Like many car seats, the Nuna REVV can be installed two ways: using the seatbelt or using the lower anchors and your car’s LATCH system. (LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children and lets you install a car seat by attaching metal clips on the car seat to hooks built into the car, something that can be found on all cars and car seats manufactured after September 1, 2002.)
The instructions note that the seatbelt method is preferred, but I tested both.
Seatbelt Install:
- Attach the car seat’s top tether to your car’s tether anchor connector (behind the headrest), but don’t tighten it yet.
- Follow the path to thread the seat belt through the car seat panel and “True Tension” door, then buckle it.
- Make sure the car seatbelt is not twisted, then remove any slack. While pushing down firmly on the car seat, first pull up on the shoulder belt to remove the slack, then pull the shoulder belt all the way out and let it retract to lock it in place. Arrange the shoulder belt behind the anti-rebound base and over the top tether strap. Pull up on the shoulder belt one more time to ensure it’s really tight.
- Close the “True Tension” door and tighten the top tether strap.
Lower Anchor Install:
- Attach the car seat’s top tether to your car’s tether anchor connector (behind the headrest), but don’t tighten it yet.
- Lengthen the lower anchor belt (it’s attached to the base of the car seat) all the way, then attach one of the connectors to one of the metal LATCH clips in your car. Follow the path to thread the other end of the lower anchor belt through the car seat panel and “True Tension” door, but don’t close it yet.
- Attach the other lower anchor connector to the other LATCH clip. Make sure the belt is not twisted.
- Push down firmly on the car seat while tightening the lower anchor belt. Close the “True Tension” door. Tighten the top tether.
It took me 2 minutes, 30 seconds to install with the seatbelt and 2 minutes, 20 seconds to use the LATCH system—I found both methods easy enough if you know what car seat parts the instructions are referring to. I did have to throw my entire body over the car seat to push it down firmly enough to tighten the belts, and there was a little bit of sweating involved, so you might want to enlist a partner to ensure the seat is firmly in place. If you truly want a one-and-done install, you’ll want to choose the seatbelt method since it has the higher weight limit.
Is the Nuna REVV FAA-Approved?
Unfortunately, no, the Nuna REVV is not FAA-approved, meaning you can’t use it on airplanes. Per the instruction manual: “This restraint is not certified for aircraft use, as aircraft belts will not accommodate proper installation of this restraint.” But TBH, I can’t imagine a world in which you would want to haul this 30-pound seat around an airport and into a small metal tube, so I consider this a blessing in disguise.
How Does the Nuna REVV Compare to Other Rotating Car Seats?
The Nuna REVV has shorter height limits and lower weight limits than other rotating car seats on the market. (For comparison, the Cybex Sirona S and Evenflo Revolve both have a forward-facing weight limit of 65 pounds.) At $650, it’s also more expensive than competing models. But it makes up for that with thoughtful details that the brand is known for, like fire-retardant-free organic fabrics, magnetic buckle holders, a no-rethread harness (basically, you don’t need to completely unthread the harness to adjust its height) and an overall luxurious design.
