Let’s be honest: talking about child safety car seats with other parents can end up looking like the comments section on a cooking video. People agree that you have to use it, but how you get there and what you do once it happens are completely different things.
Still, car seats have to cause an argument among parents – there should be think pieces and YouTube videos and disagreement.
When we start to argue about things like LATCH systems or the amount of padding that we put into our seats, only then can we start to create safer, more effective baby seats.
The infant and convertible car seats on this page are among the safest and most secure on the market today. They have been carefully vetted and tested to ensure that they will protect your child in accidents.
In order for a car seat to pass through to the market, they have to be explored by different organizations, including:
- Road safety teams
- Scientists
- Parenting groups
- Individual parents
We have combined all of their research together into condensed reviews that thoroughly explore the advantages and disadvantages.
In order to get the most out of whatever car seat you buy, you will need to ensure that your child is properly sitting in the seat, the seat was installed correctly, your child meets the weight and height limits, and everything is in proper working order.
All of these convertible and infant seats come with extensive manuals that will help you get the safest possible usage.
The Safest Convertible Car Seats
Convertible car seats are probably the easiest option for many parents, especially if they are sure they won’t have a child that is too small to meet the initial height and weight limits.
They start out as rear facing that will hold your child up to around 20-25 pounds. From there, you can convert it to a forward-facing seat. The weight limits and height limits there are slightly different, so it is a place you will want to pay attention.
Some seats will then transition from a forward facing car seat to a booster seat.
Some convertible baby seats will allow you to throughout your child’s entire life. Others will require you to get a separate booster seat or an infant car seat if your child does not meet the guidelines.
The seats below are not only some of the most comfortable and easy to use convertible seats, they are also some of the safest convertible car seats on the market. Each stage has been tested and vetted in the most extreme situations.
| Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible | Maxi-Cosi Vello 65 |
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Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible is one the safest convertible car seats on the market today. It has been a brainchild of many different technicians and designers, combing the safety and the luxuriousness that one comes to expect with Peg Perego.
The Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible works rear facing for 5-45 pounds, converts to forward-facing for 22-65 pounds, and also comes with an infant cushion and harness covers.
It also has a seven-year expiration, so you may be able to use it more than once.
This is one of the seats that have some of the widest weight and height limits – it will fit your child for a long time.
The harness and crotch positions are comfortable through each and every stage, allowing for a more personalized fit. There is also a customized tilt and an adjustable headrest.
Finally, the materials are some of the finest quality you will find in convertible car seats. Everything also works well together, ensuring a tight and comfortable fit that will keep your child safe.
DisadvantagesThe manual seems to have quite a few spelling errors and grammar issues that really make it less enjoyable to use. There is an updated version online.
The rear-facing belt path is extremely tight, making it difficult to move in and out of a lot of cars.
Compilation of customer opinionsCustomers love this convertible car seat. They are continually impressed by how well the seat stands up to time – the seat itself doesn’t show the wear and tear that a convertible car seat can go through on a daily basis.
They are also impressed by the amount of customer service one can get.
Graco Size4Me 65
Called “a seat for all families” the Graco Size4Me 65 is a fantastic seat that can grow with your child from 4 to 40 pounds rear-facing and 40-65 pounds forward-facing. It fits preemies and newborns quite well, something that most convertibles will not do without an infant insert.
The seat uses InRight LATCH, which is easier to use than many others on the market. Note that when your child is 45 pounds or over, the vehicle belt must be used instead of the LATCH system. It comes in 3 different colors.
Parents love this seat because of the extremely generous height limits that allow for ERF until the 40 pound weight limit. Kids often outgrow the height limit before the weight in other models. There is a lot of legroom with this seat in general, both for your child and for front seat passengers.
The seat is easy to install and works in a majority of cars, whether you have a compact car, an older car, or something new. The push-on LATCH connectors make installation a lot easier than the hook connectors in many Graco seats. The EPS foam, lined wings and side impact protection are top of the line and come standard with every seat.
For the price, it is one of the best values. The fabric doesn’t fade in the sun, which is great if you live in a warmer climate. The cup holder is fully enclosed, so you can use it for loose snacks if needed.
DisadvantagesSome people have had a hard time tightening the harness straps, especially on smaller babies. The seat itself is a bit bulky even though it does fit into most cars - the bulk comes more in height than in width, so for low-profile cars, this could pose an issue.
