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Best Convertible Car Seats

Updated February 2024
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Britax One4Life Convertible Car Seat
Britax
One4Life Convertible Car Seat
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

You'll only need one car seat for your child with this convertible seat that converts from an infant seat to a booster.

Pros

This convertible car seat goes from rear-facing infant seat to front-facing toddler seat with ease. It can be used with a child up to 120 lbs. It has four configurations so you can use it through the booster seat years. It's easy to install and meets all the safety requirements with a steel frame, SafeCell(TM) crumple zone, and patented V-shaped tether.

Cons

It has a bit of a learning curve with initial use.

Best Bang for the Buck
Graco Extend2Fit
Graco
Extend2Fit
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

A great budget choice that makes absolutely no compromises on safety or performance.

Pros

This Graco seat provides the same basic safety features as its competitors for a much lower price. It can be used both front- and backward-facing. The headrest and harness adjust simultaneously.

Cons

Some users report that this seat is a bit difficult to install.

Diono Radian 3QXT
Diono
Radian 3QXT
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Most Comprehensive
Bottom Line

Expensive, but a good investment considering it's designed for baby through toddler years.

Pros

Transitions to four different positions to last through 10 years of use. Ample safety features include a steel anti-rebound bar, adjustable headrest, and eight layers of durable materials. Easy to put in place and adjust. Convenient design means multiple seats can be placed next to one another.

Cons

Expensive. Some reports of shipping delays. Fits tightly in some vehicles.

Britax Emblem 3-Stage Convertible Car Seat
Britax
Emblem 3-Stage Convertible Car Seat
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Easy to Use
Bottom Line

You won't need to shell out for a new seat when your baby switches to forward-facing with this seat.

Pros

This three-stage Britax car seat easily switches from rear-facing mode to forward-facing mode as your child grows from baby to toddler. It has two layers of side impact protection and comes with a machine-washable cover that's naturally flame-retardant. Easy installation makes this a top pick for parents.

Cons

Some buyers thought the design wasn't great for infants.

Graco Grows4Me 4-in-1
Graco
Grows4Me 4-in-1
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Great for Toddler Years
Bottom Line

If you are looking for a car seat for a mid-range price that will accommodate your child throughout his or her toddler years, the Graco Grows4Me is worth a look.

Pros

Extremely versatile option for older kids, as it can be converted to a high back or backless booster and accommodate as much as 110 pounds. The seat's fabric wipes clean with minimal effort.

Cons

Time-consuming to install, and it tends to move around a bit even once secured. Not a good fit for tiny newborns or preemies. Bulky design.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Buying guide for best convertible car seats

A convertible car seat is a great way to accommodate for growing children without purchasing a new seat at each new stage of life. Because they can be set to rear- or forward-facing, they can safely seat infants to older toddlers. You should carefully consider the design and safety features of convertible car seats before purchasing.

The size and weight of convertible car seats may vary, as will the ease of buckling and unbuckling the harness. You should carefully check the safety ratings not only of the seat itself but also of its individual parts. States may have different laws regarding convertible car seats, so you should make sure you are following regulations before you purchase a seat.  

If installed properly and used with a child within the weight limit, a convertible car seat can offer comfort and security to your child. Convertible car seats can be somewhat expensive, so it’s important to find a model that best suits you and your child.

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Both convertible car seats and 3-in-1 car seats will “grow” with your child, but 3-in-1 seats are not suitable for infants.
  • An infant car seat includes a detachable carrier and a base that buckles into your vehicle. These models can accommodate babies up to 30 pounds.

  • A convertible car seat can face either the front or the back, providing a seamless transition for children as they grow. New parents set it up in a rear-facing position initially and a forward-facing position later on.

  • A 3-in-1 car seat has no rear-facing option. These seats are built to fit small toddlers while using a seat insert, large toddlers without an insert, and preschoolers in a backless configuration. Some will even accommodate young schoolchildren.


In this shopping guide, we will focus on convertible car seats, the best of which have passed all federally mandated safety tests and provide passengers with a secure and convenient mode of travel.

We tested convertible car seats at our BestReviews headquarters in order to get a hands-on feel for how these devices work. Through our testing sessions, conversations with experts, and additional product research, we comprised a shortlist of the five best convertible car seats on the market today.

You can read about these seats in our product list, above.

Rest assured that we do not accept free product samples from manufacturers. Rather, we use our own funds to purchase the same “off-the-shelf” products that you do. And when we wrap up testing, we donate these products to charities and other non-profit organizations that can use them.

