When do Chicco car seats expire?

Chicco's expiration policy

Chicco does not publish one number for every seat. Its official guidance says lifespan varies by platform, generally in the 6-to-10-year range, and the exact expiration for your seat is printed on the seat itself. In practice the lineup breaks down consistently: KeyFit infant seats expire 6 years after manufacture, the NextFit convertibles, MyFit harness boosters, and KidFit and GoFit boosters expire after 8 years, and the Fit4 all-in-one is the long-life exception at 10 years.

Unlike brands that only print a date of manufacture, Chicco prints the actual expiration date on an adhesive label, so there is no math to do. If the label is worn or missing, Chicco can look up the seat from the model number and serial number, which also appear on the label and on your registration card.

Chicco is firm that an expired seat requires total replacement. Its disposal guidance: remove the harness straps and cover, write DO NOT USE - EXPIRED on the frame in permanent marker, and bag the shell so it cannot be pulled from the trash and reused.

Where is the expiration label on a Chicco seat?

The expiration date is printed on an adhesive manufacturer label on the underside of the car seat and, for infant seats, on the bottom of the carrier and on the base. The same label carries the date of manufacture and model number.

After a crash

Chicco recommends never using a car seat that has been involved in any crash, including a minor one. This is stricter than the NHTSA guideline, which permits reuse after a qualifying minor crash. Chicco's position is that a collision can cause unseen damage that compromises the seat's ability to protect your child in a second crash.

Flying with a Chicco seat

Chicco's harnessed seats, including the KeyFit 30, KeyFit 35, and KeyFit Max, are FAA certified for aircraft use. KeyFit infant seats are certified for aircraft without the base, secured with the aircraft lap belt. Chicco boosters are not certified for aircraft because booster mode requires a lap-shoulder belt.

Chicco stamps both a manufacture date and an expiration date, which makes secondhand checks easier than with most brands: if the printed expiration has passed, the seat is done.

Register the seat with Chicco USA so you receive recall notices. Registration uses the model number, serial number, and date of manufacture from the label.