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Car and Driver
25-07-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Tested: Best Convertible Car Seats of 2025
If you've ever tried installing a car seat with one hand while wrangling a toddler and balancing a hot Americano, you already know the struggle: Not all car seats are created equal. Some are intuitive and rock-solid, with easy-to-use designs. Others feel like you've been sent to installation purgatory. To help you find the right car seat for you, we dug into the latest and greatest convertible car seats on the market to ensure your child stays safe and you stay sane. Convertible car seats are meant to be used for years, so we tested everything from design and materials to installation and cleanability, so you're as prepared as possible when it comes time to purchase the one that will serve your child from toddlerhood to kid-dom. Key Takeaways: With clean lines, leather accents, and multiple color options, the is our Best Overall pick because it's designed for parents who value aesthetics as much as function; it's not great for small cars, though. is our pick because it's designed for parents who value aesthetics as much as function; it's not great for small cars, though. If you drive a compact or sports car—or your family runs three-wide in the back seat—the is Best for Small Cars . is . Our Best Value pick is the —what a convertible seat should be at its price point. Things to Consider When Buying a Convertible Car Seat Cleanability There's no escaping messes. It doesn't matter how hard you try—there will be spills, there will be blowouts, and there will be crumbs. While all the seats we tested cleaned up relatively well after spills, we (unsurprisingly) found lighter-colored fabrics are more prone to visible staining, so we recommend sticking to darker or more pattern-heavy fabrics. It's also worth noting that the real challenge lies in removing the seat cover for cleaning. Some car-seat designs make this process quick and intuitive, while others require a wrestling match with straps, snaps, and headrests. If deep cleaning is a priority, look for models with easier fabric removal. Ease of Installation Some seats practically click themselves into place. Others make you question your life choices. Be sure the attachment system is easy to use and works well with the various anchor points in your vehicle, such as the standardized Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system. This can be difficult to judge from product photos, so look through our reviews, other consumers' reviews, and even head to your local Target or Costco and check out some display models to see how they operate. Size and Fit Not every seat fits every car, and that can be a rude surprise if you drive something with a tight back row. The big, cushy models might look great, but if they eat up half of your back-seat area, they may present a host of other problems you'll need to deal with. Always check dimensions, and if you're trying to fit three across, pay extra attention to car-seat width. Adjustability A convertible car seat is a long-haul investment, so you want a seat that grows with your kid. Look for easy-to-move headrests and harnesses you don't have to rethread by hand every few months. The more adjustability you have, the longer you can stretch the seat's usefulness and avoid shelling out for another one (so long as the seat isn't expired, of course). Comfort and Materials Good padding, breathable fabric, and decent head support can go a long way in keeping the peace on long road trips. For bonus points, buy a seat where the cover is easily removable and machine-washable. I speak from experience when I tell you the first spilled-milk incident (or unexpected blowout) will arrive sooner than you think. Weight and Portability If you're moving the seat between cars often (or lugging it through an airport), pay attention to how heavy it is. Some convertible seats are built like tanks, which is great for everyday use but brutal for portability and travel. Lighter doesn't always mean flimsier, and a lighter seat will be easier on your back. Recline and Slide Options You'll want a seat that plays nice with your car's back-seat geometry. Having more varied recline angles and adjustments can help with that, especially if your vehicle has deep seat cushions or tricky slope angles. Most car seats will come with included level bubbles or other means of ensuring it's at the right position for your child's height and weight. If it doesn't, make sure you know how to position the seat for optimal safety. Price vs. Practicality While convertibles are usually pricier than age-specific child car seats, you don't need to max out your credit card to get a safe, solid one. Some budget-friendly models nail the essentials without loading on bells and whistles you'll never use, while some expensive options might prioritize innovative style and design over basic comfort and practicality. What's important to you? Consider the overall value and feature set based on your vehicle and needs. Best Convertible Car Seats, Tested
Forbes
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
What Are Rotating Car Seats And How Do They Benefit Parents?
