As my son approaches the age of 5 we began to think about moving him into a booster seat and out of his convertible car seat. My son is on the smaller side weighing only 32ish pounds so while he had not grown out of his Britax Advocate, but he really wanted a “big boy seat” like some of his friends. So the hunt began! I did a TON of research wanting to find the best seat for him, but found that all boosters minimum start weight is 40lbs. I had almost given up when I found the Kiddy World Plus Convertible to Booster Car Seat.
My first thought looking at the German designed Kiddy World Plus was “what in the world is that thing across their lap?” There is no 5-point harness, the shield may take getting used to, and for some people it might not be the best choice for their child. However, for me and my son, after doing my own research and speaking with Kiddy directly, I realized the safety shield was really a great idea! If you are ever in an accident, the shield disperses the force of the impact over a larger area of the child’s body, by allowing the shoulders to roll forward instead of being held in place, which can reduce the extent of the injury. The Kiddy World Plus is an iihs best bet!
Check out this video:
This seat is great for children who like to unbuckle themselves (like mine did) because the buckle is on the side of the seat, out of reach of their hands. The first time Bug sat in it he was sold! He has always been great in the car, but with the World Plus, he is so happy! He feels like he is in a “real” seat instead of a car seat, and loves having the shield in front of him.
UPDATE: Originally this post contained a picture of my son sleeping on the shield. We were originally misinformed, but Kiddy USA kindly reached out to let us know that officially it is not considered safe for children to sleep on the shield as it places them out of position. Our Knight Life works very hard to ensure any and all reviews contain the best possible information for their readers. We want you to be able to use a product as safely as possible. As a car seat is considered a life saving device we decided to remove the picture, and share this update so that you too can use this product properly. I will continue to use this seat for my child. If you are ever concerned about install or how to properly use a car seat please find a CPST local to your area who can help you with all your car seat safety issues/questions/concerns. http://cert.safekids.org/
Some of the great features of this booster are:
- The weight! It only weighs 15lbs so installing it and moving it is a breeze. This lightweight also means it can be used with the LATCH system for a longer period of time.
- The World Plus has a weight range of 22-110 lbs. With the shield and the seat cushion it is a great toddler seat for up to 40lbs. Once the child is 40lbs, the shield is removed and it becomes a booster seat for up to 110lbs!
- Ease of installation and adjustment! The height adjustment can be done with one hand even after the seat has been installed. The installation instructions are clear and easy to follow with great illustrations on the seat itself. The integrated belt clips help with proper positioning of the seat belt (when not using the shield).
- The cover is machine washable!
My only “con” which really isn’t bad, is there is a learning curve to buckling and unbuckling the seat. The belt blends into the seat making it hard to see the first few times, and reaching on the side for a buckle instead of the front takes some getting used to. However, within a few uses, it became second nature. Now my guy likes to watch his teachers try to figure out where the buckle is, little booger!
My final thoughts:
I’m really glad I did as much research to find the car seat that was right for my son. I can honestly say I never thought we’d have gone this route, but for my son’s age and weight this was the absolute right choice for us. I feel completely comfortable using it with my son and he is comfortable in it. I love how easy it is to use, clean, and it’s lightweight at only 15lbs. That is great for when we will use it to travel as this seat is approved for airline use as well. As with any car seat I highly recommend you do your research to find the best fit for your child’s needs. I’m really glad we found the Kiddy World Plus!
Buy It!
You can find this car seat at many online retailers including Amazon. It retails for $249.99 and is available in 4 colors: Lavender (shown), Phantom (Grey), Walnut, and Rumba (Red/Black).
Connect with Kiddy:
**The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children rear-facing at least until the age of two. This carseat review contains our honest opinions. Please always read your car seat manual before using any carseat.
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Wow, I have never seen anything like this! What a great review, there are a lot of pros. My son would absolutely love that place to nap, he always falls asleep and it’s so awkward. I love how light the seat is.
I’m so glad i got this for my son 🙂 we finally hit 40lbs at almost 5 yrs old. he’s 5 now and still loves his seat without the shield, and we’ve moved it from car to car easily!
I think I really like that. I used to have a similar seat about 10 years ago but it did have straps, just not a 5-pt. harness. I really feel that it is safer.
This is such a cool concept. I also have a child that is on the smaller size. Right now at 3 she is fine in her convertible seat but I know as she grows she will want seats that are the same as her friends. This seat seems to give the kids that feel while still having stellar safety and protection. Thank you so much for sharing!
Wow! What an awesome seat! I love that it can be used until the child is 110lbs! I think that his seat will be added to our short list of options for the next upgrade in seats for our boys!
I may need to start hunting for this seat. Wyatt is due for a new seat as well.
I found your review today looking for more information on this seat. I recently won one from the company, and I was looking for how-to information and such. My youngest, who it will be for, loves it, though it is only in the house right now. She is 2, but size wise, is closer to a 3 1/2 year old, (she is 30+lbs and has the length to match). My issue is the shield placement. It seems, when I tighten it down, that it might compress. Am I doing it wrong? The shield barely fits into place unless I do tighten it down.
I might just end up using it it for her older sister, who is more petite for her age, (though they are almost the same size, my oldest is just short of 3 years older that her sister).
Any additional comments would be welcomed. 🙂