Note from the editor: This article was updated on November 2, 2023, to provide you the most recent and accurate information. We looked into the availability, cost, and possibility of newer versions for our top choices.
The choice of which toddler car seat to purchase can feel overwhelming when you’re ready to switch your babies from their convertible or infant car seat to a regular car seat. How do you choose when there are so many options available? What characteristics ought you to search for?
Most recently, booster seats have made headlines after a ProPublica investigation revealed that Evenflo refused a suggestion from an internal safety engineer that all kids under 40 pounds should ride in a booster seat with a harness. Congress took action to alter how safety testing and recommendations are given after the investigation’s findings were made public. A statute has now been proposed by a number of congressmen to remove it from the manufacturer’s control. We are not relying on the brand’s assessment of the safety of any product on this list because every seat on it has been independently examined and shown to be safe by numerous groups, including Consumer Reports.
We have chosen with great care, ensuring sure they adhere to the highest standards of safety and care.
Safety
Thankfully, finding the safest car seats is now rather simple thanks to agencies like the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA). For as long as feasible, they advise parents to keep their child in a rear-facing car seat before switching to a toddler car seat with a five-point harness and tether to assist steady the seat. Additionally, you must confirm that your child is within the model-specific height and weight restrictions, which vary greatly.
Changing Alongside Your Toddler
When your child can sit forward-facing or throughout the transition from rear- to forward-facing, toddler car seats are designed for that. They can also be useful if you want something thinner to accomodate more seats. Many of the choices on this list continue to develop with your child; they start as a typical booster with a five-point harness buckle and then change to a booster that is utilized with your car’s seatbelt.
As a backless booster seat that raises your child to a secure height for the car seat straps, toddler car seats can make one final step. You can effectively acquire three car seats for the price of one with a few simple tweaks. As long as you adhere to the rules, these toddler car seats can be quite safe and affordable solutions.
OUR CHOICES
I examined toddler car seats from a number of different manufacturers and talked to hundreds of parents who had various models. Every vehicle I choose complies with the NHTSA’s recommendations. These choices are not only endorsed by parents, but they are also simple to install, clean, and range in price.
It’s important to note that our list does not include any car seats that have recently been recalled. When recommending the top toddler car seats for you and your child, safety came first.
Find out more about the top car seats in each category that we suggest.
1 There is only one GRACO Nautilus 65 LX 3-in- Harness Booster Car Seat.
With this toddler car seat, your child may travel with a sippy cup and a snack cup. And you’ll adore how quick and simple the installation is.
The Graco Nautilus toddler seat can be fastened to your latch in only a fraction of a second because of the Snuglock construction. The threadless adjustable harness and simple opening and closing of the chest lock eliminate the need to disassemble the entire device as your child grows.
Along with a foam lining and headrest, this car seat boasts a steel-reinforced structure for added crash safety. According to Consumer Reports, this makes it among the safest car seats on the market.
Additionally, cleaning is a breeze. It’s possible to machine-wash the seat pad. It also includes a ton of storage, four recline options, five harness positions, and six headrest configurations. You can simply throw your child’s vomit into the washing machine and shove it far away from you.
It is our best overall because it is reasonably priced, simple to maintain, simple to install, and extremely robust.
Size specifications
In the five-point harnessed booster mode, 22 to 65 pounds.
In the high-back booster mode, 40 to 100 pounds
When using the backless booster mode, 40 to 100 pounds.
In the low-profile backless booster mode, 40 to 120 pounds
More: Top Toddler Gift Ideas for Your Child
2 Grow with You Harness-2-Booster Car Seat, Britax
Oh, you’re dealing with a wiggle worm that keeps running into things? Rejoin the group. With the Britax Grow with You toddler seat, your kid is safely contained no matter how wiggly they become thanks to its extremely cushioned side-impact walls. In addition, the four cup holders and storage spaces will keep kids busy for a very long time.
Another car seat on the list that has a machine-washable cover means you’ll never have to be concerned about strange odors again. It is important to note that the machine-washable performance fabric is also incredibly breathable and gentle on baby’s skin. With Britax, you won’t find the scratchy seams and insufficient padding that plague so many other car seats.
The harness has a no-rethread safety feature that makes it simple to adjust as your child grows. The steel-reinforced frame installs in a matter of seconds. It includes a one-year limited warranty and two recline positions.
