Leaving the house when you’ve had a baby is a rewarding break but it can also be quite a challenge. Keys, cellphone, baby bag, and oh wait, you now need a car seat too.
In this review, we examine the Chicco Keyfit 30 Vs Graco Snugride 35 which are both easy to install infant car seats. While the Chicco Keyfit 30 stands out for me, they each have much to offer. Let’s explore further, shall we?
A Quickfire Round: Chicco Vs Graco Car Seat
Chicco Keyfit 30
The Chicco Keyfit 30 is one among many car seat options offered by the Chicco Baby brand. Compared to its counterparts the Keyfit 30 Zip and the Keyfit 30 Zip Air, I would say that the Chicco Keyfit 30 is an entry-level model. Still, it is packed with lots of features and is a fair deal for its price.
The Keyfit 30 is a rear-facing infant car seat that would work well for babies weighing 4 to 30 pounds and up to 30 inches in height. It is super easy to install with helpful features like Supercinch technology to tighten the LATCH system and bubble level indicators.
The overall build of the car seat is equally of good quality with a lovely compact design that I would be happy to carry around.
Upon purchase, you would receive:
- The Chicco Keyfit 30 infant car seat
- A two-piece baby positioner cushion
- An installation base
- EASIEST INFANT CAR SEAT TO INSTALL – Simple, accurate and secure installation – every time – with two bubble-level indicators and spring-loaded leveling foot for proper base angle in vehicle seat and premium LATCH connectors for easy attachment.
- COMPATIBLE WITH CHICCO STROLLERS – Infant car seat clicks securely into the stay-in-car base and compatible Chicco strollers for a convenient car seat and stroller combo. A two-position carry-handle and one-hand release make it easy to remove.
- TOP-RATED INFANT CAR SEAT – Innovative SuperCinch Force-Multiplying LATCH Tightener helps achieve a secure fit in the vehicle and the carrier shell is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for improved impact protection
Graco Snugride Snuglock 35
The variety of car seats and strollers from Graco is quite vast and entails innovative options like 3-in-1 designs. The Graco Snugride Snuglock 35 is not as adventurous but is a great option if you are in search of your first car seat for your baby.
It is a rear-facing infant seat that is generously built to accommodate your tot weighing 4 to 35 pounds and until they are 32 inches tall.
The installation process is swift and can be done using either a seat belt or LATCH technology. The unique Graco Snuglock technology makes it easy to secure the base in place and the level indicators will help you get the angle right.
Moreover, the base can be reclined in 4 different levels to find a safe and comfortable installation position.
In the Graco Snugride 35 package, you will find:
- A Graco Snugride 35 car seat
- An infant cushion insert
- An installation base
Pros:
- Lightweight design
- Generous weight and height limits
- Unique adjustable base
- Easy to install
Cons:
- Manual effort is required to tighten the LATCH
- The seat fabric does not breathe well
- SnugLock Technology: Installs in less than one minute using vehicle seat belt or LATCH
- Helps protect rear-facing infants from 4-35 lb and up to 32"
- Adjustable base with 4 recline positions lets you customize fit to your vehicle
Chicco Vs Graco Infant Car Seat Features
Convenient functional car seat features are worth their weight in gold. They make commutes with your baby stress-free and could even encourage you to get out more postpartum which is great for your wellness.
To get a better grasp of these two car seats, let’s look under their canopies and see what they have to offer.
Ease of Installation
Installing the Chicco Keyfit 30 using the LATCH system requires minimal effort from you. You would simply place the base on the vehicle seat and adjust it using the button-press level recliner.
The bubble level indicators will show you when the angle is right then you can click in the LATCH and pull the Supercinch tightener to secure the connection. The car seat easily clicks onto the base when you are ready to go.
On the Graco Snugride 35, once you place the base on the vehicle seat, you can adjust it to one of 4 recline levels. I find this helpful in making the car seat fit well in different car models.
The level indicators will tell you when you have a feasible angle then you can engage the LATCH system. You would have to tighten the connection manually until you feel the base become stable.
It is recommended that you slide the Graco Snugride car seat onto the base until you hear a click. Unfortunately, the seat can sometimes click even when it is not properly secured.
Top Pick: I would go with the Chicco Keyfit 30 on this. It seems to almost install itself. The false click of the Graco Snugride 35 can be risky especially if you fail to check that the car seat is securely attached to the base.
Weight and Height Limits
The Chicco Keyfit 30 has weight limits of 4 to 30 pounds and a maximum height stipulation of 30 inches. The Graco Snugride 35, on the other hand, can safely hold 4 to 35 pounds of baby weight and has a height limit of 32 inches.
Top Pick: the generous provisions of the Graco Snugride 35 would serve your baby longer.
Infant Car Seat Weight
The Chicco Keyfit 30 weighs about 9 pounds while the Graco Snugride 35 is approximately 7.5 pounds heavy. Both are in the lightweight spectrum but the Graco infant car seat would certainly require less effort.
The weight of a car seat often seems like a negligible detail but in the long run, it affects your mobility. A heavy car seat will get even heavier with your baby in it and could be harder to carry.
Moving it between cars might also prove challenging, especially for moms after birth when your back is still in recovery.
Top Pick: Graco Snugride 35 wins in this aspect.
Seat Material
Both of these infant car seats are made using fabric that breathes quite poorly. The problem with this is that during hot weather, the sweaty feeling induced by fabric with low breathability can get rather uncomfortable.
