Best Car Seats – Infant Car Seats, Convertible Car Seats, and Booster Seats

When it comes to choosing the best car seat for your little one,  there are several things to keep in mind. For instance, your child’s age, height, and weight are a few things. Also, it’s important to understand what your State’s Car Seat Laws include. Not every state is the same, and believe me, the last thing you need is a fine for improper child restraints. Other things to keep in mind include, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) new car seat safety recommendations. Although they are not laws, it’s nice to know what is considered to be the best way to keep your child safe. Check out the links below for Car Seat Laws in your state, as well as NHTSA’s car seat recommendations.

• Car Seat Laws
• NHTSA’s Car Seat Safety Recommendations

Now let’s get down to business. Below I’ve listed what I believe to be some of the best, and safest car seats available on the market. I’ve included three different categories, the best infant car seats, the best convertible car seats, and the best booster seats.  I’ve also included a list of some of the safety features for each, however, for a full list of features you must click on the link to my full review listed below each car seat. The full in-depth reviews include a description, list of features, the Good & the Bad, video demonstrations, and customer feedback.

 Skip To:

• Convertible Car Seats
• Booster Seats

Best Infant Car Seats

Britax B-Safe Infant Car Seat

• Rear-facing only
• Weight recommendations: 4 to 30 pounds, and 32″ tall
• Side Impact Protection – Rigid shell & deep side walls lined with energy-absorbing foam
• Additional energy-absorbing foam in seat
• Tangle-free, adjustable 5-point safety harness with front-adjust
• 4 Harness height positions & 2 buckle positions
• Removable comfort pillow, shoulder pads, and belly pad
• Ergonomic carrying handle
• Adjustable base with 5 angles & easy-to-read level indicators
• Premium lower LATCH connectors, & built-in seat belt lock-off
• Comes with CLICK-GO-ADAPTER – Compatible with all B-Series strollers
• Certified for Aircraft travel
• Available @ Amazon for $134.61 – 25% OFF
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat

• Rear-facing only
• Weight recommendations: 4 to 30 pounds, and 32″ tall
• True side-impact protection
• Solid head support and deep side walls
• Built-in anti-rebound bar
• Energy-absorbing foam liner
• Offers both LATCH and seat belt installation
• Car seat handle is ergonomically correct
• Available on Amazon for $179.95 (Black) – 22% OFF
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat

• Rear-facing only
• Weight recommendations: 4 to 30 pounds
• EPS  energy absorbing foam liner for side-impact protection
• Removable newborn insert
• Removable head support
• Extremely easy to install – voted number 1 for installation
• Offers LATCH Installation and seat belt installation
• Available on Amazon for $152.99 (Adventure) – 19% OFF
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Graco Snugride 35 Infant Car Seat

• Rear-facing only
• Weight recommendations: 5 to 35 pounds, or 32 inches tall
• Meets and exceeds Federal Safety Standards
• Side Impact Tested
• EPS energy-absorbing foam
• Removable infant head and body support
• GracoPedic luxury foam padded seat
• Offers LATCH and seat belt installation
• Graco Snugride 35 Available on Amazon for $152.97 in Rittenhouse – 15% OFF
  
• Graco Snugride 30 Available on Amazon for $129.99 in Forecaster or Jacqueline
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Safety 1st Designer 22 Infant Car Seat

• Rear-facing only
• Weight Recommendations: 5 to 22 pounds
• Side Impact Protection
• Infant head support
• Single pull front adjustment on 5-point harness
• LATCH and seat belt installation
• 4 harness height adjustments – adjusts from 19 to 29 inches
• Comfort Carry handle
• Adjustable Base
• Meets or exceeds Federal and ASTM Safety Standards
• Available on Amazon for $68.57 in Nordica – 19% OFF
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Evenflo Discovery 5 Infant Car Seat

• Rear-facing only
• Weight recommendations: 5 to 22 pounds
• Side Impact Tested
• Meets or exceeds all Federal Safety Standards – Tested for structural integrity at energy levels approximately 2x the federal crash test standard
• EPS energy-absorbing foam liner
• Offers both LATCH and seat belt installation
• Carry-right Z handle is ergonomically correct
• Available on Amazon for $69.99
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Best Convertible Car Seats

