Top All-In-One Convertible Car Seats of 2023
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Parents who invest in their kids’ safety know it can be quite a challenge to keep up. Crossing the street? OK, look both ways and hold my hand! Climbing backwards up the slide? Maybe, uh, when you’re older. And... wait — what’s that in your mouth?! It’s truly a new surprise around every corner.
Same goes for in-vehicle safety. You can spend a great deal of time researching the perfect car seat, finding it in stock near you, making sure it fits in your car and finally purchasing it — only to discover you have to do it all over again just a few months later!
That’s because kids’ passenger safety needs change drastically as they grow. Infants require rear-facing seats to keep them safe — it is by far the safest position for your child to travel, and we highly recommend you keep them in this position for as long as possible. When your toddler reaches the maximum height or weight capacity for their infant seat, they will graduate to a convertible car seat. When they grow out of that seat, they will transition to a booster. If it sounds like a lot to keep track of...well, it can be.
All-in-one car seats to the rescue!
Like traditional convertible car seats, these seats can grow with your child. However, what makes them stand apart is that they can be used right from birth, unlike most convertible car seats that require you to use an infant car seat first. All-in-one seats also transform into a booster seat for bigger kids when needed. These savvy safety devices transition from an infant seat, to a forward-facing toddler seat, to a booster with little more than the switching of a few harnesses, clips, and cushions. How’s that for convenience?
But before springing for an all-in-one car seat, there are a few things every parent should know about ‘em:
If an all-in-one car seat sounds right for you and yours, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ve rounded up our favourite convertible car seats to help you decide which one is right for you.
Let’s get started!
Same goes for in-vehicle safety. You can spend a great deal of time researching the perfect car seat, finding it in stock near you, making sure it fits in your car and finally purchasing it — only to discover you have to do it all over again just a few months later!
That’s because kids’ passenger safety needs change drastically as they grow. Infants require rear-facing seats to keep them safe — it is by far the safest position for your child to travel, and we highly recommend you keep them in this position for as long as possible. When your toddler reaches the maximum height or weight capacity for their infant seat, they will graduate to a convertible car seat. When they grow out of that seat, they will transition to a booster. If it sounds like a lot to keep track of...well, it can be.
All-in-one car seats to the rescue!
Like traditional convertible car seats, these seats can grow with your child. However, what makes them stand apart is that they can be used right from birth, unlike most convertible car seats that require you to use an infant car seat first. All-in-one seats also transform into a booster seat for bigger kids when needed. These savvy safety devices transition from an infant seat, to a forward-facing toddler seat, to a booster with little more than the switching of a few harnesses, clips, and cushions. How’s that for convenience?
But before springing for an all-in-one car seat, there are a few things every parent should know about ‘em:
PROS:
- “Grows” with your child
- Fewer purchases can save you money
- Many designed to safely seat children up to 10 years
- Less waste
- Seriously, you only ever need one seat!
CONS:
- Potentially higher up-front costs
- May be bulky and/or difficult to transfer between vehicles
- Few convertible car seats fit into a travel system
- Years of mystery stains can add up, even with washable seat cover
- A constant reminder they grow up too fast (sob)
If an all-in-one car seat sounds right for you and yours, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ve rounded up our favourite convertible car seats to help you decide which one is right for you.
Let’s get started!
MAXI-COSI PRIA
YOU'LL LOVE : Easy boardingTHEY'LL LOVE : Maximum comfort
THE SPECS:
- Rear-Facing Weight Capacity: 4–40 lbs
- Rear-Facing Max Height: Max 40”
- Forward-Facing Weight Capacity: Up to 65 lbs
- Forward-Facing Max Height: Max 49”
- Booster Weight Capacity: Up to 100 lbs
- Booster Height Capacity: Max 52”
The Pria All-in-One Convertible Car Seat from Maxi-Cosi is backed by over 30 years of European engineering for a safe ride from birth to 10 years. It features three recline positions and five headrest heights, with top-of-the-line materials for added comfort and plenty of protection. The five-point safety harness features an easy-to-use magnetic chest clip (don’t worry, it’s kid-proof), and its trademark QuickFit shoulder harness to ensure a snug fit without blackout worries.
Bonus? At $549.99, it’s the easiest on the wallet among our faves.
To check out our full in-depth review of the Pria All-in-One Convertible Car Seat, click here.
