Chicco KeyFit 35 Review You Can Trust (Is It Really That Good?)

Chicco has long ago cemented its reputation in the industry with high-level engineering and an excellent quality-per-price ratio. I honestly doubt there's a parent who hasn't heard about their best-selling infant seat - Chicco KeyFit.

The following model, Chicco KeyFit 30, has lived up to the fame of its predecessor, and now, there's a new version to take over the throne - Chicco KeyFit 35.

In this article, you can read my honest Chicco KeyFit 35 review and find out all the positive and negative details about it, as well as where it stands in comparison to the two previous versions.

Cheers!

Chicco KeyFit 35 is a high-grade rear-facing infant car seat, the latest model in the KeyFit line. It offers extended rear-facing use and secure attachment due to the innovative anti-rebound bar.

The price: below $250

A Few Words About It:

This is a high-end infant car seat from Chicco, the upgrade of the popular Chicco KeyFit 30. It offers extended rear-facing use since it accommodates kids up to 35 pounds in weight and 32 inches in height. The overall design is very neat and stylish, and the good old installation features are all still incorporated.

It comes with premium non-toxic materials, with thick EPS foam for full-body support, and it's even suitable for preemies. The easy-extend headrest system with a no-rethread harness allows easy adjustments, while the new anti-rebound bar adds more stability.

General Features: Why Do People Choose Chicco KeyFit 35?

The integral change that Chicco made with the new KeyFit 35 model is the prolonged use since the seat has a maximum weight limit of 35 pounds, as opposed to the previous 30 pounds. I noticed that the seat does offer a little bit more room, especially in the leg area, so I do like the overall design.

The first thing I noticed about the Chicco KeyFit 35 is how easy it is to install. It offers two options, LATCH installation and seatbelt installation. Personally, I only used it with the base, but it's a good thing to have a backup option, especially when you're traveling and need to switch between the car seat and travel system.

When it comes to the installation itself, it literally took me a couple of minutes. I placed the base on the seat, pulled the lever to achieve the proper car seat angle, and when the bubble indicator was in the middle, I let it go. Then I inserted the two latch connectors into the seat anchor bars, tightened it up, and that was it.

I truly appreciate how sleek the design of the base is, the buttons and levers are very intuitive, and there's a compartment for the latch connectors, as well as the latch strap, so it's all very neat.

The seat clicks smoothly into the seat base, and there's a new slim anti-rebound bar that adds more stability and gives more leg room to your baby. We used to have Graco SnugFit 35 for our firstborn, but if you look at it, the bar on the Chicco model is way slimmer and better positioned.

Since this seat supports children up to 35 pounds, Chicco included a no-rethread harness to facilitate adjustments. I love this feature! The entire headrest slides up and down, along with the harness, which makes the adjustments literally effortless.

The infant inserts are very thick and ergonomic. They seem to conform to my baby's head and neck perfectly, which is a huge plus. And when the time comes, these inserts can be removed, and you can let the car seat grow with your baby. One useful piece of information is that you can replace the inserts since Chicco has these soft goods for free sale.

A big deal maker for us when it comes to this seat was the fact that it includes non-toxic materials. A lot of infant seats have fire retardants, and when we heard this one is completely free of them, we were sure this is the model for us.

So these are basically the things we love about this seat, but now I'll go through each feature in detail to give you a better view of the seat itself.

1. Safety

According to Baby Gear Lab, Chicco KeyFit 35 had above average crash results, scoring as the second-safest infant seat in the price range, right after Cybex Aton 2.

The seat is equipped with a five-point harness, thick EPS side impact protection, and an anti-rebound bar. This bar adds more stability to the seat and prevents it from moving in the case of an accident.

Due to intuitive installation features like center tightener, bubble indicator, leveling foot, and easy-to-connect latch connectors, the parents are more likely to install the seat properly, which is another plus on the safe side.

Moreover, the seat is FAA approved, so you can use it on a plane, the materials are non-toxic, and the canopy offers UPF 50+ sun protection.

Now, the seat was tested with a preemie doll, and it has proven suitable for babies under 5 pounds, which is another important safety feature.

2. Versatility

Now, this is a rear-facing car seat only, so it's not as versatile as convertibles which can be installed in a forward-facing mode as well. But, it does offer an extended rear-facing use, which, after all, is recommended by NHTSA. Without the base, you can use it as a car seat carrier. However, it is a bit heavy, so I struggle carrying it around for more than half an hour.

You're encouraged to use it as a travel system, as well, with compatible Chicco strollers. Chicco KeyFit Caddy Frame accepts it with a simple click-in attachment.

