Best Car Seat Buying Guide And Reviews

How to find the best car seat for your child with a lot less stress: car seat styles, safety information, car seat reviews, and more.

One of the first things you’ll buy for your child is a good car seat it is one of the most important. You’ll need to but a car seat from the moment you take the baby home from the hospital until he or she grows up enough to fit into the car seat with regular seat belts, typically around the age of 8 or older. What’s most scary in this day and age is that nearly 80 percent of car seats are installed incorrectly, and a poorly installed seat leaves your child vulnerable to injury in an accident.

All child car seats are required to meet federal safety standards in a 30 mph crash test. All children are required by law to be in a car seat up to a certain age or weight (check Federal and State requirements).

Buying the most expensive car seat doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll get the best-performing seat for your needs. Many mid-priced models work as well as or even better than pricier models. Whatever the cost, a certain car seat may simply just not work with your car, your child, or your needs. This is why we strongly recommend planning ahead, reading our reviews, and make an educated decision before you make your final purchase. Use our guide to figure out the right seat for your budget, your kid, and your car, and to determine when you’ll need to move your child to the next level.

Choose the Right Style

As your child grows, you will need to upgrade from your old car seat (smaller) to another (larger). We help you understand the different types of car seats to help you zero in on the right one for your child’s needs.

Infant Car Seat

Infant Car Seat

This will be the first car seat for most new parents, and you will need this one to leave the hospital with a newborn. It can only be installed in rear-facing position and has a convenient, removable carrier that connects to a base installed in the car.

This provides the best fit and safety for newborns, smaller babies, and can be used for children from 4 lbs. to 40 lbs., depending on the model. Note: kids will most likely grow too tall before they get too heavy for these seats. A child is considered too tall when the crown of their head is less than one inch from the top of the carrier shell, or they exceed the height limits of the seat. Average price range: $80 to $500.

Find the best infant car seats

Convertible Seat

Convertible Car Seat

A convertible seat would be the next step up after outgrowing an infant seat, should be purchased no later than a child’s 1st birthday. It can be installed in a rear- or forward-facing position.

This seat must be installed rear-facing for children younger than 1 year and weighing less than 20 lbs. These car seats can be used rear-facing up to 40-50 lbs., depending on the seat model, and we recommend rear-facing until at least age 2, or the rear-facing limits of the seat. In some states, children under 2 must ride this way (CA, NJ, OK, PA). The seat can be turned around and used forward-facing until it is time for a booster seat.

This style seat can be installed forward-facing for kids at least 1 year of age, although it is recommended to waiting until at least age 2. Many models can hold a child as heavy as 65 lbs. Although the minimum weight limit allows for newborns and smaller infants, this type of seat often doesn’t provide the best fit for smaller babies or the convenience of a detachable carrier. Average price range: $40 to 450.

Find the best convertible car seats.

All-In-One Car Seats

All-In-One Car Seats

The All-In-One car seats provide the greatest value by taking your child from birth to booster. They’re a tempting money-saver, but based on our research, we found that by trying to do too much, and don’t do any single-function all that well overall.

This type of car seat accommodates children from 5 to 45 lbs. in the rear-facing position,  kids from 20 to 65 lbs. in the forward facing position with a harness, and kids from 30 to 120 lbs. in booster mode.

All-In-One car seats are typically large and heavy, lack the convenience of a detachable carrier, and may not be a good fit for smaller babies (or in smaller vehicles) as well. They could be a good backup seat or for a caregiver who transports a child less often. Average price range: $100 to $330.

Find the best all-in-ones car seats.

Toddler Booster Seat

Toddler Booster Car Seat

Toddler Booster car seats can only be used by children who meet the appropriate age, weight, and height limits to sit in a forward-facing position.

Designed to be used in the forward-facing position only, these car seats have harnesses (to be for use up to a certain height/weight) and then transition to a full booster seat (by removing the harness and using a car seat belt). For children weighing between 20 and 90 lbs. (use harness), and for children weighing 30 to 120 lbs. use in full booster mode (using car seat belt).

These car seats are a less expensive alternative to convertible seats (if your child meets the forward-facing position age and the weight requirements) and offer a safe option for an older child not yet ready for a booster seat or a transition car seat. Average price range: $55 to $295.

Find Best toddler booster car seats.

Booster Car Seat

Booster Car Seat

In time your child will outgrow the weight and height limits for a harnessed forward-facing car seat, it’s time for a booster seat that uses a car’s own seat belt.

Boosters raise the child up in the car so that the seat belt fits the child’s body correctly—belt lays over the sternum and the center of the collarbone (not the neck) and low enough to across the upper thighs (rather than the across abdomen). They come in two main styles, high-back and backless (base seat only).

Backless models are quite portable and easy to use and install, but we recommend high-back models, which better position the shoulder belt and provide some side impact protection.

Many states have booster seat laws, with some require children as old as 9 and as heavy as 80 lbs. to use a booster seat (check State requirements). Average price range: $13 to $300.

The best booster car seats.

Car Seat Safety Tips:
How to Choose the Right Seat

Car Seat Recommendations for Children by Age.

There are many car seat choices on the market. Use the information below to help you choose the type of car seat that best meets your child’s needs

Car Seat Recommendations for Children

Rear-Facing Car Seat

Rear-Facing Car Seat

Birth – 12 Months

When Your child is under the age of 1 they should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats:

  • Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing.
  • Both the Convertible and All-in-one car seats typically have a higher height and weight limit for the rear-facing position, which allows you to keep your child in a rear-facing position for a longer period of time.

1 – 3 Years

Keep your child in a rear-facing position as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the limits of the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to transition to a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.

Forward-Facing Car Seat

Forward-Facing Car Seat

1 – 3 Years

Keep your child in a rear-facing position as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the limits of the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to transition to a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.

4 – 7 Years

As the grow you will still keep your child in a forward-facing positioned car seat with a harness and tether until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat, it will be time to transition into a booster car seat, but your child will still need to sit in the backseat.

Booster Car Seat

Booster Car Seat

4 – 7 Years

As the grow you will still keep your child in a forward-facing positioned car seat with a harness and tether until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat, it will be time to transition into a booster car seat, but your child will still need to sit in the backseat.

8 – 12 Years

Best to keep your child in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly, the lap belt should lie low enough to across the upper thighs (rather than the across abdomen). The shoulder belt should lie over the sternum and the center of the collarbone (not the neck area). Remember: it is still safer for your child to ride in the backseat than the front seat.

Seat Belt

Kid in backseat with seat belt on

8 – 12 Years

Depending on your state laws, you may be able to move your child into sitting in the backseat with just the car’s seat belt. We still recommend keeping your child in a booster seat or just a booster base until he or she outgrows the manufacturers recommended limits for the seat. When your child is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly make sure the lap belt should lie low enough to across the upper thighs (rather than the across abdomen). The shoulder belt should lie over the sternum and the center of the collarbone (not the neck area). Remember: it is still safer for your child to ride in the backseat than the front seat.

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