As the call suggests, convertible car seats grow with your child, taking them from rear-facing infants or toddlers to forward-facing preschoolers and all the way to a booster seat. Many all-in-one seats work from the newborn months and later. convert them into booster seats for older children. The Graco Premier fourEver DLX Extend2Fit SnugLock, our pick for the most productive convertible car seat overall, accommodates toddlers from four pounds to big kids weighing one hundred pounds.
Because your child will be riding in it for a long time, you should do so carefully. Of course, deciding on the best convertible car seat is a personal decision with many variables. “The ‘most productive’ car seat depends on your child, your vehicle, your budget, and the features that are important to you,” says Michelle Pratt, qualified child protection technician and car seat expert. “Most young people spend more time in their convertible car seat than in any other car seat, so choosing the right one is vital. “
After speaking with Pratt and other car seat experts, researching top sellers, interviewing parents, and our own experience driving children, we’ve put together a list of the best convertible car seats to buy today.
Seat Weight: 28. 1 lbs | Maximum child height: four 9 inches (facing forward); 57 inches (booster seat) | Minimum child weight: four pounds | Maximum child weight: 50 pounds (rear-facing); 65 pounds (forward facing); one hundred pounds (high-back booster seat); 120 lbs (backless booster seat) | Seat width: 19 inches
If you’re looking for a car seat that grows with your child from birth to weigh 120 pounds (i. e. , the end of the line of car seats and booster seats), our top pick is the Graco Premier 4Ever DLX Extfinish2Fit. Not only is it compatible with all car seat grades, but it’s also easy to clean and the SnugLock technology and added anti-bounce bar make it a great choice.
Holly Choi, co-owner of Safe Beginnings First Aid, who has tested several dozen car seats in numerous vehicles, has high praise for SnugLock. “It can make a difference whether installing a seat belt is simple or even imaginable in certain vehicles,” she says. “If I were shopping for a Graco seat and a SnugLock edition was available for a specific model, I would always choose the SnugLock edition. ” This Graco car seat offers five inches of extra legroom when facing the rear of the car, so taller toddlers fit comfortably, and the anti-rebound bar limits the twisting of the seat and your child in the event of an accident. . There are 10 headrests and six recline positions. It’s not the slimmest seat, though; Please note the Graco Slim compatibility below if you would like a narrower seat.
What parents say: Sholeen Damarwala, home and kitchen editor at Forbes Vetted, says this seat is less difficult to install than the other one she’s used. “The Graco Premier has additional protective features that I have found useful, such as clear weight markers that indicate the optimal incline for my child and a tube marker that stays blue when steps are performed correctly. These signs are particularly reassuring for parents who share the common fear of installing their child’s seat incorrectly.
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Seat Weight: 19. 5 lbs | Maximum child height: 49 inches (rear-facing and forward-facing); five7-inch (high-back booster seat) | Minimum Child Weight: Five Pounds | Maximum child weight: 40 pounds (rear-facing); 6 pounds (forward-facing); One Hundred Pounds (High Back Booster) | Seat Width: 19. 9 inches
The Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat has a small profile while offering additional accessories like cup holders and plush padding. The cup holder even rotates to save additional space. The seat is also FAA approved for airplanes. “I took a Graco SlimFit on a plane and in Ubers on a recent trip to Disneyland with my kids,” Choi says. “It was fantastic”.
The seat has a threadless harness that adjusts with the headrest. There are 4 recline positions and the seat has a steel reinforced frame. A machine-washable seat cushion helps keep the seat fresh, and the Graco SlimFit is one of the least expensive seats on our list.
What parents say: Caregivers like how the car seat fits their vehicle and that it’s great value for money. “It’s of wonderful quality, easy to use, easy to clean, not too heavy, and fits in a giant or small car,” one reviewer shared. Another explained that there was still enough room for two other people to sit in the back, next to the car seat. From experience, that means something, especially in a compact car.
Seat Weight: 27. 2 lbs | Maximum Child Height: 49 inches (rear-facing and forward-facing) | Minimum Child Weight: Five Pounds | Maximum child weight: five 0 pounds (rear-facing); 6 pound (forward facing) | Seat Width: 19 inches
The Nuna Rava may be more expensive than other convertible car seats, but it’s a great option with an easy-to-install all-steel frame. It is Greenguard Gold certified and made without flame retardants, a plus for newborns and young children. Children with sensitive skin. It also comes with baby head and frame inserts and has an adjustable crotch belt, so you can get the right compatibility for toddlers who weigh just five pounds.
