In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.
After spending tens of thousands of dollars on crash testing car seats in a certified testing lab, we discovered that not all car seats are equal, despite their ability to pass basic federal crash tests. Since 2014, we've tested over 100 seats, including crash testing, to help you determine which car seat is the best for your baby, toddler, or child. We purchase each seat and conduct intensive side-by-side testing, including crash tests at the exact location used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). We combine crash test results with our extensive hands-on testing to analyze which competitors are the top performers.
The Graco 4Ever DLX is our favorite convertible car seat. This option pairs an excellent crash test analysis score with an easy-to-use seat that has a reasonable price. If a rotating seat has you curious, the Chicco Fit360 is an uber-easy-to-install seat that is comfy and easy to use.
The Nuna Pipa RX is one of our favorite infant car seats of all time. This impressive seat is easy to use, easy to install, and has the best crash test sensor results we've ever seen in an infant car seat. However, it is a higher-priced seat, and the budget option, Britax Willow S, also has impressive crash test analysis and is easy to install at a fraction of the price.
Over time, you will need three different kinds of car seats based on your baby's age and size (height and weight). If you know the kind you need, you can check out our comparison test ratings on infant car seats, convertible car seat, and booster seat. These reviews include more products in each category than in this comprehensive review.
Who is this best for? The Nuna Pipa RX is the perfect seat for families whose budget allows for a high-dollar, high-ranking seat. With the best crash test results, it is perfect for those who value crash test results above all else and can afford to pay a little more.
Why we love it: The Pipa is a high-quality infant car seat with some of the best crash test sensor data we've ever seen, offering a potential margin of safety over the average seat. It is easy to install with rigid LATCH, so you don't have to tighten anything or mess with a lockoff. The Nuna carrier weighs only 8.5 lbs, making it one of the lightest high-ranking options and perfect for those who plan to carry their car seat regularly.
Should you buy it? The Nuna is expensive, so those with a tighter budget might need to look elsewhere. It also has a rethread harness system. While not a deal-breaker, it is more convoluted to adjust. Lastly, the Pipa is not compatible with many strollers. Minor hiccups aside, there is much to love about the Pipa RX, and we think most families will love every aspect of this easy-to-use car seat.
Who is this best for? The Britax Willow S is one of those rare baby gear products that hit the sweet spot of being affordable and impressive, making it perfect for families on a budget who don't want to sacrifice safety. It offers higher crash test analysis results with low sensor G-force results in our crash testing (lower is better), and multiple easy-to-install methods. It features an anti-rebound bar and the ClickTight belt lock-off.
Why we love it: Our favorite thing about the Willow is what you get for the price. The Willow excelled in most tests despite being cheaper than many competitors by close to two hundred dollars. We love finding a great product that is budget-friendly and doesn't sacrifice safety or ease of use.
Should you buy it? The Willow is the perfect option for parents with smaller budgets who don't want to sacrifice ease of installation, ease of use, or crash test results. It hits all the high points, like straightforward installation with an effective lock-off, a carrier weight of a pound below average, and easy-to-use everyday features like the buckle and chest clip. One tester said, “I really can't find a reason not to choose the Willow over higher-priced choices.”
Who is this best for? The Romer Juni is the perfect infant seat for families looking for superior crash test analysis, but with a smaller budget than the highest ranking option allows. The Juni sacrifices very little but can save you almost two hundred dollars over its closest competitor.
Why we love it: The Juni marries impeccably easy installation in almost every method with some of the best crash test results to create a nearly ideal infant seat experience. While it struggled a little bit for everyday use thanks to a handle release lever that struggled to slide smoothly, it more than made up for it with the biggest, most useful canopy in the group.
Should you buy it? As long as your goal isn't a lightweight carrier (this baby weighs 10.2 lbs), we think most families will love darn near everything about the Juni. From the reasonable price to the standout crash results and practically foolproof installation, it is hard to find fault with this high-ranking seat.
