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Chicco Fit4 Review (2021): Super Easy to Install + Solid Safety + Stylish Design

January 6, 2021 by Sam Webster Leave a Comment

Chicco Fit4 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat | Easiest All-in-One from Infant to Booster | 10 Years of Use - Stratosphere

Please click image for more info

In our Chicco Fit4 review, we do a deep-dive into Chicco’s latest convertible car seat model.

Here’s a quick rundown of this model:

  • The Chicco Fit4 has one of the safest, and most consistent ratings of any car seat currently available
  • The seat is designed to be extremely simple for parents to use. The SuperCinch Latch tightener ensures tightening the straps is easy. These straps can be smoothly placed between the legs of the child. Parents will not experience any difficulty either clipping or unclipping the buckles.
  • This model provides parents with different modes to ensure the Fit4 is appropriate for babies a minimum of four pounds to children a maximum weight of 100 pounds. The seat is suitable until your child is approximately 10 years of age.
  • Nine recline adjustments are available for both the front and rear-facing options. The headrest can be easily adjusted to 10 different positions.

In sum, the Chicco Fit4 offers parents a modern and stylish convertible car seat, with comfort and safety for your child.

Now let’s get into the details!

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Quick Navigation
Chicco Fit4 Overview
Chicco Fit4 Video Overview
Chicco Fit4 Specs
Chicco Fit4 Features
Who is the Chicco Fit4 Most Suitable For?
What is Included with the Chicco Fit4?
Pros and Cons of the Chicco Fit4
Chicco Fit4 Installation
Chicco Fit4 Manufacturer's Manual
Chicco Fit4 vs Chicco Nextfit
Babylist's Chicco Fit4 Review
The Bottom Line

Chicco Fit4 Overview

Chicco Fit4 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat | Easiest All-in-One from Infant to Booster | 10 Years of Use - Stratosphere

The Fit4 offers four different stages for transition. The first is the rear-facing stage for infants between four and 16 pounds. The second is the rear-facing stage for toddlers between 12 and 40 pounds. The third stage is rear-facing for preschoolers between 25 and 65 pounds. The final stage is the booster for children between 40 and 100 pounds.

The car seat includes protection for side and head-impacts called DuoGuardA. A frame reinforced with steel, and energy absorbent EPS foam surrounds the torso and head for all stages. Nine different reclining positions are available with ReclineSure. Adjustments are quick and simple. The headrest offer 10 positions to help prevent the head of the child from falling forward during a collision or a nap.


Chicco Fit4 Video Overview


Chicco Fit4 Specs

  • Rear-facing for children between four and 40 pounds with a height up to 43 inches
  • Forward-facing for children between 25 and 65 pounds with a height up to 54 inches
  • Booster for children between 40 and 100 pounds with height between 38 and 57 inches
  • No-rethread harness offers 10 positions for height
  • Chest clip with two positions
  • Crotch strap with two buckle positions
  • The Chicco Fit4 can be used until the child is roughly 10
  • Steel-reinforced frame
  • Fabric is removable and machine washable
  • Nine recline positions
  • FitKit system provides an insert series covering every stage
  • Shell storage for the buckle, chest clip and harness for the booster stage
  • Latch SuperCinch tightening system with push-on connectors
  • Smooth base preventing damage to the upholstery
  • Lockoff for both forward and rear-facing stages
  • Removable, flexible, and dishwasher safe CupFolders or cups
  • Rear-facing, forward-facing and booster stages have a liquid bubble indicator
  • Headwings and sides are lined with EPS foam for energy absorption
  • Tallest harness height between 18.5 and 19 inches
  • Lowest harness height is eight inches without insert or 6.5 with
  • Four and six-inch crotch strap positions
  • Maximum height for shoulder belt in booster stage is 21 inches
  • Depth of the seat pan is 14.5 inches
  • Widest point of the seat width is 19 inches
  • Weight of the car seat is 25 pounds

Chicco Fit4 Features

Safety Features

  • Both the seat and manual are color-coded for all four stages. This makes it much easier for parents to understand which mode is correct for the child to ensure safety.
  • The Chicco Fit4 has been approved by the FAA for use on an airplane in harness mode only. The label showing approval can be found beneath the seat of the Fit4. The FAA has not approved any car seats in booster mode or actual boosters for use on an airplane. This is because both shoulder and lap belts are required for booster seats. Only lap belts are currently available on airplanes.
  • According to the manufacturer's label, the car seat has a lifespan of 10 years.

