What is a Convertible Car Seat?
There are many types of car seats available to new parents, but the convertible car seat is one that you will get A LOT of use out of! As the name implies, they can be used rear-facing from birth, then “convert” or transition to forward-facing up until approximately 65 lbs and 49″. [Make sure you check your owner’s manual to verify the height and weight limits on your specific model of seat because safety is always our top priority!]
Dr. Rachel weighs in
Between owning a retail baby store for 8 years, being a Child Passenger Safety Technician and prenatal and pediatric chiropractic for over 10 years, I take safety very seriously. To me, the car seat is the one item you can splurge on to ensure that your child is safe while traveling with the family. My expertise has helped me narrow down a list of TOP 7 BEST CONVERTIBLE CAR SEATS OF 2022 for you in order to save you some time, and stress, trying to find the best seat! I’ve outlined the best features of each seat so that you can make the best choice for you and your family.
CAR SEAT TIP: Before upgrading your child to the next seat up, or switching from rear to forward facing, make sure they’ve outgrown their current seat/position. Rear-facing until at least age 2 is HIGHLY recommended.
What are the Different Types of Car Seats?
The main types of car seats for your child, in the order you’ll need them, are the Infant Car seat, followed by the Convertible car seat, the 5-point Combination Harness-to-Booster and finally a Belt-Positioning Booster seat. More recently though, the All-in-One car seat has taken over the baby gear world as it is the ONLY car seat you will ever need! For a full comparison between all the types of car seats available to you, see our blog link following this article.
Britax B-Safe Gen2 FlexFit Infant Seat Nuna Rava Convertible Seat Chicco MyFit Harness-to-Booster Seat Uppababy Alta Booster Seat
BABY LOGIC TOP 7 BEST INFANT CAR SEATS OF 2021
- SAFEST: Clek Foonf
- MOST AFFORDABLE: Safety 1st Grow and Go
- LUXURY: Nuna Revv
- FAMILY FAVORITE: Britax One-4-Life
- EASIEST TO INSTALL: Britax Boulevar Clicktight
- MOST INNOVATIVE: Cybex Sirona S SensorSafe
- BEST FOR SMALL CARS: Graco SlimFit3 LX
SAFEST CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT:
Clek Foonf
The Clek Foonf convertible car seat wins our TOP PICK for SAFEST CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT. It has been revolutionized to exceed all safety testing requirements and sets the bar high for all other seats! Its test results speak for themselves! Their REACT safety system minimizes crash forces in both the rear and forward facing positions and truly ensures the safest ride for your child! They look slightly futuristic but their design has been well thought out and specifically engineered with your child’s safety in mind. They feature an anti-rebound bar, a steel and Magnesium reinforced frame and advanced side impact protection. This seat also measures in at less than 17″ wide so you can easily fit 3 across in most mid-size vehicles
FEATURES:
- Rear-facing from 14 – 50 lbs and 25 – 43″ tall [Rear-facing from 5 lbs and 19″ when using the “infant-thingy” sold separately.]
- Forward-facing from 22 – 65 lbs and 30 – 49″ tall [It is recommended that your child be at least 2 years old]
- REACT Safety System provides the same amount of collision protection forward-facing as rear-facing [REACT: Rigid latch, Energy Absorbing, Crumple Technology]
- Extended rear-facing until most children’s 4th birthday!
- Anti-rebound bar
- Steel and Magnesium reinforced frame
- Advanced side impact protection system
- 2 layers of side impact protection and energy-absorbing foam
- Rigid latch ensure the tightest fit every time with EASE
- Removable seat cushion is easy to clean
- Built-in rear-facing lock-offs to aid in belt installation
- 3 position reclining base
- Adjustable headrest
- Can be recycled by the manufacturer after use
- Expires in 9 years
- Assembled in Canada
- 1 -2 year manufacturer’s warranty
- Free of brominated and chlorinated flame retardants using 100% Merino wool
- Less than 17″ wide (16.9″)!