The Romer Junin is a fantastic, reasonably priced infant car seat.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Baby Wearing
If you don't want to pair your infant car seat carrier with a stroller or want to carry it, you might consider using a baby carrier. Wearing your little one close in a baby carrier is a wonderful way to facilitate bonding and often keeps babies calm and soothed, reducing crying or emotional outbursts. Many modern carriers keep your hands free to get things done with your baby on board without requiring a bulky or expensive stroller!
Who is this best for? The Evenflo Shyft Dualride is a relatively unique infant car seat you can use with or without the included frame stroller. It earned better than average crash test analysis results and fills a niche for parents who want or need to quickly get from the car to strolling and don't necessarily want to hassle with a separate stroller.
Why we love it: This is a perfect option for those who want to easily move from car rides to city streets without carrying an infant car seat carrier. This all-in-one product means buying less, carrying less, and storing less, so you can get on your way without folding and unfolding a stroller that might not fit in your Uber.
Should you buy it? The Shyft can save you money and time over creating a travel system and purchasing an additional product. It can also be a game-changer for those living in urban environments where public transportation could legally allow them to forego a car seat. As one city dweller shared, “I love that I can just get out of the Lyft and start strolling without worrying about my stroller.” Food for thought: The Shyft is heavy with the stroller attached (21 lbs). Carrying it up multiple flights of stairs could be rough for many.
Who is this best for? The Graco 4Ever DLX should be a go-to option for parents prioritizing the best crash test analysis results over other factors. However, that isn't the only reason to choose it; it is easy to use, easy to install, and reasonably priced for what you get.
Why we love it: The 4Ever DLX is one of those rare products that seems like nothing can go wrong. This reasonably priced convertible seat has one of the best crash test analyses, is easy to install using LATCH, significantly easier than the average seat for belt installation, and has super easy-to-use features like a non-rethread harness height adjustment.
Should you buy it? The 4Ever is a compelling choice for any family with virtually any car seat goal. It is reasonably priced and has some of the best crash test results. It has straightforward features, making it a pleasure to use, and is relatively lightweight. While somewhat wide, we think it is a seat every family will love right out of the box. Our top tester said, “If a seat could be perfect, I think this one is pretty darn close.”
Top of head is at least 1 in below the headrest edge
Forward Facing Maximum Height
49 in
Weight
27.9 lb
Who is this best for? The Romer Veni is the perfect convertible seat for those who love a luxurious, polished look with sublime installation effort. This seat offers a similar lockoff to the Britax ClickTight options (Romer and Britax share the same parent company), and it provides supportive comfort padding with softer fabric.
Why we love it: While this seat didn't wow in the crash test analysis department, with a score just above the average, its quick and simple installation abilities catapult it to the upper echelon of options because proper installation is crucial to safety in real-world scenarios.
Should you buy it? The Romer is a good choice if you worry about installation and want a comfortable seat that potentially offers more for safety. This seat is expensive and has a higher than average price, but it is less expensive than its closest competitor, and we think you get what you pay for with quality.
Who is this best for? The Graco Extend2Fit 3 in 1 is one of our favorite convertible car seats, sporting a reasonable price tag and one of the highest crash test analysis results. This Graco is comfortable, with supportive padding that decreases pressure points and a headrest suitable for road trip napping.
Why we love it: The Extend2Fit offers a nice balance between impressive crash analysis, comfort, quality, and a better price. It is hard to say there is one favorite thing, but perhaps the extendable leg room and the potential to sit rear-facing longer. Since sitting rear-facing is considered safer, the longer your little one sits in that direction, the better.
Should you buy it? Parents looking for a seat with safety in mind should consider the Extend2Fit. While the crash test analysis is one of the highest, it also allows for longer rear-facing installation and is easy to use. Each of these factors can help improve overall safety, so finding a seat with all of them plus a lower-than-average price is a winner in our book. Overall, the Extend2Fit is an excellent choice for many families, offering enough to satisfy both parents and toddlers.
