Best Convertible Car Seats of 2024
These top convertible car seats provide the best combination of safety and ease of installation
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A convertible car seat is a must for parents to stay in step with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation to keep kids rear-facing for as long as possible. Once a child outgrows an infant car seat, a convertible seat is the next step up. It can be installed in rear- and forward-facing configurations, and it’s likely to be the one a child sits in for the longest period of time.
Most kids will outgrow an infant, or rear-facing-only, seat because of their height first, rather than their weight. Based on our tests, Consumer Reports recommends that parents transition their children to a rear-facing convertible seat by age 1.
Using CR’s Car Seat Ratings
Consumer Reports’ crash tests simulate the inside of a car and the forces that would be encountered in a crash. That way we can evaluate how well a child seat might reduce the risk of injuries. (Seats are evaluated for their crash protection on a scale of Basic, Better, and Best.) Each convertible seat is crash-tested in all its configurations and installation methods with age-appropriate child-sized dummies.
Our fit-to-vehicle ratings reflect the differences between using LATCH (the anchors that are built into a car) and using the standard three-point seat belt, with separate ratings for the different orientations and installations. Our Overall Scores take into consideration regulations that limit the seat-plus-child weight of 65 pounds for LATCH lower-anchor use. This means that you might not be able to keep the seat LATCH-installed quite as long if it’s heavier, and you’ll have to switch to installing it with a seat belt instead.
The Bottom Line
Most children will need to move from an infant seat to a convertible seat to remain rear-facing. All convertible seats meet at least the minimum requirements for safety, and our ratings and recommendations will help you differentiate which ones provide a greater margin of protection and increase your chance of getting it securely and correctly installed.
Prices of the convertible seats in our ratings range from just $60 up to $650. But know that a higher price doesn’t necessarily reflect greater quality or safety. You can buy a safe, top-performing seat without a hefty price tag.
For more information as you shop, see our child car seat buying guide.
Top-Rated Convertible Car Seats
