The Best Car Seats for Every Age
Our top-tested rear-facing infant car seats, favorite convertible car seats for toddlers, best boosters for big kids and more.
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If you have a baby or toddler, by law you need a car seat for them in any automobile in the U.S. Car seats reduce the risk of death in an accident by as much as 71% when used correctly, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. That's why every state in the nation has child passenger safety laws, particularly for kids ages 5 and younger.
The parenting and engineering experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have tested dozens of car seats both in our Labs and with our families so we can help you make the best choice no matter the age or stage of your child. We've evaluated more than 24 car seats in the last three years based on ease of installation, ease of use, safety features, functionality and value.
Our Top Pick: The Chicco KeyFit 35 is our recommendation if this is the first car seat you are buying for your newborn. With its high 35-pound weight limit, extended legroom and superior padding, you should be able to keep your infant comfortable in the safest position — rear-facing — through their second birthday.
In addition to conducting evaluations in the Lab, we have consumer testers use car seats in their everyday lives and report back to us after weeks of usage. Their feedback goes a long way toward helping us identify the car seats that are truly easy for families to use correctly.
Chicco KeyFit 35 Zip ClearTex
Pros
- Easy-to-use LATCH or lock-off mechanism
- Extended rear-facing keeps this good for several years
- Anti-rebound bar on the base for added stability
- Large canopy with built-in mesh privacy shield
Cons
- Can be a tight fit in small vehicles
- Heavier to carry around than some other infant car seats
Rear-facing limit: 35 lbs or 32" (whichever comes first) | Forward-facing limit: N/A (rear-facing only) | Installation: LATCH system with SuperCinch, built-in belt lock-off or belt path | Dimensions: 28" x 16.5" x 24" | Seat weight: 10.5 lbs | No-rethread harness: Yes
OUR REVIEW: Our experts prioritize ease of installation and use, vital for car-seat safety. This infant car seat has two primary options for installation: The LATCH connectors are made to be cinched without much force required (called SuperCinch), or if you use the vehicle seatbelt, the base has a built-in lock-off. Whichever you choose, it's easy to get the correct, tight fit fairly quickly.
Another standout safety feature of the KeyFit 35 is that it is made for extended rear-facing. It holds your baby up to 32 inches tall or 35 pounds, making it likely you can keep them in the safest, rear-facing position past their second birthday. The KeyFit 35 also has more legroom than many other infant car seats. That helps you keep your baby riding in it for years, but it can also make it a tight squeeze in some compact cars. An integrated anti-rebound bar in the base provides stability in the event of sudden braking or an accident.
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Parents of a newborn who want the convenience of an infant car seat they can unsnap from a base and tote around. The seat weighs a little over 10 pounds, so it's not as light as some others, but we feel the installation and extended use make it superior. The KeyFit 35 can ride atop Chicco strollers and other strollers, too, though for other brands, you'll need to buy an adaptor.
WHAT TESTERS SAID: "This car seat seems very comfortable for a baby," one parent tester told us. "The straps have nice padding and I love the support it provides for the baby's head." Another parent called out the large, extendable canopy that keeps the sun out of a baby's eyes and offers UV protection.
There's also a zip-down cover with a mesh panel if you want to further shade your baby from lights and sights. Those features helped this car seat earn one of our previous Parenting Awards.
RELATED: Best Infant Car Seats
Britax Poplar S
Pros
- ClickTight system makes it easy to use with a seatbelt
- Extended rear-facing to 50 pounds
- Easy to adjust as your child grows
Cons
- Doesn't become a booster
Rear-facing limit: 50 lbs | Forward-facing limit: 20 to 65 lbs | Installation: LATCH system or built-in belt lock-off called ClickTight | Dimensions: 20.5" x 17" x 23.5" | Seat weight: 28 lbs | No-rethread harness: Yes
OUR REVIEW: Ease of installation is key with our Lab experts, and the Britax ClickTight installation with built-in lock-off helps parents install this easily and securely using a car's seat belt. You just open the seat, thread in the seat belt, buckle it in place and click the seat back closed. An anti-rebound bar you attach to the seat for the rear-facing position provides extra stability.
