What Parents NEED to know about Convertible Car Seats!!!

Moving on for your infant car seat? This is the video for you! In this review, Eli decodes convertible car seats. Although it is tough to move on from the convenience of an infant car seat, parents can count on Eli, and Magic Beans to make the transition a bit easier.
To start, it is important for parents to know that convertible car seats are not stroller compatible, they also do not sit in a separate base. Convertible car seats get installed and become a permanent fixture in the vehicle. Most parents opt to purchase a separate convertible car seat for each vehicle their child will ride in. If you prefer to settle on just one seat, you will want to make sure you have a seat that is easy to install and transfer in when swapping in between cars.
Another important difference to note between infant car seats and convertible car seats is the installation process. Most infant car seat bases are easily installed with LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children) with an option to install with seat belt if LATCH anchors are not present in the vehicle.
Infant car seats can be used for their entire life cycle with LATCH installation, this is because most infant car seats have a weight limit of 35lbs. LATCH installation also has a weight restriction. While most car seat manufacturers are equipping their convertible car seats with LATCH installation options, it is important to touch on the fact that a transition to a seat belt installation is inevitable based on the weight limits associated with LATCH installation.

That brings us to "What is a convertible car seat?"

A convertible car seat, is a 5 point harness car seat that can be used both rear and forward facing. Most convertible car seats can be used from birth with an infant insert but parents typically chose to start with an infant car seat for convenience and stroller compatibility.

Convertible car seats should be used rear facing until children are at least 2 years old. Most state laws do require children to rear face to 2 years old. Rear facing is best because this riding position offers the best protection for developing spines.

Because rear facing is so important, many of our favorite baby gear brands are now designing their convertible car seats to offer extended rear facing to 50lbs.

It may be hard to imagine older kiddos rear facing to 50lbs. Where do their legs go? When utilizing extended rear facing car seats, older children can sit cross legged which is actually more comfortable for them then forward facing with their legs dangling down.

Once children are ready to move forward facing, most convertible car seats can forward facing to either 65 lbs or 49 inches. Children typically reach the end of their convertible car seat life cycle around age 5-6 years old and are then ready for a booster seat.

With so many convertible car seat options available, how do parents decide?

All US convertible car seats models pass the same safety tests. But, there are some that offer additional safety features that exceed US safety standards.

Some of the important added safety features to look for are: anti-rebound bars or panels, stability legs, extended rear facing weight limits, and extra side impact protection or side impact pods. Most premium car seat manufacturers are also moving to using only naturally flame resistant materials, thus eliminating the spraying of toxic and chemical flame retardants.

The size of your vehicle may narrow your convertible car seat options. Convertible car seats come in many shapes and sizes. While we love Clek and Diono car seats, these seats are taller than most and fit best in larger vehicles. Britax, Peg Perego and Nuna seats are a bit more compact and offer the best fit for smaller vehicles and taller parents requiring more front seat leg space.

Car seat tetris is also a game parents become familiar with. If you need to fit three car seats across one row of seating, you will need to choose your car seats wisely. Our favorite narrow, 3 across options are: The Clek Fllo and Foonf, the Britax Poplar S, any Diono seat with the #3 in the model name and the Nuna Exec.

Check out our video Best Convertible Car Seats of 2023

Download our convertible car seat buying guide:



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[AwkwardExpression]

Thank you! I am so overwhelmed with the project of having to choose a next car seat.

[danielaanderson]

I’m genuinely so sad that Britax hasn’t come out with the poplar s seat yet. I feel weird about them not having a specific release date that they’ve stuck to. I wanted to buy it but feel weird about the quality of it if it’s made in a rush? I feel weird about being one of the first to buy it without any actual reviews first.

[Meropeever]

I do not think that all car seats need a base. I think we have gone too far and we have become radical with strict rules for car seat safety. I think we have come to a point where we want those car seats to compensate for car travel being dangerous in general. And we judge ourselves for choosing the car to go somewhere, but we don't want our children to suffer any risk because of our choice. News flash. It's not possible to protect your children from all of your own choices and behaviours. And when you take your child out of the house, they will be put at risk. For everything. And that is okay. And even going out by car is still better than not going out at all. But making car seats ridicilously wide to add "side-impact-protection" beyond the protection that the car is offering, is taking it too far. It forces people to rethink carpooling or giving up on having a car seat for their oldest child at all. Also I am convinced that the extended rear facing obsession comes at a cost. And that cost is in the emotional wellbeing of your child. Your child has a need to see you and feel involved. We shouldn't sacrifice everything else for the risk of an accident.