In fact, the rapid-remove seat cover is easier to remove for washing than the standard cover; our potty-training almost-3-year-old had an accident in this seat, and it took minimal effort to wash the rapid-remove cover and get it back on the next day. In the forward-facing position, the Extend2Fit Convertible can be used for a child up to 65 pounds or 49 inches tall. So did our kid testers; it was the favorite among my kids. The seat also includes important safety and parent-friendly features, including an easy-to-adjust harness system, 10-position headrest, six-position recline, and a removable, machine-washable cover for easy cleaning. , have built-in rear-seat boosters, but that is very much the exception to the rule. Because in the case of a head-on collision, when a child is facing to the rear, the impact of the crash would be absorbed primarily by their backside, which is cocooned and protected by the shell of the car seat. The seat has low sides, which make it easy to get your child in and out (similar to the Convertible). It has a lineup of three engines that range from moderately peppy to pretty zesty. An all-in-one car seat is meant to be a utility player: It can be used as a rear-facing infant seat, a rear-facing toddler seat, a forward-facing toddler and big kid seat, and finally a booster seat. The better news? The forward-facing LATCH limit for the Extend2Fit 3-in-1 is the same as it is for the Extend2Fit Convertible: 45 pounds. These car seats suit a variety of lifestyles and fit easily in most cars. We found that the dark color of the 3-in-1 we were testing (it was all black) hid stains better than our light gray Convertible test model. And getting the lid of the seat to close completely can take a few hard pushesalthough when it does close, it gives a substantial click, so theres no question as to whether the task has been completed. The lower portion of the cover (aka the part most likely to be targeted by a spill or potty accident) can be taken off separately and washed; this is helpful because Gracos fabrics werent top performers in our food-and-drink stain testing. Check out our guide on how to get rid of a used car seat. But it was difficult to install snugly; our testers had trouble installing it properly without using a pool noodle or towel. When my tall-for-his age son, whos nearly 3, sat in the seat rear-facing, his legs were scrunched up. When you install this seat as a booster, you can choose to keep it anchored to your car with LATCH, or you can stow away the LATCH hooks and go without. Limits on convertible car seats generally range from 4 to 50 pounds rear-facing, at which point theyll switch to forward-facing in their convertible seat. (Height limits are more variable: some seats don't have a height limit for rear-facing, but in general your childs head should be more than an inch from the top of the seat.). Once theyve been clipped to the cars anchors, the Foonf feels like it has been welded to your vehicle. Also, the higher sides on the Rava made it difficult to get a large, almost-3-year-old into the seat and buckled. As the name implies, a convertible car seat is designed to evolve as your child grows. Sign up for Wirecutters daily newsletter, The Recommendation, for a chance to win the $800 Miele Complete C3 Calimaa nimble canister vacuum our experts have long loved after years of rigorous testing.
Best Convertible Car Seats - Consumer Reports The Marathon has the least padding of the three, and it typically costs about $30 less than the Boulevard. At age 5, the skeleton has matured enough that it can withstand the force from the three points of the seat belt rather than the five points of the harness, said Lani Harrison, a CPST in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Safe Kids Worldwide website also provides schedules of free car seat check events and locations of inspection stations. Note: If your vehicle has a low ceiling and youre concerned about the height of the Foonf, you may want to consider a similar convertible seat, the Clek Fllo. Some higher-end units also become booster seats, either with or without a back. The Graco Extend2Fit Convertible is our top convertible seat pick in this guide. The Boulevards harness has another trick up its sleeve: Its called a Click & Safe Snug Harness, because as youre tightening it around your child, it gives an audible click to let you know when its been properly tensioned. (In the case of an accident, a child is safest in that position. But in general, here are the guidelines: And remember: Your child is growing, so all of these adjustments will need to be made and checked regularly. All car seats in the United States must meet the same government safety standards. But it is fussier. 