By Alicia Betz,Forbes Staff,Steven John
Copyright forbes
A convertible car seat helps your baby safely make the transition from rear-facing to forward-facing, because it can be secured in either position. It’s also designed to grow with your older baby into toddlerhood and sometimes even through big kid life if it converts into a booster seat. The very best convertible car seats offer user-friendly features, easy installation and comfortable seating for kids as they grow. After conducting thorough research, interviewing two child passenger safety technicians (CPSTs) and personally using a variety of seats, I’ve named the Nuna Rava the best convertible car seat. It’s easier to install correctly the first time and has ample padding, plus a host of user-friendly features.
The best convertible car seat is easy to install and comfortable for rear- and forward-facing kids.
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“One of the biggest benefits is that convertible seats allow you to keep your child rear-facing longer, which is the safest position in a crash,” says Gia Ramsey, CPST and injury prevention and education outreach coordinator at Maimonides Medical Center. Each seat on our list offers extended the time a child can sit rear-facing by offering higher weight and height limits, and each has its own safety and convenience features, with some seats offering washable fabrics, cupholders and no-rethread harnesses. Here, shop our top picks for the best convertible car seats.
Our Top Recommendations
Best Convertible Car Seat Overall: Nuna Rava Convertible Car Seat
Best Value Convertible Car Seat: Graco Extend2Fit 3-In-1 Convertible Car Seat
Easiest To Install Convertible Car Seat: Britax Poplar Convertible Car Seat
Best Rotating Convertible Car Seat: Cybex Callisto G 360 Rotating All-in-One Convertible Car Seat
Best All-In-One Car Seat: Nuna Exec All-In-One Car Seat
Best Convertible Car Seat For Small Cars: Clek Foonf Convertible Car Seat
Best Convertible Car Seat For Tall Babies: Chicco OneFit Max ClearTex All-In-One Car Seat
Best Convertible Car Seat Overall
Comfortable Seating With Easy Install And Premium Features And Fabrics
Nuna Rava Convertible Car Seat
Seat weight: 27.9 pounds | Child height max: 49 inches (rear and forward-facing) | Child weight minimum: 5 pounds | Child weight max: 50 pounds (rear-facing); 65 pounds (forward-facing) | Seat width: 19 inches
If you’re looking for a luxurious seat with plush padding, no fire-retardant chemicals and machine washable fabrics, the Nuna Rava is an excellent choice. It’s a popular option for parents of newborns, because it’s safe for babies as small as 5 pounds, and it comes with comfortable infant head and body inserts. It’s also Greenguard Gold certified, meaning it has low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and can help contribute to healthy air. As babies grow into toddlers, the seat offers extended calf support to keep them comfortable. Once your toddler is ready to move out of the car seat and onto a booster, you’ll need to purchase a booster seat as this is not an all-in-one option.
Some of the safety features include an all-steel frame and reinforced belt path, energy absorbing foam and side impact protection pods. It also has features that help make installation easier including true tension doors, colored belt path indicators and recline angle guides. Comfort and convenience features include moisture-wicking fabric, ventilation panels, cupholders and a no-rethread harness. This is a great seat for babies and toddlers who tend to get hot in the car. “A no-rethread harness saves time when adjusting for growth,” says Ramsey. According to Nuna, the seat fits three-across in many vehicles, but it’s not the most narrow seat on our list at 19-inches across. If you’re looking for something more narrow, check out the Clek Foonf.
Best Value Convertible Car Seat
Affordability And Longevity
Graco Extend2Fit 3-In-1 Convertible Car Seat
Seat weight: 20.6 pounds | Child height max: 49 inches (rear- and forward-facing); 57 inches (high-back booster) | Child weight minimum: 4 pounds | Child weight max: 50 pounds (rear-facing); 65 pounds (forward-facing); 100 pounds (high-back booster) | Seat width: 19 inches
As a value pick, the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Baby Car Seat offers a variety of convenient features, and it converts from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat to a high-back booster, giving the seat a lot of longevity. This means it could be six years or more until you need to buy a new seat—or it could be your very last car seat purchase. With 5 inches of extra leg room via a leg extension panel, this seat is really designed to help kids be comfortable for longer while sitting in the rear-facing position. Because it has a minimum weight of 4 pounds, it’s also a good pick for very small babies who need something safe to ride home from the hospital in.
Features that help improve the safety and ease of installation of the seat include a steel-reinforced frame, a level indicator and an InRight LATCH system that’s designed to help you install the seat correctly and quickly. The seat also has a no-rethread harness so you can make sure you always have the right fit for your child. Convenience features include cupholders and machine washable seat pads.
Easiest To Install Convertible Car Seat
Install The Seat Quickly In 3 Steps
Britax Poplar Convertible Car Seat
Seat weight: 27.2 pounds | Child height max: 49 inches (rear- and forward-facing) | Child weight minimum: 5 pounds | Child weight max: 50 pounds (rear-facing); 65 pounds (forward-facing) | Seat width: 17 inches
Britax seats are easier to install correctly once you’ve used the brand’s ClickTight installation system once or twice—and the true hallmark of a good seat is one that can be installed correctly every single time. There are three steps to install the seat—open the seat to reveal the belt path, thread and secure the seat belt, and then push the seat to close it. I’ve found it takes me significantly less time to do than many of the other car seats I’ve tested. My 3-year-old twins have been taking turns using this car seat for over a year. It’s sturdy, comfortable and easy to clean. It doesn’t have any flame-retardant chemicals, and the padding is rather plush.
