CSFTL is a great source. Many seats out there but factors like what car, any other passengers, budget, will help you narrow it down and they can totally help you. https://csftl.org/contact-us/ https://csftl.org/recommended-seats/ I started off with wanting a seat without flame retardant and worked through a few seats on that page, messaged a CPST, and decided on our seat that way. Proper install and fit on kiddo is also important too. Answer from watchwuthappens on reddit.com
BabyGearLab
babygearlab.com › vehicle safety › car seat reviews
Best Convertible Car Seats | Crash Tested
Graco 4Ever DLX
We crash-tested convertible seats from Romer, Britax, Nuna, Chicco, Graco, and others to determine which will keep your child comfortable and safe Car seat safety can create anxiety in any parent. Whether your fears are crash test performance or perfecting your installation, finding the right seat for...
Car and Driver
caranddriver.com › home › parts, gear, tools, and accessories › tested: best convertible child car seats of 2026
Tested: Best Convertible Child Car Seats of 2026
December 17, 2025 - Below is a gallery of the Graco 4Ever DLX in front- and rear-facing positions in each of the cars we tested: ... The Graco Extend2Fit shares a lot of DNA with the 4Ever DLX, including a nearly identical shell and anchor system.
Best convertible car seat?
I hear ya! Both my kids hated infant seats. I do think it is just their age and no seat can solve the fact that some babies just don't want to be put in a car. It feels like once they met requirements and went forward facing things totally changed. As far as what we got...we are big fans of Orbit Baby and had already been using their infant seat, so naturally it made sense we switched over to the toddler seat. I love that it stayed rear facing and could still rotate (I think this is the only seat that does this and that can come out of a base). We also looked at the Cybex seat but after seeing them both in person we decided to stick with Orbit. I do love Clek too, but we couldn't find them in store to see and you just don't hear about them much. More on reddit.com
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August 11, 2024Please just tell me what car seat to buy
I love Graco Extend2Fit. Works well in my SUV you might vary in a sedan. More on reddit.com
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May 8, 2024Extended Rear Facing car seat help
Hoping there are some people here who may be able to point me in the right direction: DC is 4.5years, 111cm and 20.4kg. Unfortunately the car seat... More on mumsnet.com
Rear Facing Convertible Car Seat - Which one is best??
Can you please recommend your rear facing convertible seat? I need to buy one this week and want one that is top rated for safety that isn't also absolutely hideous like most of the mseem to be. Also, I prefer it to be more of a nylon material like the infant car seats that can easily be wiped ... More on forums.thebump.com
Is there a car seat that goes from infant to toddler?
There are two types of car seats that can be used for newborn through toddler (or even big kid) stage. A convertible car seat can be used in rear-facing mode for infants and toddlers and converts to forward-facing when height or weight requirements are met. An all-in-one car seat provides the same benefits as a convertible car seat with extended use through booster mode for bigger kids.
chiccousa.com
chiccousa.com › shop-our-products › car-seats
Shop Car Seats - Explore the Best Child Car Seats | Chicco
Which seat in the car is safest for a car seat?
There are multiple factors to consider, the most important being a rear seat location that allows you to properly install your car seat and easily secure your child. See the recommendations from NHTSA.gov.
chiccousa.com
chiccousa.com › shop-our-products › car-seats
Shop Car Seats - Explore the Best Child Car Seats | Chicco
Should car seats be installed with a LATCH vs a seat belt?
Car seat installation with LATCH or the vehicle seat belt are both good options as long as you get a good, tight installation. Do not use both the vehicle seat belt and LATCH at the same time. When installing car seats, you should also make use of the top tether whenever possible. Consult your product manual to ensure that installation with LATCH is an option based on the child weight limit for LATCH use. You must also check your vehicle manual to confirm appropriate LATCH seating positions.
chiccousa.com
chiccousa.com › shop-our-products › car-seats
Shop Car Seats - Explore the Best Child Car Seats | Chicco
Videos
02:12
Best All-in-One Car Seats 2025 - YouTube
05:36
Best Infant Car Seats 2025 - YouTube
27:03
Best All-in-One Car Seats for 2025: NUNA EXEC, Britax One4Life ...
