One seat to get you from infant to adolescent.
Many new parents begin with an infant car seat. Infant seats are versatile, portable and, importantly, let you transition your sleeping child from house to car to stroller without waking them up. But after that first year, an infant outgrows the infant seat. The next step is a convertible car seat.
Convertible car seats are — as the name suggests — adaptable. These seats can accommodate infants with extra padding. But they also convert to rear-facing and eventually (after the child reaches 40 pounds) forward-facing toddler seats. An all-in-one seat convert to booster seats when needed, accommodating children up to 100 pounds or more. Yes, that’s how long children are in car seats now.
What to Look For in a Convertible Car Seat
3-in-1: Convertible car seats switch from rear-facing to forward-facing. 3-in-1 seats do that and transition into a booster seat. On paper, it saves you a purchase. In practice, booster seats aren’t that expensive relatively and the transition from forward-facing to booster could be five to six years away.
Cleaning: Children spill things frequently. The best convertible car seats will have fabric that is easily cleanable if not removable for machine washing.
Comfort: Toddlers have no hesitation about letting you know when they’re not comfortable. They can’t appreciate the finer points of Alcantara leather. But they do know whether straps are too tight or parts of the seat are scratchy. Added ventilation to keep the seat from getting too hot is always a bonus.
Installation: The absolute last thing you want as a parent is more stress. Look for a seat that is easy to install and easy to install again when you have to move it. Seats that are bulky and heavy will be more unwieldy to deal with. Setting up the seat safety using the LATCH system should not require sweat. Converting the seat between phases should be simple and intuitive.
Safety: All car seats sold in America must meetfederal motor vehicle safety standards. Seats from major brands sold from reputable outlets will display that information prominently; be wary of cut-rate prices and buying used. Some seats promise additional safety features above and beyond those required.
Width: Car seats take up a lot of space. But certain seats are designed to be particularly narrow, making it easier for parents to fit three across the second row or use the other two seats for human or canine passengers.
How We Tested the Best Convertible Car Seats
We enlisted multiple Gear Patrol parents to test the best convertible car seats. New seats were tested with our children in real-life conditions ranging from everyday school runs to family vacations. Staffers also provided thoughts on seats they currently own.
We tested seats looking primarily for those that were easy to use, easy to install and comfortable for children. We also looked at long-term durability for seats that staffers owned.
We did not simulate crash testing to assess manufacturer safety for obvious reasons. But all seats tested meet NHTSA safety requirements.
The Best Convertible Car Seat Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat
- Affordable price point well below $300
- Easy to install and convert to forward-facing
- Weighs less than 20 pounds, which is lighter than many competitors
- Not as aesthetically-pleasing as other seat options
- Strap tightener can be tough to loosen
- Does not include a booster seat
When you reach the convertible car seat stage, you’ll likely need more than one. Both parents will be doing pickups. Multiple children get into the mix. The grandparents may want one.That’s where the Graco Extend2Fit comes in. It delivers the functionality of an expensive seat but at a considerable discount compared to fancier rivals.
Our tester owns a rotating fleet of four or five Graco Extend2Fit seats that cycle between personal vehicles, press fleet cars and grandparents.
The Graco Extend2Fit is lightweight and supremely easy to install — an awesome feature when you have to move it frequently. LATCH straps stay in place with only one to pull. The headrest and harness adjust simultaneously. Converting from forward-facing to rear-facing can be done in seconds, with one or two adjustments and one-handed.
The Graco Extend2Fit is bulky and not aesthetically pleasing out of the box (or after a year of kids spilling on it). The LATCH strap tightener — especially after a year or so of use — can also require some brute force to loosen.
The Extend2Fit 2-in-1 only goes up to 65 lbs. But you can buy the 3-in-1 model which can convert to a booster seat and accommodate children up to 100 lbs. Graco also sells relatively affordable standalone booster options.
Size Range: 4-65 lbs
Seat Weight: 19 lbs
The Best Expensive Convertible Car Seat Nuna RAVA Convertible Car Seat
- Easy to install and transfer between vehicles
- Simple, elegant design
- Easy-on, Easy-off fabric for easy cleaning
- Heavier than other seats on the market
- Fit can be awkward in certain vehicles
- Too bulky for airline travel
- No booster seat
The RAVA is a convertible car seat from Dutch manufacturer Nuna. It marries a sleek Red Dot Award-winning design with easy-to-use features. Though it is a bit pricier than other options on the market.Distinctive RAVA features include the ability to use the seat rear-facing up to 50 pounds and a steel frame combined with energy-absorbing foam for advanced impact protection.Our tester owns this seat and enjoys its great looks, simple design and ability to easily transfer from vehicle to vehicle; Nuna’s preferred method is a simpler installation using the seat belt. Our tester also likes the easy-on and easy-off fabric that comes in handy for the occasional vomit cleaning.That said, the RAVA is one of the heavier options on the market, weighing a little over 27 lbs and, according to our tester, is a bit too bulky to bring on the plane. Our tester also found that the RAVA fit better in some vehicles (a Honda CR-V) than others (a Subaru Impreza).Size Range: 5-65 lbs
Seat Weight: 27.2 lbs
Chicco OneFit ClearTex All-in-One Car Seat
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- Long seat for added leg support
- Can fit three across on a second-row bench seat
- Cupholders fold and pop out for extra space
- ClearTex fabrics have no added chemicals
- Installation requires two straps
- Can be tricky to convert between rear and forward-facing
The Chicco OneFit ClearTex All-in-One car seat is designed to run the full gamut of your car seat needs from the hospital ride home through the booster seat. ClearTex fabrics have no added chemicals. Our tester spent a month using the seat on both rear and forward-facing everyday school runs.
