There are several different types of car seats available for parents to use to keep their children safe while riding in a vehicle. One of these is a convertible car seat. They can be used as what is referred to as a rear facing car seat as well as a forward or front facing car seat. Some convertible car seats can also be used as a booster seat once the child reaches certain weight and height requirements. While there are many convertible car seats available for use, here is where you can learn some need to know facts about some of the best convertible car seat options currently on the market.
Bonus read – The Best Baby Carriers on the market!
Your Best Options This Year
1. Nexfit Matrix
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Chicco Nextfit Convertible Carseat, Purple | Check Price |
The Nexfit Matrix, made by Chicco, is considered to be one of the best convertible car seat examples. It can rear face a child who weighs from five to forty pounds. Also, it can forward face a child weighing from twenty-two to sixty-five pounds. It has a price point of around $299 and the manufacturer has an eight-year expiration timeframe on it.
Some of the features of the Nexfit are that it has easy to remove harness pad covers as well as a no re-thread harness. In this way, any necessary adjustments are easy. The Nexfit also has lock offs and it comes with the LATCH system for buckling the car seat into LATCH ready vehicles. The seats come with an infant insert and have a nine position recline.It also has a two-position crotch buckle.
A downside to this car seat is that in certain positions, the harness buckles can be a little harder to tighten. This car seat has been recommended by many as easy to install in a wide variety of vehicles. Being rated one of the best convertible car seats means the Nexfit has undergone many tests by both government safety as well as mothers to give the best review possible.
2. Britax USA Marathon
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Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat, Verve | Check Price |
The next best convertible car seat is the Britax USA Marathon. This car seat has a weight limit of five to forty pounds for rear facing a child. It also has a range of twenty to sixty-five pounds when forward facing. The manufacturer has a seven-year expiration recommendation on the Marathon.
Some features include an ES buckle, as well as a push button LATCH system. The car seat has a lock off, harness pads, and a no re-thread harness. The Marathon has a ten position quick-adjust harness, which helps to make adjusting the car seat easier. There are also two crotch buckle positions with this car seat. Those who have used this particular car seat say it is compact and easy to install in a vehicle.
The seat’s cover is also easy to remove for cleaning. One downside to this car seat is that many say it has a smaller interior than some of the other seats.
3. Evenflo Sureride
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Evenflo SureRide DLX Convertible Car Seat, Carson | Check Price |
The next car seat on the list of best convertible car seat options is the Evenflo Sureride. It has a rear facing range of five to forty pounds and nineteen to forty inches in height. The forward facing range is twenty-two to sixty-five pounds and twenty-nine to fifty-four inches for height. The Sureride has a price range in the area of $99 and Evenflo has given it a six-year expiration timeframe.
Its features include six shoulder harness positions and two crotch buckle positions. It has pads that are easy to remove for cleaning abilities. This car seat is narrow and lightweight as well as easy to install. One downside is that the harness straps do not come with padding which can occasionally cause discomfort. Evenflo does, however, offer pads that parents can purchase to fit over the Sureride’s straps.
4. Cosco Scenera NEXT
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The Cosco Scenera NEXT comes with a five to forty pound and nineteen to forty inches limit for weight and height while rear facing a child. Forward facing consists of twenty-two to forty pounds and twenty-nine to forty-three inches requirements.
It is considered one of the best convertible car seats because it is both compact and lightweight. Cosco has given this seat an eight year expiration. A negative to this car seat is that the lower weight requirement of forty pounds means that most children outgrow the Scenera NEXT around the age of three, which requires another car seat to be purchased.
5. Graco Contender 65
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The Graco Contender 65 has a rear facing requirement of five to forty pounds and up to forty-nine inches. The forward facing requirements are twenty to sixty-five pounds and up to forty-nine inches. This car seat is considered one of the best convertible car seat options for a number of reasons. It has dual lower anchors for the LATCH system and no re-thread harness. This makes all necessary adjustments easy to do without needing to remove the seat from the vehicle. The car seat itself has a tall shell and two crotch buckle positions. The Contender 65 has what is called the Simply Safe Adjust harness system. This allows both the harness and headrest height to be automatically adjusted simultaneously.
The car seat itself has a tall shell and two crotch buckle positions. The Contender 65 has what is called the Simply Safe Adjust harness system. This allows both the harness and headrest height to be automatically adjusted simultaneously.
These best convertible car seat options have all been through safety standard tests as well as mom tested and approved. What it comes down to from there is merely what works for each individual person. Whether it be how it fits in your vehicle, or how your child fits in the seat itself. Maybe the price is what pulls you to one car seat over another. Maybe you prefer only needing to purchase one car seat rather than more than one as your child grows. No matter what you decide, know your child will be safe.
Feel free to share your thoughts on these convertible car seats.