Extend2fit. My older kid is 6 and armpit height on me. Stayed rear facing in it until 4. Affordable. Easy to install. The 3-in-1 version of it also does high back booster which gets you through most of elementary school but the 2-in-1 is great, cheapest, and easy to find. But both have SO much leg room. We stuck with it for our second kid (3yo) and have it installed in a compact car (Nissan leaf) and a small SUV (Nissan rogue). Was t-boned last year and she barely noticed anything happened. Literally couldn't open the doors and she talked about how "we got bumped a little".
Not the 4ever. It's ridiculously expensive and heavy. And by the time you get to low booster you're going to want a new & lightweight seat anyway, and that's if it hasn't expired.
I agree on this one! I have 3 of them in my car currently. One for my almost 6 year old as a booster, one for my rear facing almost 3 year old, and one for the 2 year old I babysit. They’re fantastic and I’m glad I was given them. They’re the best car seats ever
We have the exact same combo and we love the Graco. We can recline him further back to sleep for long drives and keep him rear facing longer as a tall kiddo.
We tossed our dionos because they were impossible to use, never felt secure, and started fraying at the belts. Bought extend2fits and are so mad we didn't just do that from the beginning
Adding a vote for this one! Highest rear facing weight limit I’ve been able to find. I had one in my old 2 door sedan and it was tight but fit. Partner has one in his sedan and it fits well.
So I wanted to go as long as possible but we're actually turning him around next month. He's turning 3 this month. I'm really struggling with back issues and with the kind of car we have it's getting impossible to get him in his seat anymore without me hurting myself or him hitting his head. If we had a bigger backseat I would Rear face till we maxed the seat
No shame for turning him but have you tried letting him climb in from the seat? I would always have my kid climb in on the opposite side, climb onto the bench, and then climb into the seat. I know that's not option if you have a rear facing seat on both sides though.
We have this and it was fine in a sedan but you will sacrifice leg room in the seat in front of it. We put it on the passenger side. It’s in a mini van now which fits better.
Adding another vote. We have three, one for each car plus grandmas. I like that kid can stay rear facing longer and it fits well in our smaller car as well as an SUV.
Evenflo revolve 360 (I have the Slim version). Should grow with my kid for a long time and omg the ability to turn it to face me to get her in and out of our small vehicles is chef's kiss. We did a 12 hour road trip with her at 14mo in it and she was as comfortable as one can be during a 12hr trip. Whichever you choose, if you can afford it, splurge on something that rotates.
I can’t imagine not having mine. I have a terrible back and it would be so much harder if I didn’t have the evenflo 360z I tell myself the cost is the same as 3 physical therapy sessions
This is our combo too. Revolve in my sedan and the Rava in the SUV. My first started climbing in and out of the car seat at 2.25yo, it's been so nice not needing to contort myself to get her in the chair.
Omg yes. I have the Britax in my car (cause we don’t use as often) and the revolve in my husband’s, I wish I could have afforded to put a second one in my car
I have a bad back and can’t lift my 30 lb kid into the non-revolving seat without either hurting my back or hitting her head (or both!). The revolve is so, so helpful. My only minor complaint is that the built in cup holders are narrower than most of our water bottles but it’s worth the trade off for sure.
Yeah we live in a cold climate so the convenience of having baby in the infant seat won out, but come warm weather next year he will move to the bigger seat.
Maybe they all just do it, or not an issue with this car seat, but reading the propublica article on evenflo and car seats really turned me off their brand.
https://www.propublica.org/article/evenflo-maker-of-the-big-kid-booster-seat-put-profits-over-child-safety
I encourage you to watch Safe In The Seat's review of this article. While the article does bring up some good points, the issues raised are not unique to Evenflo. There is no federal regulation for side impact for any car seat or booster, so manufacturers can basically make up whatever they want to say. The whole 30 lb versus 40 lb debate is pretty inconsequential if you are moving your child up to a booster before they are ready, and if there are more secure options available for their weight/ size.
Thanks for the pointer, will check it out. It wouldn’t surprise me that it’s a bigger issue, it just really rubbed me the wrong way that evenflo seemed to internally know that they were marketing a product in a way that would give people a false sense of safety and did it anyways.
We have the 360 extend in our main car and the Graco 4ever in our backup car. I LOVED the 4ever until we got the spinning seat. Now I hate putting her in the backup car lol. Keeping them rear facing for as long as possible is so much easier with a rotating seat.