Please read on to learn more about our top convertible car seat recommendations.

Safety

First and foremost, all convertible car seats in our product list have passed or exceeded the minimal safety standards mandated by the federal government. That said, different manufacturers go to different lengths when it comes to the quality and degree of their safety features.

Safety recommendations

All car seat models, convertible and otherwise, are subject to state laws regarding their safe use. Before car seat installation, parents and other caregivers must understand the regulations that apply to their state. What follows is by no means a comprehensive list, but it’s a great place to start. After all, nothing is more important than the health and safety of your precious cargo.

  • Car seat safety advocates advise parents to keep their convertible car seat in a rear-facing position until the child is two years old — or at least until they have clearly outgrown the height and weight ratings for the seat. But this wasn’t always the case. For years, parents routinely changed the seat from rear-facing to front-facing when the child turned one. Newer studies suggest that rear-facing orientation is much safer through the age of two.
  • Rear-facing car seats should never be used in the front passenger seat. While it may seem convenient to have the child right next to you in the front seat, officials discourage this practice for several reasons:

    • The passenger side air bag is designed to deploy during a moderate to severe impact. This could be fatal for an infant in the passenger seat.

    • Most cars have “crumple zones” to minimize the energy of a crash. A baby or toddler in the front seat is in the middle of such a zone. Even a minor accident could severely injure the child.

  • Newborns may not be allowed to leave the hospital in a convertible car seat. Rules vary from hospital to hospital, but in general, a newborn child cannot be transported home from the hospital in anything other than a rear-facing car seat. Yes, the argument could be made that a convertible car seat meets the safety criteria of a rear-facing infant model. However, hospitals may strictly interpret car seat laws as applicable only to car seats with no forward-facing capabilities whatsoever.
  • Parents should never skip the booster seat stage after convertible car seat graduation. Most states allow parents to switch from a front-facing convertible car seat to a belted booster seat after the child has outgrown the convertible seat harness or has reached age four. This booster seat phase is very important in terms of safety and seat design. It should never be skipped in favor of a regular seatbelt.

  • Police can and will enforce car seat laws as a secondary offense. Harried parents and other caregivers may decide that a quick trip to the grocery store or local park doesn't require bundling the child in a rear-facing car seat and harness. But in the eyes of the law, there are very few excuses for putting a child at such risk. Drivers pulled over for minor traffic infractions can also be ticketed for violating child seat laws if the officer notices an improperly restrained child.

Ease of use

How easy a car seat is to install, remove, and navigate inside a vehicle are all important considerations when deciding on a purchase. Other important factors include harness reliability, the weight/bulk of the seat, and how much space the seat takes up in various car models.

Always check the fitting of your car seat when you buckle in. Kids grow fast and the straps may become too tight.

Installation tips

Installing a car seat in a tight-fitting backseat can be tricky. The instruction manual supposedly helps, but many parents discover there’s still a lot of gray area when it comes to actual installation.

Because convertible car seats require a bit of “elbow grease” to install and remove, we advise that if you plan to alternate driving obligations with someone, you might consider buying more than one convertible seat. This would cost you a bit more upfront, but the time and frustration you save would likely be worth it.

Here are some tips to help your installation process run smoothly —

  • Push the front seat forward as much as possible to make room for the car seat. Front seat adults may be a little inconvenienced, but proper installation is much easier when you have lots of maneuvering room.

  • Use your full body weight to ensure a tight fit. Don’t just use your hands and arms to press the seat into position. Use a knee or your stomach to bear down on the seat before cinching up the first strap. If two people are available, put one on seat-pressing duty and the other on cinching-and-latching duty.

  • Use a swaying/rocking motion to wedge the car seat between the upper and lower cushions. Simply pushing the back of the car seat into this gap will not secure it. Rock the seat back and forth as you bear down on it. Some people find it useful to position themselves directly in front of the seat for this task, using their belly as leverage.

  • Get help if you need it. There’s no shame in asking for professional help installing a car seat. In fact, it’s quite common for parents to seek help, and it’s easy to find a technician who will help you. The searchable technician database at SafeCar.gov is a great place to start.

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For your safety
If the child is two years old and has not reached maximum height for the seat, many experts advise parents to continue using the chair in a rear-facing position for as long as needed.
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Features

All seats on our shortlist provide a supportive transition from rear-facing to front-facing mode as the child grows. The amount of body weight a car seat accommodates in both modes is an important consideration, as is the seat's ability to recline, its portability, and its cup holder system.

