LO is in the 90th percentile for height. Car seat experts say it can be tough to get a good fit for newborns. Use the LATCH system or the seat belt for installation, not both. 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). And Im finding it much less tempting to turn the seat forward-facing than I had at this point in the past, when my two older children were in rear-facing seats that didnt accommodate their long legs as well. Theres also an extendable calf rest that adds two extra inches of legroom for extra comfort. (My almost-3-year-olds legs were scrunched up, even with the Ravas footrest extended.) Much to our surprise, the more we learned about independent crash testing, the less certain we became that it made sense in our particular circumstances. There is no crash-testing data from the NHTSA available for this seat; its ease-of-use rating is four out of five stars. But the Foonfs rear-facing install is more complicated than that of any of our other picks, and its weight can be burdensome. Our top pick, the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible, has a pull-out extension panel to create extra legroom. 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. It also lacks the Boulevards Click & Safe Snug Harness, which gives an audible click to let you know the harness is properly tensioned (though we dont think that really matters). Still, if you need or want to install this seat frequently using the seat belt method only, then its something to consider. The Safe Kids Worldwide website also provides schedules of free car seat check events and locations of inspection stations. Some of the questions we kept in mind: Are the seats harness straps simple to adjust? Like many convertible car seats, the button to adjust the straps is hard for many parents to reach when the seat is rear-facing. Most car seats are outgrown when your child's head is less than one inch from the top of the seat, but check your seat's manual to be sure. Some parents find that the straps are hard to tighten. 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. The chest clip should be resting at the armpit level. The Extend2Fit Convertibles harness is easy to tighten around your childyou just pull on the strap located at the front end of the seat, so a snug fit can be achieved without a struggle. Its forward-facing install is so simple and satisfying. The Britax Boulevard ClickTight is a stylish and user-friendly seat that stands out for its incredibly easy installation. All of its padding and fabrics are machine-washable, dryer-safe and flame-resistant. The Marathon was previously the top pick in this guide, and we still think its a solid choice. Its straightforward, whether youre using the LATCH system or the vehicle seat belt; we prefer the LATCH install for this seat. The Foonfs seat cushion has a firm feel to it, yet its actually very thickthicker than those on any of our picks, by far, and the comfiest of the bunch. (Note: LATCH, which lets you install a car seat by attaching metal clips on the car seat to hooks built into the car, can be found on all cars and car seats manufactured after September 1, 2002.) Once the Foonf is installed, it feels rock-solid, but it may be a better fit for families that dont need to move the seat frequently, especially when its in rear-facing mode. Updated: August 31, 2021 Everything parents need to know about infant and convertible car seats, plus how to decide which one is right for your newborn. The seat comes in a range of stylish, sophisticated color and fabric options, and the material is unusually easy to keep clean. Instead, the Fllo has LATCH clips that are attached to straps, like most convertible seats. You can install the Boulevard using the LATCH method instead, but wed advise against itnot only because the ClickTight system works so marvelously but also because the LATCH weight limit for a rear-facing child in this seat is just 35 pounds. If keeping your child rear-facing for as long as possible is the number-one priority, then we think youd be better served by our other picks. The fabric on the Extend2Fit Convertible is not the smoothest or the softestwe prefer the material on our runner-up Britax Boulevard ClickTight and our also-great Clek Foonf picks. This is also a very long seat, which may be a concern if you have a sedan or smaller car. Safety experts generally agree that it is better to stay rear-facing longer, as is staying in a seat with a five-point harness for as long as possible before switching to a seat beltdependent booster seat. Some car seats are designed to fit better in certain types of vehicles, such as smaller cars or larger SUVs. Then, as youre holding the belt tight, you must close and latch a pair of belt lock-offs, two plastic tabs that fold down over the belt to cinch it into place. 4th, 5th, & 6th purchase of this seat (3 vehicles to equip)! Babylist editors love baby gear and independently curate their favorite products to share with you. (Although, given the shorter harness height, they may outgrow the 3-in-1 a little sooner than the Convertible.) (The mechanism is supposed to work by someone pulling on a handle near the headrest, as seen in this video.) Grape juice, peanut butter, and jelly left stains that we couldnt get out with spot-cleaning. So some bigger kids may do fine in the Boulevard. A five-point harness provides more protection than a booster; also, some kids who are physically large enough for a booster arent mature enough developmentally to ride in one, since they must be able to sit without slouching or leaning forward. Getting the hang of convertible seats can be dauntingwhat with their various installation modes and positions, multiple seat belt paths, and safety tetherswhich is why we set out to find the models that are the simplest and safest to install and use. You cant drive safely with your child in a car seat thats in a rotated position. (Both of those seats convert to high-back boosters only; they do not have a backless booster mode.) Tricky to install, tough fit in smaller cars, Lighter weight than many similar all-in-ones, Great choice for smaller vehicles (but not for three-across), Seat swivels 360 degrees for easy in and out, Install it once and youre done for up to 10 years, 3 modes: rear-facing, forward-facing and booster, Gracos slimmest seat, specifically made for three across, Works three across in any configuration (rear, forward and booster), Steel-reinforced frame and energy-absorbing foam, More legroom and higher rear-facing limits than other NextFit models, High sides make it tricky to get kids in and out. For context, the majority of kids wont hit 45 pounds until theyre around 6 years oldand by that time, theyre likely ready for a booster seat. The anti-rebound bar is a separate metal piece that hooks into the foot of the seat. So did our kid testers; it was the favorite among my kids. The Boulevard can be used in the rear-facing position for kids up to 40 poundsthe size of a typical 4-year-old. 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. If you buy something through links on our site, Babylist may earn a commission. And remember, if you ever need help installing any type of car seat, you can find a child passenger safety technician in your area through the National CPS Certification Program at safekids.org. This is one reason we love that seat, since you likely wont ever need to reinstall it rear-facing using a seat belt, depending on the size of your kid.). For each seat, we evaluated all of the possible install methods and positions: rear-facing with LATCH, rear-facing with seat belt, forward-facing with LATCH, and forward-facing with seat belt. 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 dont have to worry when youre trying to find the best setup for your family. The SnugLock does the tightening for you, so you can achieve a tight install without any elbow grease. (Each seat in the ClickTight linethe Marathon, the Boulevard, and the Advocatehas its own line of colors and prints.) If you want the Mercedes-Benz of convertible car seats, get a Clek Foonf. Theres a footrest panel that extends by 5 inches to add legroom for a rear-facing toddler or preschooler, enabling them to stay comfortable in the rear-facing position longer. (Despite being taller, however, the Foonf doesnt necessarily take up more room in the car, depending on how its angled.) (As civilians, wed never live so dangerously as to get an off-white car seat. This seat grows with your child from rear-facing to forward-facing and then eventually into a high-back booster. Although the Foonf feels roomy to its passengers, this is one of the narrowest car seats on the market, at only 16.9 inches wide, making it a good candidate for families that need to fit three seats across. They must be rear-facing and your child must meet the minimum weight recommended by the manufacturer. Lots of parents choose this as an affordable secondary car seat for a caregiver or grandparents car too. Very sturdy. As always when using a convertible car seat in the forward-facing position, be sure to also install the top tether, which extends from the back of the child seat and clips onto the tether anchor, either above the seat (in a sedan) or behind the seat (in an SUV or a van). This is a great convertible car seat that saves space yet fits great in the car as well as with other car seats. If youve already picked the four best seats from all the other perspectives, then you can feel confident that engineers have spent a lot of time designing those seats for a good and safe user experience.. Weighing in at about 10 pounds, its super easy to sling over your shoulder while youre walking through an airport and to install either in an airplane seat or a ride share. What Is a Convertible Car Seat? However, if youre attempting to transport a small infant in the Foonfs most reclined position, and youre using it in a compact car with low ceilings, it could be an issue. While researching this guide, we interviewed a broad range of industry experts, including safety authorities, engineers, and physicians, asking them to detail the most important safety and usability considerations for convertible and all-in-one car seats. The 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 was not quite as simple to install as the TrioGrow SnugLock LX, which is easy to install due to the SnugLock feature (a mechanism that helps you effortlessly ratchet down the LATCH straps or the vehicle seat belt). If your kiddo is still riding rear-facing in the Extend2Fit 3-in-1 when they reach 40 pounds, youll have to reinstall the seat rear-facing with the seat belt instead. Either way, the owners manual states that you should continue to use the top tether strap with this booster. Check your childs growth against these guidelines frequently once theyve exceeded either height or weight (whichever comes first), its time to move to the next phase.