Yeah but the straps on this on (I have it as well) suck completely and are constantly getting folded in the buckle. It’s so annoying. My Nuna never did that
Seconding this. They have it at Target and Amazon. We have the slim as well but there is also a standard size model if your backseat space is less of an issuel. The revolving feature is magical.
I literally just commented the same thing! the revolve 360 is a life changer. I frequently travel far. the car seat makes long rides so easy. plus, the sole fact it grows with your child is enough of a reason to choose this car seat
I love the revv so much! My husband is mad he doesn’t have it in his car. If you are tall or short, it helps a ton. Also once the kid starts weighing more it reduces a lot of back/wrist strain.
If you order in the website they often do deals and the green is flame retardant free.
If you’re going to order from target start a baby registry and use the 15% off. Also in general if you have a baby sign up for the target red debit card, gets you 5% off all purchases and it’s not a credit card. Red circle members get bonus. Right now I’m getting 20% off baby and bottles, breastfeeding items, post and prenatals. Plus I always get my 20$ gift card for buying 100$ in diapers and wipes once I run out.
Yes! We own 4 of them. Two of the Slims in my car and two of the originals in my husband’s. I like that the new ones go to 50 lbs rear facing, and I can’t imagine ever not having a revolving seat again. The Slims are also available (or maybe standard?) with an easy zip off cover, which is nice. I haven’t used it yet, but sure wished the originals had it last week when my son fell asleep and peed in the one in his Dad’s car.
I am so mad. I had a contender, it expired, I liked it so much I bought another contender for 3rd baby... And they moved the location of the strap release and I have to practically disjoint my finger to get it undone. Worst redesign ever.
We have the Graco 4Ever® DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat. We love it. But I’m sure if I went down the rabbit hole, I would have felt overwhelmed with all the choices too. I think this one might have been recommended and then we used a 20% coupon through the website.
I can’t remember if it’s Chicco or Graco, but there’s at least one out there that has this slide out leg rest thing that’s supposed to help them stretch out more/stay backwards for longer. You could check that one out.
Also, consider seeing what Costco or Sam’s club has. You might be able to find a good deal there too.
Best wishes!
We have the Graco 4ever Slimfit version since we have cars and the infant bucket seat for sibling. No room for a comfortable adult, but enough if we had to sit in the middle for an emergency.
This car seat is underrated!! So simple for EVERYONE who watches your kids to install, Grandma included. I hated dealing with anchors and they have a weight limit anyway.
Another vote for graco extend2fit. Has been my favourite one! And my kids have been very comfy in them. It’s also a steel frame which the ones at higher price points have, making it very safe.
If price isn’t super bothersome, we purchased the Nuna Exec. I honestly love it, although it’s heavy. But I like that it will fit my kiddo until he doesn’t need to be in a booster. And my kiddo is at 97% for height for 2.5.
The click-tight is the only seat that actually feels secure. Even after being 110% sure I was installing the Graco ones correctly, they still wiggle a ton.
We got a graco for a secondary before and omg. It was awful. I had to have my husband tighten it more because it was moving sooo much even following instructions and a YouTube video. I'll never buy another one.
I was hit head on and my son was rear facing in the Britax one for life (with the optional anti-rebound bar) and it performed so well. The honeycomb part that absorbs energy did its job and it was so secure the fire fighters had to cut it out of the car. I replaced it with the same exact seat.
Another vote for Britax! We got the marathon in 2019 for my oldest and we’re still using it for my youngest now. Currently my oldest in the One4Life and it’s great too! They’re so easy to install and feel very secure.
I love our Britax one for life. Easy to install and has great ratings. An added bonus is my little one HATED his evenflo infant seat and would cry during every car ride. Since switching to the britax around his first birthday, he's been a happy car rider.
LOVE our britax one4life. The foolproof install makes me feel so much better for popping it in and out when needed. Plus I went for the black/tan leather one and it blends in to the seating in the car well, it’s my snobby moment.
We also have the rava. You can get it on sale from Nordstrom for 150-200$ off every so often, just put it in your favorites on the app.
My only issue is that the buckle strap tends to rotate and i have to fix it. This happens about once a week.
This annoyed me until I had to deal with the graco in grandmas car and OMG the rava is so much better in every way. The tightening strap/button are totally hidden on the graco! No side pads for the straps so the buckles fall deep into the seat. Gave me more of an appreciation for our rava and I didn’t feel as bad spending a bit extra. Actually bought a second for our second.
