Chicco makes expiration easier than most brands do. Instead of printing only a manufacture date and leaving the math to you, Chicco prints the actual expiration date on a label on the seat. The lifespan behind that date runs from 6 to 10 years depending on the model. If you would rather double check the date a second way, enter the manufacture date from the same label into our Baby Car Seat Expiration Checker. Here is how Chicco’s numbers break down.
Chicco Expiration Rules
Chicco does not publish one lifespan for the whole brand. In practice, the lineup is consistent from model to model.
- 6 years: KeyFit infant seats, including the KeyFit 30, KeyFit 35, and KeyFit Max
- 8 years: NextFit convertibles, MyFit harness boosters, and the KidFit and GoFit boosters
- 10 years: the Fit4 all in one, the long life exception in the range
When a Chicco seat does expire, the company is blunt about what comes next: full replacement. Its disposal guidance is to remove the harness straps and the cover, write DO NOT USE, EXPIRED on the frame with a permanent marker, and bag the shell so nobody pulls it out of the trash and uses it.
Where Is the Date on a Chicco Seat?
Flip the seat over. Chicco prints the expiration date on an adhesive manufacturer label on the underside of the seat, along with the date of manufacture and the model number. Infant seats carry the label in two places, on the bottom of the carrier and on the base. If the label is worn away, Chicco can still look the seat up from the model number and serial number on your registration card.
What If the Seat Has Been in a Crash?
Chicco’s rule is stricter than the federal one. Never use a Chicco seat that has been in any crash, including a minor parking lot tap. The NHTSA guideline allows reuse after some minor crashes, but Chicco says a collision can cause damage you cannot see, and it will not sign off on a crashed seat. Replace it, and ask your auto insurer about coverage. Many policies pay for a replacement child seat.
Can You Fly With a Chicco Seat?
The harnessed seats can. The KeyFit 30, KeyFit 35, and KeyFit Max are certified for aircraft use, and the carrier installs on the plane without its base, using the aircraft lap belt. Chicco boosters are not certified for aircraft, because a booster needs a lap and shoulder belt and planes only offer a lap belt.
Chicco Expiration FAQs
How long are Chicco car seats good for?
It depends on the seat. KeyFit infant seats are good for 6 years from the date of manufacture. The NextFit, MyFit, KidFit, and GoFit last 8 years. The Fit4 lasts 10. Chicco prints the exact expiration date on the label under the seat, so start there.
Where do I find the expiration date on a Chicco car seat?
On the underside of the seat. Chicco prints the expiration date, the manufacture date, and the model number on one adhesive label. KeyFit infant seats have the label on the bottom of the carrier and on the base.
Can I keep using a Chicco seat after a minor fender bender?
No. Chicco says a seat that has been in any crash, minor included, should never be used again, because impact damage is often invisible. Replace the seat and check whether your insurer covers it.
Check Your Chicco Seat
Read the date under your seat, then confirm it in our Baby Car Seat Expiration Checker. Our guide on how car seat expiration works explains why these dates exist at all. And if your label is unreadable, Chicco’s official site at chiccousa.com can match the lifespan to your model and serial number.