99. And the experts we interviewed confirmed that its also the most common barrier to car seat safety (if a seat isnt put in properly, it cant work optimally). A convertible car seat is exactly as it sounds - it's CONVERTIBLE! And when you need to convert this seat to a booster, removing the crotch buckle can be a bit trickybut this is a challenge you will face with just about any convertible car seat when it comes time to move that crotch buckle to a different position. The Stratos was particularly well padded and had a sensor to audibly remind you not to forget your kid in the back seat when you turned off the car. The harness and headrest height automatically adjust together in one smooth motionyou just squeeze the lever at the top of the seat and pull up or push downso they always remain in the correct proportion to each other. In its base form, the 8 Series is a fleet-footed . Theyre designed to install directly into your vehicle using either the cars LATCH system or seat belt. This is definitely a game changer in car seats. Whether its finding great products or discovering helpful advice, well help you get it right (the first time). And if you're looking for other safety equipment, our top-rated infant car seats and booster seats can help. How do you know which one is right for you? Lots of parents choose this as an affordable secondary car seat for a caregiver or grandparents car too. 2005-2023Everyday Health, Inc., a Ziff Davis company. Car seat experts also add that children must be able to be mature enough to sit properly in a booster seat before making the switch. However, the SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 is only 16.7 inches wide and designed to fit three across in a back seat, which may be appealing to some families. The Extend2Fit 3-in-1 is similar in appearance to the Convertible; its not going to win any design awards, but its not offensive. The seat comes with a removable body pillow to help newborns fit snugly in the seat. (Just note that if you do have to remove the entire cover, youll have five pieces to put back together once youre done! Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Weight of seat: 33 pounds when forward-facing, 38 pounds when rear-facing (with added base and anti-rebound bar), Seat dimensions: 13 inches wide at the base, 17 inches at the widest point, and 28 inches tall (forward-facing, with the headrest in the lowest position), Passenger rear-facing weight and height range: 14 to 50 pounds (or 5 pounds if you purchase a Clek Infant-Thingy); 25 to 43 inches (19 inches with use of the Infant-Thingy), Passenger forward-facing weight and height range: 22 to 65 pounds; up to 49 inches (the top of the childs ears must also be below the top of the headrest). Some parents find that the straps are hard to tighten. Convertible Rankings. Designed for extended rear-facing use. Theres also an extendable calf rest that adds two extra inches of legroom for extra comfort. Its not often that you can describe a car seat (most likely covered in Cheerios) as chic, but here goes. As previously described, the Foonfs rear-facing install takes more effort than the rear-facing install of our other picks. Once you do turn your convertible car seat around to be forward-facing, its extremely important to begin using the included top tether. A car seat is an essential part of a parents life from the moment they bring their baby home from the hospital. We tested the Extend2Fit in my 2006 Escape a month ago, rear- and forward-facing in the middle seat. Many parents surveyed say this seat gives front-seat passengers more legroom, which is especially important for a taller parent who doesnt enjoy being crunched up in the front seat. Its capable of supporting children weighing up to 120 pounds and 63 inches tall thanks to its flexible design. And nine recline positions allow this seat to fit in a wider range of cars. Thats why weve pulled together this list of the best convertible car seats. Some parents find that setup is more complicated than it should be, leading to confusion and difficulty with the level indicator. It's a luxury option for sure, but one that some parents can justify because of all it has to offer, specifically in convenience. We have three! -Val. To remedy the issue, owners of affected seats should contact Clek to receive a plastic piece that can be fitted over the buckle area, blocking access to the foam. (The base could cause the seat to tip when installed.) That is, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer, according to the AAP. We sought out seats that were intuitive to installwith bonus points for especially clear, accessible instructionsso that a diligent adult following the manual could manage a correct installation within a few minutes without expert assistance. It varies from seat to seat, says Chan, but generally boils down to: Inherently, these seats are all convertible car seats, but differ in how many transitions they can help the child make: There are so many car seats on the market, but when a product is so rooted in safety, how do you choose the best? We may earn a commission from shopping links. We additionally dismissed the Graco Fit4Me 65 and the Graco HeadWise 65 (which have since been discontinued), as well as the Graco MySize 65 (currently unavailable) and the Graco Size4Me 65, because they are not as well suited for extended rear-facing as the Extend2Fit Convertible, and they have less widespread availability. Clek sells an Infant-Thingy insert for the Foonf that lets the seat carry babies as small as 5 pounds in rear-facing mode only; we recommend using a dedicated infant car seat for newborns. (10%). Experts say it's safest tokeep your child rear-facing as long as possible, until your child reaches the maximum rear-facing height and weight limit for your car seat. Additionally, we found it difficult to maneuver a child into the seat, which is perched higher than average. We were won over by its solid construction, painless forward-facing install, cushy seat bed, and stain-evading fabric. Keeping a child rear-facing until theyre 4 years old is an ambitious and oft-cited benchmark; that would mean an average of about 35 inches tall and 40 pounds. The Crypton Super Fabric comes in marshmallow (off-white fabric, black sides), pitch black (black fabric, black sides), thunder (gray fabric, black sides), aura (purple fabric, white sides), cloud (gray fabric, white sides), snow (off-white fabric, white sides), snowberry (pink fabric, white sides), and ten-year blue (blue fabric, white sides). Normally, my almost-3-year-old can get himself into the seat on his own. Since picking up my first set of MicroMachine toy cars as a toddler, I knew I had a passion for automobiles embedded in my soul. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Just keep in mind that its a few inches wider than the LX model, so fitting three across with this seat is hit or miss depending on the width of your cars back seat. Fill out and mail in the registration card that comes with the car seat to get notified of any recalls. After positioning the seat at the correct angleusing the same diagram as for the seat belt install, based on your childs age and weightyou tighten the LATCH straps snugly on both sides, close the belt lock-offs, and replace the lid of the seat. There are lots of choices when it comes to convertible car seats though, and because they do multiple things theyre sometimes not as specialized in a single area as a dedicated rear-facing or forward-facing seat. These tips apply when it comes to installing most convertible car seats, and theyre best demonstrated via video: If your rear vehicle seat reclines, try the seat-back recline install trick (video); otherwise, you may need to slip part of the cover off and try the inside/outside trick (video). Some of the questions we kept in mind: Are the seats harness straps simple to adjust? (And both methods require about the same amount of effort.) Whenever possible, we sought feedback about the seats from the kid testers. If we moved the seat belt loop out of the way, the base became too loose. The Boulevard and the Advocate both offer the Click & Safe Snug Harness, which gives an audible click when the harness is properly tensioned, whereas the Marathon has a standard harness. Our top pick, the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible, has a pull-out extension panel to create extra legroom. Some parents find that the straps are too short for larger kids to sit comfortably. Their versatility means they last longer than those options, but the complexity of developing a seat that can age with a child means they generally cost more and arent as specialized in specific ways as those other options. But the Extend2Fit Convertible stands out for how long youll be able to use the LATCH system. It may not be ideal if youre planning to travel regularly with the seat, especially if youre going to be lugging it onto planes. Underneath, theres a high-strength steel frame with crumple zones to absorb accident impacts. Thats a lot of car seats, and the cost of each one and the time spent making sure its installed safely adds up. (You can also use LATCH to install the Boulevard, but Britax recommends the seat belt method, and we agree.) The Foonf is a big, heavy seat. Convertible car seats are installed rear-facing at first and then convert to a forward-facing position when your child outgrows the weight or height limits. It sounds a little silly to describe a car seat company as having a cult following, but in the case of Cleka high-end, niche Canadian brandit happens to be true. Also, age 5 is [when they might begin to have] the maturity to be able to sit still. But again, there should be no hurry to move to the next stage: A booster seat is completely reliant on the vehicles lap-and-shoulder seat belt, which must lie flat against the body in order to work effectively, so its not a good choice for a wriggly kid who cant sit still. Love how you can use it as they grow! If youre planning on using a convertible car seat from day one, you need to be sure the seat you choose fits your infant correctly. We consulted multiple Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) and car seat safety advocates, such as Alisa Baer (CPST), a pediatrician and co-founder of The Car Seat Lady website. Convertible car seats are meant to last, meaning that theyre suitable for use by a wider age and weight range of children than infant carriers (which wont fit a toddler) or booster seats (which wont suit an infant). But thankfully, Safety 1st offers comfort and just as much safety as many other more expensive units for less than $100. Even without the extension panel that the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible has, a rear-facing Foonf gives even a larger child plenty of legroom. When it comes to making a car seat as simple as possible to install, Britax has figured out how to build a better mousetrapperiod. Britax uses the ClickTight system with several car seats in its line. Parents say the seat is a true breeze to install, snapping into place effortlessly. The current author of this guide is Christina Szalinski, a Philadelphia-based science writer with a PhD in cell biology whose reporting on health has appeared in The Atlantic, Scientific American, Undark, and more. The Contender Slim is also a great choice for airline travel, as its FAA-approved. This seat is genuinely versatile, well-made product and can last even longer than some of other seats on this list, but the slim design does have drawbacks: it can be a tight fit for some kids and it doesnt come cheap. (Because it can be tricky to get the seat belt tight and locked, we prefer the LATCH install method for this seat.) The Knox was relaunched with a new base in March 2021. This seat is recommended by Car Seats for the Littles, Mommyhood101, and Babylist. It comes in several color combinationsmostly subdued variations on gray, black, and white, but turquoise and pink make an appearance, too. Some convertibles even turn into booster seats for school-age kids. You can search convertible car seats, 3-in-1 models, boosters, and infant car seats. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're reading. There are other things to love about this seat. The only thing that stumped us was how to remove the rear-facing base in order to switch the seat to forward-facing mode. Most children will reach one of those two milestones sometime between 9 and 18 months. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should transition to a booster seat when they reach the maximum height or weight of their forward-facing car seat. The SlimFit rose above and beyond! After adjusting the pitch of the seat to the appropriate angle for your child, you pull the LATCH connectors out from the base of the seat, align them with the cars LATCH anchors, and click them into place. How long does my child need to be in a car seat? Tightening and loosening the harness with your child in the seat is very easy, too. Dont let its cheap price fool you as its capable of supporting children up to 40 pounds in the rear-facing position and up to 65 pounds in forward-facing placement. Any parent knows just how, frankly, icky car seats can get and thats even if you dont have a child prone to car sickness. We contacted Evenflos Gold Consumer Care (a special customer service program for customers who own products in the Gold line) and had a video consultation with a helpful technician, but we still couldnt get the seat to move without the assistance of a much stronger person arriving on the scene. If youre installing the Boulevard with the LATCH system (and again, we cant think of a scenario where you would or should), the process is the same, but you use the included LATCH straps in place of the seat belts. When we subjected it to our food-and-drink test, we were surprised thatdespite the light colorit was a standout performer. Absolutely LOVE that we are able to keep each kid rear facing longer with weight, even tho I think our height is going to kick us forward facing sooner. -Lizzy. Youll be able to keep your little one rear-facing in this seat until they hit 50 pounds. But theres no doubt that it takes strength to lift and lug this seat. I love all the extra safety features. Theres only one convertible car seat on the market at the moment thats compatible with a stroller. (With all of our main picks, Ive had this less-than-fun experience more times than I care to admit, and I found it the most challenging with this seat.). So if you need to uninstall it to change the SafeStop or to remove the seat cover, you have to prop it up against something. The LATCH system is a safety system designed to secure child car seats in vehicles. As with that of the Extend2Fit Convertible, the fabric on this seat doesnt wipe clean as easily as the fabric on our other picks. (If you grab the seat near the attachment point and pull back and forth, it should move less than an inch in any direction.) If you like our runner-up pick, the Britax Boulevard, but want even more padding: The Britax Advocate ClickTight has the same ClickTight installation system, but it adds an extra layer of padding, which makes this seat about a pound heavier. Your car seat should meet federal motor vehicle safety standards and have a five-point harness. The Graco Extend2Fit Convertible is a well-designed, well-executed convertible car seat that ticks the most important boxes on our wishlist at a great price. To turn the Extend2Fit 3-in-1 from a five-point harness seat into a booster seat, you remove the bottom crotch buckle strap, move the harness straps behind the padding, and stow away the buckles in a compartment behind the padding. Unlike an infant seat, where the base and seat can be separated for the installation, a convertible seat is a single piece and typically weighs 20 to 30 pounds (though the heaviest seat we tested, our also-great pick, the Clek Foonf, is 38 pounds). For each of our finalist seats, we took the extra step of simulating on-the-go spills by smearing peanut butter, jelly, and grape juice on the seats. When you press down on the key and turn it clockwise, the bottom of the seat lifts up, opening to reveal the guts of the operation. The Extend2Fit is an affordable convertible car seat thats a consistent favorite for three main reasons: a high rear-facing weight limit, easy installation and a great fit in almost any type of car. There is no crash-testing data from the NHTSA available for this seat; its ease-of-use rating is four out of five stars. Childrens anatomy plays a role, too. In Sweden, a country with a notably low fatality rate for children in car crashes, kids typically sit rear-facing until theyre 4 years old. So perhaps its not surprising that when we set out to identify the best all-in-one seat, we ended up being won over by the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1. It also tends to fit all ages of kids really well, from smaller newborns to school-aged kiddos. With many car seats, getting a tight install relies on human force or skill. Car seat experts say it can be tough to get a good fit for newborns. We looked for seats that could be installed easily in the rear-facing position and the forward-facing position, using either the vehicles