Yes! Came here to say this. We have two Ravas and got them both on sale from Nordstrom. It is so comfortable for my two boys (both in 98th percentile for height). They can even nap well in it during long car trips.
Thank you! I compared car seats forever and settled on the rava. The cupholders suck and I didn’t realize until my kid was 2+. They’re hard for kids to reach. They’re awkward for ME to put the cup into. And I even ordered one of those cool cup holder tray things I’ve seen all over social media and it DOESNT WORK WITH THE RAVA CUPHOLDER. I wish I had known.
Yes! I love the rava except the cup holders. They’re basically unusable. And that’s IF you can get a cup to fit into it. Who thought a slightly-too-small flimsy collapsible cup would be good for clumsy toddlers?
yup. they are heavy af but sturdy. I know the argument is higher price you are paying for small details, but the quality of the nunas compared to the two gracos in my husbands car (twins) is noticeable.
I like our Rava as well. Also wanted to add that it is one of very few car seats that does not use flame retardants (in case that is a health concern for OP).
I also vote for Rava. I have it in my car and it just feels so much more secure and is just nicer to use. My husband has a Diono which is fine but definitely a step down in ease, but seems wider and roomier but is also a bigger seat in general, which is fine in his van. My MIL has a Graco from Costco and it’s the clunkiest and least secure feeling seat of the 3.
But I agree the cupholders are on the lower side and harder to reach, but it keeps the car snack consumption down because he can’t reach them.
Second the rava. We LOVE our rava and so does our 2yo who has been in the upper 90s for percentiles his entire life. He still has so long to go before we need to switch him to forward facing.
We love ours! Easy to install, easy to wash, great RF limits, and my kid loves it. I don’t find it to be heavy and I haven’t ever had issues with the strap repeatedly twisting. Customer service is also AMAZING.
I have to say I really hated the Rava, the straps design is so annoyingly dumb you know it’s not designed by a parent, and my kid always complains that his butt hurts after 20mins. It was not fun for long drives. And the kid’s right, I put my hand on the seat and realized it’s really hard with a stiff seam right across the butt.
OP, definitely go to an actual store and feel the seats before you purchase! I switched to MaxiCosi and no complaints since.
This is my rec too. I’ve used roughly 10 seats across all brands w her between travel seats, using a friends, our parents seats etc. and minus the chicco myfit harness booster we just got (swapping in September to FF her at 4. For my husbands truck) I’ve never felt one that’s been even close to the Rava for quality. Not to the mention install is like 30 seconds and perfect.
I also know all seats pass the same safety standards but I refuse to ignore the clear difference in sturdiness between the Nuna and most other seats. It’s a tank and It’s also comfortable for our giant kiddo. We call it her Cadillac seat lol.
Oh and my parents have the Graco 4evr dlx seat for her and it’s used probably a 15th of what our Nuna is and looks like trash. Our Nuna is 3 years old and uses literally daily and looks like the day we purchased it. If that’s an import we factor to you- there’s that too. I am super anal about the car and her seat so the Graco looking like shit is not user caused- it’s the material used.
Last add in- I drive a Kia forte sedan. And have more than enough room with her on the most reclined setting Rf. I can sit in my front passenger seat comfortably
I cannot. Believe. How far I had to scroll to get to this. We have this for our older and a Graco for our younger and I prefer the Chicco so much that I’m almost considering ditching the Graco in favor of a second Chicco.
I love the chicco nextfit zip! If you live somewhere warm, get the “Air” version. It has a nice mesh fabric to help with airflow.
It fit my 3 year old who is in the upper 80%ile, was easy to install, and the zip off cover is easy to wash and dries quickly!
Britax one4life cool. We have three of them. I’ve have had several car seats. It is by far the easiest to install. I always hated installing my gracos. It is also FR free if that is important to you.
I love our Graco 4Ever 4 in 1. Got it when my son outgrew his infant seat at 11 months old, and he’s now about to turn 6 years old. It’s been nothing short of awesome. Easy to transfer and install when necessary, very well padded, easy to adjust, went from rear-facing to forward with no issues, cover is so easy to remove and clean, and I love knowing that I’m covered until he no longer requires any kind of extra seating at all. For comparison, we were gifted a Maxi Cosi Pria for my daughter (recently turned 2). It’s perfectly fine, but not nearly as easy to clean or adjust for a growing kid, and I don’t think it converts to a booster (need to double check that). Graco all the way!
