By law, children must use a child car seat until they’re 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first. Children over 12 or more than 135cm must use a seat belt.
Parents of tiny tots should also be aware of the i-Size legislation. This new European-wide car seat regulation aims to make car seats safer by keeping children rear facing for longer (until they’re at least 15-months-old), as well as improving safety features by introducing side impact testing standards.
It also requires that the car seat must use Isofix. Don’t panic if you’re still using a non i-Size car seat. It’s not illegal. But the safer i-Size seats are steadily replacing all old-style ones.
1.Graco Slim Fit All-In-One Convertible Car Seat
The Graco SlimFit convertible car seat will grow with your child from 5 pounds up to 100 pounds! The cupholders on both sides make it a very kid- and parent-friendly option, saving you reaching around to hand a drink to your little one mid-road trip.
2. Chicco NextFit Zip Convertible Car Seat
The Chicco NextFit Zip has nine positions for reclining, which is one of the most reclining positions of any convertible car seat. That means it’s more likely to fit in lots of different sized cars, an essential capability if you’re going to use that seat until your kid is 12! You could change cars a few times in that many years!
3. Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
I have this seat for my two kids and chose it in part because it had so many positive Amazon reviews.
4. Evenflo SafeMax Platinum All-In-One Convertible Car Seat
Parents enjoy the ability to unzip parts of this seat to wash them separately, which, as a parent, is pretty high on the list of priorities you never knew you’d have!
5.Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 Max Convertible Car Seat
This seat is only a 2-in-1, for toddlers from 22 pounds rear-facing up to 85-pound kids front-facing. One parent reviewer pointed out that being able to open the buckles with one hand is a big plus.
6. Graco 4Ever 4-In-1 Convertible Car Seat
Another Graco that parents love for their kids — that will last through 10 years of your kid’s car-seat and booster-seat years! This one is a little more plush than the Graco SlimFit, making it a little more comfy for your newborn to your 10-year-old, and costs a little more as well.
7. Diono Radian RXT All-In-One Convertible Car Seat
While this car seat looks like it’s designed for a 12-year-old, it’s an all-in-one that can work for your newborn from five pounds. A big plus for this car seats is that it actually folds flat, making it a good option if you travel a lot and need to check your car seat on a plane.
8. Evenflo Tribute Sport Convertible Car Seat
It’s a little hard to believe that such a well-loved convertible car seat could be only $55, but it’s true. However, it does only accommodate a child up to 40 pounds, whether they’re rear-facing or forward-facing.
9. Safety 1st Continuum 3-In-1 Car Seat
Another bargain convertible car seat that will grow with your kid from five pounds up to 80 pounds. Many parents love it for a budget option for their second car.
10. Evenflo Symphony Elite All-In-One Convertible Car Seat
