The Safest Convertible Car Seats: Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Car Seat for Your Baby with Reviews, Safety Ratings and Pro Tips

The Safest Convertible Car Seats: Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Car Seat for Your Baby with Reviews, Safety Ratings and Experienced Tips

So here’s the thing. In the parenting world, car seat discussions can get heated. And by heated, we mean hot, hot, hot – to the point of boiling over.

But here’s the other thing: as parents, we all agree that car seats should be a hot topic because they’re one of the most significant aspects to keeping our kids safe. The average family spends a lot of time in the car: grocery runs and after-school sports and weekend jaunts and, well, all those interminable minutes and hours you spend going to and fro, hither and thither.

Since you’re reading this guide, we already know you want to keep your kiddos safe in the car. We’ll skip the high-horse speeches – you very likely hear enough of that in playgroup, anyway – and leap right to the cold, hard facts. Here are three that stand out:

  • Road-related injuries are the leading cause of preventable injury and death to children in the U.S.
  • The good news: Car seats, correctly installed, can reduce the risk of death by an incredible 71%.
  • The bad news: An estimated 73% of car seats are not installed correctly.

Those are the statistics. Here are a few steps you can take on the way to keeping your children safe:

  • All car seats sold in the U.S. are required to meet or exceed Federal and ASTM Safety Standards.
  • Car seats should also be NCAP crash tested, the industry benchmark for evaluating seat spectacle in the event of a severe accident.
  • Parent Central at SaferCar.gov provides excellent reviews on all U.S. car seats. The site also rates each car seat based on its ease of use – an significant consideration, given the above statistic that 73% of car seats are used incorrectly.
  • For all-in-one seats and convertibles that transition to boosters, you can also check booster seat ratings at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
  • Third-party review sites, like Consumer Reports, also suggest unbiased convenience and safety reviews.

All that said, we’ll add one more layer to the equation – four extra considerations before purchasing a car seat:

  1. Extended Rear-Facing: You may have heard a lot about rear-facing versus front-facing car seats. Let’s cut to the pursue: without a doubt, rear-facing is the safest way for your children to rail. Consider purchasing a seat that rear-faces to 40+ pounds. Recall, just because your child hits the minimum required to front-face (1+ year and 20+ pounds), doesn’t mean she should. Rear-facing saves lives.
  2. Extended Front-Facing: As with the transition from rear- to front-facing, your child will likely hit the minimum height and weight required to transition to a booster before he’s actually ready, physically and developmentally. Choose a seat with a high front-facing weight limit (up to seventy pounds) and only transition to a booster when your child outgrows her car seat.
  3. Check the expiration date: Some car seats have a 5-year life, which means they’ll likely expire before your child has the chance to outgrow them. If you’re buying an extended-use or all-in-one car seat, choose one with an 8-, 10-, or 12-year lifespan.
  4. Never buy used: It’s tempting to spring for a deal on a used seat, but you should know that age, wear, and accidents (even just a teeny, little fender bender) can compromise a car seat’s safety features. Unless you are 110% sure of a seat’s history – never been in an accident, never left in a spot where the sun shines brightly, etc. – don’t risk your child’s safety for a discount.

Now that we have that out of the way, here are our recommendations for the most stylish, comfy and, most importantly, safest all-in-one and convertible car seats for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and elementary kids. Let us know which ones make your wish list!

1. Britax Advocate

Britax is one of the fattest names in car seats, thanks to incredible safety ratings and high weight boundaries. The Britax Advocate is one of the brand’s most popular seats, featuring side-impact cushion technology, as well as other Britax safety features: SafeCell technology, integrated steel bars, SafeCell crash technology, and an energy-absorbing Versa-Tether.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (71 points, Very Good rating)

Two. Britax Boulevard

The Britax Boulevard is an excellent car seat that will accommodate your newborn (Five+ pounds) through her preschool and elementary years (up to sixty five pounds). The Boulevard sports all the standard Britax safety characteristics, like the energy-absorbing Versa-Tether, true side-impact protection, SafeCell technology, and steel bars, and has extra convenience features, including a tangle-free five-point corset that never needs to be re-threaded.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (71 points, Very Good rating)

Trio. Britax Marathon

This bestseller almost needs no introduction: it’s one of the most popular, talked-about car seats in the U.S. today. It offers utter side-impact protection, a solid steel bar framework, SafeCell technology in case of collision, an impact-absorbing Versa-Tether and other gravely advanced safety features, and adds a dose of style with floral, animal print, and colorful covers. It also comes in in the mid-price range, usually under $250 – and that’s for a seat that’ll take you from newborn to sixty five pounds. Bottom line: you can’t go wrong with the Britax Marathon!

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (Sixty-nine points, Very Good rating)

Four. Britax Pavilion

The Britax Pavilion is one of the most popular, adjustable car seats on the market today – and for good reason. With a sky-high weight capacity of seventy pounds, this seat will take you from newborn through elementary school. Even better, the Pavilion upholds Britax’s incredible safety standards and features, scoring top ratings for its side-impact protection, integrated steel bar construction, and SafeCell technology, which keeps your child safe in the event of a crash.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (71 points, Very Good rating)

Five. Britax Roundabout

Britax is known for its high safety ratings and stellar user reviews, but those accolades don’t always come cheap. Come in the Roundabout, which for under $150, produces on the Britax promise – and represents one of the best deals in convertible car seats today. The Roundabout boasts the same SafeCell Technology, steel bars, and Versa-Tether as other Britax seats, sacrificing only capacity (55 pounds and forty six inches) for the lower price. Be sure to choose the Roundabout G4 model, which is slightly roomier than classic Roundabout 55.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty six inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-55 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty six inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (67 points, Very Good rating; Best Buy award)

6. Chicco NextFit

The Chicco NextFit is one of the best-rated car seats available today, thanks to its effortless of use, high weight limit, and superior safety features. We love how ordinary it is to install and use, with its ReclineSure 9-position leveling system, SuperCinch LATCH tightening, RideRight bubble leveler, 2-position chest clip, and other user-friendly features. And for baby fashionistas, the NextFit comes with a unique, machine-washable zip-off cover that can be lightly switched out depending on style and season.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (74 points, Very Good rating; Best Buy award)

7. Combi Coccoro

The Combi Coccoro is an ideal choice for parents who want safety and a compact seat: the Coccoro is made especially to fit well in petite vehicles, even if you have to dual (or triple!) up your seats. Beyond its space-saving features, the Coccoro is a lifesaver, as well: with Tru-Safe® Side Influence Protection, energy-absorbing foam, rear-facing tether, LATCH connectors, and five-point corset, this car seat is both effortless to use and very safe. Bear in mind, with a forward-facing weight limit of just forty pounds, you’ll eventually have to purchase another car seat before your child is ready to transition to a booster.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 3-33 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-40 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (49 points, Good rating)

8. Cosco Scenera

If you’re looking for safety and a good deal, look no further than the Cosco Scenera. Clocking in at under $60, this top-rated value workhorse is LATCH-equipped and features a 5-point corset system with Center Front Adjust and four corset positions. But like the Coccoro, recall that with a forward-facing weight limit of just forty pounds, you’ll eventually have to purchase another car seat before your child is ready to transition to a booster.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-35 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 19-36 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-40 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-43 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets)

9. Diono Radian®RXT

Oh, be still our hearts. The Diono Radian®RXT (and its sister seat, below at #Ten) is the granddaddy of incredible car seats. At $300+, you may not think of this as a budget seat – but consider what you get for your money: an infant seat, toddler and preschooler car seat, and elementary booster seat (up to one hundred twenty pounds), all in one. And if that weren’t enough, the Radian®RXT is so compact, you can fit three-across in a mid-size vehicle; it also folds vapid for travel. Fat bonus: it has a 10-year life, so it won’t expire before your kid outgrows it.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-45 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 57″ pounds
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-80 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 57″ pounds
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 50-120 pounds and 40-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets); Consumer Reports (44 points, Good rating)