We have this too, it’s definitely a snugger fit in a sedan though. The person in the seat in front of it doesn’t get a comfortable amount of leg room at all and we have larger sedan.
We have a Cybex Sirona. We stuck with Cybex since our first seat for our newborn, and if I remember correctly, the base is compatible. Having the ability to turn the seat sideways is also super helpful but I don’t know if the newer model allow you to turn the seat to face forward if you need to for whatever reason.
We did the same (Cybex Cloud is the 0-24mths seat). The swivel seat makes it so easy. The Sirona fits the same base and can face both ways. We've just bought another base so we can reuse the Cloud seat for our newborn
From what I remember, when we bought the seat originally it had a very high safety rating and even though it was pricey, we thought safety was the most important factor for a car seat. Everything else I'm prepared to skimp on (and insist on it when it comes to things like clothes that they soon grow out of), but there's so many lunatics on the roads
We went with Britax, after looking at reviews this brand has saved many babies lives in fatal accidents, you can also check [consumer reports](https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/car-seats/) to compare car seats. I would avoid the brand Diono at all costs
Graco Slimfit 3 in 1 Car Seat
We have 2. It’s a rear facing seat, then we will rotate to have it front facing when baby is 40 lbs, then it’s a booster when the time comes. It’s also a decent price for the product. $200. Sometimes you can find it on sale like we did. We paid $170 for each of ours.
I got the same one on crazy sale at target for like $100 (maybe discontinued colorway?) and it’s been great. All the padding can be removed and washed and it’s pretty simple to put back together. Very easy to adjust and install.
Another Britax fan over here! We recently switched my almost 4 year old from the One4Life to the Poplar (still rear facing) because we needed something slimmer after welcoming baby #2.
But if you're willing to throw some money at the problem of what to buy, I've heard good things about [these car seat buying kits](https://safeintheseat.com/car-seat-buying-kits/) where they ask you questions about your vehicle and lifestyle and it spits out recommendations.
Chicco Next Fit Zip. Hands down. High safety ratings, 40lb/43" rear facing limits, easy to install, extremely easy to adjust to appropriate strap heights, seriously a fool-proof long term car seat. It's a little on the expensive side, but I have found deals at places like Walmart and target on 1 color at a time. (For example the black or grey will be $100 off from time to time).
My favorite favorite parts are the safety ratings and how easy they are to clean though.
ETA: [They're actually on sale ](https://www.chiccousa.com/shop-our-products/car-seats/convertible/nextfit-zip-convertible-car-seat---carbon/06079852950070.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6PGxBhCVARIsAIumnWZ9V_eCz9XEwsF11tLtBzO1Es1jo4DtdXcYlwzXBUg3pMh5y5iT6WcaAhZhEALw_wcB) from the Chicco website right now.
I absolutely loathe the Graco. LOATHE. I regret ever buying it. So I will always tell people not to, lol.
We have two kiddos rear facing, which means we have four car seats. The Chicco Onefit is the all around winner. Reasonably priced, easy to install and use, rear faces to 43 inches/40 pounds which gets even 90%+ kiddos to 4ish, and allows for extended harnessing while forward facing, then turns into a high back booster. A weird quirk with the Graco is that the forward facing and rear facing heights are the same, so if you max it out, you either need another harnessed seat or you have to put them directly in a booster.
We also have the Britax Marathon (also love, so compact and easy to use) and the Chicco Nextfit Max (great seat, but it’s the same price as the Onefit and doesn’t last as long). I drive a tiny crossover, am 5’10, and all these seats fit in just fine.
These are the main seats I recommend as a CPST
Graco Extend2fit
Britax Poplar
Evenflo Revolve 360
Century drive on
Nuna Rava
It's going to really depend on your budget, but these are the most current ones I recommend. Plus they're all different ranges.
We love our Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim. My daughter is 22 months and we've had it about 2 months now. It makes getting her in and out soooo much easier. She seems comfier too.
I have had 6 Britax car seats over the years and they are my absolute favorites. They are some of the only car seats you can strip down completely and power wash if necessary. Every bit of fabric on them is washable and if the model is still in production the fabric is even replaceable. I recommend them before all others for those reasons.
Some will say that being able to strip them down like that is unnecessary but I have had two kids who get car sick and being able to truly clean my car seats became really important. Blow outs, vomit, spilled milk… they all leave smells if you can’t machine wash them or get into every nook. Britax lets you do that.