Rotating Car Seat Joie Car seats have evolved dramatically since 1985, the year car seats became mandatory in every U.S. state. At first, car seats improvements made them significantly safer for children and then, with the widespread adoption of the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system in 2003, more convenient for parents as well. One of the most recent major advancements in car seat technology came in 2007 with the introduction of the first rotating car seat, a product category not yet very well-known in the United States. Rotating car seats swivel on their base to face the door, where you can then place your child in the seat and buckle them in. Then, you swivel the seat back to its rear- or forward-facing position. Rotating car seats are capable of swiveling between 90 and 360 degrees, depending on the model. While the primary function of the car seat remains safety, rotating car seats introduce a significant layer of convenience and ergonomic benefit that is resonating deeply with parents navigating the daily challenges of childcare. I discovered rotating car seats when I was struggling with severe chronic postpartum back pain. My challenge as a single parent was that after a cesarean section, I was trying to limit my lifting and strain. While travel systems – car seats that separated from their base to become baby carriers and snap into a stroller – were convenient, they required me to lift more weight than I was supposed to the first eight weeks after my daughter was born. A rotating car seat allowed me to strap my baby in without bending my body around awkwardly, it was much easier than twisting and reaching to get my daughter secured. The benefits continued as my infant became a toddler. Buckling harnesses becomes less of a battle when you can comfortably face your child and connect eye-to-eye, offering a smoother and quicker process and ensuring proper strap placement and tightness. For parents with two-door cars or vehicles with a third row, rotating car seats can be especially convenient. While my Mini Cooper is the four-door verseion, given its small size, a rotating car seats made a huge difference. Claire Smith, a Certified Child Passenger Safety Advocate at Joie , explains how rotating car seats work during an email interview. She offers that, in addition to the ease of loading and unloading children, some parents also note that it makes it much easier to avoid accidentally hitting a child's head on the top of the car while loading them in their car seat. 'The rotating feature makes it so much easier to get your child into and out of the car seat.' For parents with physical limitations or those recovering from childbirth, the benefits are even more pronounced. With a simple rotation, the child and the car seat swivels to the side, facing the caregiver. This eliminates the need for strenuous leaning, twisting and reaching, significantly reducing the strain on backs, shoulders, and necks – a welcome relief for parents already dealing with the physical demands of raising young children. Rotating car seats tend to be slightly heavier than static car seats, so the initial installation might require some help for parents with physical limitations. Car Seat Safety Remains Paramount Safety, of course, remains paramount. In passenger cars, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers . Rotating car seats undergo the same rigorous testing and adhere to the same safety standards as traditional car seats. It's crucial for parents to ensure proper installation, following the manufacturer's instructions meticulously, regardless of the seat's rotating capabilities. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study , 48 percent of parents and caregivers incorrectly installed their child's car seat. Rotating car seats may be more expensive than some traditional models. Alisa Baer, MD, a pediatrician and co-founder of The Car Seat Lady , shared in a written response that costs is one of the reasons more people don't have rotating car seats. 'Currently the least expensive rotating seats are at least $250.' As technology advances and demand increases, a wider range of rotating car seats may become available at various price points, making them more accessible to a broader audience. Baer points out other drawbacks to consider, 'Some seats push forward as they rotate, which means that you may have to move the front seat up in order to swivel it. If you are installing two car seats side by side (or three-across), there likely won't be sufficient room for any of the seats to rotate, even if you use a slim one.' And safety, as with all car seats, is essential. 'Caregivers might be tempted to let the child ride side-facing so they can see better out the window – this is very dangerous, but I've seen it done. While walking in my NYC neighborhood, a car drove by with a child riding sideways in a rotating car seat.' Rotating Car Seats Growing In Popularity The first rotating car seat launch happened in Europe and the technology is only now gaining momentum in the United States. Smith is optimistic, 'Rotating car seats are still relatively new to the U.S, market. We're seeing a large number of parents selecting a rotating seat these days, though, as parents learn more about them.'