The Nuna Rava has 10 recline positions for optimal positioning and a 5-point harness without re-threading, which means there is no need to force the car seat to secure it with the seat belt. It does not convert to a booster seat, but you can seat your baby in this seat from newborn level to forward-facing position when weighing 65 pounds. There are several color features and folding cup holders.
What Parents Say: Parents we spoke to about this seat appreciate how easy it is to install. “There are commands all over the car seat that tell you the correct way to install it, adding colorful belt paths and little graphics,” says mom Roxy. D. , who also appreciates that it is not necessary to uninstall the seat to move it. the position of the shoulders.
Although this seat is large, Lisa M. , a Boston mom with four Nuna Ravas, highlights one of the benefits of its size. The car seat is really narrow from front to back, allowing taller drivers and front passengers to have “ample legroom. “, even when the baby is rear-facing. “
Amazon
Seat Weight: 38 lbs (rear-facing); 33 lbs (forward-facing) | Maximum child height: 43 inches (rear-facing); 49 inches (front) | Minimum Child Weight: 14 lbs (5 lbs with baby insert); 22 lbs (forward facing) | Maximum child weight: 50 pounds (rear-facing); 65 lbs (Forward Facing) | Seat Width: 16. 9 inches
The fun, no-scream car seat caller is almost a cult favorite among those who have used it since childhood (infant insert sold separately for an additional $60). Pratt likes it for parents on the road, as the Clek seats are comfortable but are one of the narrowest seats you can buy, allowing you to fit 3 car seats for larger families. This is one of the narrowest car seats on our list, roughly equivalent to the Diono car seats. The Foonf is rarely very cheap, is heavier than some of our other options, and doesn’t convert into a booster seat, but it offers a durable, quality ride, its enthusiasts say.
“The low-profile sides and luxurious, low-profile padding promote airflow and even the sweatiest toddlers stay cool in their car seats,” says Pratt. “They are well seated and tall so that your little one can see out the window. “When used rear-facing, toddlers have plenty of legroom, thanks in part to its anti-bounce bar. It’s also Greenguard Gold certified, flame retardant, and loose to fly by the FAA.
What parents say: “We were really inspired by the quality of the Foonf,” says Katie Tucciarone, a parent in Brooklyn Heights, New York. “The fabric is durable but comfortable, and the accessories are easy to use and don’t break. ” time. In addition, it is very easy to clean, which is vital because it has been subjected to many attacks: episodes of dizziness, goldfish in abundance, and other small children’s favorite snacks.
Amazon
Seat Weight: 30 lbs | Maximum child height: 49 inches (rear and forward facing); 63 inches (booster seat) | Minimum child weight: five pounds | Maximum child weight: five0 pounds (rear-facing); 6five pounds (facing forward); 120 lbs (booster seat) | Seat width: 19. 5 inches
This sturdy all-in-one convertible car seat from Britax is a popular choice for parents of tall children, as well as those hoping this will be the last car seat they want to buy. This is a spacious and comfortable seat that can be converted from a rear-facing 5-point harness to a forward-facing 5-point harness or a booster seat without a harness. “The Britax One4Life has one of the tallest harnesses available,” Pratt says. “Although it has the same harness mode limitations on paper as most other convertible seats, the extra high height of the harness means that this seat will sometimes outlast the festival when it comes to older, tall or long-chested youngsters. “This can equate to an extra year of use. However, it’s a bit bulkier and wider than other convertibles.
The company’s ClickTight installation feature also makes its installation in your car simple and suitable. “Of the thousands of car seats I’ve asked families to go through for a car seat review over the years, in terms of misuse, a Britax ClickTight seat is rarely installed properly,” Choi says.