Other parents had issues with the chest clip either being too difficult to open or so easy their toddlers could open it. Some didn’t think the seat itself was padded or breathable enough. Be sure to provide shade for your child during hot conditions as you drive, dress them lightly and watch for overheating.
Compilation of customer opinionsThough the seat cover is machine washable, it’s not dryer safe, so this could be a turnoff if you like to wash your seat covers frequently and don’t have a lot of time to spare. Overall, however, parents seem to be happy with this budget-friendly seat despite a few flaws.
Maxi-Cosi Vello 65
Maxi-Cosi has been one of the best car seat manufacturer models on the market for the last few years.
Now, they design some of the safest, most modern, and most comfortable car seats on the market. They have improved their customer service as well.
In the rear facing mode, your child can be 9-40 pounds. For the forward facing mode, the limits are 22 to 65 pounds.
You do get a lot of “extras” with this seat, including storage pockets, cup holders, body pillows, and an easy to remove cover. It will also go the distance – your child will be able to stay in this seat for a long time.
The weight limits also make it possible for your child to stay rear-facing for a longer amount of time.
DisadvantagesThere are significantly fewer adjustments that you can make to the fit of the seat, eliminating that customized feel. The higher starting weight limit does not make it a great option for preemies or smaller babies.
Compilation of customer opinionsOverall, the users of this car seat are extremely impressed with its use. They do not like the higher weight limit at first, which makes it extremely difficult to use for parents who have extremely small babies. They also said that customer service is a bit on the tough side.
Britax USA Boulevard
The Britax Boulevard has a rich-sounding name for a good little car seat. With a rear-facing weight limit of 5-40 pounds (and up to 49”), a forward-facing weight range of 20-65 pounds (and up to 49”), it is a great seat for your growing child.
The seat features seat belt lock offs, adjustable crotch straps, 3 adjustable recline settings, and a 14-position no-rethread harness. There is an upgraded version that comes with an anti-rebound bar, or you can buy one separately if you have a standard model. It comes in 6 color options.
Some of the advantages to this seat include the ease of use. Britax provides exemplary customer support and a clear, easy-to-follow user manual to guide you through installation and conversion. The seat belt lock offs are incredibly easy to use as well. What we liked most was the easy ClickTight installation system that quickly secures the seat with just the vehicle belt.
A 14-position harness, 2-position buckle and easy-to-adjust headrest grows along with your child and is a lifesaver for those growth spurts. The seat doesn’t take up as much room from front to back as some other seats do, making it the perfect option for tall front seat passengers.
Parents love the cushioning, saying it’s much more comfortable than other seats they’ve tried, with better quality fabric that’s more breathable than older models.
DisadvantagesIf you have a taller child, you may want to look elsewhere. While this seat is roomy, it doesn’t offer an ideal amount of legroom like many other seats. This could mean that your child will outgrow the seat earlier than some of the suggested weight limits.
It lacks a cup holder and doesn’t convert to a booster seat, so you’ll need to buy one of those when your child reaches 65 pounds. It’s also on the pricey side, but the great safety ratings and USA construction could make it well worth the investment.
Compilation of customer opinionsOverall, customers have been impressed with this seat. Like other Britax seats, the lack of accessories has been a sore point for some parents, but if you’re happy with a quality seat with few bells and whistles, this one is a great option.
Evenflo Triumph LX
The Evenflo Triumph LX is a good-looking seat with a good height and weight range. The rear facing mode goes from 5-40 pounds and the forward facing mode from 22-65 pounds. The seat itself is about 19 pounds, 20” wide, and 23” high - making it a good fit for most cars, though smaller cars may have problems with the width of the seat.
Made in the USA, the seat has buckle pockets, 2 integrated cup holders, and comes in 3 color options.
This seat is quite easy to install in most vehicles and is pretty lightweight. The LATCH system can be used up to 45 pounds, which is higher than some other seats. The easy-off machine washable padding and removable head & body pillow make this seat extremely comfortable.
It’s been extensively crash tested, most notably for Evenflo’s side impact standard for structural integrity, which is almost twice the federal crash test standards. Most newborns will fit into the seat from the start thanks to the easy to adjust harness, head and body pillow, and plenty of strap positions. The multiple recline angles can be easily adjusted with a button on the front of the base.
The seat is FAA approved and has dual, expandable cup holders that fit any size cup. Of course, the seat is made in the USA, so it tends to have higher quality materials.
