Best Convertible Car Seats of 2023

The Scoop

• One seat, 10 years of use
• Easy to install correctly
• Tons of safety features

What Our Experts Say

All-in-one car seats are loved by parents for their cost and convenience, and Britax’s One4Life is a standout favorite for several (really impressive) reasons.

This convertible car seat will take your child from birth well into the elementary school years. It easily converts from a rear-facing infant seat to a forward-facing five-point harness seat and then eventually into a high-back belt-positioning booster seat. One seat over ten years means you’ll save money, time and the hassle of having to uninstall and reinstall multiple car seats throughout the years.

Safety-wise, this seat is also top in its class. ClickTight technology—Britax’s patented installation system that uses your vehicle’s seat belt and an effort-free belt tightening system—makes it easy to get a proper, secure install every time. (According to experts, more than half of car seats are installed incorrectly, so this is a pretty great feature.) Other safety features include a steel frame, crumple zone and a V-shaped tether to help absorb energy in the event of a crash. There’s also two layers of side impact protection.

What’s Worth Considering

The One4Life is on the heavier side, but since the idea with an all-in-one seat is that you won’t be uninstalling and reinstalling it on the regular, we don’t think this is too big of a deal.

What Babylist Parents Say

“Super easy to adjust for growth spurts. Very sturdy. Crash test ratings at higher speeds than other brands. And with the click tight system, I don’t have to get my husband to try to tighten down the seat belt to keep it in place. Once I snap the seat down with the click tight, I know it’s not moving an inch!” -Teri

Additional Specs

The Scoop

• Bestselling seat among Babylist parents
• Works from birth through big kid years
• Tricky to install, tough fit in smaller cars

What Our Experts Say

As the bestselling seat in the Babylist Shop and with thousands of popular reviews, parents love this one-and-done seat that works from birth through the big kid years.

The Graco 4Ever is an all-in-one car seat that starts out as a rear-facing seat that can be used when your baby is just four pounds. When they hit the maximum limits for rear-facing, the seat turns to the forward-facing position and works from 22 to 65 pounds. It then converts to a high-back booster and finally a backless booster that pairs with your car’s seat belt until your child is up to 120 pounds and 57 inches.

Other great features include a six-position recline, 10-position no-rethread harness (and harness storage areas) and two attached cup holders. There’s also something called a RapidRemove cover system for easy cleaning. Each piece of the five-piece seat cover can be removed independently, making cleaning the seat after a mess lot easier. (Just note that if you do have to remove the entire cover, you’ll have five pieces to put back together once you’re done!)

What’s Worth Considering

The 4Ever doesn’t fit newborns very well, and Child Passenger Safety techs (AKA car seat experts) will tell you that this seat is very tricky to install correctly, so be sure to read your manual thoroughly and get your seat double-checked by an expert if possible. (You also may want to check out the 4Ever DLX SnugLock model of this seat that features special technology to help make the install easier than with the standard model.)

This is also a very long seat, which may be a concern if you have a sedan or smaller car. It’s usually fine in most SUVs though.

What Babylist Parents Say

“This is an excellent car seat and its versatility for use as our child gets bigger/older is fantastic. Right now it is being used rear-facing and it was very easy to install. We’ve also had to wash the cover after a carsick incident and they came off and went back on easily, which is a huge plus. The only reason I’m not giving 5 stars is because it is a large seat and will only fit in our Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla (we bought 2 seats to put 1 in each car) if it is in recline position 1– the bubble is in the safe line– and made me adjust my driver’s seat so that I have to sit in a uncomfortable upright position when I drive. It’s not the car seat’s fault that it is a little too big for our cars, so overall we are very happy and would buy this again, but want to let other parents and would-be buyers know that it’s a tight fit in a normal sedan when rear-facing.” -Grateful Dad

Additional Specs

The Scoop

• All-in-one-seat at a great price
• Lighter weight than many similar all-in-ones
• Fits a wide range of babies and kids

What Our Experts Say

It’s definitely possible to get a safe, all-in-one convertible car seat at a great price.

The Grow and Go works as a rear-facing, forward-facing and eventually a belt-positioning booster seat. It has three recline positions, two cup holders and a seat pad that snaps on and off for when you need to throw it in the wash, a really nice feature for a convertible car seat at this price point. You can easily adjust the harness and headrest in one step, and built-in harness holders keep annoying straps from getting in the way when you’re trying to pull your little one out of the car seat. Lots of parents choose this as an affordable secondary car seat for a caregiver or grandparent’s car too.