What parents say: Meagan Paul, a Pittsburgh mom, recently bought this car seat for her 14-month-old grandson. “He’s in the 90th percentile in terms of size,” she says. “I’ve done some studies and this is wonderful compatibility for the longest rear-facing position with the maximum harness height. “
Amazon
Seat Weight: 11. 5 lbs | Maximum child height: 40 inches (rear-facing); five0 inches (forward-facing) | Minimum child weight: five pounds (rear-facing); 22 lbs (forward facing) | Maximum child weight: 40 pounds (rear-facing); 6 pound (forward facing) | Car seat width: 19. 1 inches
The Evenflo Sonus is the lightest convertible car seat on our list and the most portable and easy to use. “The safest way for young people to fly is to sit in the car seat on the plane,” Pratt says. But no parent wants to lug a heavy car seat through the airport. That’s where a lightweight, convertible car seat like the Evenflo Sonus 65 comes in.
Another favorite option for the air is the Cosco Scenera Next, which is cheaper at just $60, but with a lower maximum weight (40 pounds) and height limit (43 inches), toddlers outgrow it before the SonusArray. “The Sonus lasts children up to five or six years at most,” Pratt says. For more options, check out our list of the most productive car seats.
What parents are saying: Recently, one of our editors took this car seat on a cross-country flight with his 4-year-old son and said it was easy to pack. “It adapted pretty easily,” says Rose Gordon Sala, associate editor and mother of three. “But it’s not the highest quality seat. It creaked during our two-hour drive to our final destination and the harness straps were the simplest to adjust. Even so, it fulfills the function of traveling.
Amazon
Seat Weight: 22. 9 lbs | Maximum child height: four inches (rear-facing); four9 inches (forward-facing); 52″ (High Back Booster Seat) | Minimum child weight: four pounds (rear-facing); 22 lbs (forward-facing); Four0 lbs. (High Back Booster) | Maximum child weight: four pounds (rear-facing); 65 lbs (forward-facing); One Hundred Pounds (High Back Booster) | Seat Width: 20 inches
The Maxi-Cosi Pria is rarely the smallest seat on our list, but it’s one of the most luxurious, with comfortable padding throughout, in addition to the headrest. This well-padded and comfortable seat is a dream for little riders looking for a little time. More comfort. This new edition of the evolving Pria features a magnetic chest clip, as well as a harness and headrest that fit into one. The disadvantages? It’s super bulky. However, this Maxi-Cosi Pria Max converts to a booster seat when your child is ready.
What parents say: “Because my firstborn had outgrown the car seat, she felt very uncomfortable in the car,” Sala says. “”She cried over her discomfort on several car trips, so I went grocery shopping for the most comfortable convertible car seat I could find, landing on the Maxi-Cosi Pria. “Many other parents love this seat, which earned it an overall score of 4. 5 with over 1600 reviews on Amazon.
Amazon
Seat Weight: 30. 4 lbs | Maximum Child Height: Four 9 inches | Minimum child weight: four pounds (rear-facing); 22 lbs (forward facing) | Maximum child weight: 50 pounds (rear-facing); 65 lbs (Forward Facing) | Seat Width: 19 inches
While all car seats will need to meet the same protection criteria to be sold in the United States, Cybex Sirona S has additional protective measures through SensorSafe. Using Bluetooth, the seat sends an alert to an app if your child unbuckles the seat, if the temperature in the backrest is too high or too cold, or if your child stays in the car. In addition, it uses a loading leg, which helps to stabilize the seat and reduce the forces of the crash in the event of a frontal collision.
The seat rotates 360 degrees, making it easy for the child to get in and out of the car without straining their back. Magnetic mounts also make this task easier. Its EasyLock bar also simplifies installation. The Cybex Sirona S with SensorSafe has 12 recline positions and machine-washable fabrics.
What Parents Say: Although most reviews of this seat are positive, some reviewers note that the seat is not as durable as they expected. “Once installed (it takes a few minutes), this car seat is safer than any other car seat I’ve used. It connects smoothly to the car and you know exactly when baby is buckled in,” says one reviewer. “Once you turn off the car, it alerts you that the baby is in the car. My daughter loves this seat and it is easy to get her in and out.
Amazon
Seat Weight: 30. 6 lbs | Maximum child height: 57. 1 inches | Minimum child weight: four pounds (rear-facing); 22 pounds (forward facing); four0 pounds (booster seat)| Maximum child weight: 50 pounds (rear-facing with seat belt installed); 65 pounds (forward facing with seat belt installed); 120 lbs (booster seat) | Car seat width: 17 inches
The Diono Radian 3RXT SafePlus Steel Core Convertible Car Seat is popular for several reasons. It’s super sturdy, it’s thin enough that three kids in car seats can fit in a single back seat, and it’s one of the few single car seats that carries toddlers from four pounds to 120 pounds. It includes additional aspects that affect cushioning and an anti-rebound bar.