DisadvantagesThere is no built-in lockoff system in place to help with seatbelt installation. It doesn’t have harness strap covers, and none are sold separately. Some parents had issues with the straps irritating their baby’s skin. In fact, it seems that this seat lacks any accessories that you can buy for this model.
Finally, the seat is a bit wider than some seats, but usually leaves good legroom for the front passengers while in rear-facing mode. Some parents, however, found it difficult to turn the Tension Right adjusters (knobs located on the sides of the base) when installed in a smaller vehicle such as a Nissan Rogue.
Compilation of customer opinionsOverall, parents like this seat, but they weren’t happy with the lack of available accessories which seemed odd to us, because Evenflo has many products, and some of their other seats offer many accessories.
Safest Infant (Rear-Facing) Car Seats to Bring Your Baby Home In
Infant car seats are increasingly important as more and more parents need to be on the go from the moment they have a child. This is why many companies have put all of their effort into making some of the safest infant car seats ever available.
These seats are designed to be used by children up through a certain weight limit, usually somewhere in the 20-30 pound range.
The seats in this category are designed to be used by parents for their infants. They have been tested thoroughly for safety and ease-of-use. Even more, they have thoroughly passed the parent test.
| Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30 Rachel Zoe Jet Set Special Edition | CYBEX Aton | Baby Trend Inertia |
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Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30 Rachel Zoe Jet Set Special Edition
Designed for parents who want the safest infant car seats on the market as well as the best looking ones, the Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30 Rachel Zoe Jet Set Special Edition is a superior choice.
It was designed by Rachel Zoe, one of the most well-known fashion designers in Hollywood. It seats children between 4-30 pounds, making it a wider option for parents.
The five-point harness makes the fit feel more secure and comfortable. It is also secured on the sides so that every ride is safer. The LATCH system too helps with safety.
Really, the star here is the design: the cognac leather wrapped handle is luxurious, the gold tone harnesses are safe and secure, and the leather detailing makes it easy to clean.
Still, it is extremely light and the adjustable base gives you a secure foundation for the seat. For parents who live in sunny environments, the UV protection cannot be beat.
DisadvantagesThere are very few problems with the seat, save for the somewhat short manufacturer’s warranty.
Compilation of customer opinionsParents absolutely love the luxurious feel of this seat. They have said that they didn’t want to overlook safety but they didn’t want to have just a regular car seat – and that is what this model has given them.
CYBEX Aton
If the bar for safety is at one peg, the CYBEX Aton has completely surpassed it.
With a wide weight range of 4-35 pounds and some of the most user-friendly manuals and features, it is one of the best infant car seats on the market.
There are multiple installation methods that make it great for any size car, a Perfect Positioner insert that increased comfort, and energy absorbing foam that absolutely keeps your child safe.
The biggest appeal of this seat is the broad weight range. The compact shell also means that it fits into cars of all sizes. You can really adjust the fit of the seat, making it extremely customized.
Everything is very neatly explained in a manual that is so user friendly it has become the gold standard for other manuals.
DisadvantagesThe smaller your child, the less customized the fit will be, especially once you get down into preemie sizes. The carrier too is a little on the heavy side. Really, these are all extremely small inconveniences.
Compilation of customer opinionsThe reviews for this seat have been overwhelmingly positive. Parents love the ease of use, the fabrics and materials used, and the extremely friendly support team.
Baby Trend Inertia
If you do get into a crash with your infant, the Baby Trend Intertia is spring-loaded so that it will distribute the force if there is ever a crash.
Simply put, it is one of the safest seats around. With a weight limit of 32 pounds, it is one of the longest-lasting infant car seats.
The higher weight limit makes this one extremely long-lasting. Everything within the base it easy to use, even the LATCH system.
The seat is designed so that if there is a crash, the force is well distributed throughout the base, meaning that your child will barely feel anything. If you are looking at accessories as well, there are quite a few that work alongside this model.
DisadvantagesAll of the safety is located within the base of the unit. This means that your child will be without a lot of the safety if you only use the seat or when you are carrying him or her. Finally, buckling in your child is difficult and takes a lot of practice.
Compilation of customer opinionsParents have been frustrated with quite a few of the elements. However, since the safety is there, many have chosen to overlook it. Parents also lamented some of the design choices.
Which organization seals should I look for when picking the safest car seat?
