We also found the Aton 2’s handle adjustment (which requires gripping the widest part of the handle) frustrating to maneuver. In February 2023, Cybex issued a recall of the Aton 2 and Cloud Q (see next entry) car seats made between June 6, 2017 and Nov. 1, 2020 because the adjuster strap used to tighten the harness could fray. If you have one of these models, you can contact Cybex for a remedy kit.
If you are choosing one stage models, check the weight capacity to prevent incorrect usage and avoid issues between stages (for example if one is up to 30 lbs., but the next starts at 40 lbs.). The ‘Pinch Test’ is helpful in determining if you have properly secured your baby into the car seat. Pinch the webbing strap at the child’s collarbone; if you are unable graco car seat to grasp the material and your fingers slide off, your child is harnessed properly. Additional car seat accessories, such as car seat protectors and baby window shades are available to ensure a comfortable (and tidy) trip. No matter newborn or big kid, buybuy BABY is here to help keep your little ones safe and comfy through every step of their journey.
The Boulevard has more going for it than just the ClickTight system; it’s also a very pleasant seat to use on a daily basis. The Boulevard features a no-rethread harness—as does our top pick, the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible—so the height of the shoulder straps can be easily adjusted in seconds, even with a kid in the seat. We were joined by Wirecutter senior editor Courtney Schley, who has four kids—the youngest just aging into his first convertible seat. Courtney and I took turns installing the seats in our family cars—my Honda Odyssey and Courtney’s Ford Transit cargo van—parked in Gina’s driveway on an icy-cold winter day, and then Gina evaluated our installs. We’ve interviewed safety experts, pored over reviews, endured our share of aching muscles from installing literal towers of car seats, and concluded that the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible is the overall best choice. The seat does a standout job of encouraging extended rear-facing use—the safest position for a young child.
Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Like the Extend2Fit Convertible, the 3-in-1 has a one-year warranty and a lifespan of 10 years from the date of manufacture. Since it is a relatively new model, the NHTSA has yet to release crash-testing data graco car seat or an ease-of-use rating for this seat. It is available in a range of colors, with either white or black plastic sides. The most recent fabric, Crypton C-Zero Plus, has a moisture barrier and an antimicrobial treatment on top, and is Greenguard Gold–certified for lower emissions of VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
We like that he stayed in a familiar seat through that transition and that we didn’t have to keep buying new gear and equipment as he grew. He’s 5 years old and gearing up for his first year in school — and his first year in a carpool so he’s starting to learn how to ride in a booster seat. The 4Ever fit him well in booster mode — the lap belt lies low on the lap, where it belongs, the vehicle seat belt moves freely through the shoulder guide and rests comfortably and correctly across the chest.
The Extend2Fit 3-in-1 is similar in appearance to the Convertible; it’s not going to win any design awards, but it’s not offensive. The cover is a polyester blend that’s available in dark colors (black and dark gray) with lighter accents. As with that of the Extend2Fit Convertible, the fabric on this seat doesn’t wipe clean as easily as the fabric on our other picks.
Although we acknowledge that it is cost-prohibitive for many families, we have made an effort to include other excellent options in this guide that suit a wide range of budgets, and we’re confident in all of our picks. The graco car seat Chicco KeyFit 30 is easy to install and to use, and it delivers on its good reputation. Because the seat has numerous recline angles, it can get very upright which lessens the footprint of the seat from front to back.
The rear-facing infant car seat also allows you to adjust the harness system and headrest in one quick motion. Both the NHTSA and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that a child ride rear-facing until they reach the height and weight limits of the seat—and we wanted those limits to be generous. Keeping a child rear-facing until they’re 4 years old is an ambitious and oft-cited benchmark; that would mean an average of about 35 inches tall and 40 pounds. Despite the fact that deaths in car crashes have plummeted since the 1970s, motor-vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of injury death for US children. The NHTSA estimates (PDF) that the lives of 11,274 children younger than 5 were saved by the use of car seats or safety belts between 1975 and 2016.
For example, we discovered that we had clear preferences when it came to choosing which seat we’d pick to move between cars on short notice. Whenever possible, we sought feedback about the seats from the kid testers. The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 offers six recline positions, which can keep your child comfortable as they get taller. Fortunately, each side of the seat has a level indicator that shows is it’s in a safe position, whether it’s front- or rear-facing. The height of its 10-position headrest is also easy to adjust; we could do it with just one hand.
Clek describes this padding as “two-stage” because it comes in two pieces, a headrest and a support cushion. You can use the headrest until the baby outgrows the seat, and you can use the bottom support cushion until their shoulders reach the top harness slot. The KeyFit 30 is the narrowest and shortest of the seats we recommend, at 16½ inches wide and 27½ inches front to back; like our other picks, it’s a good candidate for a three-across seat configuration. At 9½ pounds, it’s the second-lightest infant seat among our picks, after the Clek Liing.