How To Install Chicco Keyfit 30 Car Seat Without Base

(Last Updated On: January 4, 2022)

Chicco KeyFit 30

As a team of Child Passenger Safety Technicians and global safety advocates, nosotros have seen many car seats come and become over fourth dimension. While nosotros love exploring new additions to the market, and applaud new innovation, nosotros do enjoy reflecting on existing automobile seats that remain consistent, like shooting fish in a barrel-to-use options in an ever-changing market place.

Chicco KeyFit

Chicco is one manufacturer that nosotros've watched abound over the years. Their line of automobile seats has expanded to include something for children of all ages – rear facing only, convertible (NextFit), multimode (Fit4), and combination (MyFit) car seats, plus some well-fitting, crowd pleasing belt positioning booster seats (KidFit, GoFit). Despite this expansion in their product line, 1 machine seat that was designed for the tiny passengers has remained in the spotlight – the Chicco KeyFit thirty.  Join us for an updated look at this classic rear facing only car seat.

CSFTL Quick Stats

• Weight range: iv-30 pounds
• Tiptop range: less than 30 inches AND at to the lowest degree 1 inch of crush in a higher place the child's caput
• Handle position, Us: any locked position may be used in the vehicle
• Handle position, Canada: handle must exist in the locked "conduct" position in the vehicle
• Inflatable seat belts: non permitted
• Expiration: 6 years
• Chicco requires replacement afterward any crash

Measurements

• Crotch buckle positions: four inches
• Lowest harness position: half-dozen inches (with insert)
• Width at widest point (carrier handles): 17.5 inches
• Seat weight (carrier): 9.four pounds
• Base weight: 7 pounds

Features

Babe Inserts

Chicco KeyFit infant inserts

The Chicco KeyFit 30 has a two piece babe insert that includes a newborn positioner and a caput insert. The newborn positioner – the part the kid sits on – is optional for 4-11 pounds but must be removed no later than when the child weighs 11 pounds.

Chicco KeyFit babe insert

The head insert is optional at any weight as long as the harness is in i of the lower two sets of harness slots. Since the head insert requires threading through the slots to a higher place the harness, it can not be used if the harness is in the top set of slots.

Note: these inserts vary slightly between the trim levels.

Recline Foot

Chicco KeyFit recline pes adjuster

The KeyFit's recline foot is quite piece of cake to extend and retract.  When I'g teaching my car seat class, information technology amuses me to hold the base of operations up, squeeze the yellow buttons and scout the parents' faces as the recline foot extends.

Chicco KeyFit recline human foot extended

In most cases, this recline foot can be large plenty to make the KeyFit fit in a wide multifariousness of vehicles.

Recline Bending Indicator

Chicco KeyFit recline angle indicator

The base of the seat has a chimera style recline bending indicator with two arrows marking the allowed recline range.   We've plant this indicator quite easy to utilize.

Recline Angle Indicator: Groundless Mode

Chicco KeyFit basless recline bending indicator and FAA approval

The KeyFit can also exist installed without the base.  We'll discuss more of the hows and whys effectually this blazon of installation later but wanted to mention here that the recline angle indicator for baseless mode is a label with a red line on the side of the carrier itself.  This line must be level to the ground when the seat is installed without the base.

Notation Near the Recline Angle Indicator

• The closer to the back of the vehicle seat that the bubble is, the more reclined the seat will be.
• The closer to the front vehicle seat the bubble is, the more upright the seat will be.

While the bubble tin technically be anywhere between the two lines for a right installation, it'southward important to note: that small babies and infants those without head control would likely benefit from having the seat as reclined equally allowed to help with positioning and proper airway support.

Lockoff

Chicco KeyFit lockoff

When installing a machine seat with the vehicle seat belt, the belt must be locked in some way, either by vehicle seat belt's locking mechanism or with a lockoff device that's part of the automobile seat itself.  The KeyFit's lockoff remains among the easiest to utilize, it's just a conspicuously marked spot on the base where the seat belt slides in.  It'southward so like shooting fish in a barrel to use that caregivers tend to expect the lockoff on their kid'due south convertible car seat to exist as easy as i on the KeyFit! (Spoiler: that's not usually the example.)

Premium Lower Anchor Connectors

Chicco KeyFit lower anchor connectors

The Chicco KeyFit 30 includes premium lower anchor connectors that make installation simply a trivial bit easier by simply pushing on to the vehicle'southward lower ballast bar. These lower ballast connectors accept user-friendly, clearly marked storage spots located on either side of the base where they should be placed while not in use.

Handle Position

Chicco KeyFit 30 handle adjuster

The KeyFit 30'due south handle can be in any locked position while the seat is in the vehicle.  The handle adjusts quite easily by pushing the two orange buttons on either side of the handle at the same time.  We constitute that the handle didn't take hold of on the canopy the style some other rear facing merely motorcar seats practise.

In the U.s.a., the handle tin can be in whatsoever locked position.  In Canada, the handle must be in the locked "carry" position in the vehicle.

Installation

With the Base, Using Lower Anchors

Chicco KeyFit installed with lower anchors

To install the base with lower anchors start past removing each lower anchor connector from the storage spots on either side of the base. Place the base on the vehicle seat with the lower anchors towards back of the vehicle seat and adapt the recline pes equally needed to achieve the proper recline angle.

Connect the lower ballast connectors to the lower anchors in the vehicle seat bight. The larger portion of the connectors will exist on top, they volition click into place when they're securely attached.

Chicco KeyFit lower anchor release

To tighten the lower anchors, utilise house pressure with one paw to compress the base into the vehicle seat while pulling the lower anchor webbing on the top of the base with your other hand. Finally, confirm that the recline bubble is yet in the allowed range and that the base moves less than ane inch at the belt path.