Ten. Diono Rainier

If the Radian®RXT almost brought you to tears (it’s okay, we understand!), then hold onto your seats: the Ranier is even better. Diono’s all-new Ranier adds to the Radian’s offerings with enhanced weight thresholds – at fifty pounds for rear facing, it’s the highest in the industry! – extra deep side walls, 12-position headrest, and extra side-impact protection. It even adds two years to the Radian®RXT’s 10-year life – twelve years before expiration, meaning your child truly can use the seat from newborn bucket seat to toddler car seat to big-kid booster.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-50 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 57″
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-90 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 57″
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 50-120 pounds and 40-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets)

11. Evenflo Symphony

The Evenflo Symphony is an all-in-one car seat, capable of converting from infant bucket seat to rear- or forward-facing toddler seat and, ultimately, to a booster seat for older children. Not only that, but the Symphony features SureLATCH® Technology (60-second installation!), e3 Side Impact™ Protection, and safety-tests at and incredible dual the Federal Crash Test Standard. And if that’s not enough to pique your interest, get this: the Symphony is a steal at under $200.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-37 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 28-50 inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 40-110 pounds and 43.3-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (67 points, Very Good rating; Best Buy award); Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (Best Bet award)

12. Evenflo SureRide™

The Evenflo SureRide™ was developed to keep your child harnessed for longer, with a broad range of corset adjustments and high height/weight thresholds. This made-in-the-USA seat takes safety gravely, with side influence protection, thick adding, a 5-point corset, LATCH system, and a safety rating 2x the federal crash test standard. And at under $100, there’s no better value out there.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 28-54 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets); Consumer Reports (65 points, Very Good rating; Best Buy award)

13. Graco ComfortSport

The Graco ComfortSport is a good convertible car seat for families on a budget. At under $100, this workhorse accommodates kids from newborn (Five+ pounds) to toddler years (40 pounds, max), and throws in convenience and safety features like LATCH compatibility, EPS energy absorbing foam, an adjustable five-point corset, and installation level indicator. As with similar seats, keep in mind that you’ll very likely have to upgrade to another convertible or all-in-one seat once your child exceeds forty pounds.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-30 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-40 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Consumer Reports (55 points; Good rating)

14. Graco Head Wise™ 70

Graco’s Head Wise™ seventy is a pretty arousing convertible car seat, given that its weight thresholds hit the industry floor at four pounds (premies and multiples!) and scrape the ceiling at seventy pounds. What’s more, the seat was built with safety in mind and promises to provide the best head protection at both the rear-facing and front-facing stages. Add on features likes LATCH positioning, Graco’s Simply Safe Adjust™ corset system, Safety Surround™ Side Influence Protection, and a solid 5-point corset, and it’s effortless to see why this sub-$200 seat is a winner.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 4-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Until child’s head is no less than 1″ below the crimson treat
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: fifty two inches pounds
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets)

15. Graco MyRide 65

Graco’s MyRide sixty five is one of our beloved convertible car seats, due to its enviable combination of superb price (sub-$125) and extended use. With a weight range of 5-65 pounds, this seat will get you from the hospital through the elementary years – until your child is ready to transition to a backed booster. Graco’s excellent safety features clinch the deal: it exceed U.S. safety standards with EPS energy-absorbing foam, high ratings for side-impact protection, an adjustable 5-point corset, LATCH compatibility, and other keep-your-kiddo-safe features.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Top of head must be at least 1” (Two.Five cm) below the top of the child restraint
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (64 points, Very Good rating)

16. Graco Size4Me

Graco adds another to our list with the Size4Me, an adaptable and well-priced entry to the convertible car seat market. It is amazingly safe, thanks to requiring side-impact testing, energy-absorbing foam, and a five-point corset that earns the seat high safety ratings. We also love that the Size4Me has a low, low weight minimum (just four pounds), so even if you’re expecting a premie (or multiples!), this seat will still take you from hospital to elementary school.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 4-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Top of head must be at least 1” (Two.Five cm) below the top of the child restraint
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (67 points, Very Good rating)

17 . Graco Clever Seat

If you’re aiming for car seat longevity, you can’t miss the Graco Clever Seat. This all-in-one car seat rear-faces to forty pounds, front-faces to sixty five pounds, and performs as a booster up to one hundred pounds. You’ll never need another seat! What’s more, it boasts rigorous safety standards, like SafeSeat engineering, a steel-reinforced framework, side-impact protection, and EPS energy-absorbing foam. And it’s amazingly comfy, to boot.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Top of head must be at least 1” (Two.Five cm) below the top of the child restraint
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 30-100 pounds and 38-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: five starlets);

Eighteen. Maxi Cosi Pria™ 70

Can I get an ooh-la-la? We’ll admit, we love that the Maxi Cosi Pria™ seventy comes in a rainbow array of colors, from Bohemian Blue to Sweet Cerise to Brown Leather (say what?!). But we also love that this chic convertible car seat values safety even more than style: the Pria™ seventy features the FlexTech™ system (multi-directional energy management) and superior side-impact protection, as well as high weight thresholds (RF to forty pounds and FF to seventy pounds). Now that’s what we call style and function!

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 9-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Until baby’s head reaches to 1″ of top of seat
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: fifty two inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets); Consumer Reports (62 points, Very Good rating)

Nineteen. Orbit Baby G3

Hold. The. Phone! Fellow parents, the Orbit Baby G3 turns the convertible car seat world on its head. Walk with me through these awesome features: Not only does the G3 boast side-impact protection, side influence braces, and a 5-point corset, but it also features non-toxic, Brominated Flame Retardant/BFR-free fabrics and is the world’s very first convertible car seat to dock onto a stroller and rocker. Hello, beautiful.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 15-35 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: When the child’s ears are not visible above the top of the headrest when seated
  • Front-facing weight limit: 25-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes/no
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets)

20. Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible

You most likely know Peg Perego for its hip, Italian-made strollers, but did you know the brand also has car seats on suggest? Excellent ones, in fact: the Primo Viaggio is a very adjustable, extended rear-facing car seat with top safety ratings and glowing reviews. We love the Primo Viaggio’s safety features – side-impact protection, ten adjustable positions for safest fit, energy-absorbing foam, shock-absorbing foam, and a quick-release 5-point corset – and love it even more for accommodating children up to forty five pounds for rear-facing and a whopping seventy pounds for front-facing.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-45 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: As long as head is at least one inch below headrest edge
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes/no
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets)

21. RECARO Spectacle Rail

Another stylish convertible car seat from Recaro, the Spectacle Rail offers the latest in safety technology with the HERO corset system. With HERO, you can be absolutely sure that you’ve placed the seat to fit your child’s head, neck and shoulders, without the corset twisting and while ensuring decent chest clip positioning. In other words, it’s the safest, most secure installation ever. Add on breathable mesh, memory foam, a convenience pad, and a bevy of safety features, and you see why the Spectacle Rail makes our list.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Less than 22.Five inches, seated height
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: Less than forty nine inches, standing height
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Consumer Reports (59 points, Good rating)

22. RECARO PRORIDE

Recaro’s reputation for style, form and function live on with the ProRIDE, a convertible car seat that employs serious safety features: a vehicle belt lock-off mechanism (for use when forward-facing), PUR foam in the head restraint, and racing-inspired side influence protection. And rest assured your little one won’t sacrifice convenience for safety, as the ProRIDE also comes tooled with an ergonomic shell, breathable fabric, and comfy cushioning.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Less than 22.Five inches, seated height
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: Less than forty nine inches, standing height
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Consumer Reports (60 points, Very Good rating)

23. Safety 1st Able 65

The Safety 1st Able offers an excellent value: at under $100, this seat rear-faces to forty pounds and front-faces to sixty five pounds. Even better, it meets or exceeds Federal and ASTM Safety Standards, and adds fine features like a no-rethread, adjustable 5-point corset, 3-position recline base, five corset heights, and one-hand seat adjustment.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 29-49 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (57 points, Good rating)