- Available in a C-Zero Plus Performance collection that is GREENGUARD Gold certified
MOST AFFORDABLE CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT:
Safety 1st Grow and Go
Our TOP PICK for MOST AFFORDABLE CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT, (without sacrificing safety), is the Safety 1st Grow and Go Convertible car seat. It’s technically an all-in-one seat, so it will transition through all the stages of seats for your child, going from rear-facing, to forward-facing to belt-positioning booster. It is easy to clean and has several convenience factors that make road trips a breeze.
FEATURES:
- Rear-facing from 5 – 40 lbs, forward-facing from 22 – 65 lbs and belt-positioning booster from 40 – 100 lbs.
- Easy to remove cover is machine washable
- 2 removable cup holders
- No-rethread harness on headrest and harness
- 5-point harness
- Removable baby pillows for added comfort at any size
- Side impact protection
- Stay-put harness stays out of your way when putting child in seat
- 3 position recline
- Compact
- Exceeds safety testing standards
LUXURY CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT:
Nuna REVV
The Nuna REVV convertible car seat wins our TOP PICK for TOP LUXURY CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT for many reasons. It is made of premium materials, it has numerous convenience factors for both parents and children including added leg room and bubble-free recline indicators, and scores highly on all safety tests. It’s sleek, stylish and installs easily and securely in your vehicle, eliminating the guess work and giving you peace of mind that your child is safe and comfortable.
It also features a 360 degree swivel base making it a breeze to switch from rear to forward facing. The swivel base also gives you more elbow room to get your child in their seat. It is to be noted that this seat is only suitable for children up to 40lbs whereas most convertible seats will accommodate up to 65lbs. Although, the safety features alone on this seat far outweigh this minor “set back” in my opinion.
FEATURES:
- Rear-facing from 5 – 40 lbs, up to 43″ and forward-facing 25 – 40 lbs and up to 43″
- 360 degree swivel base with integrated rebound bar
- Simply™️ Secure installation features a recline angle and True Tension™️ doors ensure a tight fit every time
- Premium luxury fabrics and materials
- Features a tether that can be used in rear and forward facing positions for added stability and reduced impact
- Magnetic buckle holders
- Fabric is flame resistant yet does not contain any added fire retardant (FR-Free materials)
- Easy to navigate instructions
- SIP (Side Impact Protection with Aeroflex) and energy absorbing foam reduce crash forces on your child
- Belt path indicators are colored
- All steel frame and belt path for added strength and stability
- No-rethread harness, headrest and crotch strap
- Removable head and body inserts for newborn comfort
- Ventilation panels in the shell with breathable knit fabric
- Washable cover
- 5 recline positions
- Cup holders
- Certified Green Gold
- 10 position headrest
- 5-point harness
- Stay-put
FAMILY FAVORITE CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT:
Britax One-4-Life
Ok, so technically, the Britax One-4-Life is an all-in-one car seat, not a convertible seat but we love it so much, we had to include it in this list. It wins, hands-down, our Family Favorite category for 2022! Since they launched several years ago, they’ve been a top seller at our retail store, and now I continue to recommend them to anyone who is in the market for the next step up. Like all Britax Clicktight seats, they install in a breeze with their patented technology, which keeps your child safe in any vehicle! The all-in-one title means that you can use it rear-facing from birth to 120lbs in either a rear-facing, forward-facing or belt-positioning booster scenario. I also love the fact that you can rear-face until 50lbs!
Features:
- Clicktight installation
- 2 layers of side impact protection
- SafeCell technology acts as crumple zone, keeping forces away from your child
- 15 position, easy to adjust harness and headrest
- V-shaped tether for forward-facing with staged-release stitches
- Steel reinforced frame
- 9 position recline
- Cooling channels
- Easy to read level indicators
- Removable, washable cover
- Cup holders (dishwasher safe)
- Available in high performance fabrics
- 10 year expiration date
- 5 point harness
- Rear-facing from 5-50lbs, up to 49”
- Forward-facing from 22-65lbs, up to 49”
- Belt-position booster mode from 40-120lbs and from 44”-63”
EASIEST CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT TO INSTALL:
Britax Boulevard Clicktight
The Britax series of convertible seats is always a major hit with families because they pack a punch when it comes to safety and they sit in the middle of the pack when it comes to budget. The Britax Boulevard Clicktight is easy to install, exceeds all required car seat testing and has also won numerous awards time after time. For these reasons and more, it wins our TOP PICK for FAMILY FAVORITE CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT for 2022.
