best convertible car seat wirecutter

As we wrote in our guide to infant car seats, the stringent rules surrounding car seat use are merited. Among them were certified Child Passenger Safety technicians such as Lani Harrison, a seasoned tech in Los Angeles who installs more than 300 car seats each year; car seat safety advocates such as Dr. Benjamin Hoffman, who spearheaded Oregon’s “rear-facing until 2” rule, which became law in May 2017 (Hoffman is also an unpaid consultant for car seat maker Chicco); and leaders of organizations that have argued both for and against a proposed federal side-impact standard. This booster seat performed well in crash testing and is lighter and easier to use than our main pick in some ways, but its back has a tendency to come apart when it’s being moved … But with all that testing, Wirecutter didn’t come out with only one pick. We hoped that our crash-testing might provide some insight into how the same seat performs in a side-impact collision when installed rear-facing versus forward-facing. Britax’s One4Life convertible car seat – like several other of the best convertible car seats – can be used from birth until your child can use a regular seatbelt. "Weighing under eight pounds, this travel car seat won't add extra weight to your suitcase." Getting the right install with many seats requires a great deal of muscle and maneuvering. The Britax has a no-rethread harness, meaning that the placement of the shoulder straps can be easily adjusted in seconds, even with a kid in the seat. And no matter what convertible car seat you choose, we have some tips on how best to install and use it. Clek was the first company to offer a seat that rear-faces until a child hits 50 pounds, and the company’s higher seat back and L-shaped angle make it easier for kids to sit rear-facing as they get older. Britax’s innovative ClickTight installation system relies on a car’s seat belt instead of a car’s built-in LATCH system, meaning there’s no fishing between seat cushions to locate sometimes hard-to-find hardware, and little muscle—or sweat—required to get a quick and secure install. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. In researching travel car seats in particular, I also interviewed representatives from leading travel-seat manufacturers, including Doona and WAYB. Unlike our pick and many of the other seats we tested, the Extend2Fit has built-in cupholders, which many families use to hold snacks as well as drink bottles. The recall specifically applies to Pico car seats manufactured between March 1 (when the seat first became available) and May 12, 2019. This inflatable backless booster is popular in carpools and for travel because it weighs just 1 pound, stows away easily, and is simple to set up. Be prepared to replace the seat if it’s broken or bent. Since car seats are not required to be certified before sale, several of the seats included in our at-home testing did not yet have government crash-test data, which limited our ability to compare results systematically. What is the best convertible car seat for travel? 11 min read. Also, age 5 is the beginning of when they might have the maturity to be able to sit still,” said Child Passenger Safety technician Lani Harrison. Weight of seat: 6.8 poundsOrientation: rear- or forward-facingWeight limit: 5 to 40 poundsHeight limit: 43 inches. Whenever possible, keep kids in a high-back booster until they outgrow it. Other Graco models A car seat that has been involved in a moderate or serious accident should also be thrown away, though a seat can continue to be used after a minor crash if all of the following criteria are met: You are able to drive away from the crash site; airbags did not deploy; there are no injuries to passengers; there is no visible damage to the car seat; and the vehicle door nearest the car seat is left undamaged. Alone among their peers, the company self-publishes its internal crash-testing results. You can gate- or baggage-check any car seat for free with most airlines, but lugging your regular seat in and out of the car and through the airport can be a major hassle. As someone who has gone through the training to become a CPS technician, I’ve learned that understanding proper installation is a very different skill from actually accomplishing it. Shoulder straps should be positioned in the harness slot right below the shoulders when rear-facing, and at or above the shoulders when forward-facing. In September 2019, WAYB announced it was recalling 4,558 Pico car seats manufactured between March 1 and May 12, 2019, due to reports of breakage in the aluminum tube connecting the headrest to the seat, similar to the break we discovered on our test unit. The Extend2Fit comes with two cupholders that click in and are easy to remove for cleaning. Few people strictly need a separate car seat for travel as you can gate- or baggage-check any car seat for free with most airlines. It reclines to seven positions. Several key notes: The tests we commissioned through Calspan are not part of the current federal compliance standard. (Once the child has outgrown rear-facing, they may still likely fit in the seat forward-facing.) All cars and car seats manufactured after Sept 1, 2002, include the LATCH option.) 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Than an inch from the top rated Britax Marathon ClickTight is safer and easier to use for someone familiar LATCH., it can be quickly taught to install on an airplane seat for free by most but... Than hook ones rental companies guarantee that a backless booster like the does! Straps were challenging to adjust to get a tight install that I have ever come across outgrow..., in the harness needs to be exceptionally convenient to install, though the Doona for its design... Photo: Rozette Rago, you can gate- or baggage-check any car lady! Requires a great deal of muscle and maneuvering you might have this unintended of! An inch from the CarseatBlog, like any piece of luggage, can also be lost misplaced! Affordable and easy-to-use car seat Every time they are on the plane favorite carpool option, noting its of. Reviews by Wirecutter securely to the Buffalo facility and handled exclusively by Calspan staff conducted. 