At 17 inches, it’s a very narrow seat, and I’m able to install three seats across with this as one of the seats. Even though it’s a slim seat, my higher-percentile kids are comfortable in it. The seat has two cupholders, a no-rethread harness and fabric that can go in the washer and dryer. CPST Jamie Grayson recommends washable fabric as an extra feature that’s nice to have in car seats. Safety features include a patented Safecell crumple zone, which keeps energy away from your child in the event of a crash and a carbon-steel frame designed to help keep the seat sturdy and stable. This convertible seat does not convert to a booster, so you’ll have to purchase a booster once your child reaches 65 pounds or 49 inches, whichever comes first.
Best Rotating Convertible Car Seat
Use Rear- Or Forward-Facing Without Uninstalling The Seat
Pottery Barn Kids
Cybex Callisto G 360 Rotating All-in-One Convertible Car Seat
Seat weight: 35 pounds | Child height max: 1 inch below headrest (rear-facing), 49.2 inches (forward-facing), 57 inches (booster) | Child weight minimum: 4 pounds | Child weight max: 40 pounds (rear-facing), 65 pounds (forward-facing), 120 pounds (booster) | Seat width: 19.5 inches
A rotating car seat adds to the convenience of a convertible seat by making it easier to get your child in and out of the seat and the car. The Cybex Callisto G 360 Rotating All-In-One Convertible Car Seat is our top pick for the best rotating car seat overall, and it rotates all the way around, which means you don’t have to un-install and re-install it to use it as a rear- or forward-facing seat. It’s an all-in-one seat that converts to a booster, meaning you could be using this seat for upwards of seven years. The seat comes with cupholders and a machine-washable cover. It’s also Greenguard Gold certified and comes with a number of additional safety features like an anti-rebound base, a SafeLock system that makes it easy to get the correct installation and SensorSafe technology. This alerts you if your child has been in their seat too long, their chest clip comes undone, they’re too hot or cold or if they’re left unattended in the vehicle.
It’s a heavier seat at 35 pounds, but you won’t have to pick the seat up often since you don’t have to uninstall it to change the way it faces. “If you are somebody who has mobility concerns or back issues or arthritis, a rotating seat would come in very very handy,” says Grayson. It’s worth noting that this seat has a lower rear-facing max weight than many of the other seats on our list, so you might want to go with a different option if extended rear-facing is important to you.
Best All-In-One Car Seat
Robust With Soft And Comfortable Fabric
Nuna Exec All-In-One Car Seat
Seat weight: 26.6 pounds | Child height max: 49 inches (rear- and forward-facing), 57 inches (booster) | Child weight minimum: 5 pounds | Child weight max: 50 pounds (rear-facing), 65 pounds (forward-facing), 110 pounds (booster) | Seat width: 18.5 inches
I’ve been using the Nuna Exec for about four months with my 3-year-old twins. The seat is very comfortable, according to one of my 3-year-year-olds who never misses an opportunity to fall asleep in the car. It’s suitable for kids from 5 to 110 pounds. For tiny babies, the seat comes with Merino wool infant inserts, and other comfort features include ventilation panels and cupholders. Greenguard Gold certification helps contribute to healthier air. The seat doesn’t have any fire retardant chemicals, and the fabric is machine washable.
I found the installation to be middle-of-the-road. It was a bit more difficult than Britax seats I’ve installed but easier than other brands, like Babyark. Among many safety features, the seat has an all-steel frame, a reinforced belt path and a side impact protection system. The adjustable leg rest also functions as an anti-rebound panel. “Anti-rebound bars and load legs help limit how much the seat moves during a crash, which can protect a child’s head, neck and spine—especially when they’re rear-facing,” says Ramsey.
Best Convertible Car Seat For Small Cars
Slim Enough To Fit Three Across
Clek Foonf Convertible Car Seat
Seat weight: 38 pounds (rear-facing); 33 pounds (forward-facing) | Child height max: 43 inches (rear-facing); 49 inches (forward-facing) | Child weight minimum: 14 pounds (5 pounds with infant insert) | Child weight max: 50 pounds (rear-facing); 65 pounds (forward-facing) | Seat width: 16.9 inches
Since one of the most important safety aspects of a car seat is being able to install it correctly in your vehicle, if you have a smaller car or need to fit three seats across, you need a slim seat like the Clek Foonf Convertible Car Seat. Parents flock to this seat thanks to its slim design, sturdy frame and cushy padding. The seat has a rigid LATCH system, which according to Ramsey, can make it easier to install the seat with a solid connection.