It also allows you to keep them in a forward-facing 5-point harness longer than other booster seats (up to 65 pounds) and has a 10-year expiration date. It is less comfortable for newborns, but there is an option with a newborn liner and a positioning wedge. It’s also important to note that some children outgrow the height of the harness or condition before they can use the booster seat, so be sure to monitor your child’s growth.
What parents say: “I had two Diono seats, even when I had three kids in the back,” Sala says. “My favorite thing, and still the safety factor, is how it made it easy for my older toddlers to transition to the top-back booster seats with shoulder protection belt. Several convertible car seats convert into booster seats. high, but its compatibility is less comfortable since the seat is designed for younger, smaller children. She says the Diono Radians sit a little lower, without the upper sides of the other convertibles she has tested, so that their. little ones can jump alone.
Amazon
Seat Weight: 38 lbs | Maximum child height: 40 inches (rear-facing); 49 inches (forward-facing); Five2 Inch (Belt Positioning Amplifier) | Minimum child weight: five pounds (rear-facing); 22 lbs (front); 40 lbs (Belt Positioning Reminder) | Maximum child weight: 40 pounds (rear-facing); 6 pounds (forward-facing); One Hundred Pounds (Belt Positioning Reminder) | Seat Width: 22 inches
The Maxi-Cosi Emme 360 Convertible Car Seat rotates 360 degrees in rear- and forward-facing mode, making it easy for you to lift your infant or toddler out of the car seat by turning the seat toward you. It’s a game changer for those of us who want or wish to lift toddlers onto the bulky sides of car seats. Switch between a rear-facing position, a forward-facing position and a belt positioning booster as your child grows.
Choi says the seat is “fantastic on every level. ” The seat uses a tension-sensitive indicator called TensionFix that tells you when the seat belt is tensioned to help you install the seat correctly. It is also FAA approved and comes with a removable dishwasher. Secure cup holders. However, this is a giant, bulky seat, so measure it carefully before purchasing.
What parents say: Many reviewers like the seat padding, some parents are frustrated that the seat rarely gets stuck when they turn it. “This is by far the nicest car seat I’ve ever had for one of my four kids,” says one Amazon reviewer. “It’s very high quality and feels incredibly durable and safe. I especially like that it rotates, of course, but the magnetic buckle on the chest is an added bonus. “
At Forbes Vetted, we’ve spent countless hours researching, testing, and reporting on baby and children’s items. We’ve written about everything from the most productive strollers to baby monitors.
We consulted with car seat experts, researched the top-rated seats, and surveyed a wide variety of parents to locate convertible car seats on the market.
The best convertible car seat is like a flexible player: It brings your own taste and features from one level to the next. As a parent, you should know the value of the car seat, its weight, the child’s length and weight. limits, as well as the dimensions of your car. It’s also a good idea to think about other features they might appreciate, such as a machine-washable canopy or a no-thread harness.
Value is basically about comfort and style, not safety. All car seats sold in the United States will need to meet the same strict protection standards. You can pay as little as $50 or more than $600 and be sure your child is well protected. .
Services like no-rethread harnesses and convenience features like premium fabrics (merino wool, functional fabric) tend to charge more. If you plan to use your car seat daily, it may be worth purchasing one that is more comfortable and less difficult to use. If you are a city dweller who only uses it on sporadic trips to stop over at the family home, this may not be the case.
How portable will your seat be? Convertible car seats weigh between 11 pounds and 38 pounds, with a maximum weight of over 25 pounds. These seats are heavier and designed to carry heavier children, so you may not use them on your stroller or arm like you did with your baby. car seat. If you have a newborn on the way, you may need to be able to get them out of the car, which is why many other people decide to start their adventure with a car seat with a more portable design and lighter infant option before switching to bulkier convertible seats.
Before making a final decision, check your car’s seat weight limits as well, advises Geoff Gohacki, a qualified technical instructor in child passenger protection and co-owner and instructor of Common Sense CPR. “Automakers have a limit on how much a seat can weigh with LATCH installation,” which might be the simplest way to install that seat, he explains. “He usually weighs between forty-five and 50 pounds. If you have a 30-pound seat, you may reach the limit faster than you think. Or, you may be forced to do jiu-jitsu with your seat belt every time you remove and upgrade the car seat.