3. Portability

As I mentioned, this seat is on the heavier side. It weighs 10 pounds without the base, so I wouldn't recommend it as a travel-friendly option. Also, if you use it on a plane, you have to install it baseless, which is no problem due to the integrated European belt routing. However, the base doesn't fit the overhead compartment due to the anti-rebound bar, so it's not entirely convenient for flying.

For carpooling, though, this seat is perfect. Fitting three across will be no struggle since this model is very slim, especially for an infant seat.

4. Comfort

When it comes to comfort, this car seat is at the very top of the market. I genuinely think it comes with the highest-quality newborn positioner I've seen by far. The foam is very thick and soft; you can tell it just by pressing the inserts.

However, I did notice that my child gets very hot in the seat and sweats a lot, so I think the materials could be more breathable. I'm not a fan of mesh, but some breathable cotton overlay or perforated design could significantly change the game, at least I think so.

5. Maintenance

Just like the Keyfit 30, this infant car seat also has machine-washable covers. I didn't struggle to remove them, and the quality of the fabrics did not change after I washed them in the machine.

Also, I think Chicco seats are the only seats that offer the newborn positioner for free sale. This is great because you can renew the seat for your second child if it has been sitting in the garage or some storage for a while, or you gave it to someone while you were not using it.

6. Canopy

This model includes an oversize canopy with a sleek and sturdy design.

The secret is in double knit material that holds the structural integrity very well, preventing the canopy from being flimsy. The UPF 50+ protection offers unmatched sun resistance and keeps your little one safe.

However, I don't like the relation between the canopy and the handle, as it doesn't leave me enough space to hold the seat comfortably. It's slightly awkward.

Chicco KeyFit 35's Main Competitors

1. Chicco KeyFit 30 vs. KeyFit 35

The first and the very obvious difference between these two models is that the KeyFit35 extends the use of the seat since it accommodates children up to 35 pounds and 32 inches, as opposed to KeyFit 30 that accommodates kids up to 30 pounds and 30 inches.

The second, and again, very notable difference is the anti-rebound bar that the KeyFit 35 has. It offers extra stability, more legroom, but it doesn't take up any additional space. So it's a fantastic improvement.

The biggest pet peeve of most parents when it comes to Chicco KeyFit 30 was the harness. Therefore, the new version comes with a no-rethread harness that allows easy adjustments of the headrest and the harness with a simple pinch and glide mechanism.

Also, the canopy seems to have changed a little. It's sturdier due to double-knit fabric and offers full coverage with UPS 50+ sun protection.

Finally, the fabrics are also upgraded. The entire cover is still machine-washable, and it got a gold GreenGuard certification for low chemical admission. Also, the fabric seems more stylish and neat on Chicco KeyFit 35. What do you think?

On the other hand, Chicco KeyFit 35 is slightly heavier than the previous version. Also, due to the anti-rebound bar, the base doesn't fit the overhead compartment, so it's slightly inconvenient for flying.

2. KeyFit 35 vs Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 Elite

When it comes to these two models, the differences are honestly minimal. Both seats accommodate children between 4 and 35 pounds; both seats include anti-rebound bars, both have no-rethread harnesses, easy installment systems, and quick-lock systems.

The biggest functional difference is that Chicco KeyFit 35 offers more legroom due to the slimmer and more angled integrated anti-rebound bar.

On the other hand, while both seats have no-rethread harnesses, Graco's can be adjusted from the front while your child is in it. So it's a bit more user-friendly than the Chicco harness.

All in all, these two seats are almost identical; they even weigh the same and have the same price. So it eventually comes down to your personal choice between the two brands and the overall design of the seats because, functionally, the differences are genuinely minimal.

Comparison Table

Summary Point

1. Features I love about Chicco KeyFit 35

To sum everything up, I genuinely love Chicco KeyFit 35. It's one of the most intuitive, user-friendly, and functional car seats I have ever used for my kids.

The feature that made the biggest difference for me, personally, is the ease of installment. I love how intuitive it is. With the bubble indicators, I can always be sure I installed it at a proper angle, and due to the lever, it's so easy to move the leveling foot. Then, the connectors are simple to find and attach to the lower anchors, and the center tightener makes sure there's no slack between the seat and the base.

Since I'm obsessed with canopies, I can say that this double knit canopy is most definitely one of the sturdiest models I've seen, and It plays a huge role for me because I hate when they are flimsy or generally bad-quality.

Then, the infant insert is another exquisite addition. With this body positioner, I feel like my growing baby has a secure fit and feels comfortable. I can tell the foam inside is very thick when I press the newborn positioner, and when I read about the crash test performance, I knew this was the right choice.

On top of everything, this new integrated anti-rebound bar brings me peace of mind, and since It doesn't compromise my baby's comfort, it's a perfect addition.

