A highly adjustable convertible car seat that never requires rethreading.
The first concern on every parent’s mind when comparing the best convertible car seats should be safety. While every car seat sold in the United States must meet certain federal safety regulations, these regulations aren’t necessarily as strict as they could be. Only recently has side impact crash testing been mandated by the federal government.
What’s more, companies are responsible for their own testing. Most major brands have rigorous testing standards proven out over the years by their continued reliability. But even the best car seat is not safe if improperly installed.
For these reasons, it’s important for parents to conduct their own research on the safest car seats for their children. We’ve tested dozens of car seats in person and combed through thousands of parent testimonials to recommend car seats that are relatively easy to install and adjust.
What Is A Convertible Car Seat?
Broadly speaking, there are three car seat configurations, each appropriate for a different age and height of child: rear-facing, forward-facing, and high-backed booster. Many car seats are installed in one of these three configurations and parents must purchase new car seats as their child grows.
A convertible car seat has the ability to be installed in both rear- and forward-facing positions. They are designed to last longer than other car seats by accommodating a broader range of children. Instead of buying a new car seat when it’s time to switch from a rear-facing to a forward-facing position, you can readjust a convertible car seat. While car seats do expire, this is typically after around 10 years, and an infant will need to switch between a rear- and forward-facing car seat after only a couple of years.
For this reason, convertible car seats are a popular option among parents as they can help save quite a bit of money without compromising child safety. Buying a new car seat for a baby can be nerve-racking, but it’s even more so when you throw a 2.0-ton vehicle, high-speed traffic, and happenstance into the mix. To help you find a safe, comfortable, and long-lasting car seat, our products team researched and tested some of the best convertible car seats.
Best Convertible Car Seats
- Editor’s Pick: Chicco Fit4
- Easiest Installation: Britax Advocate
- Easiest to Maintain: Graco Extend2Fit
- Most Comfortable: Maxi-Cosi Pria
- Best Value: Evenflo Tribute 5
#1 Editor’s Pick: Chicco Fit4
The Chicco Fit4 is easy to install and highly adjustable, making it our top pick for convertible car seats. It has four configurations and nine recline positions. Many features of this car seat are adjustable (including a rising headrest and removable padding), the instructions are easy to follow, and setup is simple. You can even access detailed instructions through your phone.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $290
- Weight range: 4.0 to 100.0 pounds
- Height limit: Up to 57.0 inches
- Car seat weight: 25.0 pounds
Our Experience
Having tested more than a dozen child car seats of various types and sizes, we found the Chicco Fit4 to include the most readable instruction guide. Not only are the instructions written more clearly than any other brand, but the buckles and latches are easy to attach and secure.
The interior padding is soft and easily removable as your child grows. The high number of inserts means you can configure the Fit4 to perfectly encapsulate your little one. The cupholders are removable to make extra space. We did find the seat to take up a lot of space, however. The passenger sitting in front of this car seat may not have much legroom in a small sedan.
| Overall Rating | 5 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 5 out of 5 |
| Adjustability | 5 out of 5 |
| Quality of Materials | 5 out of 5 |
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.8 out of 5 based on over 1,900 ratings
Positive reviews say the Fit4 is easy to install and clean. Parents are pleased that the seat is comfortable and safe. Because the seat is usable by children of all ages (from rear-facing infant seat to high-back booster), it can last all the way to its expiration date of 10 years. This may be the only car seat a parent would need to buy. The Chicco Fit4 scores the most points with reviewers for its comfort (4.7 out of 5).
“[The Fit4 car seats are] very padded and look comfy, I am a little envious actually as they look perfect for a nap. Have had them for about 6 months and they are doing great and stay clean with minimal effort.” – Michael R. Sweeney via Amazon
This car seat does take up a lot of space in your backseat, but because most multi-stage car seats are large, you can expect most of the best convertible car seats to take up a lot of room.
