Chicco Nextfit Zip
With all the different options there are on the market for great car seats, you may find that you’re having some difficulty choosing just one. It’s one of the most essential products that you can purchase for your child.
While doing your research, you have most likely come across the brand Chicco, which is one of the most well-known brands on the market for children’s products and accessories. Their car seats are also some of the most top-rated, and the Chicco Nextfit Zip is no exception. It provides some of the most advanced features out there, and you may not be able to find some of these features in its competitors.
For one, this is a convertible seat, meaning that you will be able to use it both in the rear-facing position and in the forward-facing position, so you’ll get much more use out of it. The seat comes with all the necessary features to keep your child comfortable for as long as possible, and it has exceeded all federal safety regulations, so you can be assured that your child is completely safe.
Some people noticed that this seat is quite large and heavy, and it isn’t the best for those who own smaller cars. But otherwise, it has plenty of great features that many customers appreciated.
Exceeds crash test regulations
Can accommodate children in front and rear positions
Cover can be removed and washed
Has easy installation
Has extra padding to provide comfort
Reclines in 9 different positions
Comes at a higher price
Very heavy
Bulky and large
Features
Overall, the seat can accommodate a child who is less than 49 inches tall. So, you know that you will be using it for several years to come- all the way from when your child is a newborn to when they’re at least in kindergarten.
Other than many of the great features that we will outline in the next several sections, one convenient extra that the seat provides is an insulated cup holder. If your child likes to drink anything that’s warm, they will be able to keep it in the cup holder so it will stay warm.
The cover of the seat also has a zipper, which makes it so much easier to remove and to wash. This is a major plus for many parents because it’s inevitable that your child will have an accident at some point.
Size
The dimensions of this Chicco seat are 21 x 19 x 29.2 inches, which does put it at the larger end of the spectrum. Many people who reviewed this product agreed that it worked well for their large cars and minivans, but they did not find that it fits in their sedans and smaller cars as well.
The people sitting in the front seats may experience some problems because of how large the seat is. And if you have more children who need to use car seats, you may have issues being able to fit another one in the back seat. It all comes down to how large your car is, but at the end of the day, the general consensus seems to be that this isn’t the best option for those who have smaller cars.
Ease of Use
It’s completely easy to install with the LATCH connectors, and the seat also has SuperCinch technology by Chicco, so you’re able to simply tighten and adjust it as needed.
Also, according to many parents, it’s easy to adjust the harness while your child is in either the forward or rear-facing positions.
Accessories
Safety
Luckily, the Nextfit Zip remains a favorite of many parents due to the fact that it is one of the safest out there. It has passed and exceeded all the federal regulations that are in place for car seats. It has a steel frame, which is one of the sturdiest materials for seats. The five-point harness keeps your child safe and secure in their seat, and it has plenty of padding throughout to keep even the smallest of babies snug.
As we have mentioned in a previous section, this seat is also extremely easy to install, which helps to further enhance its safety. Whether or not you have installed it correctly plays a huge impact on how well the safety features will work for your child. This is why it’s important to make sure that the car seat you have purchased is easy to install.
Comfort
One great thing about the Nextfit Zip is that it reclines. This is especially important if you’re going out on long car rides and your child is sleeping. It’s not so common for a convertible car seat to be able to recline in nine positions, but that’s something that this seat is able to do.
However, something you will want to consider is the fact that it’s not able to recline in all those positions in smaller cars, because, as we said, it’s on the larger side. But those who have sedans said that they still were able to use at least three of the positions. Regardless, being able to adjust the seat to suit your child’s comfort is important.
It also fits your child well. It comes with an infant harness and extra padding for newborn babies, and since it’s able to accommodate children who weigh 4 pounds, you can even use it if your baby was born prematurely. And, of course, it also is meant to handle bigger children well. The harness has five points on it and you will be able to adjust it according to what suits your child.
There is a lot of padding to make sure that your child will not only remain secure and snug in the seat, but also so that they can remain comfortable. The headrest also has extra padding to support the fragile heads of newborns. People noted that their children did not complain about any discomfort during long car rides, which is a major plus. Another thing to note with the cover is that it is made out of a breathable mesh material, so your child will be kept cool and comfortable on hotter days.
And finally, another feature that plenty of parents (and children!) appreciated is the fact that the Nextfit Zip offered quite a lot more legroom than others on the market. It’s estimated that your child will have around 25 percent more legroom with this than with another car seat that you might purchase, which is unheard of.
The front part of the shell extends outward, which helps to create more legroom for when your child is in the rear-facing position. And if they’re in the forward-facing position, they get support for their calves. This is not necessarily a safety concern, but it is definitely a bonus that you might not find in other car seats.
And while it’s completely fine for your child’s legs to be bent, this will help to ensure that their legs won’t get tired as quickly and it works great for taller children.
Weight
If you are someone who doesn’t plan on taking the car seat out of their car for any reason and only intends to use one car with their child, then the weight probably isn’t going to be a major concern for you. But if you have to travel frequently or you want something that will be easy for use with a stroller, then perhaps it is worth looking into something else.
Price
The good news is that, since this is convertible, you will be using it for a long time. It’s not something that you’ll only use for a few months and then have to be on the hunt for a new car seat. And, the brand Chicco is one of the most popular on the market for children’s accessories, so you’re essentially paying for the brand name when you purchase this.
It costs $299.99 on Amazon, which does put it at the higher end of the price spectrum, but you are going to get a great deal when you purchase it. A lot of parents agreed that this product is worth the money and is definitely something worth considering, even if it is more expensive than some other options.
Key Features
It has extended legroom
The cover can be easily removed
The cover has a mesh panel to keep your child cool
It has enough padding even for the smallest babies
It’s very easy to install
It has all the safety features needed and more