Size specifications
35 to 49 inches tall, 25 to 65 pounds when wearing a harness
44 to 63 inches tall, between 40 to 120 pounds with a booster
3 Fathom Chicco MyFit Harness + Booster Car Seat
Why not provide a stylish seat for your young traveler? Okay, so the seat’s really opulent design isn’t that significant; what matters is how safe it is. This Chicco seat, which received a top rating from Consumer Reports, has a dual guard, side impact protection for the head and torso, as well as a steel-reinforced frame. Additionally, it has a cup holder, threadless harness, cool ergonomic seat, and a four-position recliner with a nine-position headrest.
Size specifications
25 to 65 pounds and a maximum height of 54 inches while in harness
In booster mode, 40 to 100 pounds and 38 to 57 inches tall
4 Car Seat, Dusk, Cosco Finale Dx 2-In-1 Booster
You still have a number of excellent options whether your family is on a tight budget or has several automobiles and children. Due to its small profile and simple installation, this toddler car seat is a top seller on Amazon.
It has a cup holder that can be removed, a five-point harness, and easily adjustable straps. Although this car seat is rather basic, it serves its purpose.
Size specifications:
30 to 65 lbs. while using the harness
40-80 lbs. with a belt
5 Atlas 65 2-in-1 Harness Booster Car Seat by Graco
This car seat is popular for a reason; it’s simple to install, less expensive than other car seats, and the seat pad is machine washable.
We adore this model because of a special feature: The fully adjustable harness straps have a pouch on the side of the car seat so you won’t lose them once you’ve finished using them and switched to booster mode. That way, your next child can still use the seat (because otherwise, you just know those straps are going to disappear into the ether.)
Size specifications
28 to 49 inches tall and 22 to 65 pounds while in harness mode.
In seat belt mode, 40 to 100 pounds and 38 to 57 inches tall
6 Britax ClickTight Plus SafeWash Harness, Grow With You
Do your worst, you little humans. With the exception of the harness, this toddler car seat’s whole construction is machine washable because of its SafeWash cover. The steel frame, threadless harness adjustment, excellent side-impact protection, and adjustable tether are all standard safety features from Britax, plus the sweet comfort of never having to manually scrub ketchup out of the fabric.
The materials are naturally flame-resistant due to their knit structure, and the two-layer side-energy absorption system includes a deep, energy-absorbing, foam-lined shell and quick-adjust head protection. The four cup holders and snack bins ensure that your children have access to all the snacks they require. (Yes, this one is more expensive, but in our opinion, it’s well worth it.)
Size specifications
25 to 65 pounds and a maximum height of 49 inches while in harness
In seat belt mode, 40 to 120 pounds and up to 63 inches tall
7 Booster Car Seat AACE
This booster seat is quite inexpensive. It is practical and comfy, yes, but more importantly, it converts into a backless booster and has nine distinct height configurations.
And if that weren’t enough, you can machine-wash the entire thing. Nuna truly thought about the parent and the young child. It’s soft but securely hard, and the anchor installation was among the simplest I’ve ever experienced. Although you might assume that the special energy-absorbing foam used in the sides of this car seat would result in a sweating child, I can assure you that the ventilation is top-notch. It’s not too cold or too hot.
And even though the cupholder is only a little detail, parents value it greatly. Its half bottom keeps crumbs from accumulating and makes cleaning it with just a baby wipe simple.
Size specifications:
40 to 110 pounds when used as a high-back booster
50 to 120 pounds when used as a backless booster
taller than 60 inches
8 Car Seat Convertible Clek Foonf
This car seat is made to last. It sports a five-point, threadless harness, improved side impact protection, and a steel frame.
The Cloud Crypton fabric, despite not being machine washable, is resistant to stains, bacteria, and odors. Because liquids don’t really penetrate in, the seat is practically wipe-and-go. You hose it out, and it dries quickly. (Having cleaned numerous unmentionable substances out of this car seat, I can assure you that it’s positively heavenly.)
With a width of just 17 inches, it is also the thinnest car seat on this list, which is great if you have a large family.
Due to its proprietary REACT (Rigid-Latch Energy Absorbing Crumple Technology) safety system, forward-facing is better and safer for your baby because it lessens the forces that would otherwise be applied to the child in an accident because it performs similarly to rear-facing. Thanks to its simple latch system, installation takes less than a minute.
Size specifications
14 to 50 pounds when facing the rear
22 to 65 pounds when facing the front
25 to 49 inches in height
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