Most of the convertible seats (sometimes called infant/child seats) on this list will get most kids to age 2 rear facing, and exceptions are noted as applicable. Many will get average to small kids well beyond that; tall and long torsoed children have far fewer options if your rear facing goals exceed age 2 as is the current recommendation. This article will (hopefully!) help you form realistic rear facing goals for your family, and guide your shopping with those ideas in mind.
If you are looking for an all-in-one or 3-in-1 (a convertible seat that also has a booster seat mode) jump to those here.
If you are shopping online, consider shopping via our affiliate links with Amazon.ca or Best Buy. Thank you.
*Please note: Top harness slots listed are approximate, and how a child fits in a seat will vary not only on seated torso height (measurement from floor to top of shoulders when child is seated), but also proportions, shape of the seat, angle of the seat, and even the particular install. As usual, we recommend trying out a seat yourself to ensure it will work in your situation.
In no particular order…
For maximum versatility and ease-of-use when one seat is used by multiple kids (babies to pre-schoolers) choose seats that adjust in the following way:
- convert easily between modes (for example from rear facing to forward facing, and back)
- adjust easily for larger or smaller children (look for a no-rethread harness)
If a seat is frequently moved between vehicles, or from a vehicle to storage, this process may be easier with:
- premium “push on” lower anchors
- lock-offs for a seat belt installation
Your current seat may be just fine for air travel – always check with your airline for restrictions. If you are shopping for a new seat for travel we recommend:
- seats that are lightweight
- seats that are inexpensive
- seats that don’t have a lot of extra parts to transport (and potentially lose)
Best bets: Evenflo SureRide/Titan 65, Evenflo Sonus, Cosco Scenera NEXT, Graco Admiral/Contender
Most seats on this list rear face to at least 40 lb (18 kg). Seats that rear face beyond that include:
- Graco Extend2Fit, Clek Fllo, Peg Perego Convertible, Evenflo Revolve Extend, Evenflo Revolve Slim
3-across isn’t always about just needing a narrow seat – but when every inch counts it doesn’t hurt to have narrow seats in the mix.
Best bets include: Cosco Scenera NEXT, Graco Admiral/Contender, Clek Foonf, Clek Fllo, Evenflo Revolve Slim, Graco TrioGrow, Graco SlimFit3 LX
Evenflo Sonus / Evenflo Generations / Evenflo RightFit (read a review here)
BEST FOR: travel, kids who are lightweight for their age
AVOID FOR: rear facing in compact vehicles
PROS: lightweight, low profile, inexpensive
CONS: can be large front-to-back when rear facing
FEATURES:
- ~$150 (Sonus) and $250 (Generations Sonus) at Babies R Us, Walmart, Best Buy, Canadian Tire
- rear faces to 40 lb or 40″, forward faces to 50 lb or 50″ (Generations and RightFit forward face to 65 lb)
- expires 6 years from date of manufacture
- single recline level for rear-facing
- child must be TWO years old to forward face
- TALL top harness height ~18.25″
- Note: “Evenflo Generations” exclusively at Babies R Us is a comparable seat with a 65 lbs forward-facing weight limit; also see Evenflo RightFit
Cosco Scenera NEXT (read a review here)
BEST FOR: travel, petite kids, rear-facing use only
AVOID FOR: tall kids, especially beyond age 3
PROS: lightweight, inexpensive, narrow, compact
CONS: outgrown quickly, limited use forward facing
FEATURES:
- ~$130 at Walmart, Babies R Us, Amazon
- rear faces to 40 lb or 40″, forward faces to 40 lb or 43″
- single recline level for rear facing
- expires 8 years from date of manufacture
- EXTRA LOW top harness height: ~13″
Graco Contender/Admiral (and formerly known as Graco Dimensions but now discontinued) (read a review here)
BEST FOR: kids who are tall but lightweight, multi-kid grandparent/daycare/agency use
AVOID FOR: rear facing for heavier-for-age kids
PROS: narrow, easy to adjust, easy to convert between modes, compact rear facing
CONS: lower than average rear-facing weight limit (35 lb)
FEATURES:
Evenflo SureRide/Titan 65 (read a review here)
BEST FOR: travel, tall-for-age kids
AVOID FOR: rear facing in compact vehicles
PROS: lightweight, inexpensive, long lasting forward facing, extra tall harness height
