We all agree that our children’s safety is our priority, wherever they are. And in traffic, this implies getting the best convertible car seat for them. However, since the baby equipment market is very lucrative, it attracts a lot of opportunist companies just interested in making a quick profit.
So they flood the market with inferior products covered in shiny stickers claiming it’s the safest thing for your child. In fact, your child would probably be better protected in that box the seat came in.
We are here to help you find the best seat. Stay with us and you will find out what to look for and how to spot bad products.
Best Car Seats in 2022
Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1
Price from $299.99
Pros
- Rapid-remove seat cover
- No-thread harness with ten different positions
- Two cup holders
- Very comfortable and fashionably designed at the same time
Cons
- Robust and heavy
- The seat is long, so you can’t install it in some smaller cars
Graco is an American baby products company, and this is one of its best-sellers. It is one of the best car seats on the market. It is an “all-in-one” seat that your child can use for years.
Features
- Installation and ease of use
The manual is very detailed, and you can find tons of videos online to help you install this car seat. Still, we can’t say that the ease of installation is where this model shines. Luckily, it has other qualities.
Besides an in-right latch system, it has an integrated belt lock-up. In addition, this model has rubberized fuss-free harness storage. Thanks to this, you can tuck in the ends of the harness clips. This way, you can effortlessly take the baby in and out.
Another useful feature of this top-rated toddler car seat is the “Rapid remove” cover. You can take it off in less than 60 seconds.
- Safety & Comfort
The seat is very well padded and comfortable. There is a six-position recline, and it comes with two attached cup holders. Also, a no-thread harness with ten available positions is a great plus.
Not only can you adjust the harness, but you can adjust the height of the headrest as well. You have ten available options.
- Age, height, and weight
It is designed to be used as a rear-facing seat for babies from four to 22 lbs. Placed like this, it is a car seat for 1-year-old children. Once your child can sit unassisted, you can face it forward and convert it into a forward-facing car seat. Keep it like that until your child reaches 65 lbs (until they reach the age of four, approximately).
After that, use it as a highback booster. Once your child overgrows this option, use it as a backless belt-positioning booster. This seat will pair with your car’s seat belt, ensuring the safety of your child up to 120 lbs and 57 inches.
What we didn’t like
It is double the weight compared to a regular infant seat due to all the functions and options it has to offer. It is hard to move from one car to another.
Chicco KeyFit 30 Car Seat for Toddler
Price from $219.99
Pros
- Easy to install
- One-pull latch tightener
- Leveling foot
- One-hand release
- It can be easily mounted on a stroller
Cons
- Thick padding may make the baby sweat
- Canopy mobility isn’t the smoothest
Chico is one of the largest baby gear producers in the world. This seat is an excellent compromise between size, safety, mobility, and price. It is also one of the best car seats for twins since it is compatible with most twin strollers.
Features
- Installation and ease of use
The set consists of the stay-in-car base and the seat. The base has bubble indicators on both sides to determine whether it’s at the correct angle. Once you’ve leveled it, you just have to pull the tightener and you are all done.
Once you secure the base, you can easily remove the seat with a click of a button and then place it on a stroller (Chicco KeyFit 30 is compatible with Chicco strollers). This makes it one of the best car seats for newborns. And after you’ve finished your walk, you can easily remove the seat from the stroller and click it on the base in the car.
The same goes for moving the seat between cars. You can buy an additional base for your other vehicle. This will save you the trouble of securing the car seat every time.So, if you are looking for the best convertible car seat to move between cars, this is the right choice for you.
The padding is easy to remove and machine washable.
- Age, height, and weight
The seat can accommodate babies form 4 lbs to 30 lbs and 30 inches tall (18-month-old child).
- Safety & Comfort
The seat is exceptionally well padded and comes with a removable infant support insert for newborns. Your child will be cocooned and protected thanks to thick and sturdy plastic shelling and an adjustable chest band to keep shoulders straps in place.
In addition, the LATCH connectors will keep the toddler car seat in place in case of an accident. If you need more comfort, you can opt for KeyFit 30 Zip Air, which has additional covers with zippers and a breathable mesh backrest.
What we didn’t like
The movement of the canopy itself isn’t always the smoothest. Also, the thick and plush padding is excellent for the baby’s comfort but may make it sweat a lot on hot days.
