The Peg Perego Nido infant car seat is a high-quality seat with additional features for safety including an anti-rebound bar and load leg. This seat sports above average crash test results, comfortable padding and fabric, and a giant canopy with zip-open ventilation. The Nido is super to install using the vehicle belt with or without a base and better than average for ease of installation using the LATCH method. The Nido is on the pricer side, and for the money, we think some of the features could be easier to use. It is also somewhat heavier which means it may not be the best choice for those who plan to carry the carrier for a distance longer than the house to the car. We like the look and feel of this seat and think it is a potential choice for families who want a Peg seat or who are specifically looking for a load leg or anti-rebound bar as its overall performance is impressive.
Peg Perego Nido Review
Pros: Load leg, easy belt install with and without base
Cons: Price, heavy carrier
Manufacturer: Peg Perego
The Skinny
Compare to Similar Products
Our Analysis and Test Results
In 1949, Peg Perego launched with a baby carriage created by Giuseppe Perego. The founder continued the company's growth through the 1960s with a variety of strollers and an adjustable highchair. The creation of ride on toys and umbrella strollers followed in the 1970s with the 1980s bringing the first Pilko strollers and ride on toys with a 12-volt 2 cell battery. Peg Perego strives to design and create innovative and stylish gear that makes life easier.
Performance Comparison
The Peg Perego Nido (in blue) car seat is the newest Peg infant car seat offering with a performance that almost matches its award-winning brother the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35.
Read additional performance details about how the Nido compares to the competition in the subsections below.
Crash Test
The Nido earned a 7 of 10 in our crash testing without the load leg. This score is slightly above the average score indicating an additional potential margin of protection.
It is important for parents to understand that all car seats available for purchase in the US meet or exceed the Federal guidelines outlined in the FMVSS 213. We compare crash test results to the competition and the guidelines to identify the car seats that potentially offer an additional margin of protection over the basic seat.
The Nido has a head sensor (HIC) score of 573 where the maximum allowed is 1000 and the lower the result the better. This is higher than the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 that has a result of 491. The comparison chart above shows the results for the Nido (in black) in comparison to the Chicco Keyfit 30 (in green) which has the lowest (best) results with a 330.
The Nido chest clip sensor (g clip) result is 46 where the maximum allowed is 60 and a lower result is better. The Primo Viaggio 4-35 result is also 46 while the best result is 42.2 earned by the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 40. Details of this comparison can be seen in the chart above.
The Nido has an elongated anti-rebound bar (above left) that extends higher than the one found on the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35. This feature helps prevent rotation in the event of an accident. The Nido also comes standard with a load leg (above right) that helps prevent the car seat from flopping back and forth during a crash. Both features theoretically increase potential safety though it is difficult to calculate their exact contribution. Our test results so far indicate that a load leg is beneficial. We are currently planning to crash test the Nido using the load leg to compare to the non-load leg results we currently have (seen above in this review).
Ease of Install - LATCH
The Nido is hardest to install using the LATCH system earning a 7 of 10 for this method of installation. The difficulty we experienced is a bummer because it is supposed to make installation easier and more foolproof.
The connectors are easy enough to attach to the anchors but tightening the strap is harder and releasing the connectors is very difficult. It feels stable once installed but the process is more convoluted than it really needs to be.
The Nido has push buttons style LATCH connectors (above left) that are easier to attach and release than the clip style connectors. The Nido has a one-sided strap (above right) to tighten the base to the vehicle, which is more challenging than those with center pulls or self-ratcheting system.
The LATCH strap is located across the back of the base and slides under the belt lock of for additional stability.
This base has a liquid level with bubble (above left) similar to a construction level. This helps parents determine if the base is properly installed. If the angle is not correct, it can be adjusted with the turn of the knob on the base (above right). This feature works well and turns easily.
Ease of Install - Belt
Installation using the vehicle belt and the Nido base is easier than using the LATCH method with a score of 9 of 10.
In the event you want to install the car seat where there are no LATCH anchors, you'll need to use the vehicle belt. Luckily, with the Nido, this method is easy peasy to use.
This process is easiest with the lap-only belt but can also be accomplished using the lap-shoulder belt combo often found on the sides of a backseat. The belt threads through the color-coded sides and belt lock-off (above left) in the center of the base. The lock-off is super easy to use and not overly tight like some of the competition. Once the strap is in place the lock-off is closed (above right) with the press of your palm. The base is stable once installed with little wiggle or shift along the strap.