What’s Worth Considering

Some parents don’t like that the headrest on this car seat doesn’t go as high up as other brands. There are also less recline positions than lots of other seats. And the Grow and Go can be difficult to install, so watching a few videos on how to do it might help.

What Babylist Parents Say

“I like the low price for a high-quality car seat. The seat is durable and easy to use and clean.” -C.W.

Additional Specs

The Scoop

• Good for extended rear-facing
• Clean, modern design
• Easy to install with seatbelt

What Our Experts Say

It’s not often that you can describe a car seat (most likely covered in Cheerios) as chic, but here goes. The Nuna RAVA is modern and beautifully designed. It’s also packed with thoughtful features for optimum safety and ease of use. It has one of the highest height and weight maximums for rear-facing on our list, with a 50-pound weight limit and a 49-inch height max. (And remember, longer rear-facing equals a safer ride for your little one.) There’s also an extendable calf rest that adds two extra inches of legroom for extra comfort. Seat belt installation (Nuna’s preferred method) is really easy, and there’s also retractable cup holders, 10 recline options (good for both comfort and making sure you can get a good install in all different types of vehicles), a no- rethread harness and breathable knit fabric with ventilation panels.

What’s Worth Considering

Many parents surveyed say this seat gives front-seat passengers more legroom, which is especially important for a taller parent who doesn’t enjoy being crunched up in the front seat. Car seat experts say it can be tough to get a good fit for newborns.

If you’re a Nuna loyalist but prefer an all-in-one car seat, check out the Exec. It’s expensive, but it will take you from the newborn days all the way through elemtary school. It’s also GREENGUARD Gold Certified.

What Babylist Parents Say

“It will last us several years, it is extremely safe and was very easy to install.” -Robin

Additional Specs

The Scoop

• Great choice for smaller vehicles (but not for three-across)
• Built for extended rear-facing
• Affordable choice, easy to install

What Our Experts Say

The Extend2Fit is an affordable convertible car seat that’s 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.

One of the biggest selling points for this seat is its 50-pound weight limit, allowing kids to stay rear-facing for longer than many other convertible seats. There’s also an extendable leg rest (as the seat’s name implies) that gives an extra five inches of legroom to make extended rear-facing more comfortable. Since the seat can sit almost upright when rear-facing, it allows for taller parents or those with smaller cars to still get a good fit. It also tends to fit all ages of kids really well, from smaller newborns to school-aged kiddos.

What’s Worth Considering

The seat’s cup holders are required to be attached, making the seat on the wider side and not a great choice if you’re looking for more room in your back seat or need to install three seats across. This seat is also not a great choice if you plan to forward-face your child before they reach 40 pounds thanks to a strange rule that requires the seat to be at a specific incline setting, resulting in an install that’s almost impossible to get right.

What Babylist Parents Say

“Love how you can use it as they grow! Plus, it is super comfy.” -Victoria

Additional Specs

The Scoop

• Seat swivels 360 degrees for easy in and out
• Install it once and you’re done for up to 10 years
• 3 modes: rear-facing, forward-facing and booster

What Our Experts Say

Rotating car seats—seats that swivel from rear- to forward-facing with the touch of a button—are fairly common across Europe but have not been available in the US until fairly recently. The Evenflo Gold Revolve was one of the first to hit the US market and is our favorite pick for this type of seat.

What’s so great about a swiveling seat? So many things. What we love the most is how easy it is to get your little one in and out of this seat, especially when it’s rear-facing. (The seat swivels to the side and eliminates the awkward reach that’s needed for standard rear-facing seats.) The easier this is, the more likely you are to keep your kiddo rear-facing (and safer) even longer. We also love that you don’t have to reinstall the seat when it’s time to make the rear- to forward-facing switch. The Revolve even works in high-back booster mode once your child is old enough (and mature enough) to ride in that position.

Other features to brag about here include a foolproof installation system, premium fabrics and a top tether anchor that’s used in both rear- and forward-facing modes.

What’s Worth Considering

When using any rotating car seat, always take a moment to double check that the seat is fully rotated and locked into the proper position, either rear- or forward-facing. You can’t drive safely with your child in a car seat that’s in a rotated position. Also note that this seat isn’t approved for airline travel.

Evenflo Gold has recently expanded its lineup of revolving seats with even more options. If you’re looking for a rotating car seat with a higher rear-facing limit, check the Evenflo Gold Revolve 360 Extend Rotational All-in-One. You’ll be able to keep your little one rear-facing in this seat until they hit 50 pounds. And for a rotating seat with a slimmer profile, you’ll want the brand’s 360 Slim model.

What Babylist Parents Say

“This is definitely a game changer in car seats. I love all the extra safety features. It has extra plush cushioning. Plus, the design is revolutionary! The swivel feature works flawlessly.” -Sean

Additional Specs

The Scoop

• Weighs just 10 pounds
• FAA-approved for plane travel
• Affordable

What Our Experts Say

Convertible car seats and travel are two things that sadly don’t go well together. Most convertibles are bulky, heavy and not designed to easily go in and out of vehicles. So what are you supposed to do if your little one is ready for a convertible but you don’t own a car or travel frequently?

Meet the Costco Scenera NEXT, the seat you’ll hear about again and again from parents who are looking for a convertible travel car seat. Weighing in at about 10 pounds, it’s super easy to sling over your shoulder while you’re walking through an airport and to install either in an airplane seat or a ride share. (It’s FAA-approved for plane travel.) It works rear- and forward-facing up to 40 pounds and has a removable, machine-washable seat pad for those away-from-home messes you’ll surely encounter. And did we mention it only costs about sixty bucks?

What’s Worth Considering

This is a no-frills seat, so don’t expect super luxurious fabric or lots of padding. The seat’s weight limit is on the lower side, maxing out at 40 pounds. And while the Scenera NEXT isn’t hard to install, it does take some practice to get comfortable with the process and to get a secure fit. We recommend watching the install videos and doing some practice rounds before you head out on your adventure.

Additional Specs

The Scoop

• Slim lines, modern look
• Tons of extra safety features
• Built for extended rear-facing
• Expensive

What Our Experts Say

“Built like a tank” is probably the most common thing parents and car seat safety experts note about the iconic Clek Foonf convertible car seat—and that’s exactly what they love about it. What you might not realize is it’s one of the slimmest convertible car seats on the market.

The Foonf is packed with safety extras. It features everything from a steel and magnesium substructure and two layers of energy-absorbing foam for side-impact protection to an anti-rebound bar and an aluminum crumple zone in the base to absorb energy in case of a crash.

It’s built for extended rear-facing for up to 50 pounds and has a nine-year lifespan. Install is easy using either LATCH or your vehicle’s seat belt, and the seat’s fabrics are GREENGUARD Gold Certified. And despite all of these incredible features, it’s actually one of the slimmest seats around—you can fit three across in most back seats.

What’s Worth Considering

There’s no getting around the fact that the Foonf is a beast; it’s not a seat you’re going to want to be taking in and out of your car a lot. It’s also a high seat, so if you’re on the shorter side, it may obstruct your view out whichever back window it’s installed near. It does not feature a no-rethread harness and the seat fabric isn’t removable for washing. And it’s expensive. For a lighter and cheaper option, check out the Clek Fllo.

What Babylist Parents Say

“Great safety features and it can rear face until four—comfortably! It’s a great car seat. We travel (airplane) with it, our kids are growing with it and it checks all the boxes. Expensive but worth every penny. We have three!” -Val

Additional Specs

The Scoop

• Graco’s slimmest seat, specifically made for three across
• Works three across in any configuration (rear, forward and booster)
• Steel-reinforced frame and energy-absorbing foam

What Our Experts Say

While the thought of three little ones across the back seat of your car may feel very far away at this point, if you’re planning on a larger family, it’s probably something you should consider as you shop for car seats—especially convertible seats, which tend to run quite wide. Graco’s SlimFit3 LX is a good choice if you’re looking for a seat that fits three across or if you’re simply in the market for a convertible seat that won’t overtake your vehicle’s back seat.

This seat grows with your child from rear-facing to forward-facing and then eventually into a high-back booster. Graco tested the seat in every configuration (including kids of different ages in different seat modes) to be sure that it works three-across so you don’t have to worry when you’re trying to find the best setup for your family. There are thoughtful features that allow you to both maximize space and make easy adjustments, like a belt lock-off for forward-facing mode and a no-rethread harness that’s effortless to adjust. And like many other Graco seats, this one also features a RapidRemove cover that comes off easily for washing (and in separate pieces, depending on where your mess is) so you don’t have to uninstall the seat or remove the harness. There’s even two cup holders!

What’s Worth Considering

Graco also makes a more affordable slim seat model, the SlimFit All-in-One. Just keep in mind that it’s 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 car’s back seat.

What Babylist Parents Say

“We have a preschooler and we’re blessed with twins last year. We were only able to upgrade one vehicle, so finding seating solutions to accommodate three was a challenge. The SlimFit rose above and beyond! We were able to do a seat belt install on two SlimFit seats for our rear-facing twins and fit them alongside our older child’s forward facing seat We can even get the passenger seat all the way back with the seats in rear-facing mode, which is a huge plus for my tall husband.” -KV

Additional Specs

The Scoop

• Snug fit for newborns
• Affordable
• Easy install

What Our Experts Say

If you’re planning on using a convertible car seat from day one, you need to be sure the seat you choose fits your infant correctly. According to our car seat safety expert, the best convertible car seats for infants are usually those without no-rethread harnesses. That’s because a no-rethread harness, while convenient, tends to push most newborns’ heads forward and cause an unsafe chin-to-chest position.

The Allegiance does have a no-rethread harness; however, it doesn’t affect positioning and is a highly recommended seat for newborns. It’s well-priced, easy to install using LATCH and has a solid range of safety features like a steel frame, side impact protection and an impact-absorbing base. The seat comes with a removable body pillow to help newborns fit snugly in the seat.

What’s Worth Considering

Two additional car seats our safety expert recommends for infants: the Nuna REVV Rotating Convertible Car Seat and the Clek Foonf with the Infant-Thingy Insert (sold separately).

Additional Specs

The Scoop

• Under 16 pounds
• Easy-to-adjust harness
• Slim design

What Our Experts Say

With some weighing upwards of 30 pounds, convertible car seats aren’t typically known for their light weight. The Contender from Graco bucks this trend nicely. It weighs just under 16 pounds and saves not only your back but your legroom—it’s a slim seat designed to give you more space in your back seat.

The Contender has two modes, rear- and forward-facing, two recline positions and a user-friendly harness system that adjusts the headrest and harness together in one motion. There’s also a level indicator for easy install, a cup holder and a machine-washable seat pad. It’s a good option if you’re looking for a lighter seat or if you’ll be frequently transferring your car seat from car to car.

What’s Worth Considering

The Contender Slim is also a great choice for airline travel, as it’s FAA-approved.

What Babylist Parents Say

“This is a great convertible car seat that saves space yet fits great in the car as well as with other car seats. My 8 month old fits great in it and seems quite comfortable and will grow with him as he gets older.” -EM

Additional Specs

The Scoop

• Zip-off seat pad for easy washing
• More legroom and higher rear-facing limits than other NextFit models
• High sides make it tricky to get kids in and out

What Our Experts Say

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of cleaning a car seat after a big mess or other, shall we say, incident (baby barf, we’re looking at you), you know what a pain it can be. The NextFit Zip solves for this with a completely washable seat pad that’s removable with a quick zip. The better news? It’s just as easy to reattach as it is to zip off, something that can’t be said about lots of other car seats.

There are other things to love about this seat. The Max model features 25% more legroom than standard NextFit models (not a safety issue, but a comfort one) and a higher rear-facing weight limit, two huge pluses. The seat also features something called 3D AirMesh on the backrest, a breathable material designed to enhance airflow. The “Super Cinch” strap makes installation using the LATCH system easy (no tug-of-war with straps and seats), and bubble levels indicate when you’ve nailed the correct seat angle in rear-facing and forward-facing modes. And nine recline positions allow this seat to fit in a wider range of cars.

What’s Worth Considering

The NextFit Max has high sides. While some people don’t find this to be an issue, others do, especially older caregivers who may not have the strength to lift a child easily in and out of the seat. This seat also is on the bulkier side and may not be the right choice for smaller cars.

What Babylist Parents Say

“4th, 5th, & 6th purchase of this seat (3 vehicles to equip)! It has worked wonderfully for our 2 year old so when our 10 month old was ready to transition, no brainer to get him one! Love the adjustability of recline and head rest to get that perfect fit for either child. We have this set in both vehicles! 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

Additional Specs