Review of Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat Base in Antracite

Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat Base in Antracite
By: Chicco Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 8
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Car seat base

On: 2008-05-11

This car seat base allows our daughter and son-in-law to transfer their new bundle of joy between two vehicles. They are thrilled with the looks and the safety features of this product.

Great base

On: 2008-05-04

I bought this base for the 22lb max. weight car seat, and this base is great. We had a little trouble installing at first, so that it wouldnt lift at the back, but once we got use to it, it didnt budge at inch. We had the safety of our seat checked and we were given the OK. The seat seems very safe and I would buy it again, although I find it very heavy to carry! When we came out of the hospital, the midwife told us that our car seat was the easiest installation she had ever seen!

Please ignore the one star review

On: 2008-04-01

Please ignore the reviewer who rated the seat one star due to the rebound issue. I am a certified child passenger safety technician and this is NOT a safety concern. Almost all rear facing seats will rebound in a crash. The only ones that wont are infant seats with rigid LATCH (the only one currently available in the US is the Baby Trend Latch-Loc with rigid LATCH) or one with an anti-rebound bar like the Britax Companion and convertible seats that tether rear facing (all Britax convertible seats, Sunshine Kids Radian, etc). As long as your seat moves less than an inch in any direction AT THE BELT PATH (i.e. on an infant seat with a base, right at the seat crack where the other poster said it was tight) it is safe. The Chicco KeyFit is a very good seat. It is without a doubt one of the best on the market currently. It installs like a dream and fits small babies very well. As a tech of seven years, I would not hesitate to recommend this seat or use it for my own child.

Deemed UNSAFE by certified seat installer!!!

On: 2008-03-25

I purchased this seat on the recommendation of Consumer Reports, expecting the safest seat on the market. In order to make certain it was installed perfectly, I visited a local California police department and had a trained and certified car seat inspector install it.
Where the LATCH system attaches (or along the belt path if not using LATCH) the seat is very secure. Wont budge an inch. HOWEVER, the back of the seat and base remain completely untethered and will lift up at least seven inches off the seat. My installer said this is incredibly unsafe in the event of being rear ended at moderate to high speeds.

I spoke with Chiccos car seat safety person who said it isnt a concern because most accidents are head on collisions. She also mentioned that in the past month they have received at least eight other complaints from the California Highway Patrol about this issue.
Ive been looking into this issue extensively and have learned that all infant seats with bases are designed this way and have the same problem. Its so common it has a name: Rebound.

So, unless you are certain that you will not be rear-ended avoid this and all infant seats designed to pop out of a base at all costs. They are not safe. Yes, being able to easily remove your child from the car is a great feature, but it IS NOT worth risking the safety of your child. My local certified police installer deems this seat and others of the same style unsafe. And from the mouth of Chiccos own representative, so does the California Highway Patrol.

Britax Roundabout, Britax Roundabout Advantage, Britax Galaxy and the Britax Marathon are all convertible seats that are VERY safe and have been tested using a tether in a rear facing position that removes this rebound issue.

For the sake of your child, bypass convenience and go with safety.

Escellent engineering

On: 2008-01-21

This is part of a complete travel system for infants. The infant carrier snaps into and out of this base with ease. It is very well designed, unlike similar products that can be a real bear the use.

easy to use accessory to a great car seat!

On: 2007-12-17

I bought this for my sister for her brand new little girl. Now she and her partner can each have a base for the car seat in their car, and not worry about who has the base to pick her up from Grammies house. The system is easy to use, and most importantly has the highest safety ratings. If you are planning to get the Chicco system and have more than one car

Great Car Seat Base

On: 2007-12-03

This chicco car seat base is so easy to use. We already had the car seat and base for my wifes car, and we just needed the base for mine so we dont have to take it in and out. The latch is super easy (cars 2002 and newer) it tightens easy with one pull, and seat belts on this base seem to fit exactly like they should. The base has 2 levels easy to read. The car seat clicks in when you set it in, and your done and ready to drive. This is the base for babies up to 30 lbs. Our car seat was the year prior when they only hold up to 22 lbs, but this car seat base accepts both the 22 and 30 lb. car seats perfectly.

Great car seat accessory

On: 2007-11-21

We LOVE our Chicco KeyFit 30 so much that we needed an extra base for our second car. Great price, quick shipping, nice product.