Keith is the father of an emotional, loving and wild 2 year old that keeps him on his toes at all times. He loves being a dad and wants to help new parents find ways to embrace the chaos during those first few years of parenting.
For some parents, investing in a convertible car seat is simply a given. Why go through the sometimes painstaking process of getting an infant carrier car seat, and then a car seat for your older baby, followed by a toddler seat and booster seat when you can skip a couple of steps?
Granted, convertible car seats aren’t the be-all-end-all when it comes to car seats, but when looking at the Chicco NextFit Convertible vs the Britax Marathon Clicktight it’s easy to see some of the advantages that come along with convertible car seats.
While both car seats are indeed designed to fit your growing child, the Chicco NextFit does offer nine different recline positions, whereas the Britax Marathon has just three, which may not be enough for some children. On the flip side, the Britax Marathon does offer a ten-position headrest, while the Chicco NextFit has six positions in which it can be moved up to accommodate your growing child.
Both car seats, however, do have similar prices, which can make a choice a little more difficult, since in some cases, the cost is a huge deciding factor. Instead, then, you might want to look at all of the other aspects of each car seat to try and determine which is best for you and your little one between the Chicco NextFit vs the Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat | Amazon.
The Britax Marathon has two positions (rear-facing and forward-facing) and installing it is a breeze. The car seat is super comfortable for your baby and the memory foam in it will make every trip enjoyable and easy for both of you.
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. The NextFit only has 6 positions.
The NextFit has 9 different recline positions, while the Marathon only features 3.
Chicco NextFit Convertible Car Seat
The Chicco brand itself has a ton of different kinds of car seats for almost all of your needs, including the Chicco NextFit Convertible, designed to grow with your child from infancy to toddlerhood. Just by looking at the seat, you can see that it will feel almost like a cocoon for your little one with sides that act as protective barriers and a five-point harness that can be adjusted with one hand.
Since the car seat is meant to grow with your child, there are two different possible positions for the belt-positioning booster chest clip and the headrest can move up six different positions so that even your tall two-year-old can remain comfortable while in the car seat.
In order to get the right kind of angle, it even has level bubble indicators on the side so you’ll know just the right way to have the car seat positioned once your child is buckled in it.
Plus, there’s a SuperCinch latch pull to make installation secure and easier than some LATCH installation instructions with other car seats. From the nine different recline positions to the multiple headrest levels, the Chicco NextFit is designed to accommodate your child as he or she grows while keeping them safe and comfortable.
Chicco NextFit Features
Installation: By using the SuperCinch latch connectors tightener, you can utilize the LATCH installation anchors in your car but without some of the headache that typically comes along with them.
Safety Features: The five-point harness can be adjusted as needed with one hand to secure your baby or toddler and the higher sides of the car seat mean more coverage and protection for your child.
Weight Guidelines: In rear-facing car seat mode, the car seat can be used with babies from 5-40 pounds, and for forward-facing, they should be 22-65 pounds.
Where To Buy: You can purchase it on the Diono website here and on Amazon or in-store at Buy Buy Baby.
Pros
The Chicco NextFit can potentially be used for toddlers through preschool age, which means that you could get several years of use from it.
It’s narrow enough to fit in the back seat of smaller cars, which also means that it could be easier to take your infant out of the seat each time.
Installation with the SuperCinch latch pull makes it easy to do for pretty much anyone.
The bubble level indicator on the side will help you know which recline is the safest for your child so you won’t have any doubts or concerns.
Cons
Because both sides of the car seat are relatively high for safety, it can be difficult for younger or smaller babies to be able to see out of the seat on either side.
While it may fit comfortably in the back seat of both cars and SUVs, the Chicco NextFit is still quite heavy.
The headrest can sometimes go back down a level or two, meaning that you’ll have to readjust it more often than not.
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02/14/2023 09:21 am GMT
Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat
The biggest and most important aspect of the Britax Marathon Clicktight is all of the safety that it provides. It’s been side impact protection tested of course, but it also has deep walls on either side, which are lined with energy-absorbing foam to evenly distribute any blows that might happen in the event of a crash (and that have been through a crash test).
It also has an integrated steel frame built into the back of it where it sits against the back seat of your car and an impact-absorbing base that actually compresses to take a lot of the force during crashes.
The five-point harness is also tangle-free to allow for less of a struggle each time you buckle your child in the car seat. Other than superb safety, this car seat offers the ability to use the car seat until your child reaches 65 pounds, provided that he or she is still comfortable and safely buckled in the seat up until that point.
This makes it similar to the Chicco NextFit in that regard, but clearly, the safety features of the Britax Marathon are unparalleled when it comes to many other similar convertible car seats.
Britax Marathon Features
Installation: There’s a pull strap to make installing the car seat via the LATCH system easier and also an audible click that will let you know it’s been successfully and safely attached.
Safety Features: Among the many safety features of the Britax Marathon are the SafeCell energy-absorbing base, steel integrated frame, and layers of energy-absorbing foam throughout the inside of the seat.
Car Seat Weight Guidelines: In rear-facing care seat mode, the car seat should be used with babies from 5-40 pounds and when forward-facing, they should be 20-65 pounds.
Pros
The many different safety features and precautions in place will give any parent peace of mind with their child in the car seat.
The padding around the head area is thick and soft enough to be comfortable and provide safety, but not too bulky to be uncomfortable when your child wants to move his or her head.
You can take the cover off and clean it in the washer, so if there are particularly big spills or accidents, you don’t have to scrub it clean on the actual frame.
In general, it doesn’t take up too much space in the back seat.
Cons
To put the car seat in different recline positions, it can be difficult, especially if it’s already installed.
There’s no level bubble indicator to help you get the seat in the right position, as the Chicco NextFit has.
There isn’t much neck support, so if your toddler or baby falls asleep in the Britax Marathon, their head will slump forward.
The Britax Marathon has two positions (rear-facing and forward-facing) and installing it is a breeze. The car seat is super comfortable for your baby and the memory foam in it will make every trip enjoyable and easy for both of you.
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The Verdict: Britax Marathon or Chicco NextFit?
Right away, it was likely pretty clear that both the Chicco NextFit and Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat | Amazon car seats are fairly similar in what they offer and both of their costs alone. But upon closer examination, you might realize that the Chicco NextFit is actually a superior choice in this instance.
Yes, it’s hard to ignore that the Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat has the energy-absorbing foam built into the sides of the car seat for added safety, which are certainly useful and needed in a car seat, the Chicco NextFit is still a stronger choice here.
Because of its design and a level indicator, the Chicco NextFit will surely give your baby the right angle and fit in your car. And because it can be used for children up to 65 pounds, it will last your baby a long time, well past that one-year mark. Both the Chicco NextFit and Britax Marathon are both top-quality convertible car seats, or else it wouldn’t be necessary to compare them, but your best bet is to go with the Chicco NextFit.
Final Thoughts on the Chicco NextFit vs Britax Marathon Debate
When choosing a safe, reliable, and comfortable convertible car seat for your child, some of the important qualities to look at include cost, safety features, and longevity.
For both of these car seats, they do meet or exceed most expectations in those areas, but with the Chicco and Britax brands, that’s to be expected.
Bottom Line: Between the two, the Chicco NextFit is the superior option here (for us), but there’s always the off chance that you’ll find yourself drawn to the
The Britax Marathon has two positions (rear-facing and forward-facing) and installing it is a breeze. The car seat is super comfortable for your baby and the memory foam in it will make every trip enjoyable and easy for both of you.
Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat | AmazonBuy at Amazon.com