Car seat expiration dates

All car seats should bear a printed expiration date for the owner’s reference. In many cases, this expiration date will be around six years from the date it left the factory.

Avoid buying a used car seat which has no visible expiration date or an expired one. Because most children are ready to switch to a booster by age four, this expiration date shouldn’t be problematic for new car seats. But it does encourage parents to upgrade to a new model for a second child.

You may be wondering why a perfectly adequate seat that you paid good money for would expire. Here are the primary reasons:

  • Car seat materials wear down over time. The plastic and metal parts of a 10-year-old car seat aren’t as sturdy and safe as the plastic and metal parts of a brand new car seat. And since a quality car seat could potentially save your child’s life, it’s important to have the best.

  • Car seats are designed with “best practices” in mind, but these standards evolve over time. What was considered safe in 2000 is not necessarily what’s considered safe today. To ensure the best for your precious cargo, it’s wise to stay on top of the best technology.

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Did you know?
Rescue workers prefer to extract children from independent car seats rather than integrated car seats. That’s because the rigid outer shell of an independent car seat can serve as a temporary backboard after an accident.
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Price

Convertible car seats range in price from under $100 to over $800. Seats at the higher end tend to offer a glossier look with more bells and whistles, while seats at the lower end tend to zero in on basic functionality and safety without the extra frills.

Pros and cons of convertible car seats

As mentioned above, a convertible car seat is just one of several options you have as a parent.

You could purchase a rear-facing infant car seat for your child and later, when they are about two years old, switch to a front-facing seat.

But some people like convertible car seats because they follow the child from babyhood to about age four.

Here are some pros and cons to consider before investing in a convertible car seat —

  • Pro: Convertible car seats provide several years of service, from infancy to about four years old. Children often outgrow a rear-facing infant car seat within six months to a year. Therefore, you might wish to buy a convertible seat for the same reason some parents buy larger clothing sizes: the child will eventually grow into it.
  • Pro: Convertible car seats will always have the advantage of being convertible. The best infant car seat on the market still cannot become a front-facing car seat at any time. A convertible car seat, on the other hand, can start out as a rear-facing model and then provide at least one or two more years of service before becoming obsolete.
  • Con: Many hospitals will not allow parents to take their infant home in anything other than an approved rear-facing infant car seat. While some convertible car seats can be modified to accommodate an infant, many are designed for older babies and toddlers.
  • Con: Many stroller companies make it easy to attach an infant car seat to an existing model. But convertible car seats can be difficult, if not impossible, to unlatch from the rear seat and install on a standard stroller.

FAQ

Q. I recently moved to a new state. How can I find out the laws and regulations concerning child car seats?

A. Almost all laws concerning child car seat usage are written at the state level, so you would most likely find the information you seek by searching the official state website and using the keywords “car seat laws” or “child car seats”.

Q. I bought a used convertible car seat at a thrift store. The expiration date is still good, and it looks undamaged. How can I tell if it has been recalled?

A. One expert strongly discourages the purchase of a used car seat unless the buyer is fully aware of its history and previous ownership. “There are many items that you can and should buy pre-owned, but a car seat is not one of them. Without the instructions, you might install the seat improperly.”

Furthermore, he says, “There’s no way for the company to notify you of a recall.” That’s because many companies only issue recall information directly to registered owners. Some product safety organizations may have a master list of recalled products, but it is often up to the buyer to arrange for a repair or replacement. Without proof of an original purchase, you’d likely be better off disposing of the recalled model and buying a safer seat.

Q. Why should my child face backwards while riding in a car? I would like to see his face once in awhile.

A. Rear-facing car seats are designed to protect the fragile skeletal and muscular structure of their occupants. When an infant or toddler faces forward during a crash, the head snaps forward, causing softer neck and spinal bones to separate. This is an injury worse than whiplash. A rear-facing car seat is designed to cushion the head and prevent those whiplash-like injuries. Parents may want to have face-to-face time with their children, but safety should be a larger concern when transporting a fragile young passenger in a vehicle.

Q. We’re considering purchasing a new van with an integrated child seat. Is this kind of pre-installed car seat safe for a newborn?

A. In terms of meeting safety standards for a child car seat, most integrated car seats pass the test. They are just as safe for older toddlers as a separate car seat. However, they are not designed for infants and young toddlers who need to be in a rear-facing car seat until at least the age of two.

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