lounger to help avoid the dreaded leg dangle common in booster seats. The KidFit Zip Air Plus includes more features for comfort and quality, and we think it is worth the added cost that amounts to perhaps the cost of a pizza.

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