Best Convertible Car Seat 2023 | Britax, Clek, Diono, Peg ...
08:51
Best Car Seats for Small Cars - YouTube
38:17
The Ultimate Guide to the Best Infant Car Seats of 2025 | CANADA ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/toddlers › recommendations for rear facing car seat for toddler?
r/toddlers on Reddit: Recommendations for rear facing car seat for toddler?
October 16, 2023 -
Anyone have any good recommendations? My LO is almost 2 and needs a new seat. I would prefer to keep him rear facing as long as possible.
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CSFTL is a great source. Many seats out there but factors like what car, any other passengers, budget, will help you narrow it down and they can totally help you. https://csftl.org/contact-us/ https://csftl.org/recommended-seats/ I started off with wanting a seat without flame retardant and worked through a few seats on that page, messaged a CPST, and decided on our seat that way. Proper install and fit on kiddo is also important too.
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My kids are off the charts for height and we used the Nuna Rava and Graco extend to fit. Both rear face to 49” and 50lbs. We made it to 5 years old with my first before she was too tall for the seat. Then we switched to a high back booster with a harness that’s she still fits in at 6.5.
Consumer Reports
consumerreports.org › babies & kids › baby & toddler › car seats › harnessed car seats ratings
Car Seat Ratings & Reviews - Consumer Reports
No one tests car seats like we do. Get ratings, pricing, and performance for all the latest models based on the features you care about.
Graco Baby
gracobaby.com › shop › car-seats
Explore Baby Car Seats | Shop Now | Graco Baby
Infant Car Seats: Ideal for the earliest stages of your child's life, these car seats are rear-facing car seat and offer superior safety features. They are lightweight and portable, allowing you to easily transfer your baby from the car to the stroller.
The Quality Edit
thequalityedit.com › parenting › parenting reviews › i tried 9 slim car seats – meet the two my family uses daily
What is the Best Slim Car Seat for My Child? (2025) | The Quality Edit
April 14, 2025 - For its price, you're getting an ... child in and out of the car easier and safer, and I can’t recommend it enough! ... The Poplar S installed in rear-facing mode....
Chicco
chiccousa.com › shop-our-products › car-seats
Shop Car Seats - Explore the Best Child Car Seats | Chicco
The rotational feature allows you to turn the car seat to face your direction, providing an optimal experience to comfortably secure your child in the seat and just as comfortably remove them from the seat when your ride is complete. This child car seat is used in rear-facing mode for infants and toddlers and simply rotates to forward-facing when height or weight requirements are met.
NHTSA
nhtsa.gov › vehicle-safety › car-seats-and-booster-seats
Car Seat & Booster Seat Safety, Ratings, Guidelines | NHTSA
To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements. Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12. ... The best seat for your young child to use. It has a harness and, in a crash, cradles and moves with your child to reduce the stress to the child's fragile neck and spinal cord. Find out how to install rear-facing car seats.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/bigbabiesandkids › best convertible car seat?
r/bigbabiesandkids on Reddit: Best convertible car seat?
August 11, 2024 -
7mo old is 34” and over 20lbs, and all of a sudden HATES his infant car seat. It’s time to upgrade. Any recs? Tia!
Top answer 1 of 22
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I hear ya! Both my kids hated infant seats. I do think it is just their age and no seat can solve the fact that some babies just don't want to be put in a car. It feels like once they met requirements and went forward facing things totally changed. As far as what we got...we are big fans of Orbit Baby and had already been using their infant seat, so naturally it made sense we switched over to the toddler seat. I love that it stayed rear facing and could still rotate (I think this is the only seat that does this and that can come out of a base). We also looked at the Cybex seat but after seeing them both in person we decided to stick with Orbit. I do love Clek too, but we couldn't find them in store to see and you just don't hear about them much.