24. Safety 1st Advance seventy Air+

If you like the Safety 1st brand and love a good deal, it doesn’t get much better than the Advance seventy Air+ convertible car seat. This versatile workhorse is for families who practice extended rear-racing (up to forty pounds and forty inches) and extended front-facing (70 pounds and fifty two inches) – or for families with big kids who outgrow seat boundaries before they’re developmentally ready. And of course, the Advance seventy Air+ meets Safety 1st’s exacting safety standards and meets or exceeds Federal and ASTM Safety Standards.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-52 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets)

25. Safety 1st All-in-One

Another addition to the all-in-one car seat category, the Safety 1st All-in-One takes you from newborn bucket seat to toddler (rear-racing to forty pounds) to elementary school (front-facing to fifty pounds) and, eventually, to a belt-positioning booster up to one hundred pounds. It’s all the seat you’d ever need – or want, considering this baby has side-impact protection and meets or exceeds Federal and ASTM Safety Standards. Keep in mind its front-facing weight limit (50 pounds) is lower than its competitors (65-70 pounds) – but its price is, too.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-36 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-50 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-45 inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 40-100 pounds and 43-52 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets); Consumer Reports (46 points, Good rating)

26. Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite™

Another entrant to the all-in-one car seat field, the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite™ is a solid contender. With mid-range weight boundaries – thirty five pounds for rear-facing and fifty pounds for front-facing – and the capability to convert to a booster, not to mention rigorous safety testing and ratings, the Alpha Omega Elite™ is an excellent choice for families seeking value, safety, and extended use.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-35 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-36 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-50 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-45 inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 40-100 pounds and 43-52 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets)

27. Safety 1st Finish Air 65

We seemingly can’t get enough of Safety 1st’s affordable offerings, so here’s another to consider. The Finish Air sixty five is a long-lasting, convertible car seat that will take you from five to sixty five pounds and nineteen to forty nine inches – that’s a puny newborn to a large elementary-schooler! What’s more, the seat meets or exceeds Federal and ASTM Safety Standards, and features Safety 1st’s QuickFit™ corset and Air Protect® advanced side influence protection technology.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 29-49 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (57 points, Good rating)

28. Safety 1st OnSide Air

If you’re looking for a well-priced convertible car seat that’ll permit you to keep you child rear-facing for longer, check out the Safety 1st OnSide Air. At under $80, this car seat rear-faces to forty pounds and piles on safety, with four corset heights and three buckle locations and safety ratings that meet or exceed Federal and ASTM Safety Standards. Keep in mind that this seat forward-faces to just forty pounds, so when your child hits the upper limit you’ll need to purchase another car seat.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-40 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-43 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (64 points, Very Good rating)

29. Snugli All-In-One Car Seat

Snugli’s superb All-in-One Car Seat offers superb value and very extended use, converting from rear-facing seat (up to forty pounds) to front-facing seat (up to sixty five pounds) to booster mode (up to one hundred ten pounds) – all for under $200. What’s more, Snugli packs in the safety features, with three layers of side-impact foam, a TruTether adjuster, and SureLATCH installation. All this, and your kiddo is still super comfy: the All-in-One also features temperature-regulating fabric, memory foam padding, and a plush cushion.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-37 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 28-50 inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 40-110 pounds and 43.3-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Consumer Reports (67 points, Very Good rating)

30. The Very first Years True Fit I-Alert

Ladies and gentlemen, car seats have gone mobile. The Very first Years True Fit I-Alert takes car seat safety into the 21st century with revolutionary, mobile-synced alerts that let you know (via smartphone) when unsafe conditions arise – things like an incorrect positioning angle or when your child unbuckles himself mid-ride. The seat also features an lightly adjustable 5-point corset, EPP foam for influence protection, LATCH positioning, and a high forward-facing weight limit (65 pounds) for maximum use.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-35 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Until head is one inch below the top of the seat
  • Front-facing weight limit: 23-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: fifty inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: five starlets)

Recap

Best and Safest Convertible Car Seats:

  • Britax Advocate
  • Britax Boulevard
  • Britax Marathon
  • Britax Pavilion
  • Britax Roundabout
  • Chicco NextFit
  • Combi Coccoro
  • Cosco Scenera
  • Diono Radian®RXT
  • Diono Rainier
  • Evenflo Symphony
  • Evenflo SureRide™
  • Graco ComfortSport
  • Graco Head Wise™ 70
  • Graco MyRide 65
  • Graco Size4Me
  • Graco Brainy Seat
  • Maxi Cosi Pria™ 70
  • Orbit Baby G3
  • Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible
  • RECARO Spectacle Rail
  • RECARO PRORIDE
  • Safety 1st Able 65
  • Safety 1st Advance seventy Air+
  • Safety 1st All-in-One
  • Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite™
  • Safety 1st Finish Air 65
  • Safety 1st OnSide Air
  • Snugli All-In-One Car Seat
  • The Very first Years True Fit I-Alert

Bonus Recommendations: Car Seat Accessories

We’re car seat geeks here at Safe Sound Family, so we can’t help but share some of our beloved car safety and convenience add-ons – all those little things that help us get from Point A to Point B, both securely and joyfully.

The Safest Convertible Car Seats: Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Car Seat for Your Baby with Reviews, Safety Ratings and Accomplished Tips

The Safest Convertible Car Seats: Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Car Seat for Your Baby with Reviews, Safety Ratings and Experienced Tips

So here’s the thing. In the parenting world, car seat discussions can get heated. And by heated, we mean hot, hot, hot – to the point of boiling over.

But here’s the other thing: as parents, we all agree that car seats should be a hot topic because they’re one of the most significant aspects to keeping our kids safe. The average family spends a lot of time in the car: grocery runs and after-school sports and weekend jaunts and, well, all those interminable minutes and hours you spend going to and fro, hither and thither.

Since you’re reading this guide, we already know you want to keep your kiddos safe in the car. We’ll skip the high-horse speeches – you very likely hear enough of that in playgroup, anyway – and hop right to the cold, hard facts. Here are three that stand out:

  • Road-related injuries are the leading cause of preventable injury and death to children in the U.S.
  • The good news: Car seats, correctly installed, can reduce the risk of death by an incredible 71%.
  • The bad news: An estimated 73% of car seats are not installed correctly.

Those are the statistics. Here are a few steps you can take on the way to keeping your children safe:

  • All car seats sold in the U.S. are required to meet or exceed Federal and ASTM Safety Standards.
  • Car seats should also be NCAP crash tested, the industry benchmark for evaluating seat spectacle in the event of a severe accident.
  • Parent Central at SaferCar.gov provides excellent reviews on all U.S. car seats. The site also rates each car seat based on its ease of use – an significant consideration, given the above statistic that 73% of car seats are used incorrectly.
  • For all-in-one seats and convertibles that transition to boosters, you can also check booster seat ratings at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
  • Third-party review sites, like Consumer Reports, also suggest unbiased convenience and safety reviews.

All that said, we’ll add one more layer to the equation – four extra considerations before purchasing a car seat:

  1. Extended Rear-Facing: You may have heard a lot about rear-facing versus front-facing car seats. Let’s cut to the pursue: without a doubt, rear-facing is the safest way for your children to rail. Consider purchasing a seat that rear-faces to 40+ pounds. Recall, just because your child hits the minimum required to front-face (1+ year and 20+ pounds), doesn’t mean she should. Rear-facing saves lives.
  2. Extended Front-Facing: As with the transition from rear- to front-facing, your child will likely hit the minimum height and weight required to transition to a booster before he’s actually ready, physically and developmentally. Choose a seat with a high front-facing weight limit (up to seventy pounds) and only transition to a booster when your child outgrows her car seat.
  3. Check the expiration date: Some car seats have a 5-year life, which means they’ll likely expire before your child has the chance to outgrow them. If you’re buying an extended-use or all-in-one car seat, choose one with an 8-, 10-, or 12-year lifespan.
  4. Never buy used: It’s tempting to spring for a deal on a used seat, but you should know that age, wear, and accidents (even just a teeny, lil’ fender bender) can compromise a car seat’s safety features. Unless you are 110% sure of a seat’s history – never been in an accident, never left in a spot where the sun shines brightly, etc. – don’t risk your child’s safety for a discount.