You can keep the Poplar S in the safest rear-facing position until your child hits either 50 pounds or 49 inches tall. That's some of the longest extended rear-facing we know of. Then you can turn it around and use it forward-facing until your child is 65 pounds. It works with its own five-point safety harness and does not become a booster seat. This car seat won one of our most recent Parenting Awards.
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Because our experts like the portability of an infant car seat, we still suggest starting with an infant seat made to snap on and off a base. But then we suggest getting a convertible car seat such as the Poplar S at about age 2 if you want to keep your toddler rear-facing for a few more years. They could ride rear-facing to age 4 or 5 in the Poplar S if they meet the height and weight requirements.
WHAT TESTERS SAID: "This car seat was extremely easy to install. We were easily able to switch between cars quickly while recently on a trip and in a bind. The directions were very straightforward," a parent tester told us. "It feels very cushy and my 3-year-old year old says it is very comfortable," another parent tester said.
RELATED: Best Toddler Car Seats
Graco SlimFit
Pros
- Works rear-facing, forward-facing and as a booster
- Testers like that it's less bulky
- More than 44,000 five-star Amazon reviews
Cons
- If you've got a big-framed kid, this could be a tight fit
Rear-facing limit: 40 lbs | Forward-facing limit: 22 to 65 lbs | Booster limit: 40 to 100 lbs | Installation: LATCH system or belt path | Dimensions: 16.25" x 20" x 25.5" | Seat weight: 19.5 lbs | No-rethread harness: Yes
OUR REVIEW: The SlimFit is built to last from infancy through childhood as it transitions from rear-facing for a baby, forward-facing for a preschooler and to high-back booster for a school kid. Because it's good from birth to 100 pounds, it could be the only car seat you ever need — if you are okay with not having an infant seat you can take in and out of your car.
Alternatively, you can start using this after your child outgrows their infant seat and still get years of use out of it as a forward-facing car seat and then booster seat. Many families use this from about age 2 until their child is somewhere between ages 8 and 10. The SlimFit has more than 44,000 five-star reviews on Amazon and it’s also surprisingly light for a convertible car seat.
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Anyone who wants to buy less baby gear. Our Lab experts who are parents do prefer to start with an infant car seat, like our number-one choice, so it can be pulled out of the car and carried around, but starting with an all-in-one can save a lot of money because you are one and done with your car seat.
WHAT TESTERS SAID: One parent tester who gave it all five-star ratings said, "It fit well in my car and seemed less bulky than other convertible seats we’ve used." At 20 inches, its slim design is popular with families with multiple kids and those who have compact cars. But there is one downside: "It runs narrow and it’s a bit tight for a bigger-framed kid," said GH contributing editor Yolanda Wikiel, who used it until her son was 4. "We bought it when we had a smaller car — and a smaller kid."
Pros
- Sits a child higher so that the seat belt fits correctly
- Light and easy to move from car to car
- Cupholder and storage compartment
Cons
- No five-point harness or side protection
Rear-facing limit: N/A (booster only) | Booster limit: 40 lbs and 43" to 100 lbs or 57" (whichever comes first) | Installation: LATCH system or belt path | Dimensions: 15.5" x 17.5" x 8.64" | Seat weight: 5.5 lbs | No-rethread harness: N/A
OUR REVIEW: This is a favorite of our Lab experts who have older kids who need to be boosted up a few inches, helping ensure that the seat belt fits them correctly. Kid testers loved the arms rests, hidden storage compartment and built-in cupholder. Also — and this is key for getting big kids to comply with staying in a booster — it doesn't look babyish.
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: A convertible car seat with a five-point harness and high sides is a safer option for kids up to 65 pounds (usually about age 6 or 7), so don't be in a rush to change to this kind of backless booster seat. It's best for older elementary-school kids entering their last years of needing a boost.
