Whether you’re still deciding which car seat to choose or you are an experienced car seat shopper and know what you're looking for – we've got you covered! We created this page to help our customers feel confident they can select the best car seat for their child. Luckily, every Chicco car seat is expertly engineered for comfort, safety, and peace of mind. Our world-class innovation and user-friendly touchpoints make our car seats easy to install and use. Start shopping for the best car seat to secure your infant or toddler.
Chicco has been trusted as one of the best car seat brands for parents worldwide over the last 60 years, thanks to products like our KeyFit® Infant Car Seat. Innovative features like the RideRight™ bubble level indicators or the SuperCinch® force-multiplying LATCH tightener have made Chicco car seats the easiest to install accurately and securely – every time! Many of our car seats are designed to grow with your child through various stages of use for a more convenient and affordable option. We are also committed to creating sustainable products that are gentler on the planet and your child. Explore the best car seats for newborns, babies, toddlers, and kids from Chicco.
Rear-Facing Only
Starting with that first trip home from the hospital, a rear-facing infant car seat cradles your newborn throughout all their earliest outings. An infant car seat is rear-facing only and typically consists of two parts – a removable carrier with an adjustable handle and a stay-in-car base. However, newer baseless models are available. An additional, removable head and body support makes this an ideal car seat for newborns. Designed for easy portability, infant car seats can go to and from the car, clicking directly into a stroller, without unbuckling or disturbing your baby. Our infant car seats are top-rated and built for everyday convenience, clicking directly into all Chicco travel system-ready strollers.
Rear-Facing + Forward-Facing
A rotating convertible car seat provides all the benefits of a convertible car seat with the added convenience of 360-degree rotation. The rotational feature allows you to turn the car seat to face your direction, providing an optimal experience to comfortably secure your child in the seat and just as comfortably remove them from the seat when your ride is complete. This child car seat is used in rear-facing mode for infants and toddlers and simply rotates to forward-facing when height or weight requirements are met. Rotating convertible car seats stay in the car. They do not click into strollers. The Chicco Fit360™ ClearTex® Rotating Convertible Car Seat is designed with the innovative LeverLock™ Self-Tensioning Lock System for a confident, stable vehicle belt installation.
Rear-Facing + Forward-Facing + Booster
An all-in-one car seat is designed for easy transitions throughout all stages of your child’s car seat journey. Providing all the benefits of a convertible car seat, an all-in-one offers extended use through booster mode. These seats stay in the car as they do not click into a base or stroller. Chicco all-in-one car seats deliver premier fit and comfort for children between 4-100 pounds and up to 57 inches and give parents peace of mind for years to come!
Forward-Facing + Booster
As your toddler grows into a big kid, a Harness + Booster car seat provides extended five-point harness security with built-in transition to a belt-positioning booster. Use the integrated 5-point harness until your child meets the height and weight requirements —and is at least 4 years old—to buckle up using the vehicle seat belt. Chicco harness booster car seat features like 4-position recline, integrated bubble levels and LATCH install make installation simple while the adjustable headrest system provides comfort and security for your growing child.
High-Back Booster + Backless Booster
Once your big kid graduates from their five-point harness, give them the boost they need to use the vehicle seat belt safely and comfortably with a belt-positioning booster. To use a booster, children must be at least 4 years old, 40 pounds and 44 inches tall and can sit relatively still in the same seated position throughout the car ride. There are two types of belt-positioning booster seats – high-back and backless. A high-back booster offers head and torso protection plus belt guides to position the vehicle seat belt. A backless booster is a lightweight, portable option that positions your child so they can be properly secured by the vehicle seat belt. Chicco boosters feature an ErgoBoost® contoured seat with double foam padding and two dishwasher-safe cup holders.
All Chicco infant car seats come with one stay-in-car base and the option to purchase bases for additional vehicles separately. Designed for easy portability, the infant car seat can easily click in and out of the stay-in-car base without disturbing your baby. The Chicco Fit360™ Rotating Convertible Car Seat also offers a separate base that can be installed in another vehicle, providing the convenience of transferring only the seat when you need to switch vehicles.
