The LATCH strap is attached to the inside right side of the carseat with a metal bar, so it will never get tangled in the harness straps. The E2F comes out of the box set up with the LATCH strap set in the rear-facing belt path, so unless you are using it for an older child who will be forward-facing, there’s no need to move it. To move the LATCH strap, lift the cover and slide the strap up to the forward-facing belt path. In the past, we have made it known that the 4Ever seats are not SITS favorites due to the bulky backless booster mode.
Once you have a few easy to install and use seats on your shortlist, we think the last step is crash test analysis. While crash test performance is important studies indicate that a lot of injuries happen during real world accidents due to incorrect installation or a poorly fitted harness. However, this doesn’t mean you should ignore crash testing and the analysis results can provide valuable information to help you settle on the perfect seat for you. Each seat has two different methods of installation and at some point you will likely use both as the LATCH method will become obsolete at a certain weight. However, they are all different in how easy they are to use with each method.
Both Dr. Hoffman and Moriarity stress that all car seats have to meet the same safety requirements, so paying more does not mean you’re getting something better. You might be paying for convenient but unnecessary features, aesthetics, or even just the brand name. If that’s all important to you and it works for your budget, that’s fine. But if you’re only concerned about safety, then don’t feel you have to spend a lot to get a safe seat. The Uppababy Knox debuted in 2019, but that first version of the seat was voluntarily recalled in April 2020 due to an issue with the design of the base. (The base could cause the seat to tip when installed.) The Knox was relaunched with a new base in March 2021.
Our Editor’s Choice winner is a great value even if it is somewhat more expensive than some as it is still about three hundred dollars less than the most expensive selections. With the increase in the popularity of rotating seats, this stands out for many reasons and is one to consider if your goal is rotation. The Sirona is easy to install using both methods and graco turbobooster is one of the easiest in the group. Also, if comfort or quality is important to you, it is tough to beat the Sirona in our tests. For these reasons, we think most parents looking for rotation will be happy with this option. Like the Extend2Fit Convertible, the 3-in-1 has a no-rethread harness that’s linked to the headrest; it’s smooth and simple to adjust.
There’s a footrest panel that extends by 5 inches to add legroom for a rear-facing toddler or preschooler, enabling them to stay comfortable in the rear-facing position longer. A. While all models are simple and easy to install, Graco convertible car seats (like other convertible car seats) are on the heavier side, making them less ideal to transfer between vehicles. The lower anchors are stored right over the openings for the rear facing belt path. Therefore it’s extremely difficult to thread the vehicle seat belt through the belt path. Once the seat belt is in the beltpath, the installation is straightforward; lock the vehicle seat belt and then tighten.
The current author of this guide is Christina Szalinski, a science writer with a PhD in cell biology whose reporting on health has appeared in The Atlantic, Scientific American, Undark, and more. In addition to writing Wirecutter’s updated guides to the best infant car seats and travel car seats, she is responsible for Wirecutter’s guides to the best baby formula and kids face masks. Christina has three children, ages 4, 6, and 9; she can frequently be found ferrying them to soccer practice and play dates in her Honda Odyssey minivan. Britax has released two new convertible car seats, the Poplar and the Poplar S, both of which rely on the company’s ClickTight system.
When installed behind the passenger seat, we felt a little cramped sitting in the front. But between the safety, durability, and added features, we feel it’s a fantastic value. The seat has a strong and durable feel, with plenty of safety features, such as a 12-position headrest, six layers of side impact protection, and an anti-rebound bar that allows for extended rear-facing use. It’s also comfortable for infants since it comes with an infant positioning liner and a wedge that keeps them from looking like they’re sinking into the seat. Plus, the bottom of the seat folds flat for more compact storage and for a travel-friendly size.
From the headrest, to the harness straps, to the crotch strap, the seat has multiple comfort adjustment options to fit kids from birth to 10 years. If you want a great all-around seat or the best crash test results in the group, then the 4Ever is the seat for you. With an easy installation using LATCH and comfort and convenience features like a padded headrest and dual cup holders, it will surely please everyone.
There’s a handy spot at the back of the seat to store the metal splitter plate from the harness. The Extend2Fit is FAA-approved, but you will most likely need to raise the armrests on the airplane seat to get it to fit because of the cup holders. This is a feature-rich carseat and as such, there are several things to keep in mind when setting the Extend2Fit up for rear-facing. Graco Extend2Fit forward facing lower anchor and top tether installation. Graco has released the Extend2Fit to the Canadian market with the same rear and forward facing limits as the version sold in the United States version.