We found the seat has a slimmer profile than other seats with folding “CupFolders” allowing the seat to fit three across. It does that without sacrificing comfort as the seat has a bevy of adjustment options and an extra long seat for more leg support.
The Chicco OneFit was more of a challenge to convert from rear-facing to forward-facing. The process involves removing multiple storage panels and sliding the LATCH straps to a different position. Our tester could not intuitively figure it out and was forced to consult YouTube. The installation requires pulling two tightening straps (and reaching into the vehicle to do so).
Padding on the Chicco OneFit, while comfortable, is also easily removable, which is something a younger toddler will discover rather quickly.
Size Range: 5-100 lbs
Seat Weight: 25 lbs
Best Car Seat to Fit 3 Across Graco SlimFit3 LX 3 in 1 Car Seat
- Easy to install
- Easy to convert between rear and forward-facing
- Slim profile provides extra room
- Strap between the legs can be a tight squeeze for larger toddlers
- No cupholders
The Graco SlimFit3 LX3 is (as the name suggests) a slimmer car seat designed to fit 3 across; it’s just 16.7 inches wide. As a 3-in-1 seat, it converts from rear-facing to forward-facing to an eventual booster seat and accommodates children up to 100 lbs. Our tester used this seat for a month or so on daily school runs.
The slim profile is a handy feature, whether you’re trying to fit three seats across a Subaru Outback’s rear seat or need to slot an adult between two seats for an airport run. Installation is a fairly straightforward procedure using the Latch system. So is the conversion between rear and forward-facing, which involves few movements and no moving of straps.
One issue we had with a taller four-year-old was that the buckle strap between the legs is short and does not adjust. This resulted in a tight squeeze to use the buckle every time the child entered and exited the seat.
Size Range: 5-100 lbs
Seat Weight: 19.8 lbs
Best Convertible Car Seat for Small Cars Evenflo Gold Revolve360 Rotational AllinOne Convertible Car Seat Swivel Car Seat Rotating Car Seat for All Ages Swivel Baby Car Seat ModeChanging 4120lb Car Seat and Booster Car Seat, Moonstone
- Accomodates entire weight range from 4-120 lbs
- Swiveling allows for easy entry and exit with bending into the car
- Hard to leverage your weight on the base which can make installation hard
- Heaviest seat we tested at 30 lbs
The best and worst part of a convertible car seat is that it never leaves your car. The Evenflo Revolve 360 attempts to swing this balance in your favor with its ability to swivel 360 degrees, so you don’t have to climb into the backseat to strap your squirming child into a five-point harness. It has the widest rating of any seat we tested, accommodating children from 4 to 120 lbs. Our tester used the seat as a rear-facing car seat over a long weekend trip.
The Revolve 360 works beautifully once installed. Our tester found it to be a godsend compared with climbing into a cramped Kia Soul (installing the seat in the center eliminates some of that utility). Rotating the seat 90 degrees into the rear-facing position after buckling was complete proved a delight for both father and child.
The trouble with the Revolve 360 was installing it. The base of the Revolve 360 is effectively a large bowl, which limits your ability to use your body weight to hold the seat down when tightening. Our tester resorted to putting his feet in the bowl and tightening the belt while squatting in the back seat. It’s not a seat you want to move often once installed.
Size Range: 4-120 lbs
Seat Weight: 29.6 lbs
Best Portable Car Seat WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat
- Lightweight
- Folds for easy portability
- Can fit on plane as carry-on luggage
- Only forward-facing with limited weight range
- Expensive at nearly $500, which does not include add-ons
- Hard to secure with just LATCH system
The WAYB Pico isn’t technically a convertible car seat. But it is a compelling (though pricey) portable car seat option that overlaps with the weight requirements of many portable car seats. It folds into a low profile that allows it to be stashed with carry-on luggage on a plane. Our tester used the Pico on a summer vacation to Nantucket.
The Pico performed its primary task well, being easily portable on a trip while many car seats are not. Though our tester found it hard to secure using the latch system and resorted to securing it with the seat belt. The harness pads proved a bit flimsy and easily got turned around which led a four-year-old to complain about scratchy velcro. The seat also lacks the side support of a conventional seat, which is not great if the child falls asleep.
Our test seat arrived with a cupholder and a travel bag. Though if you’re buying a Pico those are pricey extras, on top of a seat that already costs nearly $500.
Size Range: 25-50 lbs
Seat Weight: 8 lbs
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Keyword: The Best Convertible Car Seats of 2022