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Read this thread and you can decide based on your budget: https://www.reddit.com/r/FirstCar/comments/1nhgu6z/convertible_car_seat_options/
Reddit
reddit.com › r/toddlers › please just tell me what car seat to buy
r/toddlers on Reddit: Please just tell me what car seat to buy
May 8, 2024 -
My 17 month old needs a new car seat and I am completely overwhelmed! Any recs of ones you love? I have sedan and I want it to be safe/be able to stay rear facing as long as possible that's my only preferences. There is so much on the market I get bogged down with all the choices and the reviews. Any recs would be amazing and help us so much!
Edit: thank you for all the answers wow! 3 months of using the graco extend to fit and love it! It fits fine in my sedan. I will note I only have 1 kiddo in the back seat so I don't notice/ mind it's size. It's super comfy for LO and aligns with my desire to keep rear facing as long as possible. Noting this in case anyone comes across this post also overwhelmed lol
Top answer 1 of 5
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I love Graco Extend2Fit. Works well in my SUV you might vary in a sedan.
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Evenflo revolve 360 (I have the Slim version). Should grow with my kid for a long time and omg the ability to turn it to face me to get her in and out of our small vehicles is chef's kiss. We did a 12 hour road trip with her at 14mo in it and she was as comfortable as one can be during a 12hr trip. Whichever you choose, if you can afford it, splurge on something that rotates.
NYTimes
nytimes.com › baby and kid › baby › the best convertible and all-in-one car seats
The 5 Best Convertible and All-in-One Car Seats of 2026 | Reviews by Wirecutter
November 24, 2025 - The Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat has a lot going for it, including pretty easy installation and thoughtful features, and it’s also a great value. But, most importantly, this seat excels at keeping your kid comfortable while they ride ...
Amazon
amazon.com › Graco-Extend2Fit-2-in-1-Car-Seat › dp › B08C79V1G1
Amazon.com : Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat, Rear-Facing and Forward-Facing, Extended Rear-Facing Seat Option, Redmond, Ideal for Newborns, Infants, and Toddlers : Baby
Introducing the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat, designed to grow with your child from a rear-facing harness for weights 4-50lb, up to a forward-facing harness for 22-65lb. Featuring a 4-position extension panel and a 50lb rear-facing ...
Chicco
chiccousa.com › shop-our-products › car-seats › rear-facing-car-seats
Shop Rear Facing Car Seats - Infants & Toddlers | Chicco
An all-in-one car seat can transport your child from day 1 to year 10. Designed to deliver premier fit and comfort for rear-facing infants to forward-facing toddlers and beyond. An all-in-one car seat safely fits children between 4-100 lbs.
What to Expect
whattoexpect.com › toddler › health
When Should Your Child Switch to a Forward-Facing Car Seat?
August 6, 2025 - Any child who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for her convertible seat should use a forward-facing seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer. Trusted SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionChild Passenger SafetySee All Sources [2] Rear-facing is the safest position for babies and toddlers because it offers the most protection in the event of a crash.
NHTSA
nhtsa.gov › how-install-rear-facing-only-infant-car-seat
How to Install a Rear-Facing Only Infant Car Seat | NHTSA
Learn how to install an infant car seat securely in your vehicle by watching the videos and following the tips below. The best guidance for installing the car seat in your vehicle can be found in the car seat manual, as well as your vehicle owner’s manual. In general, remember: - Infant car seats can only be used rear-facing, and must never be placed forward-facing in a vehicle; and - Infant car seats should always be installed in the back seat.
The Car Seat Lady
thecarseatlady.com › home › blog › when should your child turn forward-facing?