Top of head is at least 1 in below the headrest handle
Forward Facing Maximum Height
49 in
Weight
19.5 lb
Who is this best for? The Graco SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 is the top consideration if narrow is the name of the game. With a width of 16.5 inches, it is the narrowest in the group and might be a game changer for smaller cars or those where multiple people or seats need to fit in a single row.
Why we love it: We love that this seat offers a potential additional margin of protection over the average seat, thanks to its better performance in our crash tests. It is narrow, lighter weight, and feels like better quality than similar seats in its price range. This is a top prospect if you need a narrow seat or have a smaller budget and care about crash test analysis.
Should you buy it? We think families who value a functional yet smaller car seat will enjoy what the SlimFit3 LX has to offer. While it can be harder to install than some competitors, we think the higher crash test ratings and the small width make this reasonably priced seat a compelling choice for many families.
Who is this best for? The Chicco Fit 360 is best for those who want a rotating seat or who have anxiety about installation. Because correct installation can impact the potential crash performance of the seat, it is super important that seats are installed perfectly. The Chicco makes this easy and stress-free with a straightforward process that does the hard work for you.
Why we love it: One of our favorite things about the Fit360 is the one-time installation of the base that works both forward and rear-facing. The ability to rotate the seat around on the base is cool for ease of getting little ones in and out and for switching to forward-facing when the time is right.
Should you buy it? This seat is a rotating convertible seat that is one of the easiest to install. We like the convenience of adjusting the harness with the passenger facing out and think it could be a game-changer for those who struggle to get little ones in or out of the car.
Who is this best for? The Nuna AACE is best for families who favor crash test results and have a bigger budget. There is no downside to the AACE, and the ease of installation, ease of use, and quality mean most users will be exceedingly pleased.
Why we love it: The AACE is one of the most impressive booster seats, with the best crash test analysis results for a booster. It is an easy-to-use, comfortable option made with higher-quality materials that look good and function as they should. This option is narrow at 16 inches in our tests, and it includes a rigid LATCH feature to keep it secured to the vehicle when not in use.
Should you buy it? Overall, the Nuna is our favorite booster, hands down, and we think parents and kids alike will feel good about using it. The crash test results alone make it worthy of consideration, and how easy it is for little ones to use feels like icing on an already perfect piece of cake.
Who is this best for? The Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 is a great all-around booster for families focused on safety and comfort at a reasonable price. With features like the covered snack container, a padded leg rest, and an easy-to-remove cover, we think parents and little ones can find something to love.
Why we love it: We love that the Air Plus has a zip-off cover and a padded leg lounger feature, and it is installed using LATCH. Our testers said, “The leg lounger is really cool and a great addition for those with comfort on the brain.” This feature helps prevent the discomfort of dangling legs that testers complained about during the testing of other seats.
Should you buy it? This is the one booster that does it all well and does it for a below-average price. With higher crash test analysis results and an easy-to-use design, this higher-quality option is a shoo-in for your shortlist.
Who is this best for? The Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 is an impressive high-backed booster that offers exceptional adjustability, the best crash testing analysis for booster seats, and is of higher quality, making it the perfect booster for almost anyone, but a compelling consideration for kids who need some extra space.
Why we love it: We love the expanding wing sides, the two-point height adjustment, and the tapered seat for easy buckling. Unlike many seats that just offer a one-size-fits-most design, this booster gives more opportunity to work for children of all sizes. It is a great way to get a high-backed booster for children who might not fit in a traditional non-adjustable option. Our senior tester said, “There isn't much to dislike about this booster.”
Should you buy it? This is the best booster for those worried about crash test results and who have a larger budget. The Peg is high-quality and has some of the best analysis results. The Peg might not be for everyone because of the higher price, but it performed so well that we believe it is a top contender for anyone whose budget allows.
The Peg Perego has wings that can spread wide for those with wider body types.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
For crash testing, we work with MGA Research, the same certified testing lab the US Government relies on for their safety certification tests.