Note: a rolled towel to help with the recline bending is non permitted when installing this seat with the base.  Other notation: the recline angle adjuster on the seat is oft sufficient to install the base at the correct angle.

With the Base of operations, Using the Vehicle Seat Chugalug

Chicco KeyFit installed with the vehicle seat belt

The Chicco KeyFit 30 base includes two yellowish lockoffs – ane on each side of the base. When installing the base with the vehicle seat belt, the lap portion of the belt should exist every bit snug as possible.  To do this, thread the vehicle seat belt through the clearly marked chugalug path, then buckle the seat chugalug.  Press downwardly on the base while removing the slack from the vehicle seat chugalug past pulling straight up.  Sometimes, calculation a fiddling pressure with a articulatio genus, pushing the base dorsum into the vehicle seat back helps with removing the slack.

Once the slack is removed from the lap portion of the seat belt, continue to proceed the pressure on the base and hold the seat belt in identify to retain that snug seat chugalug.  Then, slide the shoulder portion of the vehicle seat belt through the lockff on the opposite side of the base from the side where the seat belt is buckled.  The near common error we see is caregivers diligently working to use both lockoffs at once.  We commend their efforts but remind our readers that only the ane lockoff, on the reverse side of the buckle, should be used.

Chicco KeyFit lockoff

The lockoff will so hold the vehicle seat chugalug tight and keep the installation secure.  In most cases, we've institute that the KeyFit's lockoff helps to make vehicle seat belt installations a breeze!

Installation Without the Base of operations

Chicco KeyFit installed without the base of operations

The terminal mode to install the Chicco KeyFit 30 is without the base. This method is particularly beneficial when traveling!

To install the KeyFit 30 without the base, place the carrier portion on the seat with the foot end facing the rear of the vehicle. Locate the red recline angle line on the side of the carrier, and adjust the carrier until the line is parallel with the ground.

Next, thread the lap portion of the vehicle seat chugalug through the belt guides on each side of the carrier and buckle the belt. Lock the vehicle seat belt using the appropriate method for your vehicle and use firm pressure to the eye of the seat while removing the slack from the vehicle seat chugalug. Finally, confirm that the recline line is still parallel with the basis and the seat moves less than 1 inch at the belt path.

Notation: a rolled towel tin be tucked into the portion of the carrier underneath the child'southward feet to help with the recline bending is permitted when installing this seat without the base.

Fit to Kid

Newborn Doll

Chicco KeyFit newborn doll

Our Huggable Images newborn doll weighs 7 pounds and is 17 inches long.  The doll fits in the KeyFit 30 very well with the babe insert in and the optional head insert removed.

Newborn

Chicco KeyFit 30 newborn

This model couldn't accept been more pleased to be heading home in the Chicco KeyFit!  We tin see how well the seat fits this four day former, vi pound, twenty inch long model.

Newborn

Chicco KeyFit newborn

Our newborn homo is but 18 days one-time weighs eight pounds, and is twenty inches long.  With the lower torso insert and caput padding in place, the seat fit this kiddo very well from the start!

1 Month One-time

Chicco KeyFit 1 calendar month one-time

This adorable model is i month sometime. She weighs 9 pounds, 2 ounces and is 21 inches long. She is still plumbing equipment very well in the seat using the lowest prepare of harness slots and the body insert. When she weighs eleven pounds, that lower insert volition have to be removed.

six Months Erstwhile

Chicco KeyFit 6 months old

Our half-dozen month old model weighs 15 pounds, 8 ounces, and is almost 26 inches long.  The seat fits her well and she'southward got a chip of growing room left.

18 Months Old

Chicco KeyFit eighteen months old

This delightful xviii month one-time kiddo is on the tiny side at 21 pounds and 30 inches tall.  Only here she is, fitting into the KeyFit xxx!  She's at the very tiptop of the height limit but she does fit in the seat.   That'due south a rare thing for a rear facing only automobile seat.

Important Information: Where to Discover

Chicco KeyFit date of manufacture label

Date of Manufacture characterization: the seat expires later on half dozen years.  There's a label on the bottom of the base and on the bottom of carrier itself.  These labels include the expiration appointment equally well as the date of manufacture.

Chicco KeyFit FAA approving characterization

FAA Approving, U.s.a.: the Chicco KeyFit thirty is FAA canonical for use aboard shipping. This data, typed in red letters, can be found on the side of the carrier portion of the seat – most the red recline line.

Chicco KeyFit Canada NSM characterization

FAA Approving, Canada: the Chicco KeyFit 30 is FAA canonical for use aboard aircraft in Canada likewise.

Chicco KeyFit manual storage

Manual Storage: the possessor'due south transmission for the KeyFit xxx stores nicely in a modest compartment located on the front end of the base of operations. This compartment is also helpful for tiny items that demand to travel with you.  Note: the door often sticks a bit at first but does loosen up over fourth dimension.

Chicco KeyFit lower anchor storage

Lower Anchor Storage: each lower anchor connector has its own small storage compartment located on either side of the base.

Chicco KeyFit UAS storage

In Canada, the UAS storage is in the same location.  It's labelled UAS storage on one side of the seat and in French on the other side.

Overall Thoughts

The Chicco KeyFit 30 has been, and remains, a solid rear facing but selection. We've found that it works well in a wide variety of situations. It'due south easy to install and use correctly — the true benchmark of an excellent motorcar seat.  The low harness slots and optional inserts allow this seat to fit small babies well, while also providing enough of room to grow!   We've been a fan of this seat from our earliest days every bit an organization, that opinion has stood the test of time over the course of countless online and in-person automobile seat checks.

Source: https://csftl.org/chicco-keyfit-30-review/

Posted by: mullinsphly1984.blogspot.com

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