Features:
- Rear-facing from 5 – 40 lbs and forward-facing from 20 – 65 lbs, up to 49″
- Adjustable harness and headrest (14 positions)
- No-rethread harness and headrest
- 7-position recline
- Easy to read level indicators
- Stay-put harness comfort pads
- NEW nap-friendly fabric and padding (tagless)
- Removable newborn support pillow
- Integrated steel frame (HUGE bonus for me!) with crumple zone
- SafeCell™️ technology in the base to absorb impact
- Available with anti-rebound bar
- Patented V-shaped tether for additional support
- 2 layers of side impact protection
- Removable, washable cover
- 5-point harness
- Installs in a flash with Clicktight technology. [Ensures a tight fit EVERY time]
- Available in high performance fabrics
- Expires 10 years from date of manufacture
MOST INNOVATIVE CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT:
Cybex Sirona S SensorSafe
Our TOP PICK for the MOST INNOVATIVE CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT is the Cybex Sirona S SensorSafe Convertible car seat. It’s the FIRST convertible car seat in the USA to feature a 360 degree rotatable seat/base to allow for the easiest transition between rear and forward facing. It also features a load leg for added stability, an EasyLock™️ bar for added simplicity when installing the seat and is the ONLY convertible car seat in North America with a one-time vehicle belt installation for both rear-facing and forward-facing – installs once and it’s done! It also features a one-of-a-kind SensorSafe Technology that takes your child’s safety to another level.
WHAT IS SENSORSAFE TECHNOLOGY?: SensorSafe Technology uses an enhanced chest clip that syncs to your smartphone. It provides you with real-time, essential alerts which help you prevent critical situations when traveling with your child. It alerts you when you child unbuckles the clip, if the ambient temperature if too hot and may pose a danger of heat stroke, if your child is left in the car alone or if the child has been seated for too long.
FEATURES:
- Rear-facing from 4 – 50 lbs, Forward-facing from 22 – 65 lbs and up to 49″
- One-handed 360 degree rotatable seat to facilitate getting your child out of the vehicle
- Load leg to stabilize in the event of a crash (reduces rotation by up to 30%)
- EasyLock™️ bar ensures a quick, easy and secure install.
- SensorSafe technology (compatible with most vehicles 2008 and newer)
- 12-position on the go recline
- Linear side impact protection reduces crash forces on baby during a near side impact collision
- Anti-rebound design
- Magnetic buckle holders
BEST FOR SMALL CARS:
Graco SlimFit3 LX
Keeping trend with a few other seats mentioned in this blog, the Graco SlimFit3 LX is also an all-in-one seat. However, its features give it the title of BEST CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT FOR SMALL CARS. Its slim design (it’s only 16.7” wide) allows you to fit 3 seats side by side in most cars.tthis seat is packed with features and since it is so lightweight, can easily be moved from one vehicle to the next.
FEATURES:
- Slim fit can accommodate 3 seats side by side (16.7” wide)
- 3-in-1
- Rear-facing from 5/40lbs
- Forward facing from 22-65lbs
- Highback booster mode from 40-100lbs
- ProtectPlus Engineered for safety
- Rigorously tested for frontal, side, rear and rollover collisions
- 10 position no-rethread harness
- inRight Latch
- 4 position recline
- Rapid remove cover (seat can even stay installed in vehicle)
Time to decide!
Obviously there are a ton of seats on the market, and it’s difficult to choose which one is best suited for you and your family. Our TOP PICKS are backed by research, expertise and experience and so we hope to help give you some options that fit your needs, wants and budget. If you have any other questions, never hesitate to reach out to Dr. Rachel at rachel@baby-logic.com!
WANT MORE?
Looking for more baby gear advice? Here are some other blogs that you might find helpful!
- How to find the expiration date on your car seat.
- What size DockATot does my baby need?
- What’s the difference between all the Graco convertible seats?
- What type of car seat should my baby be in?
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