Credit: MGA Research
How We Tested
Our testing protocol for car seats is intense and highly detailed. We've conducted more than 6,000 individual tests to evaluate the more than 200 safety seats we've tested since 2014. Our tests show that car seats vary significantly in their performance. To help you determine which option is the best for you, we purchase two seats of every brand and model ourselves for testing. We do NOT accept free products from manufacturers to assure our readers that our opinions are independent and unbiased.
We commissioned professional lab crash testing in the certified crash test facility of MGA Research so that BabyGearLab could evaluate the performance of each seat in our review in an objective manner.
Credit: GearLab & MGA Research
We send one car seat to the same professional crash test facility the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA) uses for testing. The seats undergo professional crash testing using the appropriate size crash test dummies and sensors. We run a slightly hotter (faster) test than the federal standard and use a more modern-style crash sled to better mimic late-model vehicles. We believe this kind of testing provides critical information that helps differentiate the options. We use the sensor data to conduct a side-by-side analysis of the G forces recorded in the sensors during testing.
We keep the other seat in-house for over 45 detailed scientific tests on each seat. In-house, we use and assess all features and functionality, from the stiffness of the buckle and how challenging it is to change shoulder strap height to the difficulty of installation for every method possible. Our extensive, months-long testing process means you can feel confident in our test results and analysis to help you find the best car seat for your family and budget.
Installing the Graco Extend2Fit using LATCH is pretty straightforward, and you can tighten it by pulling two sides instead of one. We installed each seat in multiple vehicles using multiple testers to get an average assessment of the process.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Car seat testing is divided into five test metrics (with some variation based on car seat type):
Crash Test Analysis (based on professional, 3rd party tests by MGA Research)
Ease of Installation (every configuration in multiple vehicles)
Ease of Use
Comfort/Quality
Weight & Size
Over time, we've tested hundreds of different car seats across categories, including the infant car seats seen here.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Our exhaustive testing and rating process provides the information you need to make your family's best car seat purchase. Each metric's weighted contribution to the overall score is based on how important we believe it is to the purchasing decision. Weighting varies somewhat for each car seat category, as some features or functionality could be more critical from one product type than another.
A collection of some of the convertible options we've tested recently.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Why Trust GearLab
With over 100 car seats under our testing belt, it is easy to say you're in good hands with an expert crew for safety seats and crash testing. This team is led by our founder, Dr. Juliet Spurrier uses her experience as a board-certified pediatrician to select products with safety and installation in mind, as these are the key factors in creating a safe car environment for little passengers. Bob Wofford, father of 7, Senior Review Analyst and Certified Passenger Safety Technician, leads the in-house testing team with extensive side-by-side testing for ease of installation and more. Given our test process of installing every seat in at least three different vehicles and Bob's seven years of seat testing prowess, you can rest assured that Bob has more installation and car seat experience than probably anyone on the planet. Wendy Schmitz, mom of two boys and Senior Review Editor, takes part in score analysis as well as hands-on testing and installation with over six years of experience testing seats of every kind. Abriah Wofford, Senior Review Analyst, rounds out the team and provides another set of hands and alternate experiences to give more insight on installation and ease of use. Abriah has been testing car seats since 2016.
We've tested a variety of safety seats over the years, including options from the infant, convertible, and booster seat categories.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
How to Pick the Best Car Seat
If you are a new parent, the world of car seats could be brand new and somewhat daunting. We remember all too well wondering what to choose, when to switch to a new seat, and why installing them was so darn complicated. Luckily, we have the information you need to decide which safety seat is right for your little one.
Infant car seats allow you to remove the carrier portion holding your baby from the base which remains in the car.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Infant Car Seats
Parents must have a safe car seat when leaving the hospital with their new baby. Infant safety seats are designed with consideration for tiny baby bodies and developing systems. From proper positioning to avoid positional asphyxiation to narrower shoulder harness straps, serious engineering goes into a safe infant car seat. Infant safety seats combine a carrier and a base to create a system that allows you to install the base in your car once, carry your infant in the carrier to and from the car base, or attach it to a compatible stroller. Unlike “all-in-one” seats or convertible seats that claim suitability for infants, infant car seats are only for infants and babies, typically up to about nine months or 30-35 lbs.