CONS: larger front-to-back
FEATURES:
Graco Extend2Fit
BEST FOR: rear-facing kids who are heavy for their age, rear facing in compact vehicles, multi-kid grandparent/daycare/agency use
AVOID FOR: narrow seating locations (3-across)
PROS: high rear-facing weight limit, easy to convert between modes, very compact when leg panel not in use (non-Platinum version only)
CONS: wide
FEATURES:
- $400 at Toys R Us, Amazon, Canadian Tire, Walmart, Best Buy
- Rear faces to 50 lb or 49”, forward faces to 65 lb or 50”
- premium UAS connectors
- no-rethread harness
- extension panel increases leg room when rear facing (use is optional only in the non-Platinum version)
- harness covers
- range of recline angles for rear facing
- expires 10 years from date of manufacture
- AVERAGE top harness slot: ~17.5”
Britax Emblem (Allegiance is now discontinued)
BEST FOR: rear facing in compact vehicles, average-to-petite kids, multi-kid grandparent/daycare/agency use
AVOID FOR: tall kids
PROS: easy to install and use, compact rear facing, plush finishing
CONS: leg room is limited for bigger kids
FEATURES:
- ~$340 at Babies R Us, Amazon, or specialty stores
- rear faces to 40 lb or 49″, forward faces to 65 lb or 49″
- built-in lock-offs for seat belt installs
- no-rethread harness
- range of recline angles for rear facing
- expires 7 years from date of manufacture
- AVERAGE top harness slot: ~17″
Clek Foonf (read a review of the Foonf here; compare Foonf and Fllo here)
BEST FOR: rear facing in compact vehicles, three across situations
AVOID FOR: low-ceilinged vehicles
PROS: narrow, easy to use, compact rear facing, plush finishing
CONS: heavy
FEATURES:
- ~$750-800 depending on cover (sometimes Amazon, specialty retailers)
- rear faces from 14 lb to 40 lb or 43″, forward faces to 65 lb or 49″
- built-in lock-offs for seat belt installations, flexible UAS for rear-facing installation, and rigid UAS for forward-facing installation
- anti-rebound bar for rear-facing
- range of recline angles for rear facing
- expires 9 years from date of manufacture
- AVERAGE top harness slot: ~17.5″
Clek Fllo (read a review of Fllo here; compare Foonf and Fllo here)
BEST FOR: three across situations, rear facing heavy-for-age kids
AVOID FOR: compact vehicles
PROS: narrow, easy to use, plush finishing
CONS: heavy
FEATURES:
- ~$500-600 depending on cover (Babies R Us, sometimes Amazon, specialty retailers)
- rear faces from 14 lb to 50 lb (retroactive change from 40 lb) or 43″, forward faces to 65 lb or 49″
- built-in lock-offs for seat belt installations
- anti-rebound bar for rear-facing
- expires 9 years from date of manufacture
- range of recline angles for rear facing
- AVERAGE top harness slot: ~17″
Peg Perego Convertible
BEST FOR: average-to-short kids, heavier for age kids, compact vehicles
AVOID FOR: tall kids, rear-facing kids with big heads and/or long necks
PROS: easy to use, plush finishing
CONS: can be outgrown by fit (see above re head/neck) due to shell height
FEATURES:
- $440 – 480 depending on fabric at Babies R Us, boutique stores
- rear faces to 45 lb or 47″, forward faces to 65 lbs or 49″
- built-in lock-offs for seat belt installations in the forward-facing mode
- anti-rebound bar for rear-facing
- no-rethread harness
- range of recline angles for rear facing
- expires 10 years from date of manufacture
- AVERAGE top harness slot: ~17″
AVOID FOR: three-across situations
PROS: easy to use, compact rear facing, plush finishing
CONS: wide, heavy
FEATURES:
- ~$580 at Babies R Us, Amazon, boutique retailers
- rear faces to 40 lb or 49″, forward faces to 65 lb or 49″
- compare features of the Marathon, Boulevard, and Advocate here
- built-in lock-off ClickTight panel for seat belt installations
- anti-rebound bar for use when rear-facing
- no-rethread harness
- range of recline angles for rear facing
- expires 10 years from date of manufacture
- TALL top harness slot: ~18.65″
A note about seats in this category: they get the most use as convertibles, and a usable booster feature is a bonus. Some seats do a booster mode better than others, but you aren’t likely to know if a seat will work for YOU as a booster until your child gets to booster size and age. If you are purchasing now for an infant, that’s a gamble — it’s 5 years away! Make sure that it works for you as a rear-facing and then forward-facing seat in the meantime.
Evenflo Revolve, Revolve Extend, Revolve Slim (read a review here)
AVOID FOR: compact vehicles, rear-facing tall kids or those with large heads and/or long necks
PROS: easy to install and use, easy to convert between modes, Slim model is narrow when installed (but still needs room to rotate)
CONS: wide (space needed to rotate, even the Slim), limited booster mode use by seated height
FEATURES:
- ~$670 (Revolve 360), $700 (Revolve Extend), $600 (Revolve Slim) at Babies R Us, Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart
- rear faces to 40 lb or 40″ (Extend to 50 lb or 48″; Slim to 50lb or 48″)
- forward faces to 65 lb or 49″, and minimum age 2
- high back booster from 40lb to 120 lb, from 44″ to 57″, and minimum age 4 (Slim has no booster mode)
- install the base once, rotate easily between rear- and forward-facing modes
- no-rethread harness
- built-in lock-off for seat belt installation
- range of recline angles for rear facing
- expires 10 years from date of manufacture
- EXTRA TALL top harness height ~19″
Graco TrioGrow SnugLock 3-in-1
AVOID FOR:
PROS: easy to use, compact rear facing, narrow
CONS: limited booster use by seated height
FEATURES:
- ~$430 at Babies R Us, Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart
- rear faces to 40 lb or 43″
- forward faces to 65 lb or 49″
- high back booster from 40 lb to100 lb, from 43″ to 57″ and minimum age 4
- anti-rebound bar for use rear facing
- no-rethread harness
- built-in lock-off for seat belt installation
- range of recline angles for rear facing
- expires 10 years from date of manufacture
- AVERAGE top harness height ~17.5″
Graco 4Ever (read a review here)
AVOID FOR:
PROS: easy to use, compact rear facing
CONS: wide, limited booster use by seated height
FEATURES:
- ~$490 at Amazon, Babies R Us, Walmart, Best Buy, Canadian Tire
- rear faces to 40 lb or 43″
- forward faces to 65 lb or 49″
- booster from 40 lb to 120 lb, from 40″ to 57″ (different weight for backless vs high back modes)
- no-rethread harness
- ten year expiry date
- range of recline angles for rear facing
- TALL top harness slot ~18″
Graco SlimFit3 LX
AVOID FOR: tall or broad kids
PROS: easy to use, compact rear facing, narrow
CONS: internal seating area is also narrow, limited booster use by seated height
FEATURES:
- ~$480 at Amazon, Babies R Us, Walmart, Best Buy, Canadian Tire
- rear face to 40 lb or 43″
- forward face to 65 lb or 49″
- high back booster from 40 lb to 100 lb, from 43″ to 57″ and minimum 4 years old
- no-rethread harness
- ten year expiry date
- range of recline angles for rear facing
- LOW top harness slot ~16.75″