Britax Advocate 70 CS Convertible Car Seat

• Rear-facing from 5 to 40 pounds
• Forward-facing from 20 pounds and 1 year to 70 pounds
• 360 Degrees of protection
• SafeCell Technology – minimizes forward rotation of car seat
• Side Impact Cushions – proven to reduce 45% crash energy
• True Side Impact Protection
• Integrated steel bars reinforce connection between seat and vehicle
• Energy-absorbing versa-tether
• Click & Safe Snug Harness
• Offers both LATCH and seat belt installation
• High-density foam seat
• Available on Amazon for $269.99 – 29% OFF
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Britax Boulevard 70 CS Convertible Car Seat

• Rear-facing from 5 to 40 pounds
• Forward-facing from 20 pounds and 1 year to 70 pounds
• 360 Degrees of protection
• SafeCell Technology – advanced head support
• Integrated Steel bars that strengthen the vehicle/seat connection
• Energy-absorbing versa-tethers
• True Side Impact Protection
• Click & Safe Technology
• Offers both LATCH and seat-belt installation
• High-density foam seat pad
• Available on Amazon for $239.99 – 25% OFF (Not the CS model)
•  Available on Amazon for $248.98 in Blueprint – 27% OFF – CS (Click & Safe) Model
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Radian RXT Convertible Car Seat

• Rear-facing from 5 to 45 pounds
• Forward-facing and harnessed from 20 to 80 pounds and 57″ tall
• Converts to a belt-positioning booster seat that goes up to 120 pounds
• Steel alloy frame with reinforced sides
• Energy-absorbing foam on all sides
• Safestop energy-absorbing harness
• Offers both seat-belt and LATCH installation (LATCH installs for up to 80 pounds)
• Removable infant support
• Seat is padded with memory foam
• 5 shoulder height adjustments and 3 buckle positions
• Available on Amazon for $271.99 – 20% OFF
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Britax Marathon 70 Convertible Car Seat

• Rear-facing from 5 to 20 pounds
• Forward-facing from 20 to 70 pounds
• 360 Degrees of protection
• SafeCell Technology – Advanced head safety (minimizes forward rotation)
• Integrated steel bars in seat back strengthen connection between vehicle and seat
• Energy absorbing Versa-Tether
• Side Impact Protection – Rigid shell, deep side walls, and EPP foam
• Reclines in both forward and rear-facing positions
• High-density foam seat
• Offers Premium LATCH or Seat Belt lock-off for easy installation
• Anti-slip base
• Available on Amazon for $206.98 (Waverly & Onyx) – 29% OFF
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Safety 1st Complete Air 65 Convertible Car Seat

• Rear-facing from 5 to 40 pounds and 19 to 40 inches tall
• Forward-facing with harness from 22 to 65 pounds and 34 to 52 inches tall
• Complete Air Protect side impact protection
• Adjustable head rest with air protect wings – 5 positions
• 5-point child safety harness – front adjust
• QuickFit Harness system – adjusts from front
• LATCH and seat-belt installation
• Removable cup holder and washable seat pad
• Follows the American Academy of Pediatrics Car Seat Recommendations
• Available on Amazon for $185.01
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Safety 1st OnSide Air Protect Convertible Car Seat

• Rear-facing from 5 to 40 lbs and 19 to 40″ tall
• Forward-facing from 22 to 40 lbs and 34 to 43″ tall
• Revolutionary side impact Air Protect Cushion technology
• Adjustable 5-point child safety harness – front adjust
• 4 shoulder height adjustments and 3 buckle positions
• Level to ground indicators for easy installation
• Available on Amazon for $79.89
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Graco ComfortSport Convertible Car Seat

• Rear-facing from 5 to 30 pounds
• Converts to a forward facing harnessed car seat from 20 to 40 pounds or 40″ tall
• Offers 3 harness heights and 2 buckle positions
• EPS, energy absorbing foam
• 5-point child safety harness with front-adjust
• Seat belt and LATCH installation included
• Level-indicators for easy installation
• Removable head support and cup holder
• Rigorously crash tested, meets or exceeds all U.S Safety Standards
• Available on Amazon for $89.99 – 32% OFF
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite Convertible Car Seat