Infant Car Seat - Key Metrics
Product
Crash
LATCH
Belt Install
Ease of Use
Nuna Pipa RX
9.0
8.5
8.5
8.3
Romer Juni
8.8
9.3
8.5
6.0
Cybex Cloud G Lux
6.1
9.1
8.3
8.3
Evenflo Shyft Dualride
6.8
7.5
8.5
8.0
Clek Liing
7.5
9.0
8.3
5.5
Britax Willow S
7.8
7.0
7.5
7.0
Chicco KeyFit 35
6.7
7.0
7.0
8.5
Chicco KeyFit 30
6.9
6.8
6.8
8.0
Joie Rue
7.2
8.7
4.0
7.0
UPPAbaby Mesa v2
5.2
6.8
7.0
7.5
Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35
4.2
6.0
7.8
7.0
Uppababy Aria
6.7
5.0
5.0
8.3
Baby Jogger City GO 2
6.0
6.0
4.3
8.0
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 Nido
7.3
5.8
5.5
5.5
Graco Premier Snugride Snugfit 35 XT
7.6
6.0
4.0
5.3
Doona
4.6
6.0
6.0
5.5
Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX
7.4
3.0
3.5
5.5
We believe they are uniquely qualified to potentially better protect your little than a seat designed for children from 4-80 lbs. Most parents feel infant carriers are valuable tools and are grateful for the ability to leave a child to sleep while running errands using a stroller or the carrier handle. Below is a chart with the overall performance scores of all the infant car seats in our current review of infant car seats available today.
Convertible car seats are perfect for older babies and toddlers with a more upright posture and useful features.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Convertible Car Seats
Convertible seats are for older babies (around nine months) and can last until your little one is about 3-7 years old, depending on the model and your child's size. The seat starts facing the vehicle seat or backward (the safest position for little ones).
Convertible Car Seats - Key Metrics
Product
Crash
LATCH
Belt Install
Ease of Use
Chicco Fit 360
7.1
9.0
9.5
9.0
Nuna Rava
8.5
8.1
8.4
9.0
Romer Veni
7.9
9.0
9.8
6.9
Graco 4Ever DLX
8.7
7.9
7.1
8.0
Britax Poplar S
7.3
8.0
9.0
7.2
Graco Turn2Me 3-in-1
8.7
6.8
7.8
7.9
Baby Jogger City Turn
8.2
8.0
7.9
7.0
Graco SlimFit 3-in-1
8.4
7.9
6.5
7.5
Graco Extend2Fit 3 in 1
8.5
7.8
6.4
7.0
Evenflo Gold Revolve360
5.3
9.0
8.8
6.5
Chicco NextFit Zip
8.3
6.1
6.1
8.5
Nuna Revv
5.8
9.0
6.9
7.0
Britax One4Life ClickTight
6.7
7.3
8.0
6.5
Joie Saffron SI
8.3
7.0
5.0
7.7
Graco SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1
8.4
6.5
4.8
6.5
Clek Foonf
6.7
6.0
3.9
6.0
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio
7.3
5.0
2.8
7.0
Clek Fllo
7.6
3.6
3.4
6.0
Maxi-Cosi Pria All-in-One
7.1
4.0
4.0
5.5
Safety 1st Grow and Go All-in-One
7.6
3.3
4.0
5.0
Diono Radian 3RXT Safe+
5.6
3.4
1.1
7.0
Depending on the manufacturer's recommendations, you turn the seat to face forward when your child reaches a certain weight or height range. The moniker “convertible” is related to the seat facing backward and then “converting” to a forward-facing seat.
Below are the scores from our comprehensive review of convertible car seats you can buy today.