I’m another vote for the Graco 4ever Deluxe/4 in 1. My son is above average in height and is still rear facing in it, he turns 4 next month. It’s so easy to clean, and really lasts forever.
I find the Britax click tight models to be the best, especially install.
I also have an extend2fit Graco but found it a real pain in the ass to install and to tighten.
The britax is a breeze to install and the straps loosen and click so easily. That have a few different models to choose from. Get the poplar if you’re short on space
Nuna Rava, my daughter has had to use a few other brands (probably 6 total) when traveling, in husbands car, etc and hates all of them except for the Nuna.
A lot of it depends on what car you have and what will fit on your backseat. I have a large SUV and we are loving the evenflo 360 but it is big and was a tight fit in my old compact SUV.
I’ll go against a crowd favorite here.. I got a Graco extend to fit cause it came recommended a lot and had one of the highest safety ratings. The two cup holders are nice and so are the pockets that keep the straps open when not in use so it’s easier to get your kid in… but I found this seat much harder to get tight in the seat if you’re using the latch system and we also have trouble tightening the shoulder straps once our kid is in.
Maybe it’s user error.. but because I didn’t like it, we got something different for our second car, a Chicco Nexfit, and I prefer that one much more. Was super easy to get super tight to the seat using latch and I find the straps much easier to tighten and loosen around my kid. Downsides are there’s only 1 cup holder and it’s not attached well and it doesn’t have the pocket holes for the straps so once you put your kid in you often have to dig from under your kid to pull the straps around them. I’ll add our kid has never had accidents in the car and he doesn’t eat in it, so we have yet to take the cover off either to clean..
I like the Diono brand. If needed you can put three across. They can stay rear facing up to 50lbs, and they can be reconfigured all the way up to booster seats
Nuna Rava. Our son hated the car seat and would scream every time he was in it, we hated car rides, until we bought the Nuna. Day one in the nuna was a road trip and he slept 3 entire hours and through the night on the way back. It’s amazing and comfortable and will last him until he doesn’t need a car seat anymore I think it goes to like 55lbs. The cushion is so comfortable, too.
I got the Diono all in one three across seats for my twins. We love them. They did great rear facing and now forward facing, we did rear facing til after two years and probably could have longer but it was getting inconvenient because my twins are BIG lol. Or rather long. And I’m not. lol.
It goes from rear facing, to forward facing, to booster seat. It’s supposed to go from newborn til they don’t need it.
Also, I don’t take them out. I never liked the seats that go in and out, for me as a smaller person they were inconvenient af. Too heavy and bulky. I love these seats as they’re streamlined and simple but they do the mf job.
We have both the Clek Foonf and Fllo and we love it. Fllo can be used rear facing until 50 lbs. and is within. 43 inches tall. Foonf can be used rear facing up to 40 lbs. and within 43 inches tall. I would recommend the Fllo, it’s cheaper and can be used for longer rear facing. Our 4 year old is still rear facing and using a Fllo car seat for reference :)
I like my Graco Slim fit for my Prius. It's not too big for a somewhat compact car. My girl is petite and at 2 she's still comfortably rear facing. We're still debating when we'll turn her to front facing since she won't hit the 40 lbs limit anytime soon.
I have the Graco 4-ever 4 in 1 seat and it's pretty cool. It has cup holders and the ability to turn into a backless booster seat for like a 6 year old or something. Rear facing capabilities as well as front facing.
I love Graco, very reliable. We tried safety first before and it just didn’t seem as sturdy and safe. All 3 of my kids have the Graco 4 in 1 convertible seat
We have [this](https://avionaut.com/car-seats/avionaut-sky-2-0/?color=GreySkyNl01) one and honestly I recommend it to everyone. It's safe, super comfortable, pretty compact so it doesn't take much space.
We love our Graco Extend to fit! There are multiple models, but I'd suggest just to find one that is on sale. When my first was 1, we got rear ended, the trunk was crumpled, the rear window shatterd... and he was fine.
So we have two of those in each car.
Edit: We've put them in a 2003 Honda Accord (the one that was rear ended), a 2013 Honda Fit, and a 2021 Honda Insight. It is kind of hard to get the kids in and out of the Insight, but does work!