PEG PEREGO PRIMO VIAGGIO
YOU'LL LOVE : Exceptional safetyTHEY'LL LOVE : The perfect fit
THE SPECS:
- Rear-Facing Weight Capacity: 5–40 lbs
- Rear-Facing Max Height: Max 47”
- Forward-Facing Weight Capacity: 22–65 lbs
- Forward-Facing Max Height: Max 49”
- Booster Weight Capacity: 40 to 120 lbs
- Booster Height Capacity: 39” to 63”
Peg Perego’s Primo Viaggio All-In-One Convertible Car Seat puts safety first, having achieved “excellent” stability results in both the industry’s Head Injury Criterion and Head Acceleration tests.
How does it do it? With no less than a dozen headrest positions and an All-Round Protection system, it’s super easy to find your child’s safest fit...no matter the direction they’re facing.
Speaking of which: you can extend the integrated anti-rebound bar to give your little an extra two inches, helping them stay rear-facing (and safer) for a little bit longer.
To check out our full in-depth review of the Primo Viaggio All-in-One Convertible Car Seat, click here.
BRITAX ONE4LIFE
YOU'LL LOVE : Easy (and confident) installationTHEY'LL LOVE : Nap-friendly design
THE SPECS:
- Rear-Facing Weight Capacity: 5–50 lbs
- Rear-Facing Max Height: Max 49”
- Forward-Facing Weight Capacity: 22 to 65 lbs
- Forward-Facing Max Height: Max 49”
- Booster Weight Capacity: 40 to 120 lbs
- Booster Height Capacity: Max 63”
U.S.-based Britax has developed what can only be described as the luxury SUV of child conveyances: the One4Life ClickTight All-In-One Car Seat. The priciest seat on our list, it sports comfort features galore: plush, sound-dampening padding; a supportive, tag-free headrest; built-in cooling channels and ventilated mesh; and even a removable head pillow. Did we mention the padded armrests?
Many adjustments can be made with just one hand, ensuring your kiddo is properly strapped in for a nap to remember. Plus, the ClickTight system ensures you’ll never have to second-guess your installation.
To check out our full in-depth review of the Britax One4Life ClickTight All-In-One Car Seat, click here.
DIONO RADIAN 3QXT
YOU'LL LOVE: CustomizabilityTHEY'LL LOVE: Back-seat sibling rivalries
THE SPECS:
- Rear-Facing Weight Capacity: 4–50 lbs
- Rear-Facing Max Height: Max 44”
- Forward-Facing Weight Capacity: 22 to 65 lbs
- Forward-Facing Max Height: Max 57”
- Booster Weight Capacity: 40 to 120 lbs
- Booster Height Capacity: Max 57”
Diono’s Radian 3QXT All-In-One Convertible Car Seat is a bit of a Jack- or Jill-of-all-trades. It features several seating options for every stage — including four for rear-facing newborns (one is a near lie-flat position) with further customizability through the removal and addition of protective pads as your child grows.
It also goes where you go. Its Radian slim-fit design — our narrowest seat, at 17 inches — means you can fit three car seats across most vehicles. Travelling by air? Fold it up and use it on the plane.
To check out our full in-depth review of the Diono 3QXT, click here.
BABY JOGGER CITY VIEW
YOU'LL LOVE: Slim designTHEY'LL LOVE: Comfortable fit and leatherette cup holder
THE SPECS:
- Rear-Facing Weight Capacity: 5–40 lbs
- Rear-Facing Max Height: Max 43”
- Forward-Facing Weight Capacity: 22 to 65 lbs
- Forward-Facing Max Height: 27” to 49”
- Booster Weight Capacity: 40 to 100 lbs
- Booster Height Capacity: 43” to 57”
Another slim-fitting car seat, Baby Jogger’s City View All-In-One Convertible Car Seat leaves plenty of room for extra cargo (or grandma) as it grows with your child, with no re-threading required. The SecureStop™ Anti-Rebound Bar, five-point adjustable harness and thorough impact testing ensure your peace of mind.
Your little one will love storing their sippy cup in the leatherette cup holder (that can be moved to either side of the seat) and you’ll appreciate the adjustable harness and headrest that move together to accommodate your growing child — no rethreading required!
For more information about the City View Convertible Car seat, click here.
ONE AND DONE
Which all-in-one car seat is right for your family?No matter which seat you pick, you can count on first-class safety features to keep your little one safe and sound. These one-and-done seats are designed to be your little one’s travel companion from birth until they hit the double digits — talk about value for money!
As you continue your search, don’t forget to consider the little things. Do you want a cup holder? Do you want the fabric to be removable and machine washable? Do you need to fit two or more other seats in a row?
Good luck and happy shopping!