Customer Reviews

Chicco KeyFit 30 Travel System

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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 won't 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.

I really do love this travel system. I was extremely interested in the KeyFit system and the stroller seemed to have what I wanted. I really likes that the recline on the stroller wasn't eleastic and string controlled. The infant seat fits so easily into the stroller.

The only thing at all that is kind of a bummer is that, as a full size stroller, I can't always take it with me everywhere. I have a Prius and it takes up a good deal of space in the storage area. I take advantage of all available space in the car, though, because I love the stroller and looking at lightweight and/or umbrella strollers makes me sad.

This travel system has worked great for me. I've taken my baby in the airport several times and with him being so small, the travel system was a great way to carry the car seat and him through the airport. The only thing I haven't like is that with the car seat in the stroller/the stroller fully reclined it is very difficult to access the basket underneath and impossible to get the diaper bag in and out. However I love that it stands up on it's own when folded up and it's very easy to fold up one handed while holding the baby with the other hand. It's a little harder to open one handed, but still doable.

The car seat itself is great, and I'm really glad I got the larger one as my child is big for his age. It also looks a lot more protective than a lot of other baby carriers I've seen, I like how he is protected on all sides. The newborn insert and the head insert were great for when he was little and worked like a charm. I'd recommend this car seat to anyone.

The carseat is great for newborns, but when the baby gains weight, the carseat is heavy. I love how easy it is to adjust the straps for a growing baby. Also the center strap pulls the upper & side straps snug around baby after you strap and click him in. Feb/Mar 2008 manufacturing editions of this carseat had a recall, so be sure to check out what date yours was manufactured.

Instead of carrying the carseat by the handle now that my grandbaby is 3 months old and the whole carseat is very heavy with him in it, I carry it with both hands from the sides. I keep telling my daughter that Chicco should put wheels on this carseat...you know like those Heely sneakers?? Or maybe handles on the sides? The carseat is for babies 30 pounds and under and up to 30 inches long I believe.

Some people have complained that they do not like the material on this carseat. It's not ORGANIC cotton...would be nice, but it's not. It's a smooth polyester type covering. My grandson did sweat alot in the carseat during the hot days of summer. I like that the head and body pads are fixed, but don't like the gaps between them. The upper straps have pads to protect baby's face and cheeks. We keep the carseat in the house to prevent it from getting hot in the car.

>>>The stroller is big and has a loose/floppy and all plastic locking mechanism restraint strap system. Pushing my grandson in the stroller without using his carseat is a pleasure. I get him out of the carseat quick because he arches his back and DOES NOT LIKE to go in the carseat
so that's why I prefer not to use the carseat during a stroll.
I put the Lamaze Girafee in the front tray with it's legs sprawled out 4 ways and my grandson has his favorite toy to look at during our walk.
He also likes to kick the tan leg protector which folds up at the foot area for smaller babies.
I don't really care for the curtain of material on the back of the stroller or the net basket below.
The canopy can be adjusted to drop down in front of the stroller to shield the sun from the baby's eyes. I like many things about this stroller, but my daughter's car, a Subaru has no room for it in her car trunk. It fits nice in the back of my Jeep.

I'd think an umbrella stroller would be a solution for older babies who can sit up to save parent's time getting the stroller in and out of the car, but you will compromise on comfort.

I'd judge this travel system to be on the 'intermediate' level in quality and comfort for baby and parents.

I initally chose this carseat because of its safety recommendation through Consumer Reports. The base is easy to install and level. The carseat inserts and removes easily without disturbing the baby. I read a couple of reviews that states it and the stroller were too heavy. Not so. Other systems seemed too light and flimsy to me-- this one just seems sturdy. I like the "one pull" adjustment strap in the front of the carseat. It makes adjusting straps to fit the baby simple. I like the fact that this carseat is rear facing up to 30 lbs.
The stroller works well--wheels turn easily and roll smoothly. The seat fully reclines and the front tray removes easily providing full access to the baby, (which is great for rolling around a newborn bringing her room to room with me at home.) It collapses one handed and re-expands to the last position you had it in.
Over all I am very pleased with system. I would recommend if you want both, to purchase them as a travel system as it is a lot cheaper than purchasing them separately.

I bought this after months of research because of its high safety rating, and am happy with that-that is why 3 stars. BUT it is heavy and the stroller is bulky. The cup holders will only fit plastic water bottles or something that size, so if you have a metal water bottle or something you reuse it is too big to use. I also don't like how the basket has to be held up by a piece that is very hard to get back off. I end up having to sit down on the asphalt just to remove it. The stroller is so big it barely fits in my jeep trunk and does not fit in my Nissan Altima's at all. I would recommend the car seat but not the travel system.

not only did both pieces arrive in less than a week but it was super simple to put together! each piece works amazing by itself and they snap together in a second. i can collapse the stroller easily, it steers effortlessly and the car seat is just as easy to manage -- light and clicks into the base with no work at all. highly recommended!!

The Chicco Keyfit 30 is easy to use, looks great and it has a great safety rating. However, after a couple of months in it, my infant broke out into huge oozing painful sores wherever his skin touched the carseat. The entire back of his head turned into one big raw scab. Apparently, contact dermatitis to the flame-resistant chemicals they use in some car seats is a growing problem.
As soon as I put a cover in the car seat, my baby's horrible rash cleared up immediately.
When I contacted the company to let them know, they got back to me (a week later) and offered me a new set of soft goods -- the exact same thing that hurt my baby the first time. Not impressed.

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. Won't 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 Chicco's car seat safety person who said it isn't 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.
I've been looking into this issue extensively and have learned that all infant seats with bases are designed this way and have the same problem. It's 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 Chicco's 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.

AT THIS TIME, IS MY FIRST CHILD. WHEN YOU BEGIN TO REVIEW WHAT IS GOOD, EVERYTHING LOOK GOOD. BY THIS REASON I DON'T HAVE POINT TO COMPARE. ONLY KNOW THAT MANY FRIENDS RECOMEND ME THIS COMBO. AND THIS COLORS ARE VERY SERIOUS. I LIKE IT. GOOD POINTS: EASY TO OPEN AND CLOSE. AND WHEN YOU FINISH TO CLOSE STAND VERTICALLY. NO ON THE FLOOR. I THINK THAT IS GOOD FOR THE BACK. IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING. PUT THE BABY ON THE PORTABLE CAR CHAIR AND IS LIKE ANESTHESIA. THANKS TO CHICCO. I AM AGREE.