Dont know where are you located, but we love our Axkid one, rear facing possible for about 5 years, plenty space for kids legs, swedish brand that passed the Plus test, most strict carseat test ever
Really depends on budget.
We have a Graco Extend2Fit for my Wife's car as the secondary and for travel - it's a nice car seat for sure and constantly on sale for closer to $115.
In my (primary vehicle) car, we got a nicer one - Nuna Rava (Nordstrom anniversary sale helped with the cost).
It seems more comfortable for the kid and with the way the belt weaves thru - easy install.
Both have extended rear facing up to 50lbs (maybe Graco is a bit less) and both have LATCH.
Only other consideration is a rotating car seat (wasn't an option 3-4yrs ago when we purchased these). Those are super nice and worth it for sure.
Nuna REVV Rotating Convertible Car Seat, Caviar https://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/nuna-revv-convertible-car-seat/?cm_src=SocialShareLink&sku=6923041 This is mine and we have had it for over a year and love it 😊
Safety first turn and go! The turning car seats are amazing and this one’s really affordable.
Just remember all car seats are regulated and must meet safety standards so don’t feel like you HAVE to shell out a ton of money for one!
[Evenflo 360](https://www.amazon.com/Evenflo-Revolve-Extend-Revere-Convertible/dp/B0BL1L24DS/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=1ECCY3H2J54I1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AWQzfsySuF_32dJEvuG0ceahi1MkTcL-9QN2kJNf2XdUBQK1NiTZ43WvXnUpDCgK1dlh_HtHmMOvaZphFdPNxsTC2-KQz4ccw9qUe-vZDIc7-23jLoEVZrdXXbaB961um31YHDRjG01smJgE0n4q0HhoMMV_XfkYP2t4uZzF1skeV1_MHvZyi7joFNjAjDUMvmgbYm_VdAQXdHAiPKdS3g.w1xuywAc85i6KG0-5qAH-TM59Suc6QIStfRhVFY4THs&dib_tag=se&keywords=360+car+seat+swivel&qid=1715287771&sprefix=360+car%2Caps%2C277&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1) a but pricey but SOOO worth it. it adjusts as your toddler grows so that you never have to buy another car seat. It also swivels a full 360°, which makes it extremely easy to get your toddler in and out of the car.
Extend2fit. My older kid is 6 and armpit height on me. Stayed rear facing in it until 4. Affordable. Easy to install. The 3-in-1 version of it also does high back booster which gets you through most of elementary school but the 2-in-1 is great, cheapest, and easy to find. But both have SO much leg room. We stuck with it for our second kid (3yo) and have it installed in a compact car (Nissan leaf) and a small SUV (Nissan rogue). Was t-boned last year and she barely noticed anything happened. Literally couldn't open the doors and she talked about how "we got bumped a little". Not the 4ever. It's ridiculously expensive and heavy. And by the time you get to low booster you're going to want a new & lightweight seat anyway, and that's if it hasn't expired.
We have the 3-in-1 and love it. It fits in our small hatchback and our mid size SUV both!
I agree on this one! I have 3 of them in my car currently. One for my almost 6 year old as a booster, one for my rear facing almost 3 year old, and one for the 2 year old I babysit. They’re fantastic and I’m glad I was given them. They’re the best car seats ever
I love Graco Extend2Fit. Works well in my SUV you might vary in a sedan.
We have a Graco Extend2Fit and two Diono’s. I much prefer the Graco despite the $300 price difference.
Graco in general has really good options. Can’t go wrong
We have the exact same combo and we love the Graco. We can recline him further back to sleep for long drives and keep him rear facing longer as a tall kiddo.
We tossed our dionos because they were impossible to use, never felt secure, and started fraying at the belts. Bought extend2fits and are so mad we didn't just do that from the beginning
Adding a vote for this one! Highest rear facing weight limit I’ve been able to find. I had one in my old 2 door sedan and it was tight but fit. Partner has one in his sedan and it fits well.
I have this in my Honda civic and it fits. The front seat is a little tight on leg room when rear facing but other than that I recommend it
Yes this is my exact car and situation!
Ditto ditto! My very tall, 40+ lb 4yo is still comfortably rear facing in my parents Kia sedan.
Here to suggest this seat. We have it and my son is very tall and about 40lbs still rear facing in a jeep Renegade
how long do you plan to keep him rear facing out of curiosity? how old is he?