Design Features

  • Chicco’s FitKit system includes padded inserts for infant and toddler rear-facing, preschool front-facing and the big kid booster.The kit includes one pad for the first stage, one pad for the second stage, a headrest for stages one and two, and an optional belt pad for the stage four booster.

Installation Features

  • The QR Assist website is a new feature from Chicco. Installation and information videos are available for every stage. The manufacturer has included a tag on the car seat containing the Fit4Stages.com website and QR code. Parents simply scan the code for website access. The QR code is also located in the user manual, and on the side of the car seat.
  • The excellent SuperCinch technology of the previous models has been duplicated for installing the lower anchors. The system is two-sided with clear markings located on both sides of the webbing for the lower anchor.
  • The car seat has two different areas located on the indicator for the recline angle. Both are appropriate for installing the rear-facing stage provided the ground is level. The recline area for stage one is light blue. This is appropriate for a child between four and sixteen pounds. The marking for stage two is dark blue. This is suitable for children between 12 and 40 pounds. There is also a level line in addition to the indicator. This is a belt path for the rear-facing stage parents can use as an effective backup.

Usage Features:

  • Chicco refers to the included cupholders as CupFolders. This means the cups are foldable. Parents will enjoy the convenience of the additional space for other car seats gained by folding the cups.
  • The chest clip offers the same two positions as the other models. When the car seat is in harness mode, there are no restrictions for either placement.
  • The portion of the car seat located beneath the child's thighs is called the seat pan. The measurement from the back to the front is approximately 15 inches. This provides more support for the thighs in the forward-facing stage, and more legroom in the rear-facing stage. The room on the seat pan exceeds most car seats by two inches, with an additional inch of legroom.
  • The buckle pad for the crotch is different than the majority of Chicco car seats due to the set of padding provided with the FitKit. This enables parents to easily slide the pad on or off.
  • Chicco has not made any changes to the storage for the top tether from previous models. The efficient storage is located on the back of the car seat's shell.
  • There are two different positions for the crotch buckle. The crotch buckle can be moved simply by pulling the cover back from the front of the car seat. The buckle then slides through the slot located in the cover. There is an orange button placed on the side for opening the door to the crotch buckle. Once open, parents can move the crotch buckle easily to the correct position.

The door to the crotch buckle is then closed, so the buckle can be threaded through the correct slot located in the cover. The cover is then replaced onto the shell of the Chicco Fit4.


Who is the Chicco Fit4 Most Suitable For?

Chicco Fit4 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat | Easiest All-in-One from Infant to Booster | 10 Years of Use - Stratosphere

The car seat is suitable for different heights and weights depending on the mode selected. The rear-facing mode can be used for new babies only five pounds until the child is 45 pounds. The forward-facing mode includes a five-point harness for children a maximum of 65 pounds. The booster seat is designed for a child from 50 to 120 pounds. The height limit for all three modes is 44 inches.


What is Included with the Chicco Fit4?

The car seat includes:

  • Foldable cupholders
  • Removable and machine-washable cover
  • FitKit padding for every stage
  • Latch installation

The manufacturer offers a range of accessories for the Fit4 as well.


Pros and Cons of the Chicco Fit4

Pros

  • Easy transitioning between stages
  • Belts will not twist easily
  • Parents do not need a lot of strength to achieve a snug fit
  • Accommodates a good range of children from newborn babies to a larger child
  • SuperCinch latch offers easy installation
  • Harness straps are easy to loosen or tighten
  • Layers are machine washable
  • Smooth bottom protects the vehicle upholstery
  • Additional padding and premium fabrics provide extra comfort
  • Inserts and covers and machine washable
  • FF and RF lockoffs for use with vehicle seatbelts
  • Color-coded stage markings
  • Harness straps are difficult to twist
  • Cupholders push in easily
  • Ideal recline angle due to nine available positions
  • Seat storage for the buckle and harness when the car seat is in the booster stage

Cons

  • Newborn seats are not detachable for portability
  • The Chicco Fit4 is not able to be used with a stroller
  • Some users have found the storage of unnecessary layers inconvenient
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Chicco Fit4 Installation

Tutorial installation videos are available at:


Chicco Fit4 Manufacturer's Manual

The manufacturer's manual is available at:

Click to download Chicco Fit4 manual here.


