How to Choose the Best Convertible Car Seats (+which are safest)
Choosing the best car seat for your baby or toddler is a big decision. This is even more true when shopping for a convertible car seat, as you’ll want your new infant car seat to last for many years to come.
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Factors to consider when choosing a convertible car seat include safety, price, size, weight, comfort and ease of installation. Which of these is most important to you will depend on your own circumstances such as your budget, the size of your car and how often you’ll be taking the seat out.
All of the car seats featured in this review of the best convertible car seats are suitable for newborn babies, infants and toddlers in a rear-facing position, as well as older children in a forward-facing position.
This post contains affiliate links. Please see the disclosure at the bottom of the page.
Our Top Picks
Safest convertible car seat: Chicco NextFit Zip Max
Best budget convertible car seat: Evenflo Tribute LX
Best convertible car seat for small cars: Graco SlimFit 3 in 1
Most comfortable convertible car seat: Britax Marathon ClickTight
Easiest convertible car seat to install: Britax Boulevard ClickTight Anti-Rebound Bar
Best lightweight convertible car seat: Cosco Scenera Next
What is a convertible car seat?
A convertible car seat is one which converts from a rear-facing to a forward-facing position.
Young babies must face backwards in a car, but for older children it’s generally more practical for them to face forwards. The main advantage of a convertible car seat is that it adjusts to suit your child as they grow.
What are the rules on forward and rear facing?
The laws on car seats depend on where you live and where you’re driving. It’s important to familiarize yourself with your home-state regulations as well as those of the states that you plan to visit.
Although the state laws are good to use as a guide, many parents choose to go beyond those requirements when choosing a car seat. Many states only require that infants stay in a rear-facing car seat until they’re 12 months old and weigh 20 pounds. However, crash test research and real-world data tells us that toddlers are five times safer if they stay rear facing until at least two years old.
This video helps to explain why rear-facing is the safest option:
Why choose a convertible car seat instead of a regular one?
A rear-facing only infant car seat will usually only last until your baby is 12 to 15 months old.
Convertible car seats last much longer than this and depending on the seat you choose they could last up to twelve years.
Choosing a car seat that will grow with your child will not only save you money, but it will also benefit the environment as old car seats are notoriously hard to recycle.
How do I choose a convertible car seat?
When choosing a car seat for your child, you’ll want to look for features that match your lifestyle. Think about the size of your car, how often the car seat will be used, whether you’ll be putting it in and out of the car a lot and what your budget is.
It’s a good idea to choose the best convertible car seat that you can afford. After all, as long as you don’t have an accident you’ll be using it for many years to come. And if you do have an accident, even a very minor one, you may be able to claim for the cost of a new car seat on your car insurance.
Safety
Which brand of car seat is the safest?
All child restraints sold in the USA are required to comply with the dynamic testing requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS 213). These regulations mean that if you buy a car seat, you know that it’s safe.
In addition to this, Consumer Reports has implemented even more rigorous crash tests and released their data on car seat safety to subscribers. This data has shown that there isn’t one particular brand of car seat which is safer than the others. The safest convertible car seats on the market in 2020 belong to various brands including Chicco, Graco and Britax.
Safest convertible car seat: Chicco NextFit Zip Max
Rear Facing: 4 to 50 pounds
Forward Facing: 22 to 65 pounds
Product Weight: 25.5 pounds
Advantages:
- Excellent performance in safety tests
- More leg room in rear-facing mode than other car seats
- Rear facing up to 50 pounds (most other seats are up to 40 pounds)
- Extended calf support in forward-facing mode
- Nine recline positions
- Two cup holders
Disadvantages:
- Heavier than other car seats
- More expensive than other car seats
Price
Car seats can be expensive and price is an important factor for many people. Whether you’re on a tight budget or just want a spare car seat for Grandma’s car, you don’t have to spend a lot to get a great-quality convertible car seat.
Best budget convertible car seat: Evenflo Tribute LX
Rear Facing: 5 to 40 pounds
Forward Facing: 22 to 40 pounds
Product Weight: 9 pounds
Advantages:
- The compact design is good for small cars
- Three of these car seats can fit across most vehicle back seats
- Lightweight so good for switching between vehicles
- Easy to install and adjust
- Cover is easy to take off and wash
- Choice of four colors
Disadvantages:
- Doesn’t have as much padding for small babies as other car seats
- Not as comfortable as some other car seats
Size
Do all car seats fit in all cars?
No, not all car seats fit in all cars. Common problems with car seats not fitting include buckle crunch, which is caused by seat belt buckles getting in the way and floor storage boxes making the leg support unsafe.
