Chicco NextFit Review♥

Engineered with innovative safety and convenience features, the NextFit is the easiest convertible car seat to install accurately and securely in a wide range of vehicles. The exclusive ReclineSure 9-position Leveling System provides the most recline options to accommodate a wide range of vehicles, and the SuperCinch LATCH tightener uses force-multiplying technology to help achieve a tight and secure vehicle fit with a fraction of the effort. Just like the KeyFit, two RideRight bubble levels accurately indicate correct seat angle in both rear-facing and forward-facing modes. And, when you're ready to move to forward-facing, an integrated slide path makes it easy to re-position the LATCH strap without re-threading.

Other features include a removable infant insert for smaller babies, 5-point harness with 2-position chest clip, 6-position headrest with integrated harness adjustment, built-in belt lock-offs for installation with vehicle belt, machine-washable seat pad, and removable cup holder for use on either side of the seat. For use with children from 5-40 lbs in rear-facing mode and from 22-65 lbs in forward-facing mode.

This is an excellent Car Seat and I love everything about it. It fits perfectly in our Mitsubishi. It's so easy to adjust and get a proper install, we used the LATCH straps and honestly it took no longer than 5 minutes! I appreciate the nine recline options which ensure that it will fit in any car without needing pool noodles or anything. It is also very compact and thus should fit in every car. My daughter is 3 years old and we decided to keep her rear facing for as long as possible (Extended Rear Facing).

The benefits of ERF (Extended Rear Facing) are amazing. More and more parents are keeping their children rear facing for longer than the 1 year and 20 lb minimum and some are even going past the 2 year AAP recommendation. Why? Because it's safer! Kids who continue riding rear facing from just ages 1 - 2 years are 5 times safer than their forward facing friends and forward facing kids under the age of 2 are 75% more likely to be injured in a car accident. Those are pretty high percentages! Age really has nothing to do with it. Rear facing is safer...period.

The main reason that kids should continue rear facing past 1 years old is all based on spinal development. Until around 3 years old, kids have spines that are made of soft bone and cartilage because of this the spinal column can do a lot of stretching (up to 2 inches!) unfortunately the spinal cord does not stretch so well and will rupture after only about 1/4 inch. This unfortunately results in paralysis or death. It's not a pretty thought but it's a thought that will probably get you to keep your kids rear facing longer. When you have your child rear facing the car seat helps absorb more centrifugal force so that your child does not have to, this helps keep that spinal cord intact.

You can see that rear facing beyond the 1 year and 20 lbs law is safer. It might not be normal (yet!) but who cares about being normal anyway? It's not likely that you do! Besides wouldn't you rather be weird with better protected kids than normal? At least consider rear facing until 2 years old. I mean that's the AAP's recommendation now, so you can at least throw that piece of trivia out to the nay-sayers when asked. However, you might want to take things a bit further and do like the Swedes and rear face till 4 or 5 years old; their statistics are pretty hard to argue with!

With the Chicco NextFit I can properly ERF Sophia until she is 40lbs! Some may say she looks uncomfortable but in my opinion all that matters is she's safe, comfortable, and happy. Look at it this way young children can't handle the incredibly high forces in a collision while forward facing. Not even at speeds which we adults may think are minor. Rear facing a child gives fantastic protection! She does have leg room and if we were to ever get rear ended, a broken leg from rear facing would be far better than a broken neck from forward facing.

For more information on the Chicco Nextfit please click HERE.
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DISCLAIMER: All products received are complimentary for testing purposes from Chicco. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates.