Safety features, like a five-point harness, sturdy construction, and easy-to-understand installation are some of the most important factors when shopping for a car seat. You should also pay attention to the height and weight guidance to ensure you are getting a car seat that will suit your child now—and as they grow. We carefully considered these features, along with, design, material, ease of cleaning, comfort, and value when reviewing products. Here are the best car seat options on the market. The Graco 4Ever DLX 4 in 1 Car Seat is our best overall because it’s safe for babies as little as 4 pounds all the way up to big kids weighing 120 pounds (or who are 57 inches tall). This seat can be converted into a rear-facing seat with a five-point harness, a front-facing seat with a five-point harness, a high-back booster seat, and a backless booster seat. As your child grows, you can easily lift the 10-position headrest to fit them, which is also attached to the harness so you don’t have to re-thread it. When it’s being used as a back-facing seat, it has six recline positions and can be used by children up to 40 pounds. Once your child is ready for a booster, you simply unthread the harness to convert it into a highback booster until they’re big enough to remove the back completely to use as a standard booster seat. Price at time of publication: $330 It has nine recline positions and 15 headrest positions so that your child will always be fully protected. The seat also has an easy-remove cover, two dishwasher-safe cup holders, and click-tight technology for easy installation. Price at time of publication: $400 The super lightweight seat can be moved from car to car with ease. The seat also has two cup holders, a removable and machine washable cover, and padded adjustable armrests so your child can still comfortably use them as they continue to grow taller. Price at time of publication: $29 Finally, it’s thoughtfully designed with stylish elements, quiet connectors so the baby isn’t disturbed when the seat is put in or taken out of the base. The soft leather handle makes carrying the seat a little easier on grown-ups while the UPF 50+ adjustable canopy keeps your little one protected from the sun. Price at time of publication: $330 Grown-ups safely and easily install the seat using the LATCH system and won’t have to rethread the harness when they adjust the headrest to accommodate their child’s changing height. Price at time of publication: $220 Once your child has reached the 25 pound minimum for rear-facing, this forward-facing seat from Britax will come in handy. Featuring ClickTight technology for super straightforward installation, you can feel secure every time you load up your little one. With nine different headrest positions that adjust with the harness, you won’t have to rethread it as your child grows. Your kiddo will be able to ride in comfort thanks to the two recline positions and four cup and snack holders. Price at time of publication: $240 Since rear-facing is the safest way to ride for babies and toddlers, parents love that their little ones can safely sit rear-facing until they are 50 pounds (or around 4 years old). While the seat doesn’t feature cup holders, it has a slim design that’s perfect for families wanting to safely fit three kids across the back seat or for compact vehicles. Price at time of publication: $200 It has a four-position extension panel that helps create more leg space so you can keep your kiddo comfortably back-facing for longer and a 10-position adjustable headrest. The seat also features two cup holders, a removable and machine-washable cover, and an easy-to-use latch so adults can simply and safely install the seat. Price at time of publication: $250
Right Age for Each Stage
There are three stages every child will go through until they are able to ride safely with just a seat belt like an adult—a rear-facing car seat, a forward-facing car seat, and then a booster seat. Dr. Alisa Baer, Pediatrician and Co-Founder of The Car Seat Lady, cautions parents not to rush to the next stage, and instead to keep kids rear-facing well beyond the 2-year minimum required by many state laws, and then in a forward-facing car seat until they are at least 5 years old, or at least 40 pounds—whichever comes first. According to Dr. Baer, kids should only graduate from their car seats when they’re mature enough to sit properly in a booster.
Proper Installation
Properly installing a car seat can be tricky; studies show that 9 out of 10 are not installed correctly. At home, fully reading the car seat manual and vehicle manual is a great source of help. For outside assistance, get a local Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) to teach you how to safely install the car seat. Check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website or other local resources to make an appointment for installation. You’ll leave with the knowledge of how to install your seat with the expertise of CPST guidance and oversight live in person. If in-person appointments are not available, online installation videos can be quite helpful or even try a virtual installation appointment with an expert.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Ashley Ziegler is a full-time parenting writer, mom to a 1 and a 4-year-old, and she has personal experience in researching and using infant carriers, rear-facing, and forward-facing car seats. Key considerations she focused on when selecting these products include personal experience, safety features, longevity, and user reviews.
