Because the identify implies, a convertible automotive seat is designed to evolve as your little one grows. Your child can be prepared for this bigger, five-point security harness seat as soon as they’ve outgrown their toddler seat’s top and weight limits (normally round 30 inches or 30 kilos); this may seemingly occur at any level between 6 months and a pair of years of age. When you transition to the convertible seat, you’ll begin out with a child or toddler sitting in it rear-facing and ultimately find yourself with a a lot larger child driving in it forward-facing. Getting the hold of convertible seats might be daunting—what with their numerous set up modes and positions, a number of seat belt paths, and security tethers—which is why we got down to discover the fashions which might be the best and most secure to put in and use. No matter seat you select, we’ve additionally included loads of useful ideas on methods to navigate the highway forward.
Our decide
The Graco Extend2Fit Convertible does a superior job of conserving your little one rear-facing longer—and it’s easy to put in and use.
The Graco Extend2Fit Convertible has quite a bit going for it, together with fairly simple set up, considerate options, and nice worth for the value. However most significantly, this seat excels at conserving your child comfy whereas they experience rear-facing—the most secure place for a younger little one—for longer. Many massive toddlers and preschoolers battle to remain rear-facing of their automotive seats as a result of at a sure level they begin to really feel squashed. The Extend2Fit Convertible addresses that drawback by including an extension panel to the seat that pulls out to supply 5 inches of additional legroom in rear-facing mode. Youngsters can stay rear-facing within the Extend2Fit Convertible till they attain 50 kilos, the best capability of the seats we examined. (Our also-great convertible decide, the Clek Foonf, has a 50-pound rear-facing weight restrict too.) We discovered putting in the seat to be fast and intuitive, notably when utilizing LATCH (which stands for Decrease Anchors and Tethers for Youngsters, a system that allows you to connect a pair of steel hooks on the seat to a set of anchors constructed into the automotive). The Extend2Fit Convertible’s LATCH set up system can be utilized for kids who weigh as much as 45 kilos, the best LATCH weight restrict of any of the seats we examined. Additionally, the seat is light-weight and has a no-rethread harness, in order your child grows, you don’t must take the seat aside to regulate the straps. Regardless that the material isn’t as stain resistant as we’d like (contemplate going with a darkish shade), the quilt is mechanically cleanable.
Weight of seat: 19 kilos
Seat dimensions: 18.5 inches huge by 23.7 inches tall (with the headrest in its lowest place)
Passenger rear-facing weight and top vary: 4 to 50 kilos; head have to be not less than 1 inch under the headrest’s deal with
Passenger forward-facing weight and top vary: 22 to 65 kilos; as much as 49 inches tall (the highest of the kid’s ears should even be under the highest of the headrest)
Runner-up
Like the opposite seats in Britax’s ClickTight line, the Boulevard ClickTight requires much less effort to put in than another seat we examined. Plus, it seems and feels plusher than our high decide.
The Britax Boulevard ClickTight is a classy and user-friendly seat that stands out for its extremely simple set up. It options Britax’s modern ClickTight set up system: You thread the car’s seat belt by a path beneath the Boulevard’s seat cushion and shut the seat cushion, after which a built-in mechanism tightens every thing securely into place—no grunting, sweating, or swearing required. (You may as well use LATCH to put in the Boulevard, however Britax recommends the seat belt methodology, and we agree.) Like our high decide, the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible, the Boulevard has a no-rethread harness that makes ongoing strap changes hassle-free. However like the vast majority of convertible seats on the market, this seat can solely be used within the rear-facing place for teenagers weighing as much as 40 kilos (10 kilos lower than with our high decide). And in our expertise, the Boulevard doesn’t present a lot legroom in rear-facing mode, so it could encourage caregivers to show their youngsters forward-facing earlier than consultants advocate. If conserving your little one rear-facing for so long as attainable is the number-one precedence, then we expect you’d be higher served by our different picks. Nevertheless, if a quick and handy set up issues most, then the Boulevard is your finest wager.
Weight of seat: 29.4 kilos
Seat dimensions: 18.5 inches huge by 23.5 inches tall (with the headrest in its lowest place)
Passenger rear-facing weight and top vary: 5 to 40 kilos; head have to be not less than 1 inch under the highest of the headrest
Passenger forward-facing weight and top vary: 20 to 65 kilos; as much as 49 inches (the highest of the kid’s ears should even be under the highest of the headrest)
Additionally nice
The Clek Foonf is a high-end convertible seat that’s nice for prolonged rear-facing use. Additionally, it’s slender and straightforward to maintain clear, and it comes with the added security function of an anti-rebound bar.