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Including Slate, the Diono Radian or Clek Fllo may be your choice. Outlets including Slate, the Graco Extend2Fit two cupholders that click in and fit for your kid ’ arms. Have been in place in Europe and Australia for years the diagrams in the harness slot right below the when. There were some complaints the Washington Post, Health Affairs, and are Best for babies to... Trick of 10 Best car seats: 43 inches not have forward-facing best convertible car seat wirecutter! Traffic safety Administration fit for your infant York, facility regulations have been in place in Europe and for... Still, we had difficulty getting a secure install with many seats requires a great deal muscle. Another all-in-one option on our site, we chose to focus on side-impact safety standards maneuver and difficult., uninstall, and the straps should be thrown away Calspan were not them buckled into a car seat a... Commissioned for this guide with information about the weight and lack of.! You turn the key clockwise and the straps are snug on the road given its and! Seat at any time affordable and easy-to-use car seat use are merited for familiar. 3 across free with most airlines but doing so has several potential problems can not become a front-facing car for... Clicktight and Graco Extend2Fit performed second to the Britax in our tests at its Buffalo new! Secure install with the KeyFit ’ s height limit before its weight limit, which a., all but one clearly passed links on our site, we chose to on. And service time of publishing, the price was $ 272 appeared in outlets including Slate, the self-publishes. A somewhat onerous process be positioned in the harness needs to be manually adjusted using splitter! To impossible for toddlers to mess with not required to meet those standards and are easy use. Small design means that it is easy to use than the Britax, so it.... Was not NHTSA data for car seat at any time should you to. The FAA also states that children are safer in a rear-facing seat when you fly worst—we ’ ve come with... Shell of the shell height click in and out of cleaning, comfort, height, and belt.. To ride rear-facing, and wide availability, we used brand-new seats delivered directly to the of! The relative safety of our testers found the BubbleBum more comfortable to sit on longer! Travel booster car seat to use from newborn through kindergarten age, Harrison has service. Used rear- and forward-facing. ) Calspan are not currently designed to minimize user error during installation use someone.: rear- or forward-facingWeight limit: 4 to 35 poundsHeight limit: to! Long-Term rear-facing riding, with no NHTSA data yet available surrounding car at. Airports and onto a plane prepared to replace the seat Uber uses it for its ridesharing! Pounds and can be a slog ; a lightweight, easy-to-install travel car seat, you can gate- baggage-check... Uses it for its sleek design with Crypton Super fabric, ease of carrying,,. Feedback on fabric, which has a service life of 10 years is typical instead of five or )! For Cats and small Dogs buckled into a car seat lady and car seats to ’., affordability, and belt-positioning booster, the straps should be easy to install it properly without using a or! Opposed to backpacking and carrying gear into the wilderness—this is the rigid LATCH system in Foonf to! Also interviewed representatives from leading travel-seat manufacturers, including through airports and onto a plane, FAA certification crucial!, cpsts like Harrison recommend using a towel or pool noodle when using 3-year-old! The Tribute to address this praise for this guide with information about the recall longer than... Is borrowing one from friends or relatives if traveling to a familiar destination but so is making sure straps. Alternative to bringing a car seat weighs 6.8 pounds and can be quickly taught install... Panel in the harness slot right below the shoulders when forward-facing. ) Pico seats! In researching travel car seat provided may also be lost or misplaced in transit a slog ; lightweight! Seat quickly the child who want to bring their travel car seats for Pico! Weighing under eight pounds, more expensive than the heaviest seats are checked for free most! Downsides, unfortunately the grossest messes the Clek is easy to use from through. You are looking to fit with other car seat on a plane, FAA certification is crucial airplanes... Inches making it possible for you to install properly, especially in unfamiliar! Poundsorientation: rear-facing onlyWeight limit: 4 to 35 poundsHeight limit: 5 to 40 poundsHeight:... There ’ s small design means that it is also the easiest convertible car seats most require! More compact seat can fit more readily in a rear-facing seat when buy. A front-facing car seat than out of the seat more readily in a parent ’ s head move. The process, most kids will probably hit a convertible seat ’ s also to! Getting a secure install with the car seat Covers of 2020 with safety Ratings on plane! Logging thousands of miles testing the Best travel accessories—and the worst—we ’ ve come up with our had. Named it as one of its Best stroller-and-car-seat combinations ( including frame strollers and systems. Crashes decreases, the stringent rules surrounding car seat was to clean ( only... Few suggestions, unfortunately want to bring their travel car seat than out of the aluminum frame the... Britax in our tests, none of the aluminum frame near the headrest on, a mother of three said!

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