Last Updated on November 20, 2021 by
When it comes to car seats, many parents question whether they should be using a convertible or an infant car seat and when can the seat move from being rear-facing to forward-facing. The APA (American Pediatrics Association) recommends that your child remain rear-facing as long as possible to avoid spinal injuries. However, you can begin facing them forward at the age of 2, or at the height and weight guidelines determined by the manufacturer. Many car seats are improperly installed which leads to serious injuries if you are involved in an accident. According to the CDC, this is the leading cause of injuries in children involved in crashes. Many of the best car seat convertibles are rigorously tested for safety.
Convertible car seats are designed to be the last car seat that you will ever need. However, they are bulkier and heavier than infant seats, which makes transferring from vehicle to vehicle a task within itself. On the other hand, the bonus with using a rear-facing convertible car seat is that the average seat allows rear-facing up to 40 lbs, and there are some extended seats that allow for up to 50 lbs. Most seats offer a booster seat option with a weight limit of 65 to 120 lbs, so no matter how much your child grows, they won’t outgrow a convertible car seat. You would just need to confirm this before making your purchase.
Top 7 Best Products
It doesn’t matter if you use a convertible car seat from the beginning or if you decide to wait until your child outgrows an infant seat, the bottom line is that you will need a rear-facing convertible car seat. With so many options on the market, how do you know which one to pick? Here you will find reviews of the 7 best rear facing convertible car seat.
#1. Graco 4Ever 4-In-1 Rear-Facing Convertible Car Seat
(Has been named as the #1 best rear facing convertible car seat)
Pros:
- Your child can use it until they no longer need to use a booster or car seat.
- At least 10 years of use with this car seat.
- Trueshield technology.
- Side impact tested
- 1 hand adjust
Cons:
- Installation is known to be difficult with the car seat.
- Not suitable for compact vehicles.
- Some of the features and parts wear out over time.
- Moves around a lot when it is installed
Features: This car seat has many features that are well-liked by parents. This includes:
- 10-position headrest
- 6-position recline
- washable cover
- InRight Latch system for easy latch installation
- Plush inserts
- Steel reinforcement
- Strap storage
Height and weight specifications:
- Rear-facing 4 to 40 lbs
- Forward-facing 20 to 65 lbs
- Highback booster 30 to 100 lbs
- Backless booster 40 to 120 lbs
- 32 inches max for rear-facing
- 57 inches max for booster
What do parents love about this seat?
Parents love the versatility and longevity of this seat. This seat is the only seat that you will ever need and you won’t need to rethread the harness for adjusting the size. The major complaint is that it is bulky and not easy to install, but the features negate the cons.
#2) Britax Advocate Clicktight ARB Rear-facing Convertible Car Seat
(This is the #2 best rear facing convertible car seat)
Pros:
- High concentration on safety when it comes to the Britax Advocate
- Quick-adjust harness
- Automatic level indicator
- This seat has stage release stitches to slow or reduce movement when involved in a crash
Cons:
- There are no cup-holders
- this rear facing car seat convertible does not offer a booster option.
- Another downfall is that the cost of this car seat is fairly high.
- This also has a limited rear-facing limit.
- Most parents have issues with the Anti-Rebound Bar
Features:
- Anti-Rebound Bar(stabilizes car seat when rear-facing)
- Impact-absorbing base
- SafeCell Impact Protection
- Impact-stabilizing frame
Height and weight specifications:
- Rear-facing weight range is 5 to 40 lbs
- Forward-facing weight range is 20 to 65 lbs
- Maximum height is 49 inches
What do parents love about this seat?
The easy transitioning, high crash test score and the safety features that the seat has.#3) Britax Marathon Clicktight Rear-facing Convertible Car Seat
Pros:
- Relax and recline
- This seat has the Britax patented Clicktight technology for easy installation
- No rethreading when adjusting the harness
- This seat has stage release stitches to slow or reduce movement when involved in a crash
Cons:
- The crotch strap is short,
- The cover is not machine washable and not very durable.
- Depending on your vehicle there you might run into difficulty with the latch system
Features:
- 7- position recline
- 14-position harness
- Stage-release stitches
- SafeCell Impact protection system(Britax patented)
- Plush foam padding and fabric
Height and weight specifications:
- Rear-facing weight 5 to 40 lbs
- Forward-facing weight 20 to 65 lbs
- Height 49 inches like most Britax models
What do parents love about this seat?
This car seat is designed for those wanting the safety quality of the Britax name, but cannot afford to purchase the higher-end models. Parents that have been in accidents using this seat rave about the protection provided to their child.#4) Graco Extend2fit Rear-facing Car Seat Convertible
Pros:
- Provides additional 5-inch space legroom for rear-facing position.
- The seat has a latch system that enables 1-second latch
Cons:
- car seat lacks a transition to a booster seat
- Difficult to loosen straps when in rear-facing position
- Bulky and heavier than most other seats
Features:
- 10-position adjustable headrest
- 6-position recline
- Modern latch connectors
- 2 cup holders
- 3-position extension panel
- Graco ProtectionPlus Engineered
- InRight Latch
Height and weight specifications:
- Rear-facing 4 to 50 lbs
- Forward-facing 22 to 65
- Maximum height of 49 inches
What parents love about this seat?
The safety features and durability are the biggest features that the parents are raving about. Although there isn’t any additional booster option with this model, you can always opt for the#5) Chicco NextFit Zip Rear-Facing Car Seat
Pros:
- The biggest pro for this car seat is the ability to easily remove the cover by unzipping it.
- With the RideRight and SuperCinch technology, it is easy to install
- The position leveling system allows this seat to fit in a wide range of vehicles.
Cons:
- bulky and not intended for smaller vehicles
Features:
- 9-position leveling system
- SuperCinch latch tightener
- Bubble levels to indicate proper positioning
- Energy-absorbing foam
- Steel reinforced frame
Height and weight specifications:
- Rear-facing weight range- 5 to 40 lbs
- forward-facing weight range 22 to 65 lbs
- Maximum height is 49 inches
What do parents love about this seat?
The fact that it is easy to maintain with the zippered cover and the installation is a breeze.#6) Diono Rainier Rear-Facing Convertible Car Seat
Pros:
- folds flat when traveling and for storage.
- High rear-facing limit
- Most narrow profile-style car seat.
- Memory foam for infant mode
- Protection against side impact
Cons:
- Difficulty installing
- Very heavy despite the slim design.
- Seat is known to move when forward-facing
Features:
- Steel alloy frame
- Aluminum reinforced sides
- Energy-absorbing harness and foam
- 5-shoulder 3 buckle positions
- Super Latch system
- 12-position adjustable head support
Height and weight specifications:
- Rear-facing weight range 5 to 50 lbs
- Forward-facing weight range 20 to 65 lbs
- Booster weight range 50 to 120 lbs
- Max height is 57 inches
What do parents love about this seat?
The slim design and the longevity of the seat. It can be used from birth on and it’s perfect for families with multiple children in car seats, it doesn’t take up a lot of room.
#7) Evenflo Advanced SensorSafe Titan 65 Rear-Facing Convertible Car Seat
Pros:
- wireless receiver with a smart chip chest clip installed.
- Alerts you when the seat is unbuckled and when a child is in the seat
- Side impact tested
- Easy to clean
- Compact design and is suitable for compact vehicles
Cons:
- Latch system is difficult to install
- Instructions are not easy to understand
Features:
- Comfort Tech fabric
- Harness and buckle covers
- Upfront harness adjustment
- Energy-absorbing foam liner
- Head and body pillow
Height and weight specifications:
- Rear-facing range is 5 to 40 lbs
- Forward-facing range is 22 to 65 lbs
- Maximum height is 54 inches
What do parents love about this seat?
Parents love the fact that it has a sensor to alert that their child has unbuckled their seat. Another thing parents like is that the seat is affordable while maintaining quality.Read also:
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- 5 Symptoms of a Bad Water Pump in Your Car
Conclusion
This guide provided a short review of 7 of the best rear facing convertible car seat on the market. While the seats may lack certain features in some areas, these seats are highly recommended by the APA as well as parents that have purchased the seats. With the amount of time that is spent traveling on the road, it is important that your child is safe and comfortable. By purchasing one of the best rear facing convertible car seat on the market, you will find those features and much more.
As with any major purchase for your child, you need to remember to keep certain factors in mind. Therefore before making that final decision ask yourself:
- How much legroom will my child have in the rear-facing position?
- Are the harness straps easy to adjust in the rear-facing position?
- Is it easy to install? And what type of safety features are included?
With this short review and your answers to the above questions, you should have no problems making a decision on which one of the best rear facing convertible car seat that fits your needs.