You could perhaps try and keep the air conditioning running to mitigate this but hopefully, both brands will soon look into this.
Top Pick: None of them wins this round but there is lots of room for either to redeem themselves.
Stroller and Travel System Compatibility
The Chicco Keyfit 30 is compatible with Chicco Baby strollers and requires no adapters. You would simply click the car seat onto the stroller and be on your way with the travel system. In contrast, you would need adapters to make alternative stroller brands compatible with a Chicco Keyfit 30 infant car seat.
Graco Click Connect designs are the only baby strollers compatible with Graco Snugride 35. This too is a click-and-go setup that is easy to use. Pairing the Graco Snugride with other Graco stroller editions or strollers from other brands would require adapters.
Top Pick: The Chicco Keyfit 30 is compatible with more in-brand options and thus offers more flexibility than the Graco infant seat.
Ease of Cleaning
For such tiny adorable people, babies can be quite messy. As such, a car seat that you can easily clean is a plus. While the structures of these infant car seats are not the same, both their covers can be removed for cleaning.
Their canopies and other non-removable components are also made of easy-to-clean fabric that can be spot cleaned with some mild detergent and water. This is a feature you will thank heaven for when they learn to squeeze juice boxes or try to use their feeding bottle as a toy.
Top Pick: Both are equally easy to clean.
Canopy Coverage
In comparing the Graco vs Chicco infant car seat, I noticed that both their canopies offer limited coverage. If the sun is out in all its glory, only the upper part of your baby’s body would be covered because the canopies do not stretch too far ahead.
Due to this, navigating hot weather might be a bit of a challenge more so given as the seat fabric is not heat-friendly.
It is, however, worth noting that the Keyfit 30 Zip and Keyfit Zip Air offer much better canopy coverage along with visors. The canopies can also be zipped away when not in use.
Top Pick: This too is a Graco Snugride 35 vs Chicco Keyfit 30 tie as they both fall short. They would, nevertheless, work well if you live in a cool climate area or do not go out in the sun too often.
Safety Features
The car seat shell of the Chicco Keyfit 30 is lined with Expanded Polystyrene foam or EPS foam. This provides two layers of protection against impact thereby minimizing any injuries to your baby during a car crash. Additionally, the 5-point harness of the Keyfit 30 has an easy-to-use quick-pull tightener to help you properly secure your child.
The Graco Snugride Snuglock 35 also has an EPS foam-lined shell for optimal protection. So much so that this seat has excelled at all impact crash tests just as much as the Chicco Keyfit 30. Its 5-point harness is equally as effective save for the fact that it has no automatic adjust feature.
For low-weight babies, both these infant seats offer an insert to support their body posture for comfort and the harness to fit right.
Top Pick: The Chicco Keyfit 30 has a slight edge over the Graco here due to its easily adjustable harness and cozy two-piece infant insert.
Chicco Keyfit 30 Vs Graco Snugride 35 Review Summary
Distinct Features to Look Forward to
The ergonomic handle of the Keyfit 30 won my heart over. In my first few months as a mom, a day out with my daughter would often see me get back home with a bruised hand. Our car seat handle was super uncomfortable.
You can avoid this with the Chicco Keyfit 30 ergonomic carrier handle. Plus you can use it in 2 different positions depending on what works best for you.
Chicco Keyfit 30 vs Graco Snugride SnugLock 35 Review FAQs
Which is the better infant car seat, Graco or Chicco?
The best car seat for your baby can only be determined by your needs and parenting preferences. However, if I were shopping for my child, I would choose the Chicco Keyfit 30. It is easy to use, well-built, and compatible with numerous strollers.
Is the Graco SnugRide 35 better for travel than the Chicco KeyFit 30?
In terms of being lightweight and portable, the Graco Snugride 35 is better than the Chicco Keyfit 30. However, both of these infant car seats are FAA-approved for air travel.
What are the alternatives to the Chicco Keyfit 30 vs Graco Snugride SnugLock 35 car seats?
If I had to choose alternatives to these two car seats, I would consider:
- Britax B-Safe 35 infant car seat– This rear-facing infant car seat has weight limits of 4-35lbs and a height limit of 32 inches. It is easy to install with lots of assistive features for both LATCH and seat belt installation.
Its safety features include a strong steel build, SafeCell technology, and side-impact protection. On price, it is in the same range as the Chicco Keyfit 30. - Baby Trend Secure Snap Tech 35– this too is an infant car seat recommended for babies weighing 4-35lbs and measuring 32 inches. It is easy to install, has a no-rethread harness, and an ergonomic Delta multi-grip handle.
Its canopy is large and provides adequate protection. The 5-point harness and side-impact protection will equally keep your baby shielded at all times. This car seat is priced lower than the Graco and Chicco infant car seats on this review.
Conclusion
The first time I bought a car seat, I went for one with all the fancy features I could find. I know better now. Practical features that keep my baby safe and comfortable are much more important.
With this in mind, the Chicco infant car seat may be ideal if you:
- Prefer an easy-to-install car seat
- Do not mind the low weight and height limits
- Prefer broader stroller compatibility
If these features would work for you, check out the Chicco Keyfit 30.
On the other hand, I would recommend the Graco infant car seat if you:
- Prefer a lightweight seat
- Do not mind manually fastening the LATCH and harness
- Prefer higher weight and height limits
Do these features sound like a better fit? Then consider getting the Graco Snugride 35.
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Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