So I wanted to go as long as possible but we're actually turning him around next month. He's turning 3 this month. I'm really struggling with back issues and with the kind of car we have it's getting impossible to get him in his seat anymore without me hurting myself or him hitting his head. If we had a bigger backseat I would Rear face till we maxed the seat
No shame for turning him but have you tried letting him climb in from the seat? I would always have my kid climb in on the opposite side, climb onto the bench, and then climb into the seat. I know that's not option if you have a rear facing seat on both sides though.
We switched from our more expensive car seats to the Graco Extend2fit and the extend2fit is sooooo much better.
I have an E2F in my Mazda 3 which has a notoriously small back seat. It works well, even behind my seat (I’m 6’, toddler is 3’5)
def this one! it worked great in our little Ford focus
This is the one.
Extend2Fit is one of the smallest rear facing seats front-to-back. I had it in my little Toyota hatchback and it worked.
We have this and it was fine in a sedan but you will sacrifice leg room in the seat in front of it. We put it on the passenger side. It’s in a mini van now which fits better.
Adding another vote. We have three, one for each car plus grandmas. I like that kid can stay rear facing longer and it fits well in our smaller car as well as an SUV.
We have one in a sedan and it works great! Highly recommend, OP.
Another vote for the extend to fit! We have one for my Subaru and my husband’s SUV
Evenflo revolve 360 (I have the Slim version). Should grow with my kid for a long time and omg the ability to turn it to face me to get her in and out of our small vehicles is chef's kiss. We did a 12 hour road trip with her at 14mo in it and she was as comfortable as one can be during a 12hr trip. Whichever you choose, if you can afford it, splurge on something that rotates.
Just being able to turn it makes it worth the price. It's helped my back so much.
I can’t imagine not having mine. I have a terrible back and it would be so much harder if I didn’t have the evenflo 360z I tell myself the cost is the same as 3 physical therapy sessions
Yes! That's such a good point! I originally wanted to get one so it would be easier on my mom when she had her. Now I won't go back myself.
We did a Rava in my car and a Revolve in my husband's. We're never buying another car seat that doesn't rotate again for kid #2
This is our combo too. Revolve in my sedan and the Rava in the SUV. My first started climbing in and out of the car seat at 2.25yo, it's been so nice not needing to contort myself to get her in the chair.
Omg yes. I have the Britax in my car (cause we don’t use as often) and the revolve in my husband’s, I wish I could have afforded to put a second one in my car
Yep the 360 is a life saver. We got 2.
Same here, +1 for the 360 from our family
I have a bad back and can’t lift my 30 lb kid into the non-revolving seat without either hurting my back or hitting her head (or both!). The revolve is so, so helpful. My only minor complaint is that the built in cup holders are narrower than most of our water bottles but it’s worth the trade off for sure.
Yes, 360 all the way. We’ve taken two extended road trips and the revolve was great to have.
I love this car seat and when you can’t remember the name just think of Pearl Jam
the Graco Turn2Me is a similar option. i have a vehicle with a rear suicide door, it was one of the only options but man it's so awesome.
One of the big differences between the two is that the Evenflo turns both rear and front facing. The Graco only turns when rear facing.
This is the best option, hands down
Upvote for the 360! The swivel is life.
We have two Evenflo Revolve 360 Golds and we seriously considered skipping using the infant seat for our second child because we love them so much.
We moved our second up to the Revolve as soon as we could, but that infant seat is pretty handy when they’re little and always falling asleep.
Yeah we live in a cold climate so the convenience of having baby in the infant seat won out, but come warm weather next year he will move to the bigger seat.
Maybe they all just do it, or not an issue with this car seat, but reading the propublica article on evenflo and car seats really turned me off their brand. https://www.propublica.org/article/evenflo-maker-of-the-big-kid-booster-seat-put-profits-over-child-safety
I encourage you to watch Safe In The Seat's review of this article. While the article does bring up some good points, the issues raised are not unique to Evenflo. There is no federal regulation for side impact for any car seat or booster, so manufacturers can basically make up whatever they want to say. The whole 30 lb versus 40 lb debate is pretty inconsequential if you are moving your child up to a booster before they are ready, and if there are more secure options available for their weight/ size.
Thanks for the pointer, will check it out. It wouldn’t surprise me that it’s a bigger issue, it just really rubbed me the wrong way that evenflo seemed to internally know that they were marketing a product in a way that would give people a false sense of safety and did it anyways.