Now that we have that out of the way, here are our recommendations for the most stylish, comfy and, most importantly, safest all-in-one and convertible car seats for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and elementary kids. Let us know which ones make your wish list!

1. Britax Advocate

Britax is one of the fattest names in car seats, thanks to incredible safety ratings and high weight boundaries. The Britax Advocate is one of the brand’s most popular seats, featuring side-impact cushion technology, as well as other Britax safety features: SafeCell technology, integrated steel bars, SafeCell crash technology, and an energy-absorbing Versa-Tether.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (71 points, Very Good rating)

Two. Britax Boulevard

The Britax Boulevard is an excellent car seat that will accommodate your newborn (Five+ pounds) through her preschool and elementary years (up to sixty five pounds). The Boulevard sports all the standard Britax safety characteristics, like the energy-absorbing Versa-Tether, true side-impact protection, SafeCell technology, and steel bars, and has extra convenience features, including a tangle-free five-point corset that never needs to be re-threaded.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (71 points, Very Good rating)

Trio. Britax Marathon

This bestseller almost needs no introduction: it’s one of the most popular, talked-about car seats in the U.S. today. It offers total side-impact protection, a solid steel bar framework, SafeCell technology in case of collision, an impact-absorbing Versa-Tether and other gravely advanced safety features, and adds a dose of style with floral, animal print, and colorful covers. It also comes in in the mid-price range, usually under $250 – and that’s for a seat that’ll take you from newborn to sixty five pounds. Bottom line: you can’t go wrong with the Britax Marathon!

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (Sixty-nine points, Very Good rating)

Four. Britax Pavilion

The Britax Pavilion is one of the most popular, adjustable car seats on the market today – and for good reason. With a sky-high weight capacity of seventy pounds, this seat will take you from newborn through elementary school. Even better, the Pavilion upholds Britax’s incredible safety standards and features, scoring top ratings for its side-impact protection, integrated steel bar construction, and SafeCell technology, which keeps your child safe in the event of a crash.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (71 points, Very Good rating)

Five. Britax Roundabout

Britax is known for its high safety ratings and stellar user reviews, but those accolades don’t always come cheap. Inject the Roundabout, which for under $150, supplies on the Britax promise – and represents one of the best deals in convertible car seats today. The Roundabout boasts the same SafeCell Technology, steel bars, and Versa-Tether as other Britax seats, sacrificing only capacity (55 pounds and forty six inches) for the lower price. Be sure to choose the Roundabout G4 model, which is slightly roomier than classic Roundabout 55.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty six inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-55 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty six inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (67 points, Very Good rating; Best Buy award)

6. Chicco NextFit

The Chicco NextFit is one of the best-rated car seats available today, thanks to its effortless of use, high weight limit, and superior safety features. We love how ordinary it is to install and use, with its ReclineSure 9-position leveling system, SuperCinch LATCH tightening, RideRight bubble leveler, 2-position chest clip, and other user-friendly features. And for baby fashionistas, the NextFit comes with a unique, machine-washable zip-off cover that can be lightly switched out depending on style and season.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (74 points, Very Good rating; Best Buy award)

7. Combi Coccoro

The Combi Coccoro is an ideal choice for parents who want safety and a compact seat: the Coccoro is made especially to fit well in petite vehicles, even if you have to dual (or triple!) up your seats. Beyond its space-saving features, the Coccoro is a lifesaver, as well: with Tru-Safe® Side Influence Protection, energy-absorbing foam, rear-facing tether, LATCH connectors, and five-point corset, this car seat is both effortless to use and very safe. Bear in mind, with a forward-facing weight limit of just forty pounds, you’ll eventually have to purchase another car seat before your child is ready to transition to a booster.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 3-33 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-40 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (49 points, Good rating)

8. Cosco Scenera

If you’re looking for safety and a good deal, look no further than the Cosco Scenera. Clocking in at under $60, this top-rated value workhorse is LATCH-equipped and features a 5-point corset system with Center Front Adjust and four corset positions. But like the Coccoro, reminisce that with a forward-facing weight limit of just forty pounds, you’ll eventually have to purchase another car seat before your child is ready to transition to a booster.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-35 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 19-36 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-40 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-43 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets)

9. Diono Radian®RXT

Oh, be still our hearts. The Diono Radian®RXT (and its sister seat, below at #Ten) is the granddaddy of incredible car seats. At $300+, you may not think of this as a budget seat – but consider what you get for your money: an infant seat, toddler and preschooler car seat, and elementary booster seat (up to one hundred twenty pounds), all in one. And if that weren’t enough, the Radian®RXT is so compact, you can fit three-across in a mid-size vehicle; it also folds vapid for travel. Meaty bonus: it has a 10-year life, so it won’t expire before your kid outgrows it.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-45 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 57″ pounds
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-80 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 57″ pounds
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 50-120 pounds and 40-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets); Consumer Reports (44 points, Good rating)

Ten. Diono Rainier

If the Radian®RXT almost brought you to tears (it’s okay, we understand!), then hold onto your seats: the Ranier is even better. Diono’s all-new Ranier adds to the Radian’s offerings with enlargened weight thresholds – at fifty pounds for rear facing, it’s the highest in the industry! – extra deep side walls, 12-position headrest, and extra side-impact protection. It even adds two years to the Radian®RXT’s 10-year life – twelve years before expiration, meaning your child truly can use the seat from newborn bucket seat to toddler car seat to big-kid booster.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-50 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 57″
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-90 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 57″
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 50-120 pounds and 40-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets)

11. Evenflo Symphony

The Evenflo Symphony is an all-in-one car seat, capable of converting from infant bucket seat to rear- or forward-facing toddler seat and, ultimately, to a booster seat for older children. Not only that, but the Symphony features SureLATCH® Technology (60-second installation!), e3 Side Impact™ Protection, and safety-tests at and incredible dual the Federal Crash Test Standard. And if that’s not enough to pique your interest, get this: the Symphony is a steal at under $200.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-37 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 28-50 inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 40-110 pounds and 43.3-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (67 points, Very Good rating; Best Buy award); Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (Best Bet award)

12. Evenflo SureRide™

The Evenflo SureRide™ was developed to keep your child harnessed for longer, with a broad range of corset adjustments and high height/weight thresholds. This made-in-the-USA seat takes safety gravely, with side influence protection, thick adding, a 5-point corset, LATCH system, and a safety rating 2x the federal crash test standard. And at under $100, there’s no better value out there.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 28-54 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets); Consumer Reports (65 points, Very Good rating; Best Buy award)

13. Graco ComfortSport

The Graco ComfortSport is a good convertible car seat for families on a budget. At under $100, this workhorse accommodates kids from newborn (Five+ pounds) to toddler years (40 pounds, max), and throws in convenience and safety features like LATCH compatibility, EPS energy absorbing foam, an adjustable five-point corset, and installation level indicator. As with similar seats, keep in mind that you’ll most likely have to upgrade to another convertible or all-in-one seat once your child exceeds forty pounds.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-30 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-40 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Consumer Reports (55 points; Good rating)

14. Graco Head Wise™ 70

Graco’s Head Wise™ seventy is a pretty titillating convertible car seat, given that its weight thresholds hit the industry floor at four pounds (premies and multiples!) and scrape the ceiling at seventy pounds. What’s more, the seat was built with safety in mind and promises to provide the best head protection at both the rear-facing and front-facing stages. Add on features likes LATCH positioning, Graco’s Simply Safe Adjust™ corset system, Safety Surround™ Side Influence Protection, and a solid 5-point corset, and it’s effortless to see why this sub-$200 seat is a winner.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 4-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Until child’s head is no less than 1″ below the crimson treat
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: fifty two inches pounds
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets)