Look for either a seal or a certificate within the paperwork from different agencies. These are the agencies who have a track record of choosing the best seats that will protect your child in case of an accident. While there are many firms out there to evaluate car seat safety, these are the ones that are tried and true:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports on the technology and tools behind a car seat system. Using this resource is particularly important for parents who will be driving on high-speed roads. Their system is easy to understand and helps many parents discover whether or not the equipment they chose is easy to use, using a star-based system. All of the seats that they rank do meet their standards, they are simply pointing out the safest car seats among them.
As for all things that you purchase, you can also check with Consumer Reports, which will monitor all of the latest comings and goings of car seats. While the main focus is on the child and safety, you will also get the skinny on whether or not this seat is great to use. If the best safety features aren’t easy to use, few people are going to take advantage of them, and you need to know that.
Tips for safety use of child car seats
To safely use a car seat, there are many things you need to take into consideration first. The most important thing is that you thoroughly read through the user guide before actually putting your car seat to use. Always ensure that your car seat is brand new. Make sure you understand what is being said and how to do everything – this will take some research from you before your baby even arrives.
There are different sizes available to you, so make sure that you are always using the one that matches your child:
- Infant only: Up to 35 pounds in some cases
- Convertible: Each mode has a different weight limit. Make sure to keep your child rear facing for as long as possible.
- Toddler: Can hold up to 70 pounds in some cases
When installing your car seat, make sure to have all of the connections secured and the seat properly adjusted. Most hospitals will help you, but once your baby is home you are on your own. Take advantage of the nurse that tries to help you – ask questions.
The center rear seat is the best place for your child to be, though most parents won’t put their child in the middle. It is easier for you if the seat is behind the driver, but remember to think about safety. If you have more than one child, consider putting the most vulnerable (typically the youngest, but not always) in the middle seat.
If you are purchasing a new car so that you can accommodate a car seat, look for one that allows LATCH connections in the middle. Note that some parents can’t put the baby in the middle because moms who have C-sections aren’t allowed to lean for some time.
You can get individualized tips for each of those seats on our other pages.
Avoid the ten most common car seat safety mistakes
Car seat safety is one of the things that will keep you up at night as a parent. Are you installing everything correctly? Do you really know what you’re doing? Many parents make the same common mistakes:
They buy a used car seat. If you don’t know the history of a safety seat, don’t use it. There is no way for you to tell whether the seat has missing parts, it has been damaged, it has been recalled, or it has expired. You can check the model number, but that doesn’t tell you the whole story.
They make the seat too loose. Sure, you want your baby to be comfortable. However, you also want your baby to be safe. Don’t make it too tight, obviously, but you want the hold to be firm.
They dress their children in too much clothing. Even if it is cold outside, consider using thinner outerwear and keeping your car warm. Once you have your baby buckled up, then you can layer a blanket. Bulky outerwear will reduce the efficiency of your seat.
They put the car seat in the wrong place. Always put your car seat in the middle rear seat if possible. Keep them away from air bags. If you only have one row of seats, ensure that all air bags are deactivated – but it is really better to have another car.
They put the recline at the wrong angle. Instructions come with your car seat, use them. If your baby is between angles, consider using a rolled towel or blanket to find that perfect fit. Do not use additional products within the seat itself unless they come directly from the same company.
They keep their baby in the car seat when he/she’s napping. This is incredibly dangerous! The strap in the seat can cut off oxygen, obstructing breathing and doing serious damage. You shouldn’t even allow your child to sit in a car seat for too long. This is double true if you have a colicky baby or one that has gastroesophageal reflux disease.
They move them to a forward-facing carseat too early. Parents are always tempted to move their children to a forward-facing seat because they can see them better. However, most people will agree that sitting rear is important until at least two years of age. If your child can go longer, keep them backwards.
They go booster way too early. Kids can be demanding, but don’t let yours win this one. A booster seat should only be used when your child has passed the height and weight requirements. Keep your child in a harness for as long as possible.
They use the booster seat ineffectively. The booster seat helps to adjust the lap belt so that it fits properly. Seat belts should be low and against the upper thighs with the shoulder belt crossing the middle of the chest and shoulders.
They transition to no seats too quickly. By right, children shouldn’t be out of their safety systems until about 12 years old. Make sure that your child is 4’9”, can sit against the back of the seat for an entire trip, and can wear the safety belt properly.
Remember that it is always important to lean on the side of caution – and that you are the parent!