Some Amazon reviewers complain that the seat doesn’t detach from its base, which is a feature many infant car seats include (though not often a feature of convertible car seats).
A couple of reviewers say the foam material in the headrest deteriorated after a few years, but others report many years of successful use.
“[After two years], I noticed that the foam in the headrest cracked in two and came off on one side.” – Griffin Rice via Amazon
#2 Easiest Installation: Britax Advocate
The Britax Advocate employs a patented ClickTight system for easy installation and configuration. The five-point harness is padded for comfort and features three layers of side-impact protection.
This seat is suitable for newborns up to children six years old. While it will not be the only booster seat you’ll need to buy, few car seats last more than six years.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $300
- Weight range: 5.0 to 65.0 pounds
- Height limit: Up to 49.0 inches
- Car seat weight: 30.6 pounds
Our Experience
The Advocate is simple to install and features high-quality padding, like many of the car seats on this list. What makes the Advocate stand out is the ClickTight system – a button in the front of the seat allows you to open the Advocate to reposition the straps for front- or rear-facing configurations. This makes the Advocate one of the easiest seats to safely install.
The buckles are covered with a soft padding, and the straps are easy to adjust. However, the Advocate uses the more difficult-to-install type of metal anchor clasp, making the seat somewhat harder to secure than the Chicco Fit4.
| Overall Rating | 4.5 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4.5 out of 5 |
| Adjustability | 4.5 out of 5 |
| Quality of Materials | 4.5 out of 5 |
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.7 out of 5 based on around 700 ratings
Happy customers like the safewash fabric, which is free of chemical flame retardants. Parents with infants especially appreciate how easy it is to remove and clean the padding.
“I always come back to Britax. Their ClickTight makes for the easiest installs. I also love that they’re easy to disassemble and clean!” – Erika via Amazon
Parents with small cars often note that the Advocate is bulky. Some users couldn’t recline their own seats while using the Advocate. While we like the ClickTight button, some people find it hard to turn.
“Overall this car seat is way too heavy, bulky, and difficult to adjust.” – Lauren Kasper via Amazon
#3 Easiest To Maintain: Graco Extend2Fit
The Graco Extend2Fit is a solidly-made convertible car seat that features an adjustable headrest and leg rest. It comes with a no-rethread harness and six recline positions. The soft padding is removable and machine-washable. At around $230, this car seat rivals the quality of pricier alternatives such as the Fit4 and the Advocate. To learn all about this excellent car seat, check out our review guide here.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $200
- Weight range: 4.0 to 65.0 pounds
- Height limit: Up to 49.0 inches
- Car seat weight: 19.0 pounds
Our Experience
The Extend2Fit features some of the softest padding and all of the buckles and latches are of high quality. We found it easy to install the seat in forward- and rear-facing positions. However, it’s a pain to reposition the anchor latches, as this requires removing almost all the outer fabric layers. It can also be difficult to adjust the incline position.
While some of the adjustment mechanisms take a bit of strength to operate, they’re all robust and secure. The process is straightforward but can take some finagling.
This seat uses the LATCH connector system for easy installation and a helpful ball indicator tells you if the seat is properly positioned.
| Overall Rating | 4.3 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4 out of 5 |
| Adjustability | 4.5 out of 5 |
| Quality of Materials | 4.5 out of 5 |
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.9 out of 5 based on over 69,000 ratings
Many reviewers say they’ve bought several Graco seats throughout the years and that the Extend2Fit is their favorite. The removable lining is easy to wash, and the seat is relatively painless to maneuver even at 19.0 pounds. Reviewers claim their children are comfortable and this durable car seat can last several years (the manufacturer says this seat is good for 10 years).
“I will never buy another car seat. This one is the safest, most durable car seat I’ve ever owned. I’m on baby # 3 and still using this one as my #1.” – Laney Jerkins via Amazon
Some users note that the cupholders are square-shaped, which is not ideal for most beverage containers. Others say it’s difficult to tighten the lower LATCH straps (though we didn’t find this to be the case).