Britax Convertible Car Seat – Boulevard ClickTight
Price from $379.99
Pros
- Exclusive SafeCell impact protection
- Automatic level indicator
- Easy installation
- No-rethread harness
Cons
- Very heavy and takes a lot of space
Britax is Volvo of the baby equipment industry — It is one of the pioneers in the field of child safety. Namely, the company’s experts have created the LATCH (Isofix) system in cooperation with Volkswagen.
Today, the company holds more than 180 patents in the US. It is worth mentioning (and praising) that Britax waived all Isofix patent rights. The seat we are reviewing here is one of the company’s top-of-the-line products and probably its safest convertible car seat in 2021. Considering the company’s heritage and reputation, this says a lot about the seat itself.
Features
- Installation and ease of use
This seat is really easy to install. You don’t need to rethread the seatbelt every time. The middle of the child seat lifts up, allowing easy access. All you have to do is put the seatbelt in a designated place and put the central part of the seat down.
The harness has 14 positions that you can easily adjust with a push of a button. This ease of use probably makes it the best toddler car seat in 2021 for people with multiple children who use the same seat interchangeably.
You won’t have any problem with keeping the seat clean either, as the cover is removable and machine washable.
- Age, height, and weight
The car seat can be used rear-facing for babies from 5 to 40 lbs and forward-facing for children from 20 to 65 lbs. The child can use the seat until it reaches 49 inches, which is an average
height for a seven-year-old.
- Safety & Comfort
This car seat offers several safety features that you can’t find with other competitors (at least in this price range). Maybe the most significant one is exclusive SafeCell impact protection. Its what makes it the safest convertible car seat we’ve seen in a while. Thanks to shock-absorbing materials, the seat’s base absorbs impact and redirects the force through the protective steel-framed plastic shell.
In addition, the head and chest are additionally protected by an energy-absorbing headrest and the chest strap, which also keeps the 5-point safety harness in place.
What we didn’t like
The seat is massive and heavy, making it difficult to move from one car to another. The upside is that once you manage to put it into your other car, it won’t be difficult to hook up.
Graco ComfortSport Car Seat
Price from $199.99
Pros
- Lightweight and can easily be relocated
- Quick harness adjustment
- Affordable
Cons
- It can be hard to unhook the buckle
- The materials could be better
This is an old model and has been around since 1999. We can say that it’s proven model with good history but also a bit dated. However, it is fairly cheap (thus popular) and it’s Graco’s candidate for the title of the best affordable convertible car seat.
Features
- Installation and ease of use
It is relatively easy to install, even though you have to thread the seatbelt through the openings in the seat. However, the seat is compact and very light (just 12lbs), making it easily maneuverable. Of course, you also have the possibility of using the LATCH system, which can make installation even simpler. The cover is easy to clean – it is detachable and you can machine wash it.
- Age, height, and weight
You can use this Graco convertible car seat rear-facing for babies up to 30 lbs and forward-facing for children up to 40 lbs and 40 inches tall (roughly four years old).
- Safety & Comfort
The seat has a five-point harness with a front adjustment. Furthermore, It has two buckle and three shoulder height positions. The removable head support is very comfortable and provides comfort for resting while on the road.
As most car seats for toddlers, this model also comes with an attachable cup holder. We can say that this relatively inexpensive solution doesn’t lack any of the essential safety or comfort features that more expensive models have.
What we didn’t like
The materials are rather inexpensive-looking, and the padding is not really thick. However, given the low price and the fact that it is mainly bought as an auxiliary seat, we can say it’s worth the money. Whatsmore, we are even tempted to give it the title of the best convertible car seat – when it comes to mobility.
Britax One4LIfe Car Seat
Price from $419.99
Pros
- Cooling channels
- Machine washable
- Removable infant insert
- Additional side-impact protection
Cons
- It is large and heavy, thus hard to move around
- Pricey
It is another excellent option to consider if you don’t want to keep buying new car seats from one year to another. This is the priciest option on our list, but the price is justified. Consider this seat as a long-term investment because your kid is going to use it until it’s 10. Your best infant car seat in 2021 will be the best tween seat in 2031. As we’ve mentioned before, Britax is deeply committed to safety, and this seat’s characteristics confirm the company’s policy.
Features
- Installation and ease of use
This model has a click-tight installation which is just as easy as buckling your seatbelt. There are color-coded belt pads that show you exactly where the seatbelt should go in each installation mode.
We love the fact that the harness height follows the position of the headrest, so you won’t have to rethread it as your child grows. The cover is from flame-retardant material, and it is machine washable.
