Product Review: Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 Travel system

Having a baby is a life changing experience. Somethings change forever, for instance earlier you could make plans at the spur of the moment, however now one needs to plan travel/ visits keeping the baby in mind.

One product that can really help parents when it comes to travelling with the baby is a Travel System. And the number of choices available in the market when it comes to a strollers, car seats and travel systems is mind boggling. Unfortunately we didn't find very helpful sales person at the stores to guide us & help us decide between strollers or Travel systems.

So we decided to reach out to some of our friends who had recently become parents. And we were rather surprised as we got a unanimous response, they recommended the Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 Travel system.

Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 Travel System
(Photo credits: www.amazon.com)

The first question that came to my mind was, why should one buy an expensive travel system when one can purchase a stroller at a cheaper price?

My friends explained to me that a travel system is a stroller which can fix a car seat on top.  These are convenient as you can just lift carseat out of car with baby and clip (facing you) onto top of pushchair. 

So how does this feature of fixing the car seat on top of the stroller come in handy?

From experience I can tell you that invariably your baby will doze off when you drive around with him/ her strapped in the car seat. Once you reach the destination all you need to do is to lift the car seat out of the base and place it on the stroller without disturbing the little one. If you are going to a restaurant you can simply carry the baby in the car seat itself. We have enjoyed many a dinners like this with the baby sleeping peacefully in the car seat at the restaurant.

The Car seat fits onto the stroller like this, allowing easy eye contact with the baby.

Additionally the car seat when fixed on the pushchair allows the baby to face you, that is not the case with most strollers. It helps when the baby is looking at you as it keeps her engaged and helps you keep an eye on them.

But does one really need a car seat for the baby?

I would highly recommend one since it keeps the baby safe during car travel in case of any eventuality. Also it serves the purpose of a rocker that one can use at home or restaurants. For instance we use the car seat at home when my little one wants sit in the sun after a bath or when we go to some restaurant.

I have been using the Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 Travel system for about two months. Here are some of the pros and Cons that I have observed.

Some Pros

• The car seat is extremely convenient and easy to use. Easily snaps onto the base and easy to take out of the car
• The inserts in the carseat make it comfortable for use with Infants, providing adequate support to the baby when seated
• It can also be used as a rocker
• The car seats easily fits onto the stroller. This allows the baby to face you making it easier
  for you to engage with the baby when using the stroller
• The stroller is comfortable and easy to use & also allows one hand fold making it easy to stow and keep away
• The stroller is sturdy and stable and provides for easy storage 
• The stroller also provides for ample storage with the storage basket at the bottom & a few compartments to store smaller items or a drink when pushing the stroller
• The stroller is easy to steer and comes with lockable front wheels

The stroller provides for ample storage options- a basket at the bottom of the stroller and a small storage box for keys and other small items on the top along with a drink holder.

One hand fold design makes it easy to fold and store

Some Cons

• The car seat can be quiet heavy to lift once you put the baby in it. Also the car seat has a 30-lb weight limit for the baby.
• The stroller is a little bulky and difficult to use in narrow spaces
• This one is slightly more expensive than the other travel systems available in India and also the colour choices are very limited

Overall I am quiet happy with this product and would most certainly recommend it to other parents.