2. The features I don't like

From all I've written so far, you can tell that I genuinely like this seat, and that's the case. I don't regret buying it, and I have no serious issues to complain about.

However, when it comes to small improvements that Chicco's next-generation infant seat could come with, the first in line is the carrier weight. I know infant car seats are generally heavier than convertibles; I do think the base plays a big role there. Since these seats come with a base, they naturally weigh more than convertibles.

But even without the base, Chicco KeyFit 35 weighs slightly over 10 pounds, so I cannot carry it around that easily, and it did represent a big obstacle for me.

The second challenge we faced was overheating. As I noted at the beginning, one of the main reasons why we bought this seat was the fabrics. We were going for something natural, and the GreenGuard certificate came as a perfect argument to choose this one.

However, the seat is not very breathable, and I noticed my child is sweating excessively and even overheats in the summer. I am not sure if this is the seat problem or our child has a high body temperature in general, but this was a great concern of mine. Maybe it's due to the thick padding that the seat retains the heat that much, i don't know. So I'd appreciate it if the materials could be slightly more breathable.

And the last negative comment I have is about the handle position. I don't think the handle is high enough for a canopy of this size. There is very little space between the handle and the canopy when I carry it, and it makes carrying very awkward. You can even see it on this picture of the seat on Amazon.

3. Useful resources

I try to contribute to our community as much as I can, but I also appreciate when I read some useful info on other moms' blogs, and especially if I see some entertaining video or well-recorded review on YouTube.

Here, I will paste some useful links I have found which may help you with the installation or removal of the soft goods, covers, and whatnot. Check them out.

1. How to install the Chicco KeyFit 35 without the base: The official Chicco video demonstration

2. How to install Chicco KeyFit 35 with the base, using the LATCH connectors and the lower anchors: The official Chicco video demonstration

3. How to secure a child in the Chicco KeyFit 35 infant car seat: The official Chicco video demonstration

4. How to remove the soft goods on Chicco KeyFit 35 infant seat: The official Chicco video demonstration

5. How forward-facing cars eats perform in crashes vs. how rear-facing car seats perform in crashes.

FAQs

How long can I use the Chicco KeyFit 35?

If you refer to the bottom of the carrier and the base, you'll notice the manufacture date. According to Chicco's instructions, you should discontinue the use of the car seat seven years after the manufacture date.

When it comes to how long your child should be using the seat, it's until they reach 35 pounds or 32 inches, whichever comes first.

What is the difference between KeyFit 30 and 35?

KeyFit 30 and 35 have a few notable differences, for example, the price. KeyFit 30 is more affordable because it is an older model and has a lower weight capacity.

Namely, it maxes out at 30 pounds, while KeyFit 35 accommodates children up to 35 pounds.

Another difference is the anti-rebound bar that KeyFit 35 comes with. It adds more stability to the seat and improves the safety features, so this seat performed better in the crash test than KeyFit 30. KeyFit 30, on the other hand, is lighter and more travel-friendly.

Is the Chicco KeyFit 35 airline approved?

Not only that Chicco KeyFit 35 is airline approved, but it is also incredibly easy to install on an airplane. It has the LockSure steel-reinforced belt system that allows you to install it with the seatbelt only, and it can still securely accommodate your baby. For that reason, it's very intuitive and easy to install it on an airplane but bear in mind that the base doesn't fit the overhead compartment.

Can you use the Chicco KeyFit 35 without the base?

As I just explained, due to the LockSure system, this car seat can be installed without the base. It's very easy to pull the seatbelt through the belt path and firmly secure everything.

Look at it and notice that there's a belt path in the front and also a belt path in the back to help you achieve even more stability and a higher level of safety, even when you're installing the seat without the base. This is very convenient when you're driving with taxis, or you switch between your car and the stroller a lot.

Does the KeyFit 35 fit in the KeyFit 30 base?

Unfortunately, these two seats cannot be used with the same base. Although they are practically the same, there are some differences in the base design and car seat shape that make KeyFit 35 incompatible with the KeyFit 30's base. However, both these seats are compatible with the Chicco stroller frame, so if you used to have KeyFit and want to buy KeyFit 35 for your second child, at least you can reuse the stroller frame.

Final Thoughts

All in all, I can say I am more than satisfied with my Chicco KeyFit 35. I genuinely think it's the most intuitive infant car seat I've seen on the market, and even the newbie parents will get a hold of it in no time.

The crash test results are definitely the best indicator of the safety features, so with this seat, you don't have to worry about whether you made a good decision.

The installation is a piece of cake, and if you need to use it without the base, you can.

The only inconvenience you might have with this seat is overheating. So if your baby is a summer child, and you don't think he/she handles the heat very well, avoid this model.