Ease of Install - Without the Base
The easiest method of installation for the Nido is without the base earning a 10 of 10 in our testing for this metric.
The Nido can be installed minus the base using the European (above left) or American belt path (above right). Both provide a stable final result and the belt lock-off makes getting the carrier tucked in tight enough a breeze.
The European path includes the lap portion of the belt across the foot of the carrier and the shoulder strap around the back of the carrier (above left) and tucked under the clip (above right) to hold it in place.
Ease of Use
The Nido is easy to use earning a 7 of 10 which is just one point below the high for the metric.
Ease of use testing encompasses the features and functionality of the Nido during everyday use.
Harness
The Nido has a 5-point harness that can be held back with the harness retainer system. While nice in theory we suspect most parents will stop using it over time. The buckle on the harness is easy to use but the chest clip is stiff and takes some serious strength to operate.
The harness has significant padding on the shoulder straps and the crotch strap (above left). The Nido has a non-rethread height adjustment (above right) with six positions and crotch strap with two positions. The height adjusts from the back with a squeeze that slides the entire assembly up and down.
The harness tightens easily enough with a pull of the strap at the foot of the carrier and the release button is under the fabric but close to the top and easy to depress.
Handle
The handle on the Nido rubs on the front of the canopy and a little on the sides when the canopy is up. The handle release buttons are awkward and not as user-friendly as they could be. The handle rotates when you press on both sides simultaneously. For driving there is only one safe position for the handle and this depends on if you are using the base or not, so parents need to make sure the handle is in the right position before the vehicle is in motion.
The Nido has a new extendable canopy that offers more protection for little ones than most infant car seat canopies.The canopy is UPF 50+, has mesh sides that zip open for ventilation and looks good. Unfortunately, this large hood comes with a handle/hood interference problem.
Carrier and Base Connection
The carrier attaches to the Nido base easily but we often were able to install it with only one side connected, but it is better than the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35. Because it lacks a visual indicator to ensure correct installation, we recommend parents give the handle a good tug to ensure it is latched on both sides. Releasing the carrier is a breeze with the handle on the back of the carrier.
LATCH Anchors and Manual Storage
The Nido LATCH connectors stow in the base and are not automatic. The storage keeps the connectors out of the way so there is no interference with connecting the carrier to the base. The manual stores in a pocket on the back of the carrier. This location is preferred over those that store in the base because if you use the carrier without the base you won't have your manual should you need it.
Comfort/Quality
Peg Perego has a tradition of creating higher quality products with an attention to manufacturing detail, and the Nido is no exception with a score of 8 of 10 for comfort and quality.
The Nido has firm padding for good support and soft fabric for comfort. The fabric isn't as soft as the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35, but it is the second softest in the group. The shell feels solid and doesn't have any rough plastic edges. The fabric fits the shell nicely with a smooth self-contained look. The canopy is the largest one in the review offering significantly more coverage than the standard infant car seat. The size is especially cool if you plan to use your carrier with a stroller and the stroller canopies often are not useable with a car seat in place.
Weight
The Nido carrier is heavy with a weight of 10.6 lbs and a metric score of only 5 of 10. it isn't the heaviest option in the group, however, but every pound counts if you need to tote your little one for very far in a car seat carrier.
In comparison, the higher ranking Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 only weighs 9.6 lbs. If you don't need to travel very far with the carrier in a suburban environment, then weight may not be something you give much "weight" to, but if you need to cart baby from your apartment 5 floors up and around the city streets, then it is something to keep in mind.
Stroller Compatiblity
This Peg seat is compatible with Peg Perego strollers without the need for adapters. This is a nice feature that cuts down on the loose items you can potentially loose while strolling with your baby. Given the newness of this seat it is hard to say which other stroller brands offer compatibility, but historically, UPPAbaby has offered adapters to use Peg Perego infant car seats with both the UPPAbaby Cruz and UPPAbaby Vista.
Manufacturer Video
Other Versions
Peg Perego also makes the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 not Nido addition. This high-quality infant car seat performed well in comparison to the competition and earned an Editors' Choice award in this review. The 4-35 does not include a load leg and has a smaller canopy to name just a few of the differences.
— Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz