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Convertible Car Seats

What are convertible car seats?

Convertible car seats are used for babies, toddlers and even small preschoolers in the rear-facing position and then they are installed in a forward-facing position when your child is older and bigger. These car seats are installed in the car on a more permanent basis than the infant car seats. If you need to transport your babies in two or more vehicles on a regular basis, it is highly recommended that you purchase seats for all of the vehicles. In addition to being difficult to frequently move car seats, moving car seats often increases the opportunity to make an installation mistake.

 

Do I need convertible car seats?

The short answer is yes! Most children will outgrow the infant car seats before they are one year old and 20lbs, which is the absolute minimum for forward-facing, so babies must be moved to a rear-facing convertible car seat. If you are following the American Academy of Pediatric's recommendations (and the recommendation from car seat experts), then your child will use the convertible car seat in the rear-facing position to the limit of the seat or at least until your child is 2 years old. Parents may choose to skip the infant seat and start with a convertible car seat.

 

How long do children use convertible car seats?

Convertible car seats are outgrown in the rear-facing position when a) the child reaches the rear-facing weight limit or b) when there is less than one inch of hard shell above the baby’s head. Some car seats have shorter shells so children outgrow the seat in the rear-facing position before they hit the weight limit. However, car seats that have higher shells like the ones recommended here will allow most children to use the seat to the weight limit. The majority of children will be able to stay rear-facing in a convertible seat until they are 2 years old or older. (Click here for a printable brochure about extended rear-facing.)

Convertible car seats are outgrown in the forward-facing position when a) the child is at the forward-facing weight limit, b) the child’s shoulders are above the top harness slot (except for the Radian 65/80), or c) the top of the child’s ears are above the top of the hard shell of the car seat. The majority of the time, children will outgrow the seat because of the shoulders going over the top harness heights.

With car seats that are rated to 40lbs, most children will outgrow the seat when they are about 3 to 3 ½ years old. When this happens, the child would need another car seat with a five point harness. With the car seats that are listed to 50lbs or more, most children will outgrow the seat when they are 5 or 6 years old. At that time, most children will be mature enough and physically large enough to safely sit in booster seat.

 

What features should you look for in convertible car seats?

What should you avoid in convertible car seats?

Are there any other tips for using convertible car seats?

Convertible car seats must be installed at a 45 degree angle for newborns.


If you are installing the car seat for an older child with good head/neck control, the car seat can be installed more upright (up to 35 or 30 degree angle depending on the specific seat).


To get a more upright install, keep the seat in the rear-facing recline mode as described in the car seat manual. Pull the car seat out about ½” from the bight (where the vehicle seat back meets the vehicle seat). Then install as usual, but push down on the part of the car seat next to the back seat where the baby’s feet belong.

Rear-facing convertible car seats often take up less room than infant car seats because of the angle of installation.

Recommended Convertible Car Seats

Go to the chart, which includes our top picks

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