Kiddy World Plus Car Seat Review {Sponsor Highlight}

In the world of car seats it seems there is rarely anything new. Wait, what is this? Is this something we haven't seen before? That's the Kiddy World Plus toddler car seat convertible to booster seat. How is it different you ask? Do you see a five point harness there? Correct, there isn't one. This car seat uses the original Kiddy protection shield instead of a five point harness. This feature sets it apart pretty much from every other car seat you have ever seen. Along with this car seat, Kiddy of Germany designs and manufactures baby gear with thirty years of experience behind them as a European leader. Now this unique technology is available to us in the U.S.!

The Kiddy World Plus is designed for toddlers and kids between 22 and 110 pounds. I'm 100 pounds, technically I could use it! But the height limit is 57 inches, I'm just a little bit taller than that (thankfully!). As you can see, my toddler who is three and a half years old, about 35 pounds and 36 inches tall, fits quite well with the seat cushion unfolded. She is definitely on the smaller side for her age. The seat is designed to fit starting at 22 pounds, as some two year old toddlers may be that small (mine was). Baby E is three and a half, you can see that the shield is above her chest and in this case the head shield is at the lowest setting. A child that is shorter than her would have to fold the supplied seat cushion so that he/she fits properly (with shield at armpit level). The car seat guidelines do state that it is best to keep children rear facing until they are two years old citing a 2007 study that showed children under 2 are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they are riding rear-facing. This forward facing seat is perfectly in line with these guidelines and is recommended for two year olds who weigh at least 22 pounds. 

Even better, it's the last car seat your child will need because it converts to a booster when they are older. At that point it may be used without the shield, the child will be restrained by the vehicle seat belt. There are guides at shoulder level that keep the seat belt where it should be and not at your child's face or neck. It's great booster seat with side impact protection (SIP) for older kids. I always cringe when I see four and five year old kids riding in booster seats with no SIP whatsoever!

So what did we think of the protection shield technology? Well, my toddler thinks it makes a comfy pillow as you can see! I think it is rather convenient and it does look very safe. It is easy to buckle once the seat is installed with LATCH, just like a regular seat belt buckle. It might take some getting used to for the toddler as it is quite different from the five point harness that is so prevalent. It seems to restrict freedom of movement a bit, something I would consider a good thing in case of a crash. At the same time it makes it easier for her to reach things because her shoulders aren't pinned to the seat with a harness. You can view our video above to get an idea of how it is used with a child. Please keep in mind that for the video, the seat is not installed in a car, for directions on that please check out the Kiddy video.

If you are wondering about fitting three in a row, I do not think the Kiddy World Plus would work. The side impact protection is very generous, but it does make the seat quite wide. We would love to have seen a cup holder on this seat as an accessory. A huge plus if you like to travel, it is FAA approved. The Kiddy World Plus retails for $279, certainly not the cheapest of car seats, but consider that it would be your last until the child outgrows car seats and that it is made in Germany. Overall, there is a lot to like about this seat and you should definitely consider it if you are in the market for a front-facing car seat for a two year old or older child. We think you'll love it!

Come back May 14th to 27th during the Summer Splash Event and enter to win the Kiddy World Plus car seat! (PS: There will be over $1000 in prizes and 4 winners thanks to some new sponsors!)

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What do you think of the Kiddy World Plus car seat?

Disclaimer: I did not receive payment for this review. I was provided a sample of the product for review purposes. The opinions are solely my own and your experience may differ. May contain affiliate links, please buy through those if you like our recommendations.