Booster safety seats come in all shapes and sizes with options for just about every goal and budget.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Booster Car Seats
Once your baby outgrows their convertible seat, they're ready for the big kid favorite booster seat. This transition will depend on the manufacturer's guidelines and your child's size. Pay special attention to weight and height restrictions, as most children outgrow one before the other. Depending on the seat, your child will likely need a booster around 5-7 years old, but child size is more of a factor than age. Just as you wanted to stay rear-facing as long as possible, we think keeping your child in a convertible seat as long as the seat user manual allows before swapping it for a booster is wise. We believe the 5-point harness and side shell of the convertible seats potentially offer more protection.
Below is a summary chart of key metrics from our review of booster car seats.
Key Metric Scores of Booster Seats
Product
Crash
Ease of Use
Weight/Size
Comfort
Nuna AACE
9.0
8.3
6.9
8.0
Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120
7.2
9.0
6.9
8.0
Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus 120
7.2
9.0
6.9
7.4
UPPAbaby Alta v2
6.9
9.3
6.9
6.7
Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1
6.8
8.3
6.5
7.3
BubbleBum
6.4
8.0
10.0
4.4
Maxi-Cosi RoadiSport
6.1
7.9
6.6
7.3
Chicco KidFit
6.1
8.3
6.6
6.8
Hiccapop UberBoost
5.9
6.3
8.7
4.9
Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1
5.2
7.0
6.4
5.3
Diono Cambria 2
6.7
5.1
5.9
6.1
Graco TurboBooster Backless
4.9
7.5
7.9
3.2
Evenflo Maestro Sport 2-in-1
4.6
4.8
6.5
7.1
Britax Grow With You ClickTight+
6.5
6.7
4.0
5.6
Clek Oobr
6.9
4.8
6.2
3.8
Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1
4.7
4.9
7.2
4.5
We don't care for a one-and-done style car seat and believe an infant car seat should be your child's first car seat from birth until they meet the limit of the manufacturer's guidelines.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Can One Product Do it All?
While convertible seats can work for babies from 5 - 50 lbs and beyond, we don't believe it is good to choose a one-and-done seat regarding safety.
Why?
Infant seats are designed for smaller newborn bodies. These seats are configured for a baby's anatomy and provide posture positioning for optimal breathing and protection in a crash. The harness design is narrower and more appropriate for an infant than that on a convertible seat, designed for older babies and modified for infants.
Many convertible car seats have an infant insert to make the car seat more suitable for smaller passengers. We believe it is smart to purchase car seats specifically for each age/size instead of opting for one product that can accommodate a baby but isn't explicitly designed for infants. If you want to save money on baby gear (don't we all?), we do not think car seat purchasing is the time to do it, given the potential safety implications.
The UPPAbaby Vista can be used with 2 infant car seats for easy transportation of up up to 2 infants. This photo shows the Vista with two UPPAbaby Mesa infant car seats.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
The other advantage of infant seats is they are handy. Infant seats have a carrier with a handle for easy carrying from one location to another.
Infant car seats allow you to carry your baby in the seat so you can transition sleeping little ones to a compatible stroller without waking them.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
This design allows you to move a sleeping infant from a car to a stroller or car without disruption. This functionality may seem insignificant before your baby is born, but trust us, you'll be grateful for the carrier.
Crash test results are important, so we invest tens of thousands of dollars to crash test every seat. But crash testing isn't the whole story. It also is important how easy a seat is to install since installation mistakes can create an unsafe riding environment.
Credit: GearLab & MGA Research
Is Ease of Installation or Crash Test Results More Important?
While many parents are concerned with crash test safety (as you should be), few know that improperly installing a seat or not using it as indicated is a significant cause of infant injury in car accidents. In our research on car seat safety testing, safety engineers at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) emphasized that improper use is a more significant safety concern than the differences in crash test performance results.
In fact, an NHTSA study showed that 79% of infant seats exhibited a critical misuse related to either installation of the seat or incorrect restraint of the infant, or both. Another study by Portland's top Children's Hospital followed 267 families as they left the hospital with their infants after birth. The study showed that “93% made at least one critical error — a mistake that put their infant at increased risk for injury in a crash — when positioning their infant in a car safety seat or installing the safety seat in their vehicle.”