When buying a car seat, it’s important to check the manufacturer guidelines to make sure that the car seat will fit your make and model of car.
Can you have three car seats in the back?
Most cars will not fit three car seats across the back. Of those that do, you may need to look for a slimline car seat for the third one, depending on the width of the car seats that you already own.
What is the smallest rear facing car seat?
If you intend to have three car seats in the back, you might need to look for a slim-width car seat. Alternatively, if the car driver or passenger is particularly tall and likes to have their seat further back, you may need to look for a car seat with a small front to back footprint.
It’s a good idea to measure your car and see exactly how much space you can afford before buying a car seat.
One of the smallest convertible car seats, both in terms of width and length is the Graco SlimFit 3 in 1 convertible car seat.
Best convertible car seats for small cars: Graco SlimFit 3 in 1
Rear Facing: 5 to 40 pounds
Forward Facing: 22 to 65 pounds
Product Weight: 9 pounds
Advantages:
- The slim design is good for small cars
- Rotating cup holders can be stored away to save space
- Lightweight so good for switching between cars
- Can also be used as a booster seat for children up to 100 pounds
- Four recline positions
- Covers are easy to remove and wash
Disadvantages:
- When rear facing, it doesn’t recline very far
- The seat is quite tall
Comfort
Keeping your kid comfy on long car journeys (or even short ones) is priceless. At the moment when your child is screaming on the freeway, you’ll do anything to make them happy. If you’ve invested in a car seat that has lots of comfortable padding and support, that’s one less thing that could upset your baby.
The best car seat for sleeping toddler is one that can recline. Sleeping in an upright position can cause a child’s head to slump forwards, which could give them a sore neck when they wake up, and could also mean that they’re not as well protected in the event of a collision.
Most comfortable convertible car seat: Britax Marathon ClickTight
Rear Facing: 5 to 40 pounds
Forward Facing: 20 to 65 pounds
Product weight: 28.5 pounds
Advantages:
- The ClickTight system confirms that it has been installed correctly
- Super comfortable
- Many colors to choose from
- Seven recline positions
- Lots of leg room
- Easy to adjust as your child grows
Disadvantages:
- One of the heaviest car seats
- No cup holders
Ease of Installation
There are some car seats which you just clip in and go, and there are some that seem to require a degree in engineering to fit. Save yourself hours of studying the instruction manual on the driveway and choose a car seat that the reviews have confirmed as easy to install.
Easiest convertible car seat to install: Britax Boulevard ClickTight Anti-Rebound Bar
Rear Facing: 4 to 40 pounds
Forward Facing: 20 to 65 pounds
Product weight: 29.4 pounds
Advantages:
- Super easy to install
- The ClickTight system confirms that it has been installed correctly
- Anti-rebound bar adds extra safety when rear-facing
- Thick padding for extra comfort
- Nanotex technology resists stains, moisture and odor
- Many colors to choose from
Disadvantages:
- One of the heaviest car seats
- Expensive
Travel
If you plan to travel on an airplane with your child, the safest place for them to be is in a government-approved child safety restraint system, NOT on your lap. Unexpected turbulence can happen at any moment and it’s very easy for your child to be thrown in to the air in an airplane if they are not restrained in a car seat.
If you opt to have your child on your lap to save the money on buying them their own seat (because let’s be honest, plane tickets are really expensive), then you might want to bring a car seat on vacation with you to use in a rental car or taxi.
Airport baggage attendants have an unfortunate reputation for being less-than-gentle with suitcases, strollers and car seats. If you’d rather not risk your expensive car seat getting damaged in transit, it may be worth purchasing a compact car seat for travel.
When looking for a car seat for travel, you’ll want something that’s lightweight and aircraft-certified.
Best lightweight convertible car seat: Cosco Scenera Next
Rear Facing: 5 to 40 pounds
Forward Facing: 22 to 40 pounds
Product weight: 10.4 pounds
Advantages:
- Lightweight so great for travel
- The cover is easy to remove and wash
- Available in many colors and patterns
- Compact design
- Can fit three of these seats across most car back seats
Disadvantages:
- Not as much cushioning as some other car seats
- Only fits kids up to 40 pounds
How to Choose a Convertible Car Seat
This article should give you some good recommendations on the best convertible car seats that are available to buy online right now. Of course, it’s important to do your own research to make sure that the seat you choose is the right fit both for your child and for your car.
Reading car seat reviews online (both the good and the bad ones) is a good way to learn about the pros and cons of each car seat make and model, before making your final decision and choosing a great car seat that will keep your child safe for many years to come.