15. Graco MyRide 65

Graco’s MyRide sixty five is one of our beloved convertible car seats, due to its enviable combination of excellent price (sub-$125) and extended use. With a weight range of 5-65 pounds, this seat will get you from the hospital through the elementary years – until your child is ready to transition to a backed booster. Graco’s excellent safety features clinch the deal: it exceed U.S. safety standards with EPS energy-absorbing foam, high ratings for side-impact protection, an adjustable 5-point corset, LATCH compatibility, and other keep-your-kiddo-safe features.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Top of head must be at least 1” (Two.Five cm) below the top of the child restraint
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (64 points, Very Good rating)

16. Graco Size4Me

Graco adds another to our list with the Size4Me, an adaptable and well-priced entry to the convertible car seat market. It is amazingly safe, thanks to requiring side-impact testing, energy-absorbing foam, and a five-point corset that earns the seat high safety ratings. We also love that the Size4Me has a low, low weight minimum (just four pounds), so even if you’re expecting a premie (or multiples!), this seat will still take you from hospital to elementary school.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 4-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Top of head must be at least 1” (Two.Five cm) below the top of the child restraint
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (67 points, Very Good rating)

17 . Graco Clever Seat

If you’re aiming for car seat longevity, you can’t miss the Graco Clever Seat. This all-in-one car seat rear-faces to forty pounds, front-faces to sixty five pounds, and performs as a booster up to one hundred pounds. You’ll never need another seat! What’s more, it boasts rigorous safety standards, like SafeSeat engineering, a steel-reinforced framework, side-impact protection, and EPS energy-absorbing foam. And it’s exceptionally convenient, to boot.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Top of head must be at least 1” (Two.Five cm) below the top of the child restraint
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 30-100 pounds and 38-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: five starlets);

Eighteen. Maxi Cosi Pria™ 70

Can I get an ooh-la-la? We’ll admit, we love that the Maxi Cosi Pria™ seventy comes in a rainbow array of colors, from Bohemian Blue to Sweet Cerise to Brown Leather (say what?!). But we also love that this chic convertible car seat values safety even more than style: the Pria™ seventy features the FlexTech™ system (multi-directional energy management) and superior side-impact protection, as well as high weight boundaries (RF to forty pounds and FF to seventy pounds). Now that’s what we call style and function!

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 9-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Until baby’s head reaches to 1″ of top of seat
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: fifty two inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets); Consumer Reports (62 points, Very Good rating)

Nineteen. Orbit Baby G3

Hold. The. Phone! Fellow parents, the Orbit Baby G3 turns the convertible car seat world on its head. Walk with me through these awesome features: Not only does the G3 boast side-impact protection, side influence braces, and a 5-point corset, but it also features non-toxic, Brominated Flame Retardant/BFR-free fabrics and is the world’s very first convertible car seat to dock onto a stroller and rocker. Hello, beautiful.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 15-35 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: When the child’s ears are not visible above the top of the headrest when seated
  • Front-facing weight limit: 25-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes/no
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets)

20. Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible

You very likely know Peg Perego for its hip, Italian-made strollers, but did you know the brand also has car seats on suggest? Excellent ones, in fact: the Primo Viaggio is a very adjustable, extended rear-facing car seat with top safety ratings and glowing reviews. We love the Primo Viaggio’s safety features – side-impact protection, ten adjustable positions for safest fit, energy-absorbing foam, shock-absorbing foam, and a quick-release 5-point corset – and love it even more for accommodating children up to forty five pounds for rear-facing and a whopping seventy pounds for front-facing.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-45 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: As long as head is at least one inch below headrest edge
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes/no
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets)

21. RECARO Spectacle Rail

Another stylish convertible car seat from Recaro, the Spectacle Rail offers the latest in safety technology with the HERO corset system. With HERO, you can be absolutely sure that you’ve placed the seat to fit your child’s head, neck and shoulders, without the corset twisting and while ensuring decent chest clip positioning. In other words, it’s the safest, most secure installation ever. Add on breathable mesh, memory foam, a convenience pad, and a bevy of safety features, and you see why the Spectacle Rail makes our list.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Less than 22.Five inches, seated height
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: Less than forty nine inches, standing height
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Consumer Reports (59 points, Good rating)

22. RECARO PRORIDE

Recaro’s reputation for style, form and function live on with the ProRIDE, a convertible car seat that employs serious safety features: a vehicle belt lock-off mechanism (for use when forward-facing), PUR foam in the head restraint, and racing-inspired side influence protection. And rest assured your little one won’t sacrifice convenience for safety, as the ProRIDE also comes tooled with an ergonomic shell, breathable fabric, and convenient cushioning.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Less than 22.Five inches, seated height
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: Less than forty nine inches, standing height
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Consumer Reports (60 points, Very Good rating)

23. Safety 1st Able 65

The Safety 1st Able offers an excellent value: at under $100, this seat rear-faces to forty pounds and front-faces to sixty five pounds. Even better, it meets or exceeds Federal and ASTM Safety Standards, and adds fine features like a no-rethread, adjustable 5-point corset, 3-position recline base, five corset heights, and one-hand seat adjustment.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 29-49 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (57 points, Good rating)

24. Safety 1st Advance seventy Air+

If you like the Safety 1st brand and love a good deal, it doesn’t get much better than the Advance seventy Air+ convertible car seat. This versatile workhorse is for families who practice extended rear-racing (up to forty pounds and forty inches) and extended front-facing (70 pounds and fifty two inches) – or for families with big kids who outgrow seat boundaries before they’re developmentally ready. And of course, the Advance seventy Air+ meets Safety 1st’s exacting safety standards and meets or exceeds Federal and ASTM Safety Standards.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-52 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets)

25. Safety 1st All-in-One

Another addition to the all-in-one car seat category, the Safety 1st All-in-One takes you from newborn bucket seat to toddler (rear-racing to forty pounds) to elementary school (front-facing to fifty pounds) and, eventually, to a belt-positioning booster up to one hundred pounds. It’s all the seat you’d ever need – or want, considering this baby has side-impact protection and meets or exceeds Federal and ASTM Safety Standards. Keep in mind its front-facing weight limit (50 pounds) is lower than its competitors (65-70 pounds) – but its price is, too.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-36 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-50 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-45 inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 40-100 pounds and 43-52 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets); Consumer Reports (46 points, Good rating)

26. Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite™

Another entrant to the all-in-one car seat field, the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite™ is a solid contender. With mid-range weight thresholds – thirty five pounds for rear-facing and fifty pounds for front-facing – and the capability to convert to a booster, not to mention rigorous safety testing and ratings, the Alpha Omega Elite™ is an excellent choice for families seeking value, safety, and extended use.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-35 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-36 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-50 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-45 inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 40-100 pounds and 43-52 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets)

27. Safety 1st Accomplish Air 65

We seemingly can’t get enough of Safety 1st’s affordable offerings, so here’s another to consider. The Accomplish Air sixty five is a long-lasting, convertible car seat that will take you from five to sixty five pounds and nineteen to forty nine inches – that’s a petite newborn to a large elementary-schooler! What’s more, the seat meets or exceeds Federal and ASTM Safety Standards, and features Safety 1st’s QuickFit™ corset and Air Protect® advanced side influence protection technology.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 29-49 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (57 points, Good rating)

28. Safety 1st OnSide Air

If you’re looking for a well-priced convertible car seat that’ll permit you to keep you child rear-facing for longer, check out the Safety 1st OnSide Air. At under $80, this car seat rear-faces to forty pounds and piles on safety, with four corset heights and three buckle locations and safety ratings that meet or exceed Federal and ASTM Safety Standards. Keep in mind that this seat forward-faces to just forty pounds, so when your child hits the upper limit you’ll need to purchase another car seat.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-40 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-43 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (64 points, Very Good rating)