The Car Seat LadyWhen Should Your Child Turn Forward-Facing? - The Car Seat Lady
May 25, 2023 - Kids should ride rear-facing until the max height or weight for their convertible seat, recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics & NHTSA. For most kids, this is between the age of 3 to 5 years.
Mumsnet
mumsnet.com › home › talk › parenting
Extended Rear Facing car seat help | Mumsnet
February 22, 2025 - We can fit both seats in our smaller car which is smaller than a Golf. ... All of these are good seats, but just to add, based on your boy's current centiles, he'll likely reach 25kg around 6 years old and 125cm around 6.5 years, so a 36kg seat will get you roughly an extra six months rear-facing.
TikTok
tiktok.com › emily roberts (@countrykidscarseatsafety) | tiktok › the best place for a car seat is whichever rear seat gets you a proper installation and allows you to use the seat correctly on every ride! while the middle seat is furthest from all potential points of impact, it’s not always the best place for your car seat! sometimes there is no middle seat, or you may not be able to get a proper installation or usage in the center seat. for example, the center seat may be too narrow for your car seat, you may not be able to fit two car seats side by side, there may be a large hump in the vehicle floor that prevents you from using a bonus feature like a load leg, or a caregiver with back or mobility problems may not be able to reach the seat in the center. for backless booster riders, the center seat might not have a headrest that they need for safety! always read and follow your car seat and vehicle manuals’ instructions and get help from a cpst if you have questions! #cpst #cpstsoftiktok #childpassengersafetytech #childpassengersafetytechnician #childpassengersafetytok #carseat #carseatsafety #carseatsafetytok #carseattok #carseattiktok #carseatinstall #carseatinstallation #babycarseat #infantcarseat #rearfacingcarseat #rearfacing #forwardfacingcarseat #forwardfacing #boosterseat #boosterseatsafety #mom #dad #parents #momtok #dadtok #momsoftiktok #dadsoftiktok #firsttimemom #firsttimedad #buckleup
The best place for a car seat is whichever rear seat gets you a proper installation and allows you to use the seat correctly on every ride! While the middle seat is furthest from all potential points of impact, it’s not always the best place for your car seat! Sometimes there is no middle seat, or you may not be able to get a proper installation or usage in the center seat. For example, the center seat may be too narrow for your car seat, you may not be able to fit two car seats side by side, there may be a large hump in the vehicle floor that prevents you from using a bonus feature like a load leg, or a caregiver with back or mobility problems may not be able to reach the seat in the center. For backless booster riders, the center seat might not have a headrest that they need for safety! Always read and follow your car seat and vehicle manuals’ instructions and get help from a CPST if you have questions! #cpst #cpstsoftiktok #childpassengersafetytech #childpassengersafetytechnician #childpassengersafetytok #carseat #carseatsafety #carseatsafetytok #carseattok #carseattiktok #carseatinstall #carseatinstallation #babycarseat #infantcarseat #rearfacingcarseat #rearfacing #forwardfacingcarseat #forwardfacing #boosterseat #boosterseatsafety #mom #dad #parents #momtok #dadtok #momsoftiktok #dadsoftiktok #firsttimemom #firsttimedad #buckleup | TikTok
3234 Likes, 150 Comments. TikTok video from Emily Roberts (@countrykidscarseatsafety): “The best place for a car seat is whichever rear seat gets you a proper installation and allows you to use the seat correctly on every ride! While the middle seat is furthest from all potential points of impact, it’s not always the best place for your car seat!
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How to Install a Convertible Rear-Facing Car Seat - YouTube
Using a car seat is the best way to prevent your child from being injured in a car accident. It’s important that the car seat is installed correctly to provi...
Published October 25, 2024
The Bump
forums.thebump.com › the bump message boards › babies: 9 - 12 months
Rear Facing Convertible Car Seat - Which one is best?? — The Bump
December 26, 2008 - the "best" car seat is the one that fits your car, fits your child and the one you will use correctly 100% of the time.