“We have a minivan which allowed me (6-2ft. tall) to stand inside behind/over the seat to get it snug and secure in the rear-facing position. The straps are hard to get secure from the side.” – MTrain83 via Amazon
#4 Most Comfortable: Maxi-Cosi Pria
The Maxi-Cosi Pria is a convertible car seat with three configurations available in 10 colors. Supporting children from 4.0 to 100.0 pounds, the Pria features a QuickFit shoulder harness, easy-to-connect anchor latches, and two removable cup holders.
Based on our experience with the fabric and the consensus of customer reviews on Amazon, the Pria seems to be one of the most comfortable convertible car seats. The removable, adjustable padding is perfect for gently securing your child.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $300
- Weight range: 4.0 to 100.0 pounds
- Height limit: Up to 52.0 inches
- Car seat weight: 22.5 pounds
Our Experience
While the Maxi-Cosi Pria is simple to install and uses the best type of anchor latch, it’s difficult to adjust. The reclining mechanism is finicky, and we had some trouble tightening the anchor straps.
However, when it comes to material quality, the Pria shines. The padding was the softest of the car seats we examined, and the removable inserts ensure a safe, snug fit for your infant or toddler.
We’re thankful the padding is machine-washable and simple to remove. While available colors are not one of the most important features of a car seat, it’s worth noting the Pria offers the widest range of style choices.
| Overall Rating | 4 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4 out of 5 |
| Adjustability | 3.5 out of 5 |
| Quality of Materials | 4.5 out of 5 |
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 4,300 ratings
Most Amazon reviews for the Maxi-Cosi Pria praise the car seat’s comfort. The fabric stays cool on hot days while offering a lot of cushion. Users, especially parents of multiple children, also like the color options.
“As it is being used at the moment for my 10 month old, the fabric is very comfortable and my baby is very content being in it and has plenty of leg room.” – Brandee Anderson via Amazon
While there’s a lot of praise for the Pria’s comfort when all of the padding is attached, some users complain that this vehicle seat is not the best for older children. Once the infant padding is taken out, the seat becomes less comfortable. Other reviewers note, like us, that the Pria is hard to tilt and adjust.
“I love this car seat except I have to reach from behind to tighten or loosen the straps, not sure what I’ll do once we make the car seat front facing.” – Allison Cracchiolo via Amazon
While we didn’t experience this issue, some customers also say the Pria doesn’t easily fit in small vehicles when used in extended rear-facing mode.
#5 Best Value: Evenflo Tribute 5
Reasonably priced, the EvenFlo Tribute 5 is a well-made convertible car seat that doesn’t sacrifice safety features (it does lose some points for comfort). The Tribute 5 meets or exceeds most federal safety standards. Though not the most adjustable car seat we tested, the Tribute 5 offers multiple shoulder harness positions to accommodate children from 19.0 to 40.0 inches.
If considering an EvenFlo car seats, parents should consider a 2020 investigation conducted by ProPublica that revealed that Evenflo had been misrepresenting its side-impact testing to consumers. At the time, side-impact testing standards were not mandated by federal regulators (these standards have since been implemented). There are no current known issues with EvenFlo car seats, but the brand is not as historically trustworthy as other major brands like Graco, Chicco, and Britax.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $80
- Weight range: 5.0 to 40.0 pounds
- Height limit: 19.0 to 40.0 inches
- Car seat weight: 9.3 pounds
Our Experience
The Evenflo Tribute 5 is lightweight and therefore one of the easiest car seats to hoist into our test vehicle. However, we had some difficulty attaching the seat anchors. The Tribute 5 uses a poorer type of metal anchor clasp (discussed in more detail in our Review Standards), and the straps can be difficult to tighten.
The padding feels thin compared to other car seats, and there’s no extra padding over the chest clip for added comfort. This seat is probably less comfortable for smaller children but suitable for riders out of the toddler stage.