• Rear-facing from 5 to 35 pounds
• Forward-facing from 22 to 40 pounds
• Belt-positioning booster from 40 to 100 pounds
• Side Impact Protection – Meets or exceeds all Federal Safety Standards
• Pro-Tech EPP, energy-absorbing faom
• QuickFit harness system
• Removable and adjustable head rest
• Offers both LATCH and seat belt installation
• Available on Amazon for $129.00 in Lamont – 24% OFF
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Best Booster Seats

Britax Frontier 85 Combination Booster Seat

• Forward-facing with harness from 2 years and 25 pounds to 85 pounds
• Converts to a belt-positioning booster seat for 40 to 120 pounds
• True Side Impact Protection
• Solid head support, deep side walls
• Energy-absorbing versa-tether
• Energy absorbing base and foam liner
• HUGS (Harness Ultra Guard System)
• Offers both LATCH and seat belt installation
• 10 height adjustments and 3 buckles positions
• Available on Amazon for $211.98 in Rushmore – 29% OFF
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Recaro ProSport Combination Harness to Booster Seat

• Forward-facing car seat – 20 to 90 pounds
• Belt-positioning high back booster – up to 120 pounds and 27 to 59 inches tall
• Side Impact Protection – head wings, side reinforcements, and head rest
• EPS, energy-absorbing foam seat
• Adjustable head rest – lever adjust, no rethreading
• Adjustable 5-point harness with pads
• Ergonomically designed shell
• Seat cushion for extra comfort
• QuickFlip recline system
• Multi-purpose storage pockets
• Color-coded belt guides
• Offers both LATCH and seat belt installation
• Available on Amazon for $199.99 – 33% OFF
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Britax Parkway Booster Seat

• Weight recommendations: 40 to 120 pounds
• 360 Degrees of protection – EPS energy-absorbing foam liner and high-density foam seat
• True Side Impact Protection
• Deep side walls and solid head support
• SecureGuard clip – prevents submarining
• Converts into a backless booster
• Adjustable head restraint
• The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) gave it the highest rating “Best Bet”
• Comes in two models, the SGL (which offers a LATCH installation system), and the SG (without the Latch)
• The Britax Parkway SG Booster Seat on Amazon for $95.89 – 20% OFF
  
• The Britax Parkway SGL Booster on Amazon for $112.49 – 25% OFF
  
• Check out the FULL Review here

 

Graco Nautilus 3 In 1 Car Seat

• Forward-facing only, with harness from 1 year and 20 pounds to 65 pounds
• Converts to a belt-positioning high-back booster seat for 30 to 100 pounds
• Converts to a backless booster seat from 40 to 100 pounds
• Steel-reinforced frame and structure
• EPS energy-absorbing foam interior
• Side-Impact Tested
• Passes the NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) compliance standard, with a peak crash force twice the car seat standard.
• Meets or exceeds all U.S. Safety Standards
• Available on Amazon for $137.98 – 27% OFF
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Evenflo Big Kid Booster Car Seat

• High-back Booster – 30 to 100 pounds and 38 to 57 inches tall
• Backless Booster – 40 to 100 pounds and 40 to 57 inches tall
• Adjustable head rest – adjusts one-handed
• 6 different height adjustment positions
• Pivoting armrest for easy entry
• 2 retractable cup holder with snack trays
• Received Best Bet Booster by IIHS
• Meets or exceeds all federal safety standards – tested for structural integrity at energy levels 2X the federal crash test standard
• Side Impact Approved
• Available on Amazon for $49.98 in Wyder or $49.98 in Amelia
  
• Available on Amazon in Daisy Swirl Pink for $68.23
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Graco High Back Turbo Booster Car Seat

•  High Back Booster – 30 to 100 pounds and 38″ to 57″ tall
• Backless Booster – 40 to 100 pounds and 40″ tall
• EPS, energy-absorbing foam
• Height adjustable headrest with padding
• Adjustable, padded armrests
• Dual retractable cup holders
• Open-loop belt guides
• Additional seat padding can be found in the ELITE models
• Meets or exceeds U.S. Safety Standards
• Top Rated by leading consumer magazines
• Rated BEST BET by IIHS
• Available on Amazon for $49.54 – Spitfire
  
• Check out the FULL REVIEW here

 

Back To:

• Infant Car Seats
• Convertible Car Seats

Related Articles:

Car Seat Laws and Recommendations – What You Need To Know

Car Seat Safety: The Truth About Car Seat Crash Testing