seat belt or the LATCH system. When we began working on the update to this guide, in late 2021, we were open to pursuing independent crash testing once again, eager to take a thorough and comprehensive approach that would arm us with information to inform and improve our decision-making. They must be rear-facing and your child must meet the minimum weight recommended by the manufacturer. Infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the weight limit or height limit of their specific model, whichever comes first. I spend much of my time on the road attending first drives and write many of my stories from the seat of a plane flying to the next event. However, where the ClickTight line falls short in our book is that its not nearly as good as the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible or Clek Foonf for extended rear-facing use, which experts agree is the safest way for toddlers and preschoolers to ride. There are plenty of fast, luxurious convertibles out there, and the BMW 8 Series is elevated even among this illustrious competition. When we had visitors and I suddenly needed to put a car seat in the third row of our minivan, I opted for the Foonf out of about eight models in our garage at the time to choose from. And its always a great idea to enlist the help of a pro. That flexibility can definitely help cut down the pricey trips to buybuyBaby. Graco, the manufacturer of our top-pick convertible, the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible, makes a lot of convertible car seats, including the Graco Contender 65, the Graco Admiral 65, and the Graco Sequence 65. The Boulevard weighs about 29 poundsmore than many similar seats, but significantly less than our 38-pound also-great pick, the Clek Foonf. The Extend2Fit Convertible is 19.5 inches wide (about the same as the Britax Boulevard ClickTight), which may make it narrow enough to fit three car seats across, depending on the vehicle. The Grow and Go works as a rear-facing, forward-facing and eventually a belt-positioning booster seat. Or, if you get a regular Boulevard and decide later that you want an anti-rebound bar, it can also be purchased separately.
Amazon.com : Evenflo Gold Revolve Opal Convertible Car Seat : Baby However, if you do decide to buy an all-in-one, the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 is a solid choice. Weve also had to wash the cover after a carsick incident and they came off and went back on easily, which is a huge plus. We have not tested them because the other Graco models that we did test are more popular and widely available. Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners. Follow the cleaning instructions for your specific seat. On a day-to-day basis, the Extend2Fit Convertible is convenient and pleasant to use. There are a couple of tricks you can use to get the Extend2Fit Convertible in extra-snug.
Best convertible car seats | BabyCenter If you want a cheaper, smaller version of our also-great pick, the Clek Foonf: The Clek Fllo is a more lightweight alternative to the heavy-duty Clek Foonf, and it currently costs around $100 less. The seat is durable and easy to use and clean. -C.W. Can you use a convertible car seat for a newborn? (It takes the average 2- to 5-year-old a full year to gain 5 pounds, so thats a big difference, timewise.) The Boulevard can be used in the rear-facing position for kids up to 40 poundsthe size of a typical 4-year-old. We have the Guide 65 because it was what we could afford. During this extended trial, we had the opportunity to assess functionality, adjustability, and ease of use. However, while the Extend2Fit Convertible has a 45-pound rear-facing weight limit for the LATCH install (which we appreciate, since installing this seat rear-facing with LATCH is the quicker and easier method), the Extend2Fit 3-in-1 has a 40-pound rear-facing LATCH weight limit. Then, we vetted each to make sure it met the standards outlined by CPSTs, as well as groups like the AAP and NHTSA. All convertible car seats are equipped with a top tether strap and lower anchor connectors, but the manufacturer may recommend not using the top tether strap in the rear-facing position, so check the manual. Other great features include a six-position recline, 10-position no-rethread harness (and harness storage areas) and two attached cup holders.
The Best Convertible and All-in-One Car Seats Theyre also stain-repellant. The bottom portion of the cover can be removed separately by undoing two snaps (by contrast, the standard seat cover on the Extend2Fit Convertible is one piece, which you remove by undoing little elastic loops all around the seats edges). 1 Best Overall Convertible Car Seat Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One $400 at Amazon 2 Best Value Convertible Car Seat Cosco Scenera NEXT $60 at Walmart 3 Best Convertible Car. Im not sure that crash testing would give you meaningful results, Jermakian said.
WHAT IS A CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT? - Baby Logic A kid can no longer sit rear-facing when their head is less than an inch from the top of the seats shell height. Group Black's collective includes Essence Opens a new window, The Shade Room Opens a new window and Naturally Curly Opens a new window. 4th, 5th, & 6th purchase of this seat (3 vehicles to equip)! A convertible seat starts in a rear-facing position for babies and toddlers and is then turned forward-facing as your child gets older.
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