Though the anchor clasps are difficult to connect to the car’s seat anchors, they are easy to adjust between forward- and rear-facing positions.
| Overall Rating | 3 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 3 out of 5 |
| Adjustability | 3 out of 5 |
| Quality of Materials | 3 out of 5 |
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 based on over 5,800 ratings
The most startling Amazon review shows a picture of an overturned vehicle, with the reviewer reporting that all survived the crash, including their infant secured in the Tribute 5. One of the most appreciated aspects of the Tribute (besides safety) is its light weight. Parents who often remove or carry their car seat (to bring on an airplane, for example) appreciate this feature.
“Finally, a convertible car seat that weighs less than my 1.5 year old.” – Ichthus via Amazon
Some negative reviews say it’s hard to attach the seat anchors. Others claim the padding feels flimsy compared to other car seats. While some parents like the compact nature of the seat, this is a downside if you have tall children.
“Tightening the latch anchors was pretty hard compared to our infant bucket seat.” – Veronica via Amazon
Convertible Car Seat Safety
Safety is the most important consideration when selecting a car seat. In fact, most hospitals will not allow parents to drive their newborns home unless they have an approved infant car seat.
Technically, every car seat sold in the United States must meet federal safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In practice, this is not always the case, so make sure that any car seat you purchase is approved by the NHTSA. This is typically indicated by a sticker that includes wording like, “This restraint is certified for use in all motor vehicles and aircraft.”
While the NHTSA safety standards are rigorous, they are not perfect. For instance, the NHTSA does not have regulations that require testing for side impact crash tests, and companies are able to self-certify. Therefore, it is also good practice to research the manufacturer and model of any car seat before you buy it. Read reviews from other parents and child safety advocacy groups (like the American Academy of Pediatrics). It is also good practice to check if the car seat you’re considering has been subject to any recalls.
In addition to ensuring your seat meets federal safety guidelines, you need to buy the best convertible car seat for your child, based on their height and weight. Consult this chart, developed by the NHTSA, to determine which type of car seat you need.
Lastly, a car seat is only safe if it is properly installed. To check your installation, a professional can inspect your car seat. The NHTSA website features a handy tool for locating the nearest child passenger safety technician.
Are Used Car Seats Safe?
Used car seats can be safe to use, but when you buy from a secondhand seller, it’s not possible to know for sure. There are several reasons a used car seat may be unsafe:
- The seat has expired. Be sure to check the expiration date on any car seat you find. This should be clearly listed on a label attached to the car seat, if it is not, do not use that car seat.
- The seat has been recalled. Buckle Up NC’s recall list is a useful tool for checking if any particular seat has been recalled.
- The seat has been involved in an accident. Car accidents can impact a car seat’s integrity, rendering it unsafe for use.
- The car seat is a counterfeit. Some counterfeit car seats are offered on the secondary market that closely resemble major brand seats.
- The car seat is missing parts. A used car seat is unlikely to come with a box or instruction manual and may be missing important pieces.
For the above reasons, it is not advisable to buy a secondhand car seat. However, if you are able to obtain a secondhand car seat from a trusted friend, you may avoid the above issues.
Who Is A Convertible Car Seat For?
Buying a car seat is something all new parents face, and it is something they’ll likely have to do more than once as their child grows. The best convertible car seats replace the car seats designed for infants as children surpass the rear-facing weight limit or grow too large for a seat’s harness straps.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), all children should be in forward-facing car seats until they outgrow the manufacturer’s harness holders or weight limit, and can utilize the vehicle’s seat belt path.
So new parents have two options: buy an infant car seat and then buy a new car seat as the child ages, or buy a convertible car seat. Petra Stanton, the Safe Kids Supervisor at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, recommended starting a seat that will support a child as they grow in weight and height.
“The advantage of getting a new car seat is: it’s going to be brand new. It’s not going to have spills, leaks, and so on. The advantage of having the all-in-one is that it may just be the only car seat you ever have to buy.”
