In this update, we bought and crash-tested the top 20 convertible seats available today to find the best. We conduct side-by-side tests of each convertible car seat over several months to determine the best in metrics like crash test performance, installation, ease of use, quality, and more. We collect the details you need to choose the right car seat for your needs and your wallet.
The three-in-one safety-tested car seat allows you to use it from the rear-facing to the forward-facing harness and high-back booster with your child’s growing age and weight. Independent crash testing has been conducted on this seat to ensure your child’s protection from frontal, side, rear, and rollover crashes. The rear-facing infant car seat also allows you to adjust the harness system and headrest in one quick motion. For a long time, the 4EverExtend2Fit Platinum in backless booster mode was her very favorite car seat so I was eager to see what she thought of the 4Ever in backless booster mode.
The remaining end of the seat pad tucks behind the seat when it’s in use. With the infant padding in the seat, the doll fits quite well and has plenty of room to grow. The 4Ever’s low sides mean graco car seat that loading a newborn in and out of the seat shouldn’t be too difficult. We’ve added a rolled up washcloth behind the crotch buckle to help with the fit — this is permitted by the manufacturer.
In order to adjust the height of the straps on the Foonf as your child grows, you must slide them off the splitter plate (tucked behind a panel in the seat), thread them through a different slot, and then reattach them to the splitter plate. As long as your child is rear-facing, this can be done without fully uninstalling the seat, but it’s not the easiest thing in the world to do. The seat has a no-rethread harness, so making height adjustments to the harness straps as your child grows is a quick and easy process—no dismantling and rethreading required. The harness and headrest height automatically adjust together in one smooth motion—you just squeeze the lever at the top of the seat and pull up or push down—so they always remain in the correct proportion to each other. We found the padding on the headrest to be ample and cushy; our toddler testers demonstrated their approval in the form of frequent naps.
The seat easily transitions from rearward facing infant car seat (birth to 18kg) to a forward facing 5-point harness car seat (9-25kg) or up to around 7 years of age. I don’t find picture diagram instructions particularly helpful, especially when they are not accompanied by words, so we played a demo video (available on the Graco website). The colour-coded installation paths on the back of the car seat were helpful. In addition to continuing to use a harness to its capacity, CSFTL recommends backless boosters for older children who have outgrown their high backs, and do not need the support of a back to remind them to sit correctly, even when sleeping. Children who weigh between pounds may use recline positions 4, 5, or 6 for forward facing installations. Recline position 4 MUST be used for a forward facing child who weighs between 20 and 40 pounds in the United States.
By providing your email address, you consent to receiving via e-mail our newsletter and details of products and offers that we think might be of interest to you. Purchasing this return or floor model saves it from going into a landfill. The Graco 4Ever DLX Grad is a fairly compact option front to back when you have it as upright as possible. If you are using it from birth, it will take up more space, though, since it has to be more reclined.
For those who are set on an “all-in-one” seat that transitions from infant seat to convertible to booster, our pick is the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1. In addition to registering your car seat to receive recalls and safety notices from your car seat manufacturer, you can sign up to receive e-mail alerts from NHTSA about car seat and booster seat recalls. Thanks to the easy-to-use belt positioning guides, your child will feel confident enough to buckle in safely each and every time. If you want to make car seat shopping even easier, you can use the NHTSA Car Seat Finder to quickly compare car seats and choose the right car seat for your child.
Unlike most other convertible car seats, the Foonf comes with a rear-facing base; it’s a wedge-shaped piece that must be attached to the bottom of the seat to create a proper angle for installing the seat in rear-facing mode. It also has an anti-rebound bar, an added safety feature for use in rear-facing mode (only) that—in the case of a frontal crash—can help minimize the amount the seat rebounds after the initial impact. The anti-rebound bar is a separate metal piece that hooks into the foot of the seat. If you want to add yet another optional safety feature for your rear-facing child, Clek also sells a Q-tether strap.
The Extend2Fit is a great seat, and it earned a similar score to the Graco SlimFit 3-in-1, which costs less. If your child is taller than average or you’re looking for extended legroom, this might be the one for you. It has one of the best crash test analysis results in the group, is easy enough to install, and offers many comfort features. With features like dual cup holders and a padded headrest, this seat is sure to please. There are many group 0/1/2 car seats on the market that grow with baby, and the Enhance is very similar in price, size and function to the likes of the popular Joie Stages.
We will tell you which seats are the easiest to install using the vehicle belt and provide information on the correct installation and where to get help if you are unsure about anything or if something doesn’t seem right. This group has budget-friendly options with winners and lower-priced seats to meet your needs and safety goals. Seeing so many reasonably priced options perform so well with standout crash test analysis results was refreshing.