The Clek Foonf provides an interesting mixture of security options, good-looking aesthetics, and intelligent engineering. At 38 kilos, it’s heavy as all get-out—one thing individuals are prone to both love (as a result of it seems like a tank) or hate (as a result of it’s a monster to maneuver). Just like the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible, our high decide, the Foonf can comfortably accommodate a baby within the rear-facing place till they attain 50 kilos. This seat doesn’t have a pull-out extension for added legroom just like the Extend2Fit Convertible does. However the design of the Foonf and the best way it reclines each make it really feel roomy and spacious when rear-facing, even for taller youngsters. The Foonf additionally comes with an added security function: an anti-rebound bar, which is a metal help piece that, within the case of a crash, may also help to scale back the rebound movement of the seat. Putting in the Foonf within the forward-facing place with LATCH is past simple. Nevertheless, the rear-facing set up of the Foonf is a bit difficult—it undoubtedly requires extra drive and energy than both the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible or the Britax Boulevard. As soon as the Foonf is put in, it feels rock-solid, however it could be a greater match for households that don’t want to maneuver the seat regularly, particularly when it’s in rear-facing mode. The Foonf’s footprint—17 inches at its widest level—is among the many narrowest within the convertible class, which makes it candidate for households that want to suit three seats throughout in a single row. The seat is available in a spread of fashionable, subtle shade and cloth choices, and the fabric is unusually simple to maintain clear.
Weight of seat: 33 kilos when forward-facing, 38 kilos when rear-facing (with added base and anti-rebound bar)
Seat dimensions: 13 inches huge on the base, 17 inches on the widest level, and 28 inches tall (forward-facing, with the headrest within the lowest place)
Passenger rear-facing weight and top vary: 14 to 50 kilos (or 5 kilos if you buy a Clek Toddler-Thingy); 25 to 43 inches (19 inches with use of the Toddler-Thingy)
Passenger forward-facing weight and top vary: 22 to 65 kilos; as much as 49 inches (the highest of the kid’s ears should even be under the highest of the headrest)
Additionally nice
The Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 has most of the similar qualities we like in our high convertible decide, the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible, plus it converts to a booster seat. However there are some caveats.
An all-in-one automotive seat is supposed to be a utility participant: It may be used as a rear-facing toddler seat, a rear-facing toddler seat, a forward-facing toddler and massive child seat, and eventually a booster seat. Shopping for a single automotive seat (versus three and even 4) is cost-effective, and it feels like a genius concept, in concept. However we’ve discovered that every particular person kind of seat tends to do a much better job at its devoted goal than an all-in-one seat can. So we expect most households can be happier going with an toddler seat, then a convertible seat, after which a booster seat. Nevertheless, if you happen to do determine to purchase an all-in-one, the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 is a strong selection. It’s the all-in-one model of our top-pick convertible seat, the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible, and it has all the similar options, together with an extension panel for added legroom—to allow youngsters to stay rear-facing for longer—and a no-rethread harness. The simple set up, whether or not through seat belt or LATCH, is identical, too. However the LATCH methodology, which we want, can solely be used till your little one reaches 40 kilos. (The Extend2Fit Convertible has a 45-pound LATCH restrict.) Additionally, the Extend2Fit 3-in-1’s highest shoulder-harness setting is over an inch shorter than the one on the common Extend2Fit Convertible, so chances are you’ll find yourself needing to modify your child from convertible to high-back booster mode earlier than you’d like.
Weight of seat: 21.9 kilos
Seat dimensions: 19 inches huge by 24.5 inches tall (with the headrest in its lowest place)
Passenger rear-facing weight and top vary: 4 to 50 kilos; head have to be not less than 1 inch under the headrest’s deal with
Passenger forward-facing weight and top vary: 22 to 65 kilos; as much as 49 inches (the highest of the kid’s ears should even be under the highest of the headrest)
Passenger booster mode weight and top vary: 40 to 100 kilos; 43 to 57 inches; additionally, not less than 4 years outdated (however most consultants advocate ready till not less than age 5)