What Is The Difference Between A Convertible Car Seat And An All-In-One Car Seat?
A convertible car seat is intended to help your child transition from an infant car seat to a rear-facing seat, and eventually a forward-facing car seat. An all-in-one convertible car seat is can also be used as a booster seat. It is meant to last a child from birth to almost the first decade of life.
Convertible car seats are some of the bulkiest when it comes to baby gear, and may have a difficult time fitting in smaller cars.
At What Age Should A Child Transition To A Booster Seat?
Your child should be at least four years old, over 40.0 pounds, or taller than the harness before transitioning to a belt-positioning booster seat. Convertible car seats can transform into high-backed boosters. Older children may need a backless booster seat.
How To Install A Convertible Car Seat
Parents should always refer to their product manual for instructions on how to install a car seat. However, we can offer the following tips that are common across most car seats:
- Tether or Buckle: Most car seats can be installed using the car seatbelt or the LATCH (lower tethers and anchors) system. Both are safe, but do not use both methods at the same time (only one or the other).
- Upper Anchor: Always attach the upper anchor for forward-facing car seats. Do this if you are using the LATCH system or using the vehicle belt. The upper anchor connector is typically located on the back of the seat or near the headrest.
- Lower Anchors: Make sure you use the appropriate lower anchor connectors. In many cars, there are two sets of lower anchors, on the left and right rear passenger seats. Some vehicles and car seats allow you to “borrow” one anchor from each side to install the seat in the middle, but this is uncommon. Check the owner’s manuals for your car and car seat before using lower anchors for middle seat installation.
- Auto Retractor: If you install a car seat using your vehicle’s seat belt, be sure that you engage the automatic retractor by pulling the seat belt out as far as it can go. Some older vehicles may not have an auto retractor, in which case you’ll need to use a belt clip.
- Testing Stability: Tighten your seatbelt or tether anchors so that the seat moves no more than one inch from side to side. When testing stability, grip the seat at the base (more wiggle at the top of the seat is acceptable).
- Harness Position: Generally, you want the harness straps to be level with your child’s shoulders. For rear-facing car seats, straps should be at or below the shoulders. For forward-facing car seats, straps should be at or above the shoulders.
- Pinch Test: After you’ve buckled your child into their car seat, try to pinch the belt material at your child’s shoulders. You should not be able to gather more than an inch of material this way.
Owners of car seats used them incorrectly in 59 percent of cases the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) examined. Find a local station on NHTSA’s website for a free car seat inspection by a certified technician.
What Is The LATCH System?
The LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) harness system is installed in cars made after 2003. These anchors and tethers make installing a car seat in any position in your car (even the middle seat) easier.
The top tether is located above the back seat. It secures the car seat in place when the driver makes a sharp turn or sudden stop, and it’s compatible with leather or vinyl upholstery. If you have an older car, you’ll use the seat belt rather than the lower anchors that are built into cars today.
Best Convertible Car Seats Buyers Guide
When deciding which of the best convertible car seats to purchase, consider the following:
Peace Of Mind
You can memorize safety standards and read lots of customer reviews, but the bottom line is that parents know best. If you have strong feelings toward a certain car seat – good or bad – or if you find yourself gravitating back to a particular product, we advise you to follow your instincts. It’s your child’s safety and comfort at stake, after all, so it’s up to you to decide what’s ultimately best for your family.
Ease Of Use
In addition to installing your car seat, you’ll also need to continually adjust it so that your child is properly secured. Some car seats have features that make them easier to install and adjust. There are also car seat travel systems that make it easy to transition your child from the car to a stroller.
Comfort
You’ll want to take a closer look at padding, fabric, and harness dimensions to evaluate whether a car seat will be comfortable for your child. Padding is important for keeping infants’ heads still, and it’s essential for kids who nod off as you run errands. If your baby often wears onesies or your little one loves to run around in shorts and skirts, be sure to prioritize soft fabric and flexible straps to protect their sensitive skin against irritation.
