Thank you Chicco, a brand I’ve used and trusted for years, for sponsoring this post!
Since becoming pregnant with Harper over five years ago, I’ve been very passionate about car seat safety. I’ve educated myself about the importance of things like extended rear-facing and how to ensure your child has the correct seat with a secure install, which can be life-saving for babies and young children.
Harper remained rear-facing until age 4 and at 5, she’s now in a big girl car seat. We are proponents of keeping your child in a five-point harness until they max out the limits of the seat’s forward-facing harness mode and we recently switched Harper to a new seat – the Chicco MyFit LE Harness + Booster Seat.
Chicco was one of the first baby safety brands I was introduced to in my research and they’re a brand I trust, whose products I’ve used for years. Their KeyFit 30 infant car seat was one of my first big baby-related purchases and it’s what we took both Harper and Lincoln home from the hospital in.
Now that the kids are older and Harper is forward-facing, it was time to make the switch to a seat that can grow with her. Chicco approached me to test out their MyFit LE Harness + Booster seat and it was a no-brainer – it was the perfect next step. I love that you can use the five-point harness until your child reaches 65 lbs. and then the seat transitions to a belt-positioning booster. It’s a great way to save money – you don’t have to buy another seat when your child is ready to use the seat as a booster with the lap belt.
I love this seat because it has a steel-reinforced frame and duo-guard side impact protection – safety features that are important to us. Harper seems more comfortable in it too — it’s a little roomier than her last seat, while still being narrow enough to comfortably fit three across in most vehicles, and can accommodate a wide variety of seat angles for enhanced comfort. The Chicco MyFit is the only seat that reclines in both harness and seat belt mode! It also has cup holders which we’ve never had before and a snack holder with a lid, which is super convenient. I’ll admit that our kids don’t eat in the car very often, but it’s nice to have a space for them to store toys and trinkets.
Chicco’s child passenger safety advocate Courtney Barry also shared with me some of the most important takeaways to keep in mind when you’re choosing a car seat for your child:
Maturity plays a critical role in the type of booster seat you should be using with your child.
Before transitioning your child from a forward-facing convertible car seat to a belt-positioning booster seat, you must feel confident that they are mature enough to sit upright, without playing with their seat belt and accidentally shifting it into an unsafe position, for the duration of your trip. For children that are not quite there yet, manufacturers like Chicco have created transitional seats that are designed to not only keep children safer longer, but also prioritizes their comfort, like the MyFit LE Harness + Booster.
Harness boosters, like the MyFit LE, offer the safety benefits that come with having a 5-point harness.
Harness boosters, like the Chicco MyFit LE, offer added protection and security for little big kids that have outgrown their forward-facing convertible car seat but aren’t quite mature enough for a belt-positioning booster. This is because they utilize a 5-point harness, much like an infant or convertible car seat. The 5-point harness on harness boosters are designed with higher shoulder strap slots that allow taller children protection and security for longer, in a more comfortable position, until they are ready for the next step.
Know your options and what to look for when it comes to selecting a car seat.
The best car seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car and that you’ll be able to use correctly every time. Do your research to learn what your options are, as there can be several different car seat paths to take depending on the size of your child. Car seats like the Chicco MyFit LE can be a great option when a child is too tall for their forward-facing convertible car seat, but are not fully ready to use a booster seat. There are also many car seats that grow with your child, which can help save money without compromising safety. The MyFit LE does just that, as it easily converts to a belt-positioning booster to accommodate years of growing.
As a mom who is passionate about car seat safety, I’ve also learned a few tricks of my own over the years:
Install is critical
Chicco has an incredible online library of resources including step-by-step videos of how to install your seat. I always consult my car seat manual and watch the installation video to get a secure, tight install. The safest car seat for your child is one that meets their age, height and weight requirements and that is installed correctly. The MyFit LE is designed with smart functionality that makes it easy to install. A four-position ReclineSure leveling system and RideRight bubble levels help achieve and verify proper angle in the vehicle seat, while premium LATCH connectors, a SuperCinch one-pull tightener and LockSure belt-tightening system make it easy to achieve a tight and secure fit, either with LATCH or the vehicle seat belt.
Details matter
For forward-facing car seats, the five-point harness straps must be at or slightly above your child’s shoulders. The chest clip should not to too high or too low – I use “arm pit” level as a point of reference. These details may seem like no big deal, but that couldn’t be further from the truth – car seats only work as intended when they’re installed correctly and your child is strapped in properly.
The Chicco MyFit LE Harness + Booster is available online at ChiccoUSA.com and in stores for $249.99. A basic model of the MyFit, offering the same ease of use and comfort features, is also available for $199.99.
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