Best Toddler Car Seats

There comes a time when our babies aren’t babies anymore, and their growing little bodies need bigger accommodations. Lucky for parents, there are some awesome options out there for parents looking for toddler car seats. It’s almost impossible to find a standard forward-facing car seat anymore that is JUST for toddlers; the bar is being raised constantly to produce innovative and safe technology that grows with our babies. Also, because of constantly evolving car seat laws, it’s important to find the right fit for your kiddo. Convertible car seats are the new “go-to” for not only toddlers but for newborns and bigger kids as well. Although convertible car seats are perfect for toddlers, they are made to grow with your baby from the first day of their life up until they can graduate to seat belts. So, whether you’re looking for an infant car seat or for your toddler, we’ve put together the best toddler car seats that also pull double duty and are also some of the best convertible car seats, too.

BEST OVERALL | Graco 4ever All-in-One Convertible Car Seat

Graco 4ever All-in-One Convertible Car Seat

The Graco 4ever All-in-One Convertible Car Seat works quadruple duty and grows with your baby from day one until they can graduate to full-on seatbelt mode. It starts out for infants with an infant insert and padding that supports their little bodies and can be used rear-facing from 4-40lbs. The 4ever All-in-One then transforms into a front-facing toddler seat for cuties 20-65 lbs, followed by a high back booster and backless booster for older kiddos that aren’t quite ready for a seatbelt. Safety and quality is a top feature with this car seat. A level bubble indicator helps to ensure a safe installation. The fabric is soft and supported by energy-absorbing EPS foam which is THEN backed by a steel reinforced frame. With an adjustable base that has 6 recline positions (3 rear-facing and 3 forward-facing) and a no-rethread 10-position headrest, this fancy car seat is sure to be your new BFF. For smaller cars and sedans, the All-in-One might be a tighter fit when used as a rear-facing seat. However, if you’re looking to save money and space in the long run, and want to avoid purchasing more than one car seat for your kiddo, the All-in-One might be a great fit. The MSRP is $299.99 but check the Graco 4ever All-in-One Convertible Car Seat – Amazon price here. This car seat truly is a one-of-a-kind and has a ton of versatile and features to fit your family’s needs for a long time!

BEST DESIGN | Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 Convertible Car Seat

Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 Convertible Car Seat

With some seriously cute designs and better than average padding, the Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 Convertible Car Seat is a top contender for best toddler car seats. It comes with an infant insert, doesn’t need to be rethreaded to get the pad on or off, and has soft self-wicking fabric that will keep your baby cool and comfortable. This seat features an advanced air cushion system that protects your child’s head, where it’s needed most in a side impact crash. It also an additional margin of safety over most other convertible car seats on the market, according to crash test data. Another great feature is the 3 position recline options for forward and rear facing. This cute little car seat also features one-hand harness height adjustment with micro-adjustments for an optimized fit. Some parents will appreciate that it’s easy to clean, and washer/dryer safe. The easy LATCH feature ensures that the 5-point harness is safely secured to keep your baby in place. Weight limit for the Pria is 9-40 for rear-facing, and 22-70lbs for forward-facing. The MSRP is $200, click here to find the current Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 Convertible Car Seat – Amazon price.

EASIEST TO USE | Chicco NextFit Convertible Car Seat

Chicco NextFit Convertible Car Seat

The Chicco NextFit Convertible Car Seat may just be one of the easiest toddler car seats to use. Like, ever. Using SuperCinch (yes that’s a word) technology makes it easy for even grandparents to get a solid installation. The easy-to-read dual liquid bubble level indicators ensure a proper installation.  It also features a no-rethread harness that has 6 different height positions. This may be one of the only convertible car seats that has 9 different recline positions, making it ideal for an accurate fit in a wider range of vehicles. The 6 position head rest grows with your baby, and there’s even an infant insert for smaller babies. Another great feature is that the 5-point harness adjusts for a wider fit as the headrest is raised for a growing child. This car seat is also FAA certified to be safe for use in airplanes, not something many car seats can boast about. The weight limit is 4-40lbs for rear-facing and 40-65lbs for front-facing. MSRP for the NextFit is $300 but check out the Chicco NextFit Convertible Car Seat – Amazon price right now. Everything about this car seat is made to make your life easier and your baby’s ride more comfortable.

MOST VERSATILE | Diono Radian R120 All-In-One Convertible Car Seat

Diono Radian R120 Convertible Car Seat

The Diono Radian R120 Convertible Car Seat is another seat that can grow with your child from day one until they graduate to a seat belt. It features an infant insert for smaller babies and can be used as a rear-facing car seat. It then converts to a forward-facing seat for toddlers, and can then be made into a booster seat for kids that aren’t quite ready for a seatbelt. This seat is ultra-safe with a steel frame, EPS foam to absorb high impact, and a SafeStop energy absorbing harness that reduces the impact on kiddos in case of a crash. It fits children in the rear-facing position from 5-45lbs and in front-facing from 20-80lbs. The booster seat can be used for kids up to 120lbs. Due to the slim profile of the Radian R120, it’s easy to fit 3 wide in most vehicles. The cover is machine washable and comes with a cup holder for easy access to drinks and snacks. Possibly the most fun feature of this car seat is the ability to fold it up for easy storage, or to transport it as a backpack. Because it’s FAA approved (and folds up for easy storage and transport), this is the ideal car seat to bring with when traveling all over the world. The MSRP is $270 but check the Diono Radian R120 All-In-One Convertible Car Seat – Amazon price here.

BARGAIN BUY | Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat

Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat

If budget is a top priority, then the Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat might be a great option for you. It is tested at 2 times the crash standards, side impact tested and meets or exceeds federal safety laws so it’s sure to keep your baby safe in case of a crash. The Evenflo Tribute is designed to be lightweight and compact, making it easy great for vehicle fit or movement between multiple cars.  It can be used rear-facing for babies 5-30lbs and rear-facing 22-40lbs. Other than the safe easy install, compact design, and safety features, there aren’t any extra frills that come with the Evenflo Tribute. With an MSRP of $80, check the Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat – Amazon price here. Overall, it’s a great option for babies or toddlers and for parents that are looking for a safe and sturdy car seat on a budget.

BOTTOM LINE

Whether you’re looking for a toddler car seat or one that will last for your baby’s entire childhood, sometimes a convertible car seat will save money in the long run instead of buying multiple seats Rest knowing that whatever car seat you buy will be a safe one, as all car seats on the market today need to pass safety standards. In the end, it’s important to find a seat that’s safe and comfortable for your baby, but also meets your family’s travel needs.

Once you’ve found a good car seat for your kiddo entering the toddler stage, find the best baby gear for your new toddler in our Toddler Essentials article!