It can convert from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat and eventually, in some cases, to a booster seat. It’s the car seat you’ll use the most and is designed to grow with your child. For Car Seat Checks, the front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position for a 6-foot driver and a 5-foot-6-inch passenger. The three child seats — a high-back booster seat, convertible car seat and rear-facing infant-safety seat — are installed in the second row. Make sure the car safety seat is installed tightly in the vehicle with either lower anchors or a locked seat belt. Many car safety seats have an integrated lock-off system to keep the seat belt locked.
A typical disposable water cup fits in them, as well as most sippy cups. While baby bottles also fit, infants using the car seat will most likely not be able to reach the cup holders themselves. But there will certainly be days when you’re feeling off your game (hello, sleep deprivation!). So you may appreciate having a foolproof convertible car seat like the Chicco NextFit, another 2019 What to Expect winner. A bubble window tells you when you’ve installed the seat at the optimal angle, whether it’s in a front- or rear-facing position. And a LATCH (that’s industry-speak for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) tightener makes it a cinch to buckle in baby securely every time.
Whether you’re taking a quick trip to the playground or embarking on an epic cross-country drive, the last thing you want is to be worried about your baby while you’re behind the wheel. Parents love theBritax Boulevard convertible car seat in part because its ClickTight system — you will literally hear the seat click when it’s in place — makes installation super easy. Still, that lack of portability may be worth it to you for the value and convenience you get in return. Some parents don’t like that the headrest on this car seat doesn’t go as high up as other brands. There are also less recline positions than lots of other seats.
For something slightly more affordable, the Chicco KeyFit has excellent reviews, and was also a favorite among the parents we surveyed for its ease of installation. Saxton calls it a “tried and true, solid car-seat choice.” The Chicco Keyfit 35 is an upgrade of the Keyfit 30 and extends the height and weight limits to 32 inches and 35 pounds, respectively. Other notable features include an anti-rebound bar for added stability, a no-rethread harness graco jogging stroller and easy-extend harness, and the ability to install the seat without the base for on-the-go travel. Many parents prefer an infant-only rear-facing car seat for the first few months of their child’s life. An infant car seat can be taken out of the car with the baby still in it, while a convertible car seat is designed to remain in the car. The Graco 4Ever starts out as a rear-facing seat that can be used when your baby is just four pounds.
The lower anchors being high in the seat crack are problematic for rigid LATCH seats and some seats using LATCH straps. This model year range is relatively unchanged from the original – except now there are only 4 lower anchors and the vehicle head restraints are slightly different in shape. No one seat is the “best” or “safest.” The best graco travel system seat is the one that fits your child’s size, is correctly installed, fits well in your vehicle, and is used properly every time you drive. You may have to adjust the recline angle of the seat so that it sits more upright in your vehicle. The seat clicks into and out of the base so you don’t have to install the seat each time you use it.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. This desirable feature in some models allows parents to recline the seat during naptime or prop it up to avoid reflux after a meal. The seat pad, harness straps, and buckle can be spot cleaned with water, a cloth, and mild soap. For tough stains, the seat pad can be removed and washed in a washing machine on the cold setting. The Graco Sequel 65 has a ten-year life span from the date of manufacture.
My child fits perfectly in It and It was super easy putting It in my car. I love that It has reclining information on the car seat and tells you when to adjust It according to the weight of your child so you don’t have to keep referring back to the manual packet. We asked thousands of Babylist parents about what convertible car seats they loved and why. We also consulted our own team of Babylist experts and a Child Passenger Safety technician to make our best convertible car seat picks so you have everything you need to make an informed decision.
This seat has a detachable angle booster, anti-rebound bar, steel frame , and an adjustable headrest, making it a convertible seat parents and babies will love. The Evenflo Tribute LX is sort of a dark horse compared to our usual selections for best value as it doesn’t really rank very high in the competition. This convertible option earned the second best-combined crash test results in the competition we tested for this review and it has one of the lowest prices. This combination makes it a worthwhile contender for anyone on the tightest budget or potentially as a secondary or travel seat. The Evenflo has a price significantly lower than the other contenders, a machine washable cover, easy to use vehicle belt pathway, and one of the nicest buckles we’ve seen in testing.
If you’re planning to travel with your convertible car seat, you may want to choose one that weighs a bit less. Take a look at your vehicle’s manual before you buy a car seat. Some manufacturers have dos and don’ts for car seat installs that conflict with the installation instructions for some seats. The seat you’re eyeing could even be completely incompatible with your vehicle—and you don’t want to find that out after you’ve made a pricey non-refundable purchase. Like all the car seats we tested, the Graco 4Ever has been crash tested by the manufacturer and approved for use in Canada by Transport Canada and Health Canada.
Nearly all convertible car seats have the LATCH connectors, and most vehicles manufactured after September 1, 2002, offer the anchors on the left and right sides of the back seat. So, the good news is you should be able to utilize the LATCH method until your child outgrows the LATCH connectors’ weight limit . Safety is the standout feature of this popular convertible car seat graco booster seat from Britax. Two layers of side-impact protection, a durable steel frame and an impact-absorbing base that compresses to reduce the force of a collision are just a few of the safety extras we love about the Boulevard. We also love how easy it is to install—you know when the harness is just right thanks to a trusty click sound it makes when it’s been properly tightened.