Your Family’s Lifestyle
Do you and your partner switch baby duties throughout the week? You’ll want to consider all the vehicles your child will travel in. If the car seat will stay in one car for most of the week, you might be more comfortable investing in a bulkier or more complex seat. Simple installation and a lightweight design will be more important if you regularly transfer the seat from car to car.
It may be worth registering your car seat on the manufacturer’s website to receive updates on recalls or safety notices for that specific model. You can also ask a pediatrician for any recommendations.
Convertible Car Seat Terminology
- No-rethread harness: As your child grows, you will need to reposition the shoulder straps in your car seat. With a rethread harness, straps must be removed and rerouted through different slots in the car seat. A no-rethread harness only has one slot for shoulder straps, and strap height is adjusted by raising and lowering the headrest.
- EPS Foam: Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam is essentially Styrofoam™. EPS foam is excellent at dissipating the force of high-speed impacts and so is a standard material for crash safety devices like helmets and car seats.
- Five-point harness: A five-point harness is a seatbelt design that is secured at five points (over both shoulders, at each hip, and between the legs). This strap system provides increased safety over a three-point strap system typical in passenger automobiles.
- Click Connect™ (Graco): Click Connect is the name of the connection system Graco uses for its detachable car seats. Graco car seats that feature Click Connect can be detached from the car seat base and connected to a compatible stroller. When a Click Connect carrier is attached, it produces an audible clicking noise so that the user can be certain it is properly connected.
- ClickTight® (Britax): ClickTight is Britax’s system for securing a car seat to your vehicle. Rather than connecting via lower seat anchors, the ClickTight system is a series of guides through which the car seatbelt is threaded. The result is a self-tensioning system that doesn’t require adjustment or guesswork from the parent.
- QuickFit (Maxi-Cosi): The QuickFit system is what Maxi-Cosi calls its proprietary no-rethread harness design. The shoulder straps and headrest are raised together without rethreading required.
Helpful Resources
How We Tested
We analyzed thousands of convertible car seat reviews to weed out lower-rated products and ultimately identified the five best convertible car seats, which we recommend above. The convertible car seats in this article went through two rounds of reviews. We started by searching Amazon for top products, looking at customer ratings, Amazon superlatives, and prices.
For testing, our team ordered the car seats that performed best in these categories. We installed each seat in a sedan and tried every adjustment mechanism. We evaluated each car seat based on ease of use, adjustability, and material quality.
Ease Of Use
Any car seats sold in the United States must pass federal safety standards, but even approved car seats are unsafe if improperly installed. If a car seat is easier to install, there’s less of a chance for user error.
We awarded the most points in this category to car seats that were simple to install in rear-facing and forward-facing positions.
A car seat’s lower anchor clips can make a big difference with ease of installation. While testing car seats, we encountered two types of anchor clips: a simple metal anchor and a buckle anchor (both displayed below). The buckle LATCH is much easier to attach and release. Seats with this type of lower anchor scored higher in the ease-of-use category.
Metal LATCH
Buckle LATCH
Adjustability
To ensure a safe fit, you need to adjust any car seat so it’s properly level. Adjustability is especially important for a convertible car seat meant to accommodate your child as they grow. Car seats with multiple harness positions, removable padding, and more incline positions score best in this category.
Quality Of Materials
We examined the materials of each car seat we tested for quality and comfort. Seats with soft padding, quality stitching, and durable frames scored best in this category.
Convertible Car Seat Testing Process
To test each convertible car seat, our review team installed each product into a sedan. In addition to inspecting the materials of each seat, we noted the ease or difficulty of the installation process. We installed car seats in forward- and rear-facing positions and tested each adjustment mechanism.
We could attach each of the car seats using the car’s built-in infant seat anchors or the seatbelt. For our testing, we installed each seat using the built-in seat anchors.
Why You Can Trust Us
Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. A team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.
We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more.
Best Convertible Car Seats: FAQ
*Data accurate at time of publication.