Most importantly, convertible car seats allow kids to be rear-facing for longer and can accommodate children of various sizes. A. graco booster seats have cornered the market on mid-priced convertible car seats that include extra safety and convenience features that are typically hallmarks of pricier options. Some models will last until your child graduates from a booster seat, between the ages of 10 and 12, eliminating the need to buy multiple car and booster seats. Basic models priced between $100 and $150 are safe and functional but lack some desirable engineering features. Higher-end models priced between $150 and $300 include valuable features like advanced crash testing, additional configurations that extend the life of the car seat, and extra leg room.
This information makes it a great option for those who want top safety indicators. The Extend2Fit can also potentially stay rear-facing for longer than most of the competition , creating a wonderful combination of features that potentially translates to a safer riding experience. The Emblem has a manual LATCH strap, unlike the popular ClickTight models.
Check the instructions that came with the car safety seat to be sure. Never place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has an active front passenger airbag. If the airbag inflates, it will hit the back of the car safety seat, right graco booster seat against your child’s head, and could cause serious injury or death. When children are old enough and large enough for the vehicle seat belt to fit them correctly, they should always use lap and shoulder seat belts for the best protection.
Our panel of experts includes Dr. Juliet Spurrier, a Board-Certified Pediatrician, mother, and founder of BabyGearLab with a background in urgent pediatric care. Our in-house test development was led by Certified Passenger Safety Technician, Bob Wofford. Bob assesses proper seat installation for the highest level of safety. We also consulted with experts at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about their protocol and crash test results. We contract with MGA Research, the same national testing facility that has the compliance contract for FMVSS 213 assessing the safety of car seat in the US. We buy two units of each convertible car seat in our review so we can test one hands-on, and the other unit will undergo crash testing according to the same crash test protocol the US Federal Safety Standards uses.
Once your baby has exceeded the height or weight limitations of an infant car seat, it is time to transition to a convertible car seat. Since convertible car seats typically can accommodate newborns, you can choose to skip the infant car seat and opt for a convertible option from the start. Saxton’s favorite in this category is the Britax Grow With You car seat because of the ClickTight system. She adds that this seat also has added side impact and safe-cell impact protection, which are honeycomb compression towers in the base of the car seat that lower the center of gravity and reduce forward motion in a crash.
All parents can benefit from getting installation help from a CPST to ensure that their child’s seat is properly installed. All children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seat. We purchased two of them, one for each vehicle for our 7 month old son. It was super easy to install, and seems very comfortable for baby. I haven’t taken the cover off yet to wash it but it is supposed to be a quick release cover.