Height and weight restrictions for convertible car seats differ depending on how they are installed. The weight limit is different for the rear-facing position, the forward-facing position, or (if available) a booster seat. Some Convertible Car Seats Are Possibly Suitable In fact, it will be the only car seat you buy for a child, protecting them from infancy until they reach about five feet tall or a hundred pounds.
Check those minimums and maximums before you buy to make sure the seat is right for your child now and at least for a few more years, maybe until he or she no longer wants a car seat.
Car seats are not designed to be compatible with all cars. You can compare the dimensions of your favorite car seat to those of your car’s back seat and door, but it’s a process of trial and error, Gohacki says. His advice?” Put the box away and make sure your car seat is returnable. »
It’s not about what you spend on your car or car seat – there’s simply nothing popular for seatbelts or LATCH. As Gohacki says, “You can also have the most expensive car seat and the most expensive car, that doesn’t mean they’re going to paint together. For example, the car seat LATCH clips may not line up with the middle seat anchors of your car. Or the middle seat of your car might be too narrow for the base of the car seat to be level.
The other attention is the recline angle of the car seat and the backrest of the driver or passenger seat. For small vehicles or tall people, there may not be enough space for some seats. Car seats with features like anti-rebound bars also tend to collide with the front seats, Gohacki adds. Sometimes they are removable; they are not.
Convertible car seats take up more space than infant car seats. Its width ranges from 17 inches to about 20. These 3 inches may not seem like much, until you check that two additional car seats or an extra passenger in the back seat with it are compatible. Do you have more children or would you like to have more?Do you have passengers in the back (including pets) or car? If this is the case, you’ll need to choose a narrower seat, such as the Clek or the Diono Radian 3RXT SafePlus.
On the other hand, if you drive a giant SUV and have the luxury of space, you likely need the most comfortable seat possible. You could use our Britax or Evenflo rotary options.
Car seats, like almost anything designed for babies, can come with many special features designed to make your life less difficult as a parent. We think it’s worth buying an unscrewed harness because it makes it less difficult to securely restrain your child. You might be surprised at how little things like strong cup holders or a small wallet that keeps buckles out of the way can improve your experience.
The fabric of the marquee emerged in our research as an element to be taken into account. Is it easy to wash and can be passed in the washing machine?Beyond that, some brands use ultra-soft cloths like merino wool or specify that their cloths are not treated with brominated flame retardants, something some parents might prefer to avoid.
Since all seats sold in the US will be required to meet certain protection rules, parents can be assured that, if used correctly, they all meet a minimum protection threshold. This means you can choose a car seat based on your personal, not public, experience. -Public tastes as a car supplier.
However, you can still look for some advanced features that could make a car seat even safer, such as anti-bounce bars, additional testing, no old recalls, and upper height and weight limits that allow you to keep your child in the seat. a safer back position. – A longer front position.
It is also vital to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding height and weight limits to determine your child’s seat length too early or too late. Outgrowing an infant car seat means the baby no longer has enough of a car seat cover over her head to protect him, Pratt adds. “Most toddlers exceed the height or headroom limits long before they reach the weight limit,” she says.
Gohacki recommends sticking with the infant seat as long as it stays within the limits. “Don’t try to make your baby bigger than he is in one position,” he advises. He gets emails all the time from other people saying their baby is in a position to buy a convertible. “I’ll tell him, ‘I don’t think your baby is in a position to buy a convertible yet. ‘” How big is the baby? Let me take the height, weight and show me some photos.
It depends on the age of your child. If you’re looking for a first car seat for a newborn, a convertible car seat is probably a worthwhile investment if you choose one that can be used from birth through toddlerhood.
For older toddlers who no longer have size left for a car seat, they will still have many years (maybe 8 or more) left in a car seat. You’ll want to lengthen them no matter what, and a convertible car seat is still a smart choice, so you can leave them rear-facing for as long as possible.
However, if your child is already too big to be rear-facing, you may not want a rear-facing convertible car seat. Instead, he may want to prioritize a car seat that will eventually become a booster.
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Dear Sunday, a virtual platform for early childhood. She regularly contributes to Parents, What to Expect, Shape, and national publications. She is the mother of two girls.