Ninety-three percent is a significant number. That is why we feel that ease of use and installation are critical components of seat safety, potentially more so than the crash test results. So, while crash test analysis is important, it should not overshadow how challenging a seat is to use or install. Many award-winning seats are easy to install, with at least one installation method. Some even have perfect scores and are practically foolproof or as infallible as possible.
In our commissioned crash tests, the Graco 4Ever had some of the lowest recorded sensor results in the group (lower is better). The sensor data was used to determine the crash test analysis result.
Credit: GearLab & MGA Research
All of the Safety Seats Offer a Basic Level of Protection
All seats for sale in the United States and our reviews should have passed federal safety standards for crash testing. As a result, the products we tested can be considered safe and provide a basic protection level required by US Federal law. With this in mind, our focus for crash test scoring is to identify safety seats with crash test results that go beyond the federal requirements and exceed the crash test performance of the competition. As a result, these seats can be considered as providing an extra margin of protection based on their crash test performance.
Parents who frequently ride in taxi cabs or use services like Uber, will want to look for a car seat that offers easy installation without the base, just using the seat belt.
Your lifestyle might be a consideration in your selection process for a new car seat. Suburban parents typically have a personal car and a semi-permanent location to install their seats with limited alterations. Other parents might live in a larger city where they frequently use Uber and taxis, requiring a relatively mobile option with frequent installations in multiple vehicles. Therefore, a lightweight, easy-to-install car seat is more critical to urbanites than others. If you aren't carrying your seat frequently, you have more options because weight is less of a determining factor. Some heavier products are likely non-starters if you need to carry the seat frequently.
We weighed every seat across categories to help parents determine which might be good for different goals.
Credit: Natalie Nealan
The weight of your booster seat could play a role in your decision-making if you carpool or travel. Your child may need a booster seat in some locations to participate in camp vanpooling or sharing rides with friends from school activities. A heavy steel frame seat like the Clek Oobr is a beast and isn't something you want to move very often. It is a poor choice for carrying or stuffing in a backpack without the back. The Evenflo Spectrum is significantly lighter and can go backless for even easier carpooling.
The Evenflo Tribute is one of the lighter seats in the convertible car seat group.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
A convertible seat's weight is less of a consideration for most people because it typically spends most of its life installed in a single location. However, if you need to catch a taxi with your seat and your baby, you will likely prefer the lightest seat possible.
For infant seats, the weight of the carrier can play a role for similar reasons. Carriers can be cumbersome when combined with the baby's weight. If you plan to attach your carrier to a stroller, the weight is less critical, but if you plan to hold your carrier or travel frequently, its weight plays more of a role.
The Keyfit 35 is easy enough to install without the base and uses the European belt pathway. Plus, it is compatible with many strollers (including frame strollers), making it good for urban living.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Are you an urban dweller looking for an infant carrier? Then, you should consider the ease of installation without the base, as you are more likely to install the seat in an Uber without the base than you are to carry the base. This installation style is a safe practice, and the seats have a method for this practice. However, some seats are significantly more straightforward to install without the base than others, so choosing the easiest, high-ranking option could make your life easier. Alternatively, the Doona is easy enough to install without the base and includes an attached stroller that takes the weight off you and puts it on wheels.
What About Weight Range?
Infant seats claim to be appropriate for a baby from 4 lbs to typically up to 30-45 lbs; convertible seats also have limits, usually between 5 to 55 lbs (or higher, depending on the seat). Manufacturers advertise these ranges and make them seem very important. Should this weight range be a consideration when making your purchase? No, probably not.
Why no?
Despite the manufacturer's focus on weight, most babies will outgrow the height limits before reaching the weight limit for most infant seats. The same is typically true of convertible seats.