- Age, height, and weight
You can use it as an infant to toddler car seat when your child is at least 5 lbs heavy. After the child reaches 20 lbs, you can place the seat in a forward-facing position. Thanks to the seat’s versatility, your child can comfortably sit until it reaches 120 lbs.
- Safety & Comfort
The seat has an incredible number of adjustments, some of which are a 15-point headrest and a nine-position position recline. The cushions are very soft and thick, and the materials are of premium quality.What makes this the best toddler car seat for long trips is that thick materials won’t make your kid hot, thanks to cooling channels.The seat also has built-in armrests that can also be used as cup holders.
Neither will safety. Namely, thanks to its strong steel frame, V-shaped tether, and SafeCell crumple zone, it can absorb crash energy and keep your kid safe. Additionally, this seat even has two layers of side-impact protection.
What we didn’t like
The seat is big, wide, and heavy. These features are highly desirable when we have safety and comfort in mind but somehow become less attractive when we have to move the seat to another car.
What Is a Convertible Car Seat?
Unlike regular car seats that need to be changed every few years as the child grows, convertible models have a different idea. This is the only seat you will ever have to buy. Your child will use it as an infant throughout the next ten years or so. However, this makes them larger and pricier than other car seats because they have more demands to meet.
Why Do You Need Convertible Car Seats?
There are a few reasons why convertible models are indeed the best option. First of all, they are way more practical. You will most probably install it only once and switch its position only a few times in the next ten years.
On the other hand, even though convertible models are more expensive than regular ones, they will save you a lot of money in the long term. You will make that single purchase only once instead of buying new seats every few years.
Best Convertible Car Seat – What to Look For?
Size
There are several types of convertible seats on the market. While some can be used from birth to the age of ten, others are less versatile and become useless when your child reaches 40 or 50 lbs. In general, seats with longer usage periods are pricier and larger because they have to satisfy different demands.
Safety
There are two safety standards to keep an eye on, ECE R44 and UNR 129. The seats with ECE R44 marking have been tested in forward-facing and rear-facing collisions. On the other hand, seats with UNR 129 have also been tested for side impacts, making them the best infant car seats when it comes to safety. Furthermore, this is the latest and strictest set of standards, so whenever you can, choose this one.
Installation and Use
Some of the seats out there are a nightmare to install. Furthermore, you have to rethread the harness and belt buckles as your child grows. Another significant issue is harness tightening. You may not view all these things as big issues, but they are if you have to drive several kids to school and you are in a hurry, and your children wore jackets yesterday, but today they are not.
Summary of Our Convertible Car Seat Reviews
Car safety has evolved so much in the past decade, but kids are still the most vulnerable passenger category due to their small physique. To protect them, we have to place them in car seats. We all want what’s best for our kids. And because of that, we have to make choices every day. What will they eat, what will they wear, who are they going to play with… We hope we’ve made choosing the right seat easier for you.
People Also Ask
Are convertible car seats safe?
Yes, convertible car seats are safe, but the level of protection depends on the manufacturer and the model. There are many inferior products on the market, and one of the ways to avoid them is to choose seats that come from established brands and with ECE R44 and UNR 129 standards. The models with the ECE R44 label have been tested in forward-facing and rear-facing collisions. On the other hand, seats with UNR 129 have also been tested for side impacts.
What is the safest convertible car seat in 2022?
There isn’t a straight answer to this question. Numerous brands, such as Chico, Britax, Graco, and others, pay the most attention to the protection of your child. One of the ways to find out if the seat is safe is by checking the safety standards it complies with. For example, if the seat is ECE R44-compliant, it’s tested in head-on and rear collisions. The UNR 129 standard, on the other hand, is much stricter and includes side impacts as well.
What is the best convertible car seat in 2022?
The answer to this question depends on what your preferences are. For example, some of the models have a design for people with smaller cars. On the other hand, others are focused on safety and stability. In addition, some brands, like Chico, focus on the seats’ travel system. Our advice is to explore the market and see what demands you need to fulfill.
What is the best convertible car seat for a small car?
Of course, the answer to this question depends on your needs and how small your car actually is. One thing is certain – if you have a small car, you should be looking for a narrow and short car seat. It may be a little problematic because, in general, most convertible seats don’t mix well with small cars. They have different options and positions, making them a little robust. Maybe the best convertible car seat for smaller cars is Chicco KeyFit 30, with its travel system capabilities and narrow design. Another great option is Graco ComfortSport.