WHAT TESTERS SAID: "There are basic boosters that are a little cheaper, but they're not as comfortable," said one of our Lab experts who bought two of these, one for each kid. "Also, once your kid hits the age when you'll be carpooling their friends to activities, it can be a lifesaver to have one of these in your trunk."
RELATED: Best Booster Car Seats
Doona Car Seat Stroller
Pros
- Stroller and car seat in one piece
- Transforms from car seat to stroller in seconds
- Ideal for travel and use in taxis
Cons
- Only for the first two years of your baby's life
- Harness must be thread to adjust the height
Rear-facing limit: 4 to 35 lbs or 32" (whichever comes first) | Forward-facing limit: N/A (rear-facing only) | Installation: LATCH system or belt path | Dimensions: 17.3" x 23.6" x 26" | Seat weight: 16.5 lbs | No-rethread harness: No
OUR REVIEW: It's a splurge, but the Doona is innovative because it's one piece that transforms from a car seat to a stroller and back again in seconds without the need for any extra adaptors or equipment. A tester who said her family did an "insane amount" of travel during their son's first year called it the easiest way to move a baby through an airport and to get into and out of taxis.
The Doona, like other infant car seats, does become obsolete around or just after your child's second birthday, when they reach 35 pounds or 32 inches tall. At that point, they'll need a convertible car seat. Also, this is the only choice on our list that's missing a no-rethread harness. To adjust the harness as your baby grows, you have to rethread the harness into a higher slot.
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: This is an infant car seat on wheels, ideal for families with a baby under age 2 who intend to travel frequently. You won’t have to lug around a separate stroller. But because it doesn't have a storage basket underneath, it's not a great stroller for lugging a lot of stuff.
WHAT TESTERS SAID: Our Lab experts who are parents have personally used the Doona, and we've tested it with many consumer families as well. One parent told us, "It's for anyone who wants to make their life easier on a regular basis" because it takes up so little room and is so easy to get around with.
RELATED: Best Car Seat Stroller Combos
Chicco Fit360 ClearTex
Pros
- Easier to load and unload your child as they face you
- Seat spins to face rear or forward
- Straightforward installation
Cons
- Best for fairly roomy vehicles
Rear-facing limit: 40 lbs | Forward-facing limit: 26.5 to 65 lbs | Installation: LATCH system or built-in belt lock-off called LeverLock | Dimensions: 20" x 18.25" x 25.75" | Seat weight: 31 lbs | No-rethread harness: Yes
OUR REVIEW: Rotating car seats are a new category, growing in popularity. With one of these, you can turn the seat to face the car door, so you don't have to load your child in sideways. This one was the favorite of our Lab experts and our consumer testers. It can turn from either the rear-facing or forward-facing position (some other rotating seats only turn from one or the other, not both.) It earned one of our most recent Parenting Awards.
Your child can ride rear-facing in this until they are 40 pounds, and forward-facing to 65 pounds. But a rotating car seat is larger and heavier than some regular convertible seats, so it's not ideal for switching between cars. Installation-wise, the Fit360 is easy to secure with the built-in lock-off feature in the car seat base. The brand prefers you use that, with the car's seat belt, though the LATCH system is also available.
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Parents with a wriggly baby who are ready for a convertible car seat that stays in the car, versus an infant car seat that can snap in and out. It helps to have a roomy vehicle that lets you easily turn the seat.
WHAT TESTERS SAID: "My husband used the QR code that came in the box to pull up the instructions and was able to configure everything in under 10 minutes," one parent said. "Our 6-month-old doesn't love being in car seats but he did pretty well in this one since it keeps him a bit more upright while still being reclined, and it's more spacious than an infant car seat. It is very easy to rotate and take him in and out."
"It is large and needs room if you want to spin it around," said another. "But it saves your back while you are getting your child in and out of the car seat with the rotating function. We also like the unique crash-tested car seat mirror [sold separately] that attaches directly to the base." Loading your child in with the seat facing you before you turn them to face rear or forward can make the whole buckling and unbuckling scenario easier.
RELATED: Best Rotating Car Seats
How we test car seats
When the parenting and engineering experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute assess car seats, we review safety compliance, ease of use and innovative car-seat features.