Chicco Fit4 vs Chicco Nextfit

Chicco Fit4 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat | Easiest All-in-One from Infant to Booster | 10 Years of Use - Stratosphere

VS

Chicco NextFit Zip Convertible Car Seat, Nebulous

There are some notable differences between the NextFit and Fit4 car seats. Despite both models being a convertible car seat, there are differences in the way the child can ride. The Chico NextFit offers two different ways to ride, but there are four options with the Chicco Fit4. The Fit4 also provides both a booster mode, and a rear-facing stage for infants.

The Fit4 provides a rear-facing stage appropriate for taking a baby weighing a minimum of four pounds home from the hospital with a maximum weight limit of 16 pounds. Although the NextFit does include a removable positioner for newborn babies a minimum of five pounds, the rear-facing stage for the Fit4 is much more advanced. The Fit4 is also convertible to a booster with a high back for a child between 40 and 100 pounds.

Both models are equipped with numerous positions for the headrest. The headrest position for the Fit4 is more advanced than the NetFit. The Fit4 provides a headrest adjustable to ten different positions, while the NextFit only offers nine. There is a foldable cup holder standard on both sides of the Fit4, but there is only one cup holder with the NextFit.

The seat pad for both models can be removed and machine washed. The difference with the NextFit is the seat pad is zip-and-wash. This means the pad is more easily and conveniently removable for cleaning. One of the major differences between the two models is the price tag. The cost of the Fit4 is higher than the NextFit. Due to the consistent changes in both models as time passes, the price will change.

For parents interested in a great option offering excellent safety and comfort, both the Fit4 and NextFit are good choices. Due to the added padding, inserts, and extras, the Chicco Fit4 is worth the additional cost. Parents will appreciate the simplicity of switching from one stage to another. The Fit4 also lasts for a longer period of time due to the booster stage.


Babylist's Chicco Fit4 Review


The Bottom Line

Convertible car seats such as the Chicco Fit4 are one of the most popular options for parents. Even if the parents prefer purchasing a separate infant seat, the Fit4 is still an excellent option because the car seat offers peace of mind until the child is approximately 10 years old. Parents purchasing the Fit4 once the child is a little older will still benefit from the ease of installation and longevity.

The Fit4 is one of the easiest car seats to install regardless of the stage required. The child remains suitable for the booster mode provided they remain in the range of the angle indicator. This makes determining the correct stage for the child very simple. The leveling system, nine reclining positions, and headrest offering ten positions including a no-rethread harness make the car seat extremely versatile.

Chicco Fit4 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat | Easiest All-in-One from Infant to Booster | 10 Years of Use - Stratosphere

Radian 3RXT (click image for more info)

Parents will enjoy the additional features including the removable and collapsible cup holders, two buckle positions for the crotch, and approval of the FAA for all stages except the booster mode. All of the instructions, fasteners, and adjustments are simple and intuitive. The easy installation combines with the longevity to make the Fit4 car seat an excellent choice for parents.

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Chicco NextFit Zip Convertible Car Seat Review (2021)

Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat Review (2021): Easy to Install & Rated Highly for Safety

Chicco Nextfit Sport vs Britax Marathon Clicktight: Features, Pros & Cons, and How to Choose

Chicco MyFit Harness and Booster Car Seat Review (2021)

Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 Belt Positioning Booster Car Seat Review (2021): A Worthwhile Investment that Grows with Your Child

Britax vs Chicco: Features, Pros & Cons, and How to Choose

Sam Webster

With two kids of my own, I’m passionate about child safety! I’m a research nerd who’s on a mission to make the world a safer place for kids – starting with car seats!

To contact me directly please click here.

Filed Under: Chicco

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Hey! I’m Sam, mom of Sadie and Xavier.

When I started searching for a convertible car seat I was overwhelmed by the choices out there.

But being a research nerd, I relished the challenge of finding the best seat for my needs. And in the process, I gathered a ton of info!

Read More About Me

SafeConvertibleCarSeats is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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