Typically, every parent wants the best car seat to move their baby around safely and protect it in case of an accident. There are many options to choose from; the infant car seat, the convertible, and the multifunctional car seat. The most convenient and best car seat for traveling is the infant car seat. The seat is portable, easily removable from your car and even fits perfectly in small cars.
The infant car seat, however, can only serve until the baby attains a certain height and weight. The limit is usually around 30lbs or 1-1.5 Years, of age.
To avoid the additional cost of purchasing a new baby car seat as the baby grows. Most parents skip the convenience of the infant car seat and start their newborn on the convertible car seat.
The convertible car seat as its name suggests can be installed in both rear and forward-facing positions. Babies can travel facing rearwards until a certain age when their legs are tall enough not to be comfortable.
The seat has a higher weight limit of around 65lbs on average and is fitted with removable inserts so that it’s able to accommodate infants. This enables your baby to grow with the seat from infancy up until the age of around 8-9 years, or around 65lbs.
Selecting a good convertible car seat, especially for small cars can prove a challenge for many parents. But before we go through the guide on how to pick the right, convertible car seat. Let’s look at the top picks based on our in-depth analysis
Convertible Car Seat for Small Cars-Top Picks
1) Graco SlimFit 3 in 1 Car Seat
The Graco Slim fit 3 in 1 balances design, durability, and safety. The seat has been rigorously tested to meet the highest standards of a safe car seat. It’s able to protect your infant from all types of crashes, frontal, side, rear, and a rollover.
Its main forte, however, is the slim design making it takes less space in the backseat of your car
What we like
- Slim compact design
- Dual integrated rotating cup holders
- Rated highly for safety
- 10 position adjustable headrest
- Quite affordable compared to the value it offers
What we dislike
- The fabric feels budget
2) Diono Radian 3RXT, 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
This is one of the most comfortable seats out there for your baby. It incorporates an innovative secure lie-flat travel position feature. The feature pushes your baby up to reduce head slump while helping to keep the airways open.
The car seat has a slim width that gives you the ability to fit 3 seats across the backseat. A useful feature for parents with a big family.
Parents can use this seat for a longer period because its capable of accommodating a kid from birth up until they are 120-lbs of weight.
What we liked
- Compact dimensions able to fit easily in a small car
- Rated highly for safety
- Feels solid built.
What we dislike
- 30-lbs makes it heavy to move around.
3) `Maxi-Cosi Pria™ All-in-One Convertible Car Seat
This polyester seat, made in the USA, comes in many colors. It’s a 3 in 1 seat with booster mode functionality making it possible for your grown child of up to 100lbs to ride around safely.
The in and out harness holders keep straps out of the way when buckling, enabling an easier setup.
What we liked
- Thick padding feels cozy
- variety of colors
- Machine washable
- Side impact protection technology
What we dislike
- The buckles felt of low quality
4) Britax Boulevard ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
While others utilize the hatch. this seat makes use of an uncommon safety belt installation for the harness. This makes it usable with older types of cars with no Isofix fitting.
At 29.4 lbs, however, It’s quite heavy compared to the other seats but the weight doesn’t come with bulk. So it’s still easy to fit in small cars.
What we like
- Good safety ratings
- Modern looking
- Snug harness indicator
- 7 recline positions
What we dislike
- Quite heavy compared to the others in our line-up
5) Disney Baby Grow and Go All-in-One Convertible Car Seat
What we liked
- Stay in car base makes it convenient
- Machine washable
- Two integrated cup holders
What we dislike
- Can be difficult to set-up but you learn with time.
6) Evenflo EveryFit 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
This seat is compact and made of polyester. The user is able to choose between latch and seat belt type of installation depending on preference. The seat has machine-washable fabrics easily removable for cleaning.
Consider buying this seat if you prefer carrying your child rear-facing. This is because it has an adjustable base which allows different legroom space for a rear-facing baby.
What we like
- Air flow mesh fabric for keeping your child cool.
- Machine washable
- 4 in 1 with adjustable base.
What we dislike
- Some parts, for example, the headrest feel flimsy
Convertible Car Seats Buying Guide
1. How safe is the car seat?
A car seat provides maximum safety only if properly installed. Different car seats, however, have different federal safety standards. The standards are awarded after proper crash testing has been carried out. To give the buyer reassurance whenever their baby is on board. Always take note of the level and form of protection that your baby car seat has.
2. Car Seat Installation.
Not every seat fits well in every car because different cars have different seat configurations and dimensions. When shopping it’s important to know whether the seat you are buying installs properly into your car.
We recommend that you try out the installation before paying for it. Most retailers will allow you to do that. This will give you insight into the ease of installation and will help you determine if the size of your seat is appropriate for your car.
Its also necessary to ensure that you easily understand the installation manual, to avoid mistakes in the installation process.
3. Seat Comfort
Is the car seat comfortable for your baby? This question can only be answered once you carry your baby. We all know that traveling with an uncomfortable baby can bring a lot of trouble to your journey. Always make sure that your seller takes returns so that it is possible to return the seat. Once you find out its inappropriate for your baby
Convertible Car Seat- FAQs
Q: Can I install a baby car seat in the front?
Yes, for the seatbelt harness type, it’s possible to install the baby car seat in the front of your car. However, this is NOT recommended for the safety of your child. The back seat, and especially the middle one, is the safest place to put your baby. This is because it places him/her away from the sides in case of a side-impact crash.
Q: Is a cheaper baby car seat safe?
Both cheap and expensive car seats adhere to the same testing standards. This makes them equally safe in case of an accident. The cheaper seat, however, may lack other useful features present in the more expensive seat.
Q: How often should you replace a baby car seat?
A baby car seat should only be replaced if it has met the set height and weight limits. With the convertible baby car seat, the baby should continue facing the rear. If the space is still comfortable for the baby’s legroom. This is because a rear-facing seat is safer compared to a front-facing orientation.