Other safety features include a steel anti-rebound bar and energy absorbing foam. Though this seat is great for many, it has some drawbacks. The seat has a re-thread harness, meaning you’ll have to manually re-thread the straps as your child grows. You’ll also need to purchase an infant insert separately if you want to use the seat from birth. The fabric is flame retardant-free, and it’s also a Greenguard Gold certified seat.
Best Convertible Car Seat For Tall Babies
Extended Leg Room Makes Tall Babies More Comfortable
Chicco OneFit Max ClearTex All-In-One Car Seat
Seat weight: 27 pounds | Child height max: 43 inches (rear-facing); 54 inches (forward-facing); 57 inches (booster) | Child weight minimum: 5 pounds | Child weight max: 40 pounds (rear-facing); 65 pounds (forward-facing); 100 pounds (booster) | Seat width: 19.5 inches
Chicco is known for its solid and affordable car seats. The Chicco OneFit Max ClearTex All-in-One Car Seat is an all-in-one that can go from newborn seating to a high-back booster seat for a child 100 pounds and 57-inches tall. It’s comfortable and easy to install thanks to its color coded labels and clear instructions. In rear-facing mode, the seat is designed to have 20% more leg room than Chicco’s other OneFit seats, making it ideal for taller babies.
Chicco’s Leverlock Self-Tensioning Lock System locks the seat in with the right amount of belt tension without making you do too much work. Because a seat has to be installed correctly to maximize its safety, this feature is crucial. Other safety features include advanced side impact protection, a “Supercinch” LATCH tightener and energy managing foam. The seat is also Greenguard Gold Certified.
As babies become toddlers, they’ll appreciate the dual cupholders, which are aptly named because you can fold them in to create more room in the back seat. Parents who prefer extended rear-facing might be a bit disappointed with this seat, as the rear-facing max is 43 inches or 40 pounds, whichever comes first.
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Why Trust Forbes Vetted
At Forbes Vetted, the baby and kids gear team is committed to thoroughly vetting products to bring you the best recommendations. Our staff is made up of experienced parents and journalists. We frequently report on car seat topics, including news on the updated car seat guidelines and the best rotating car seats.
The author of this article, Alicia Betz, has tested various convertible car seats and is currently using two of the seats on this list with her kids. She’s also a mom to three and an experienced parenting journalist and product tester.
The editor of this article, Rose Gordon Sala, is a recently trained CPST and experienced parenting journalist and editor. She’s also a mom to three and has been reporting on parenting topics for the past decade.
I interviewed two experts: Gia Ramsey, injury prevention and education outreach coordinator at Maimonides Medical Center and CPST; and Jamie Grayson, a baby gear expert and experienced CPST.
How We Chose The Best Convertible Car Seat
I’ve tested a variety of convertible car seats, and I also did extensive research to compile this list. Here’s a peek into my process.
I considered my experience testing a variety of car seats with my kids and used that to help inform my picks. I included seats on this list that I’ve tested and used with my own children (the Britax Poplar and the Nuna Exec) or were recommended to me.
I interviewed two CPSTs to learn more about what makes a good convertible car seat.
Especially for seats I haven’t tested, I read online reviews and carefully considered any pain points that reviewers expressed. Each seat on the list has a rating of at least four out of five stars.
To curate a list that appeals to a variety of families and needs, I included different types of convertible car seats, including those at various prices and with various features.
What To Look For In The Best Convertible Car Seat
Easy Installation
“When you’re picking a convertible car seat, the most important thing is that it fits your child, works in your vehicle and that you can use it correctly every time.” says Ramsey. Many seats have features that make them easier to install, like Britax’s ClickTight installation and Clek’s rigid LATCH system.
“Whatever seat you choose, be sure to read both the car seat and vehicle manuals—and have your installation checked by a certified child passenger safety technician (CPST),” says Ramsey. This will help ensure you are able to get the correct installation in your vehicle.
Height And Weight Limits
Many convertible seats are suitable from birth without any additional attachments. On the higher end of the weight and height limit range, some seats are suitable until kids are 49 inches or 65 pounds, while others are safe for even longer and can be used as a booster seat. Consider the size of your child and how long you plan on using the seat.
Extra Features
Some nice features to have include a no-rethread harness, easy installation systems, washable seat covers, luxurious fabrics and cupholders. Ramsey explained that features like these are nice bonuses, but making sure the seat can be installed correctly every time should always come first.
Safety Features
“All seats on the market meet the same federal safety standards, but some go a step further with added safety features,” says Ramsey. Some additional safety features you might consider shopping for include anti-rebound panels, energy-absorbing foam and load legs. Extended rear-facing capability is also a nice feature to have.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
All of the car seats on our list have high ratings of at least 4.3 out of 5 stars. The highest rated on Amazon is the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Baby Car Seat with 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Convertible car seats are definitely worth it. It’s helpful to only have one seat to learn how to install and use correctly. “They can also save families money and time by reducing the need to purchase multiple seats as their child grows,” says Ramsey.
All of the convertible car seats on our list meet federal safety standards and are considered safe. To help ensure safety, read the manual for both the seat and your vehicle to ensure you can install it correctly.
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