29. Snugli All-In-One Car Seat

Snugli’s superb All-in-One Car Seat offers fine value and very extended use, converting from rear-facing seat (up to forty pounds) to front-facing seat (up to sixty five pounds) to booster mode (up to one hundred ten pounds) – all for under $200. What’s more, Snugli packs in the safety features, with three layers of side-impact foam, a TruTether adjuster, and SureLATCH installation. All this, and your kiddo is still super comfy: the All-in-One also features temperature-regulating fabric, memory foam padding, and a plush cushion.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-37 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 28-50 inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 40-110 pounds and 43.3-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Consumer Reports (67 points, Very Good rating)

30. The Very first Years True Fit I-Alert

Ladies and gentlemen, car seats have gone mobile. The Very first Years True Fit I-Alert takes car seat safety into the 21st century with revolutionary, mobile-synced alerts that let you know (via smartphone) when unsafe conditions arise – things like an incorrect positioning angle or when your child unbuckles himself mid-ride. The seat also features an lightly adjustable 5-point corset, EPP foam for influence protection, LATCH positioning, and a high forward-facing weight limit (65 pounds) for maximum use.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-35 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Until head is one inch below the top of the seat
  • Front-facing weight limit: 23-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: fifty inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: five starlets)

Recap

Best and Safest Convertible Car Seats:

  • Britax Advocate
  • Britax Boulevard
  • Britax Marathon
  • Britax Pavilion
  • Britax Roundabout
  • Chicco NextFit
  • Combi Coccoro
  • Cosco Scenera
  • Diono Radian®RXT
  • Diono Rainier
  • Evenflo Symphony
  • Evenflo SureRide™
  • Graco ComfortSport
  • Graco Head Wise™ 70
  • Graco MyRide 65
  • Graco Size4Me
  • Graco Wise Seat
  • Maxi Cosi Pria™ 70
  • Orbit Baby G3
  • Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible
  • RECARO Spectacle Rail
  • RECARO PRORIDE
  • Safety 1st Able 65
  • Safety 1st Advance seventy Air+
  • Safety 1st All-in-One
  • Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite™
  • Safety 1st Accomplish Air 65
  • Safety 1st OnSide Air
  • Snugli All-In-One Car Seat
  • The Very first Years True Fit I-Alert

Bonus Recommendations: Car Seat Accessories

We’re car seat geeks here at Safe Sound Family, so we can’t help but share some of our beloved car safety and convenience add-ons – all those little things that help us get from Point A to Point B, both securely and gladfully.

The Safest Convertible Car Seats: Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Car Seat for Your Baby with Reviews, Safety Ratings and Pro Tips

The Safest Convertible Car Seats: Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Car Seat for Your Baby with Reviews, Safety Ratings and Experienced Tips

So here’s the thing. In the parenting world, car seat discussions can get heated. And by heated, we mean hot, hot, hot – to the point of boiling over.

But here’s the other thing: as parents, we all agree that car seats should be a hot topic because they’re one of the most significant aspects to keeping our kids safe. The average family spends a lot of time in the car: grocery runs and after-school sports and weekend jaunts and, well, all those interminable minutes and hours you spend going to and fro, hither and thither.

Since you’re reading this guide, we already know you want to keep your kiddos safe in the car. We’ll skip the high-horse speeches – you very likely hear enough of that in playgroup, anyway – and leap right to the cold, hard facts. Here are three that stand out:

  • Road-related injuries are the leading cause of preventable injury and death to children in the U.S.
  • The good news: Car seats, correctly installed, can reduce the risk of death by an incredible 71%.
  • The bad news: An estimated 73% of car seats are not installed correctly.

Those are the statistics. Here are a few steps you can take on the way to keeping your children safe:

  • All car seats sold in the U.S. are required to meet or exceed Federal and ASTM Safety Standards.
  • Car seats should also be NCAP crash tested, the industry benchmark for evaluating seat spectacle in the event of a severe accident.
  • Parent Central at SaferCar.gov provides excellent reviews on all U.S. car seats. The site also rates each car seat based on its ease of use – an significant consideration, given the above statistic that 73% of car seats are used incorrectly.
  • For all-in-one seats and convertibles that transition to boosters, you can also check booster seat ratings at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
  • Third-party review sites, like Consumer Reports, also suggest unbiased convenience and safety reviews.

All that said, we’ll add one more layer to the equation – four extra considerations before purchasing a car seat:

  1. Extended Rear-Facing: You may have heard a lot about rear-facing versus front-facing car seats. Let’s cut to the pursue: without a doubt, rear-facing is the safest way for your children to rail. Consider purchasing a seat that rear-faces to 40+ pounds. Recall, just because your child hits the minimum required to front-face (1+ year and 20+ pounds), doesn’t mean she should. Rear-facing saves lives.
  2. Extended Front-Facing: As with the transition from rear- to front-facing, your child will likely hit the minimum height and weight required to transition to a booster before he’s actually ready, physically and developmentally. Choose a seat with a high front-facing weight limit (up to seventy pounds) and only transition to a booster when your child outgrows her car seat.
  3. Check the expiration date: Some car seats have a 5-year life, which means they’ll likely expire before your child has the chance to outgrow them. If you’re buying an extended-use or all-in-one car seat, choose one with an 8-, 10-, or 12-year lifespan.
  4. Never buy used: It’s tempting to spring for a deal on a used seat, but you should know that age, wear, and accidents (even just a teeny, lil’ fender bender) can compromise a car seat’s safety features. Unless you are 110% sure of a seat’s history – never been in an accident, never left in a spot where the sun shines brightly, etc. – don’t risk your child’s safety for a discount.

Now that we have that out of the way, here are our recommendations for the most stylish, comfy and, most importantly, safest all-in-one and convertible car seats for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and elementary kids. Let us know which ones make your wish list!

1. Britax Advocate

Britax is one of the largest names in car seats, thanks to incredible safety ratings and high weight thresholds. The Britax Advocate is one of the brand’s most popular seats, featuring side-impact cushion technology, as well as other Britax safety features: SafeCell technology, integrated steel bars, SafeCell crash technology, and an energy-absorbing Versa-Tether.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (71 points, Very Good rating)

Two. Britax Boulevard

The Britax Boulevard is an excellent car seat that will accommodate your newborn (Five+ pounds) through her preschool and elementary years (up to sixty five pounds). The Boulevard sports all the standard Britax safety characteristics, like the energy-absorbing Versa-Tether, true side-impact protection, SafeCell technology, and steel bars, and has extra convenience features, including a tangle-free five-point corset that never needs to be re-threaded.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (71 points, Very Good rating)

Three. Britax Marathon

This bestseller almost needs no introduction: it’s one of the most popular, talked-about car seats in the U.S. today. It offers utter side-impact protection, a solid steel bar framework, SafeCell technology in case of collision, an impact-absorbing Versa-Tether and other gravely advanced safety features, and adds a dose of style with floral, animal print, and colorful covers. It also comes in in the mid-price range, usually under $250 – and that’s for a seat that’ll take you from newborn to sixty five pounds. Bottom line: you can’t go wrong with the Britax Marathon!

