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    Best Convertible Car Seats

    These seats provide the best combination of safety and ease of installation

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    Convertible car seat with child in a car Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports

    A convertible seat is a must for parents to stay in step with the American Academy of Pediatricsā€™ recommendation to keep a child rear-facing for as long as possible. He should stay there until he has reached the height or weight limit of the seat.

    Once a child outgrows an infant car seat, a convertible seat is the next step up. It can be installed in rear- and forward-facing configurations, and itā€™s likely to be the one a child sits in for the longest period of time.

    Most kids will outgrow an infant or rear-facing-only seat because of their height first, rather than their weight. Based on our tests, Consumer Reports recommends that parents transition their children to a rear-facing convertible seat by age 1.

    more on car seats
    CR's Car Seat Buying Guide & Ratings
    Best Infant Car Seats
    Best All-in-One Car Seats
    Best Booster Seats for Kids
    How to Avoid Common Car-Seat Installation Mistakes

    Thatā€™s because of a key potential safety benefit. We found that in more than half of the infant seats we tested, the head of a 12-month-old child dummy came into contact with the simulated front seatback. That type of impact could result in an injury to a child.

    By contrast, in almost all the rear-facing convertible seats, the head of the dummy avoided contact. (Learn more about how we test car seats.)

    The shell of a convertible model provides additional space above a rear-facing childā€™s head to allow room for the head to move while still avoiding contact with the back of the front seat. In addition, most rear-facing-only infant seats have maximum weight limits of 35 pounds or less, but convertibles in most cases have maximum weight limits of 40 pounds or more when used rear-facing.

    The top convertible car-seat models weā€™ve identified offer balanced performance in three test areas: how they fit in a vehicle, ease of use, and performance in a crash test.

    They have features that help in getting a secure installation, particularly when using a vehicleā€™s seat belts. Some models, such as the Nuna Rava, indicate that using a seat belt is the preferred installation method.

    Below are the convertible models with the highest Overall Scores in CRā€™s testing.

    Using CRā€™s Car-Seat Ratings

    Consumer Reportsā€™ crash test evaluates the ability of a child seat to reduce the risk of injuries in conditions that simulate the inside of a car and the forces that would be encountered in a crash. Each convertible seat is crash-tested in all its configurations and installation methods with age-appropriate child-sized dummies.

    Our fit-to-vehicle ratings reflect the differences between using LATCH (the anchors that are built into a car) and using the standard three-point seat belt, with separate ratings for the different orientations and installations. Overall Scores take into consideration regulations regarding the 65-pound weight limit (seat plus child) for LATCH lower-anchor use. This means that with heavier seats, you might be limited as to how long you can keep the seat installed using LATCH connectors and when you must switch to installing them with a seat belt.

    Bottom Line

    Most children will need to move from an infant seat to a convertible seat to remain rear-facing. All convertible seats meet at least the minimum requirements for safety, and our ratings and recommendations will help you differentiate which ones provide a greater margin of protection and increase your chance of getting it securely and correctly installed. See CRā€™s recommended car-seat use to determine whether your child should be in a convertible seat.

    The highest-scoring convertible car-seat models below cost $170 to $650. A higher price doesnā€™t necessarily reflect greater quality or safety. You can buy a safe, top-performing seat without breaking your budget.

    Full details and ratings can be found on the seatsā€™ individual model pages.

    Become a member to read the full article and get access to digital ratings.

    We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.

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