We only test car seats that have passed all applicable safety laws in the United States. For our own tests, we install car seats in vehicles of varying sizes and with consumer testers who have children at every age and stage so we can get real-life feedback over the course of months, if not years. In the past three years, we've tested more than 24 car seats.
What to consider for when shopping for a car seat
Children transition from one kind of seat to another based on weight and sometimes height more than age. The NHTSA guide (see below) can help you find the best position (rear- or front-facing) and type (infant, convertible car seat or booster).
Infant car seats are for use from birth. Infant car seats can only be used rear-facing, which is the safest position.
- Infant car seats are designed specifically around the needs of an infant with extra support for their neck, head and spinal cord.
- You can easily remove an infant car seat from your car, taking it off its base (which stays in the car) and carrying your baby in the seat for easy transitions in and out of your vehicle.
- Height and weight limits vary by brand and model, but usually, the weight limit maxes out at 30 or 35 pounds. Whenever your child hits either the height or the weight limit, you have to stop using your infant car seat and move to a convertible car seat.
Convertible car seats can be used in the baby, toddler and preschool years, up to 65 pounds in the forward-facing position. They convert from rear-facing to forward-facing. Many families start with an infant car seat and move to a convertible car seat.
- Our experts like convertible car seats with extended rear-facing weight limits, letting your child stay in the safe rear-facing position up to 50 pounds (often age 4).
- You can not click a convertible car seat out of your car and carry it with your baby inside. In addition, no convertible car seat can fit onto a stroller.
- Installation takes a bit more time, so it's not practical to frequently move a convertible car seat between cars, but we do recommend you bring yours if you'll be traveling.
Booster car seats come in high-back and backless versions. Either way, they boost a big kid up so that the adult seat belt correctly hits across the center of the child's shoulder and chest.
- A high-back booster includes a backrest, which is helpful for small children, and sometimes side wings that give kids a place to rest their head when they want to sleep.
- A backless booster is just a seat and nothing else. For children who weigh over 100 pounds who might be embarrassed by the babyish look and feel of a high-back booster, these portable seats keep them correctly positioned with their dignity intact.
Read all the rules for having a child of any age safely buckled in, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
NHTSA car seat guide
This is an example of an NHTSA search for a 3-year-old who is 3 feet tall and 33 pounds. The blue bar indicates that NHTSA recommends a forward-facing car seat with a built-in safety harness, which means purchasing a convertible car seat or all-in-one car seat.
Know the car seat lingo
- Five-point restraint system: All infant seats use a five-point harness system, which consists of a crotch strap with harness buckle, chest clip and harness strap. Buckle your child in every time. You tighten the harness by pulling the strap located at the base of the seat.
- No-rethread harness: These are a minor miracle as far as making it easy to adjust a harness for your fast-growing child. More and more car seats let you adjust harness height on a sliding scale, but others still require parents to rethread the harness straps into holes each time they make an adjustment.
- LATCH: Most car seats can be secured either with a seat belt or with included LATCH connectors. LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children and is a required standard on car seats and cars made from September 2002 on.
- Lock-off: An easy way to install a car seat is with a lock-off system that lets you simply use your vehicle's seatbelt. Brands tend to give their lock-off system a jazzy name but the function is the same — the seat belt gets held down in the car seat base, and if you use it, you can ignore the LATCH setup. You use one or the other, seat belt or LATCH, never both.
- Base and recline: Most infant car seats have a base that helps you with installation and makes it easy to adjust your infant to the proper reclined angle, which is important for their safety since infants do not have strong neck control. If you start with a convertible car seat from birth, it's vital that it is installed rear-facing and at a properly reclined angle for a newborn.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
The Good Housekeeping Institute is a go-to resource for parents and their product needs, as its team of engineers and product experts (many parents themselves!) thoroughly evaluate everything from car seats to strollers, toys and more.
This article was written by contributing writer Jessica Hartshorn, a veteran of Parents magazine and American Baby magazine who has reported on the car-seat market for 25 years.
Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.
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