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (Sixty nine points, Very Good rating)

Four. Britax Pavilion

The Britax Pavilion is one of the most popular, adjustable car seats on the market today – and for good reason. With a sky-high weight capacity of seventy pounds, this seat will take you from newborn through elementary school. Even better, the Pavilion upholds Britax’s incredible safety standards and features, scoring top ratings for its side-impact protection, integrated steel bar construction, and SafeCell technology, which keeps your child safe in the event of a crash.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (71 points, Very Good rating)

Five. Britax Roundabout

Britax is known for its high safety ratings and stellar user reviews, but those accolades don’t always come cheap. Come in the Roundabout, which for under $150, supplies on the Britax promise – and represents one of the best deals in convertible car seats today. The Roundabout boasts the same SafeCell Technology, steel bars, and Versa-Tether as other Britax seats, sacrificing only capacity (55 pounds and forty six inches) for the lower price. Be sure to choose the Roundabout G4 model, which is slightly roomier than classic Roundabout 55.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty six inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 20-55 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty six inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (67 points, Very Good rating; Best Buy award)

6. Chicco NextFit

The Chicco NextFit is one of the best-rated car seats available today, thanks to its effortless of use, high weight limit, and superior safety features. We love how ordinary it is to install and use, with its ReclineSure 9-position leveling system, SuperCinch LATCH tightening, RideRight bubble leveler, 2-position chest clip, and other user-friendly features. And for baby fashionistas, the NextFit comes with a unique, machine-washable zip-off cover that can be lightly switched out depending on style and season.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 1+ year; 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (74 points, Very Good rating; Best Buy award)

7. Combi Coccoro

The Combi Coccoro is an ideal choice for parents who want safety and a compact seat: the Coccoro is made especially to fit well in petite vehicles, even if you have to dual (or triple!) up your seats. Beyond its space-saving features, the Coccoro is a lifesaver, as well: with Tru-Safe® Side Influence Protection, energy-absorbing foam, rear-facing tether, LATCH connectors, and five-point corset, this car seat is both effortless to use and very safe. Bear in mind, with a forward-facing weight limit of just forty pounds, you’ll eventually have to purchase another car seat before your child is ready to transition to a booster.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 3-33 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-40 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (49 points, Good rating)

8. Cosco Scenera

If you’re looking for safety and a excellent deal, look no further than the Cosco Scenera. Clocking in at under $60, this top-rated value workhorse is LATCH-equipped and features a 5-point corset system with Center Front Adjust and four corset positions. But like the Coccoro, reminisce that with a forward-facing weight limit of just forty pounds, you’ll eventually have to purchase another car seat before your child is ready to transition to a booster.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-35 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 19-36 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-40 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-43 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets)

9. Diono Radian®RXT

Oh, be still our hearts. The Diono Radian®RXT (and its sister seat, below at #Ten) is the granddaddy of incredible car seats. At $300+, you may not think of this as a budget seat – but consider what you get for your money: an infant seat, toddler and preschooler car seat, and elementary booster seat (up to one hundred twenty pounds), all in one. And if that weren’t enough, the Radian®RXT is so compact, you can fit three-across in a mid-size vehicle; it also folds plane for travel. Large bonus: it has a 10-year life, so it won’t expire before your kid outgrows it.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-45 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 57″ pounds
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-80 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 57″ pounds
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 50-120 pounds and 40-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets); Consumer Reports (44 points, Good rating)

Ten. Diono Rainier

If the Radian®RXT almost brought you to tears (it’s okay, we understand!), then hold onto your seats: the Ranier is even better. Diono’s all-new Ranier adds to the Radian’s offerings with enhanced weight boundaries – at fifty pounds for rear facing, it’s the highest in the industry! – extra deep side walls, 12-position headrest, and extra side-impact protection. It even adds two years to the Radian®RXT’s 10-year life – twelve years before expiration, meaning your child indeed can use the seat from newborn bucket seat to toddler car seat to big-kid booster.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-50 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 57″
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-90 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 57″
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 50-120 pounds and 40-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets)

11. Evenflo Symphony

The Evenflo Symphony is an all-in-one car seat, capable of converting from infant bucket seat to rear- or forward-facing toddler seat and, eventually, to a booster seat for older children. Not only that, but the Symphony features SureLATCH® Technology (60-second installation!), e3 Side Impact™ Protection, and safety-tests at and incredible dual the Federal Crash Test Standard. And if that’s not enough to pique your interest, get this: the Symphony is a steal at under $200.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-37 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 28-50 inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 40-110 pounds and 43.3-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (67 points, Very Good rating; Best Buy award); Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (Best Bet award)

12. Evenflo SureRide™

The Evenflo SureRide™ was developed to keep your child harnessed for longer, with a broad range of corset adjustments and high height/weight boundaries. This made-in-the-USA seat takes safety earnestly, with side influence protection, thick adding, a 5-point corset, LATCH system, and a safety rating 2x the federal crash test standard. And at under $100, there’s no better value out there.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 28-54 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets); Consumer Reports (65 points, Very Good rating; Best Buy award)

13. Graco ComfortSport

The Graco ComfortSport is a good convertible car seat for families on a budget. At under $100, this workhorse accommodates kids from newborn (Five+ pounds) to toddler years (40 pounds, max), and throws in convenience and safety features like LATCH compatibility, EPS energy absorbing foam, an adjustable five-point corset, and installation level indicator. As with similar seats, keep in mind that you’ll very likely have to upgrade to another convertible or all-in-one seat once your child exceeds forty pounds.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-30 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: forty inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-40 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Consumer Reports (55 points; Good rating)

14. Graco Head Wise™ 70

Graco’s Head Wise™ seventy is a pretty titillating convertible car seat, given that its weight boundaries hit the industry floor at four pounds (premies and multiples!) and scrape the ceiling at seventy pounds. What’s more, the seat was built with safety in mind and promises to provide the best head protection at both the rear-facing and front-facing stages. Add on features likes LATCH positioning, Graco’s Simply Safe Adjust™ corset system, Safety Surround™ Side Influence Protection, and a solid 5-point corset, and it’s effortless to see why this sub-$200 seat is a winner.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 4-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Until child’s head is no less than 1″ below the crimson treat
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: fifty two inches pounds
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets)

15. Graco MyRide 65

Graco’s MyRide sixty five is one of our dearest convertible car seats, due to its enviable combination of superb price (sub-$125) and extended use. With a weight range of 5-65 pounds, this seat will get you from the hospital through the elementary years – until your child is ready to transition to a backed booster. Graco’s excellent safety features clinch the deal: it exceed U.S. safety standards with EPS energy-absorbing foam, high ratings for side-impact protection, an adjustable 5-point corset, LATCH compatibility, and other keep-your-kiddo-safe features.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Top of head must be at least 1” (Two.Five cm) below the top of the child restraint
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (64 points, Very Good rating)

16. Graco Size4Me

Graco adds another to our list with the Size4Me, an adaptable and well-priced entry to the convertible car seat market. It is amazingly safe, thanks to requesting side-impact testing, energy-absorbing foam, and a five-point corset that earns the seat high safety ratings. We also love that the Size4Me has a low, low weight minimum (just four pounds), so even if you’re expecting a premie (or multiples!), this seat will still take you from hospital to elementary school.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 4-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Top of head must be at least 1” (Two.Five cm) below the top of the child restraint
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets); Consumer Reports (67 points, Very Good rating)

17 . Graco Clever Seat

If you’re aiming for car seat longevity, you can’t miss the Graco Brainy Seat. This all-in-one car seat rear-faces to forty pounds, front-faces to sixty five pounds, and performs as a booster up to one hundred pounds. You’ll never need another seat! What’s more, it boasts rigorous safety standards, like SafeSeat engineering, a steel-reinforced framework, side-impact protection, and EPS energy-absorbing foam. And it’s exceptionally comfy, to boot.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Top of head must be at least 1” (Two.Five cm) below the top of the child restraint
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 30-100 pounds and 38-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: five starlets);

Eighteen. Maxi Cosi Pria™ 70

Can I get an ooh-la-la? We’ll admit, we love that the Maxi Cosi Pria™ seventy comes in a rainbow array of colors, from Bohemian Blue to Sweet Cerise to Brown Leather (say what?!). But we also love that this chic convertible car seat values safety even more than style: the Pria™ seventy features the FlexTech™ system (multi-directional energy management) and superior side-impact protection, as well as high weight boundaries (RF to forty pounds and FF to seventy pounds). Now that’s what we call style and function!