The best car seat depends on your child’s age, weight, height, and maturity level. Here’s a general guideline:
Always follow your car seat and vehicle manuals, and review state laws and safety guidelines to ensure proper use.
There are two types of car seats that can be used for newborn through toddler (or even big kid) stage. A convertible car seat can be used in rear-facing mode for infants and toddlers and converts to forward-facing when height or weight requirements are met. An all-in-one car seat provides the same benefits as a convertible car seat with extended use through booster mode for bigger kids.
Yes, car seats do have an expiration date set by the manufacturer. Every car seat and base has an expiration date assigned for several reasons, including ensuring that car seats do not stay in circulation over a long period of time. Over time, technology improvements are added, standards are upgraded, and ease-of-use features are introduced. In addition, the longer a car seat is in circulation, the higher the chance that it becomes compromised due to a crash incident, lost or broken parts, or missing instructions.
A car seat and base must always be replaced if it has been involved in a vehicle crash. This is true even if there is no visible damage or defects to the car seat. A car seat with even minor damage may no longer be able to protect your infant or child in a future crash, so make sure to replace it with a new one whenever an accident occurs. We recommend contacting your vehicle insurance company regarding replacement of your car seat.
Car seat safety standards in the United States are established by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to help ensure proper protection for children in a crash. All Chicco car seats are tested to meet or exceed U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. This includes crash testing as well as making sure each component meets all federal requirements for car seats.
There are multiple factors to consider, the most important being a rear seat location that allows you to properly install your car seat and easily secure your child. See the recommendations from NHTSA.gov.
Car seats offer many features and options. Before making a purchase, decide which car seat features are most important to your family. Most importantly, the car seat should be appropriate for your child’s height, weight, and age. Other car seat features to consider include easy-to-remove zip-off fabrics, UPF-rated canopies, no-rethread harnesses, air mesh, or chemical-free fabrics.
Car seat installation using LATCH or the vehicle seat belt are both good options, as long as you get a good, tight installation. Do not use both the vehicle seat belt and LATCH at the same time. When installing car seats, you should also make use of the top tether whenever possible. Consult your car seat product manual to ensure that installation with LATCH is an option based on the child weight limit for use. You must also check your vehicle manual to confirm appropriate LATCH seating positions.
The Chicco KeyFit® 30 is a top-rated infant car seat with a long history of millions of users and positive consumer reviews. The Chicco KeyFit® Max is the newest version of the KeyFit infant car seat, released in 2025. Both car seats are designed for rear-facing use, with the KeyFit® Max accommodating baby’s growth up to 30 lbs and 32", compared to 30 lbs and 30" for the KeyFit® 30. In addition, the KeyFit® Max includes adjustable head support with a no-rethread harness.
All infant car seats can be installed without a base.
A car seat is usually installed correctly when it feels secure in the vehicle seat and does not move more than one inch from side to side or front to back at the belt path. Installation usually involves using either the LATCH system or the vehicle seat belt, not both at the same time, along with the top tether when required. Checking both your car seat and vehicle manuals can help confirm you’re following the right steps. For additional help, read our car seat installation guide.
Children should remain rear-facing for as long as their car seat allows, up to the maximum height or weight limits listed by the manufacturer. This is because rear-facing seats are designed to better support a child’s head, neck, and spine during a collision.
Children should transition to the next car seat stage only after outgrowing the height or weight limits of their current seat. Each stage is designed to support children at a specific point in their growth, and moving to the next stage too early may reduce the level of support provided. Explore our guide to car seat stages to better understand when transitions typically happen.
Some car seats can be used on airplanes, but not every model is approved for aircraft use. A label on the car seat will note if it’s approved, and check your airline’s policies before traveling. For more information, see our blog on flying with a car seat.
Keeping a car seat clean starts with following the manufacturer’s instructions. This usually includes specific steps for washing fabrics, wiping down harness components, and checking the seat for signs of wear over time. For step-by-step instructions, read our car seat cleaning guide.