The First Years True Fit Review

*This seat has been discontinued* Looking for a convertible seat packed with easy to use features for your tall, skinny child? The First Years True Fit is made for you! This seat has been discontinued.

First Years True Fit, Lamaze True Fit, convertible car seat, carseat, lockoffs, lock off, no rethread harness, removable headrest

First Years True Fit

CSFTL Quick Stats

  • Rear facing weight limit: 5-35 lbs.
  • Rear facing height limit: head 1″ below the top of the shell
  • Forward facing weight range: 23 – 65 lbs.
  • Forward facing height range: under 50″
  • Lowest harness position: 7.5″
  • Highest harness position: 17.5″
  • Expiration: 7 years
  • Lower anchor weight limit: 48 lbs.

Features

  • Seat belt lockoffs for rear and forward facing
  • Push button lower anchor connectors
  • No re-thread harness
  • Easy remove cover can be removed without uninstalling the seat
  • Two position crotch buckle
  • Top headrest is removable for rear facing up to 22 lbs
  • Premier model has an anti rebound bar
First Years True Fit, Lamaze True Fit, convertible car seat, carseat, lockoffs, lock off, no rethread harness, removable headrest
First Years True Fit- 8 months, 16 lbs, 26″
First Years True Fit, Lamaze True Fit, convertible car seat, carseat, lockoffs, lock off, no rethread harness, removable headrest

5 years old, 42 lbs, 43″. He is over the weight limit but demonstrated the ample height and leg room the True Fit has to offer.

The True Fit was a perfect fit for our young models, who both have lots of growing room. Additionally, I had our 5-year-old tester try the seat to demonstrate the substantial height room as well as leg room the True Fit offers. He is over the 35 lb rear facing weight limit, unfortunately, so  he cannot ride rear facing in the seat,  but he could very comfortably sit in it and had several inches above his head.

 

 

First Years True Fit, Lamaze True Fit, convertible car seat, carseat, lockoffs, lock off, no rethread harness, removable headrest

First Years True Fit

Forward facing, the True Fit has a 65 lb weight limit with 17.5″ top  harness slots. This will get most children to around 5 years old before outgrowing the harness. It was a great fit for our 5-year-old tester.

The True Fit was very easy to install both rear and forward facing. The seat belt lockoffs are required to be used and can be a bit difficult to close, but otherwise the seat installed easily using either seat belt or lower anchors.

The True Fit’s harness is what is referred to as a continuous harness, meaning you can pull all the slack from just one side at a time – sort of like a shoelace. This means sometimes the harness can seem like it’s too tight or too loose on just one side if you are not careful to pull evenly. 

First Years True Fit, Lamaze True Fit, convertible car seat, carseat, lockoffs, lock off, no rethread harness, removable headrest

First Years True Fit- 8 weeks, 9 lbs., 22 inches

We also tried the fit with a newborn – our 8 week, 9 lb, 22″ child fit nicely with the infant insert and the harness passed the pinch test. The chest clip is very wide, however, and pushed the harness straps toward the edges of her shoulders. This may not offer a good fit for small newborns or preemies.

The main downside of the True Fit is the 35 lb rear facing weight limit. The ideal is for Littles to rear face until as close to age 4 as possible, and some children may surpass that before they are ready to safely forward face.

The model featured in this review is the  basic True Fit (model 630), the updated The First Years True Fit SI C680 features a redesigned headrest, easier to use lockoffs, multiple recline settings and an anti rebound bar.

Unfortunately, in mid 2014 Tomy has  made the decision to discontinue the True Fit, and it will no longer be in production. 

Neither Tomy nor Amazon sponsored this review; opinions, as always, are all our own!

Originally written by Emma Douglas. Edits maintained by CSFTL.