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 9-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Until baby’s head reaches to 1″ of top of seat
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: fifty two inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets); Consumer Reports (62 points, Very Good rating)

Nineteen. Orbit Baby G3

Hold. The. Phone! Fellow parents, the Orbit Baby G3 turns the convertible car seat world on its head. Walk with me through these awesome features: Not only does the G3 boast side-impact protection, side influence braces, and a 5-point corset, but it also features non-toxic, Brominated Flame Retardant/BFR-free fabrics and is the world’s very first convertible car seat to dock onto a stroller and rocker. Hello, beautiful.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 15-35 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: When the child’s ears are not visible above the top of the headrest when seated
  • Front-facing weight limit: 25-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes/no
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets)

20. Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible

You very likely know Peg Perego for its hip, Italian-made strollers, but did you know the brand also has car seats on suggest? Excellent ones, in fact: the Primo Viaggio is a very adjustable, extended rear-facing car seat with top safety ratings and glowing reviews. We love the Primo Viaggio’s safety features – side-impact protection, ten adjustable positions for safest fit, energy-absorbing foam, shock-absorbing foam, and a quick-release 5-point corset – and love it even more for accommodating children up to forty five pounds for rear-facing and a whopping seventy pounds for front-facing.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-45 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: As long as head is at least one inch below headrest edge
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: forty nine inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes/no
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets)

21. RECARO Spectacle Rail

Another stylish convertible car seat from Recaro, the Spectacle Rail offers the latest in safety technology with the HERO corset system. With HERO, you can be absolutely sure that you’ve placed the seat to fit your child’s head, neck and shoulders, without the corset twisting and while ensuring decent chest clip positioning. In other words, it’s the safest, most secure installation ever. Add on breathable mesh, memory foam, a convenience pad, and a bevy of safety features, and you see why the Spectacle Rail makes our list.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Less than 22.Five inches, seated height
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: Less than forty nine inches, standing height
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Consumer Reports (59 points, Good rating)

22. RECARO PRORIDE

Recaro’s reputation for style, form and function live on with the ProRIDE, a convertible car seat that employs serious safety features: a vehicle belt lock-off mechanism (for use when forward-facing), PUR foam in the head restraint, and racing-inspired side influence protection. And rest assured your little one won’t sacrifice convenience for safety, as the ProRIDE also comes tooled with an ergonomic shell, breathable fabric, and comfy cushioning.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Less than 22.Five inches, seated height
  • Front-facing weight limit: 20-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: Less than forty nine inches, standing height
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Consumer Reports (60 points, Very Good rating)

23. Safety 1st Able 65

The Safety 1st Able offers an excellent value: at under $100, this seat rear-faces to forty pounds and front-faces to sixty five pounds. Even better, it meets or exceeds Federal and ASTM Safety Standards, and adds superb features like a no-rethread, adjustable 5-point corset, 3-position recline base, five corset heights, and one-hand seat adjustment.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 29-49 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (57 points, Good rating)

24. Safety 1st Advance seventy Air+

If you like the Safety 1st brand and love a good deal, it doesn’t get much better than the Advance seventy Air+ convertible car seat. This versatile workhorse is for families who practice extended rear-racing (up to forty pounds and forty inches) and extended front-facing (70 pounds and fifty two inches) – or for families with big kids who outgrow seat thresholds before they’re developmentally ready. And of course, the Advance seventy Air+ meets Safety 1st’s exacting safety standards and meets or exceeds Federal and ASTM Safety Standards.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-70 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-52 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: four starlets)

25. Safety 1st All-in-One

Another addition to the all-in-one car seat category, the Safety 1st All-in-One takes you from newborn bucket seat to toddler (rear-racing to forty pounds) to elementary school (front-facing to fifty pounds) and, ultimately, to a belt-positioning booster up to one hundred pounds. It’s all the seat you’d ever need – or want, considering this baby has side-impact protection and meets or exceeds Federal and ASTM Safety Standards. Keep in mind its front-facing weight limit (50 pounds) is lower than its competitors (65-70 pounds) – but its price is, too.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-36 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-50 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-45 inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 40-100 pounds and 43-52 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: two starlets); Consumer Reports (46 points, Good rating)

26. Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite™

Another entrant to the all-in-one car seat field, the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite™ is a solid contender. With mid-range weight boundaries – thirty five pounds for rear-facing and fifty pounds for front-facing – and the capability to convert to a booster, not to mention rigorous safety testing and ratings, the Alpha Omega Elite™ is an excellent choice for families seeking value, safety, and extended use.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-35 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-36 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-50 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-45 inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 40-100 pounds and 43-52 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets)

27. Safety 1st Accomplish Air 65

We seemingly can’t get enough of Safety 1st’s affordable offerings, so here’s another to consider. The Finish Air sixty five is a long-lasting, convertible car seat that will take you from five to sixty five pounds and nineteen to forty nine inches – that’s a petite newborn to a large elementary-schooler! What’s more, the seat meets or exceeds Federal and ASTM Safety Standards, and features Safety 1st’s QuickFit™ corset and Air Protect® advanced side influence protection technology.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 29-49 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (57 points, Good rating)

28. Safety 1st OnSide Air

If you’re looking for a well-priced convertible car seat that’ll permit you to keep you child rear-facing for longer, check out the Safety 1st OnSide Air. At under $80, this car seat rear-faces to forty pounds and piles on safety, with four corset heights and three buckle locations and safety ratings that meet or exceed Federal and ASTM Safety Standards. Keep in mind that this seat forward-faces to just forty pounds, so when your child hits the upper limit you’ll need to purchase another car seat.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-40 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-40 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 34-43 inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: three starlets); Consumer Reports (64 points, Very Good rating)

29. Snugli All-In-One Car Seat

Snugli’s superb All-in-One Car Seat offers good value and very extended use, converting from rear-facing seat (up to forty pounds) to front-facing seat (up to sixty five pounds) to booster mode (up to one hundred ten pounds) – all for under $200. What’s more, Snugli packs in the safety features, with three layers of side-impact foam, a TruTether adjuster, and SureLATCH installation. All this, and your kiddo is still super comfy: the All-in-One also features temperature-regulating fabric, memory foam padding, and a plush cushion.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-40 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: 19-37 inches
  • Front-facing weight limit: 22-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: 28-50 inches
  • Booster Convertible: Yes; 40-110 pounds and 43.3-57 inches
  • Reviews & Ratings: Consumer Reports (67 points, Very Good rating)

30. The Very first Years True Fit I-Alert

Ladies and gentlemen, car seats have gone mobile. The Very first Years True Fit I-Alert takes car seat safety into the 21st century with revolutionary, mobile-synced alerts that let you know (via smartphone) when unsafe conditions arise – things like an incorrect positioning angle or when your child unbuckles himself mid-ride. The seat also features an lightly adjustable 5-point corset, EPP foam for influence protection, LATCH positioning, and a high forward-facing weight limit (65 pounds) for maximum use.

  • Rear-facing weight limit: 5-35 pounds
  • Rear-facing height limit: Until head is one inch below the top of the seat
  • Front-facing weight limit: 23-65 pounds
  • Front-facing height limit: fifty inches
  • Booster Convertible: No
  • Reviews & Ratings: Parents Central on Safercar.gov (Ease-of-use rating: five starlets)

Recap

Best and Safest Convertible Car Seats:

  • Britax Advocate
  • Britax Boulevard
  • Britax Marathon
  • Britax Pavilion
  • Britax Roundabout
  • Chicco NextFit
  • Combi Coccoro
  • Cosco Scenera
  • Diono Radian®RXT
  • Diono Rainier
  • Evenflo Symphony
  • Evenflo SureRide™
  • Graco ComfortSport
  • Graco Head Wise™ 70
  • Graco MyRide 65
  • Graco Size4Me
  • Graco Brainy Seat
  • Maxi Cosi Pria™ 70
  • Orbit Baby G3
  • Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible
  • RECARO Spectacle Rail
  • RECARO PRORIDE
  • Safety 1st Able 65
  • Safety 1st Advance seventy Air+
  • Safety 1st All-in-One
  • Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite™
  • Safety 1st Accomplish Air 65
  • Safety 1st OnSide Air
  • Snugli All-In-One Car Seat
  • The Very first Years True Fit I-Alert

Bonus Recommendations: Car Seat Accessories

We’re car seat geeks here at Safe Sound Family, so we can’t help but share some of our beloved car safety and convenience add-ons – all those little things that help us get from Point A to Point B, both securely and cheerfully.

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