According to the CDC's infant boy age vs. weight growth chart (pdf), a 95th percentile baby boy (which means a baby growing faster than 94 babies out of 100) will still weigh under 28 lbs and be close to 32 inches on their one year birthday. Based on height, most infants will transition out of their infant seat and into a convertible seat between 9-12 months. You can see from the data that even the fastest-growing boy will fail to exceed the maximum weight of the majority of seats in our tests, but he might grow too tall, which means a transition to the following safety seat style before his weight impacts a change. So, while having a general idea of how long your baby can use a seat is helpful, it is only an estimate.
Ultimately, the restrictions have more to do with height than weight. For this reason, we wouldn't necessarily make the weight range a deciding factor in your buying decision unless it is below 30 lbs for an infant seat (very rare). Even if your little one is exceptionally tall, you will simply move to a convertible seat sooner than other babies of the same age, which isn't a big deal, is safe, and will occur eventually, no matter what.
Rear-Facing Installation
Your baby should stay rear-facing as long as possible. This position will be determined by your baby's weight/height and the manufacturer's recommendations, as not all safety seats allow for extended rear-facing time. The laws in most areas require that babies sit rear-facing until two years old, but it is ideal for children to sit in a rear-facing seat as long as the manufacturer says it can. Even if your toddler's legs are longer, rear-facing is still the safest installation within the seat's limitations.
There are many varieties of combinations when it comes to strollers and their car seat counterparts, and many strollers will work with a variety of seat options with the purchase of the appropriate adapters.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
What About Travel Systems?
A travel system is a package deal that includes an infant car seat and a compatible stroller. These combinations are traditionally a predetermined set from the same manufacturer. Pre-arranged sets (in our experience) often include less impressive choices than you get if you create your own combination, so we prefer to create our own. Alternatively, you can skip the pre-packages to create your own mix where you purchase a seat and compatible stroller separately (which may require buying adapters). Manufacturer sets, however, may be less expensive.
Because safety is paramount, we believe you should choose your car seat before a stroller. We think choosing the right infant seat before selecting a must-have compatible stroller is wise. Most infant safety seats are compatible with at least a couple of strollers; if they aren't, you can still wear your baby in a carrier.
The car seat recommendation from the NHTSA website
Credit: NHTSA Website
How to Choose
You can narrow your options to a handful of top contenders by considering how you plan to use your seat and how easy it is to install. First, you should choose a seat corresponding to your child's age and size. We strongly encourage you to resist the temptation to buy an “all-in-one” or “lifetime” product for your infant. You can narrow your search by the crash test analysis results from there. Last, while we understand budget can be a concern, and some new parents have the tightest of budgets, we believe that car seats are not the right product type to try to save a few bucks. Our tests reveal that there are affordable seats that are easy to install with impressive crash test analysis results in every category. However, they could still be slightly more expensive than the cheapest options.
Finding the right car seat for the right life stage doesn't have to be a chore when you have all the information you need to make the best choice for your little one.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
The award-winning car seats in this lineup are exceptional options with impressive features and functionality appropriate for various lifestyles and car seat goals. Because every family and lifestyle is different, there is no perfect seat for everyone. The seats in this round-up encompass a wide range of prices, providing products for almost every budget in each safety seat category. We believe the details in this review can help you choose the perfect car seat for your needs, your baby's age/size, and your wallet.
Meet Your Review Team
Wendy Schmitz Senior Review Editor Wendy is a mother of two who has been a leading member of BabyGearLab's Review team since 2014. She brings a combination of skills and talent to the team that translates into well written, thought-provoking, easy to understand reviews that provide the parents with the information necessary to make a well-informed decision regarding products for their children, as well as, entertain and encourage readers to read more articles on the site. Wendy has a BA in Biology and brings a scientific and... read more
Juliet Spurrier, MD Mom-in-Chief Dr. Juliet Baciocco Spurrier is a board-certified pediatrician, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), mother of two, and founder of the Baby section of GearLab. Juliet earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Anthropology and Italian Literature from the University of California at Berkeley and her Medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington DC. She completed her pediatric residency at the Doernbecher Children's Hospital at Oregon Health & Science... read more