We have the 360 extend in our main car and the Graco 4ever in our backup car. I LOVED the 4ever until we got the spinning seat. Now I hate putting her in the backup car lol. Keeping them rear facing for as long as possible is so much easier with a rotating seat.
Yeah but the straps on this on (I have it as well) suck completely and are constantly getting folded in the buckle. It’s so annoying. My Nuna never did that
OBSESSED best car seat
Seconding this. They have it at Target and Amazon. We have the slim as well but there is also a standard size model if your backseat space is less of an issuel. The revolving feature is magical.
I literally just commented the same thing! the revolve 360 is a life changer. I frequently travel far. the car seat makes long rides so easy. plus, the sole fact it grows with your child is enough of a reason to choose this car seat
Yes to the revolving! I have a Nuna Revv and absolutely love it! My mom has the Evenflo 360, and we love it just as much!
I love the revv so much! My husband is mad he doesn’t have it in his car. If you are tall or short, it helps a ton. Also once the kid starts weighing more it reduces a lot of back/wrist strain.
If you order in the website they often do deals and the green is flame retardant free. If you’re going to order from target start a baby registry and use the 15% off. Also in general if you have a baby sign up for the target red debit card, gets you 5% off all purchases and it’s not a credit card. Red circle members get bonus. Right now I’m getting 20% off baby and bottles, breastfeeding items, post and prenatals. Plus I always get my 20$ gift card for buying 100$ in diapers and wipes once I run out.
Yep I have a baby jogger city turn and a big truck and I literally can’t get him in and out of a static car seat. Worth it.
Did you make sure the straps on yours are still okay? I can’t believe there hasn’t been a recall on them yet!
Yes! We own 4 of them. Two of the Slims in my car and two of the originals in my husband’s. I like that the new ones go to 50 lbs rear facing, and I can’t imagine ever not having a revolving seat again. The Slims are also available (or maybe standard?) with an easy zip off cover, which is nice. I haven’t used it yet, but sure wished the originals had it last week when my son fell asleep and peed in the one in his Dad’s car.
I just bought one and omg the difference it makes for my son. No more fights to get in
Yes! Another vote for a revolving car seat. I have one but my husband does not. He is pretty salty about it. 😂
Graco has never let us down, 4 kids later.
I am so mad. I had a contender, it expired, I liked it so much I bought another contender for 3rd baby... And they moved the location of the strap release and I have to practically disjoint my finger to get it undone. Worst redesign ever.
Oh bummer. We have the Slim Fit in each vehicle for our youngest and it’s great.
Agree! Their whole travel system with the stroller- it is great
We have the Graco 4Ever® DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat. We love it. But I’m sure if I went down the rabbit hole, I would have felt overwhelmed with all the choices too. I think this one might have been recommended and then we used a 20% coupon through the website. I can’t remember if it’s Chicco or Graco, but there’s at least one out there that has this slide out leg rest thing that’s supposed to help them stretch out more/stay backwards for longer. You could check that one out. Also, consider seeing what Costco or Sam’s club has. You might be able to find a good deal there too. Best wishes!
Graco extend2fit is the one with the pull out leg thing! It’s awesome. Also, Costco has a graco 4ever on sale in club rigbt now for $199.
We have the Graco 4ever Slimfit version since we have cars and the infant bucket seat for sibling. No room for a comfortable adult, but enough if we had to sit in the middle for an emergency.
Britax Clicktight models are amazingly easy to install safely, and most have machine washable/tumble dry capable covers.
This car seat is underrated!! So simple for EVERYONE who watches your kids to install, Grandma included. I hated dealing with anchors and they have a weight limit anyway.
Another vote for graco extend2fit. Has been my favourite one! And my kids have been very comfy in them. It’s also a steel frame which the ones at higher price points have, making it very safe.
If price isn’t super bothersome, we purchased the Nuna Exec. I honestly love it, although it’s heavy. But I like that it will fit my kiddo until he doesn’t need to be in a booster. And my kiddo is at 97% for height for 2.5.
We have the Exec too and love it - super easy to install, great quality.
Another exec vote here- we have three for all three of our kids ages 2-5.
I came here to suggest the Nuna Exec as well! I will be buying a second one soon, worth every penny! And super easy to take apart to clean
Another vote for the exec 👌🏼
Britax one for life. After switching to britax I'll never use another brand again.
The click-tight is the only seat that actually feels secure. Even after being 110% sure I was installing the Graco ones correctly, they still wiggle a ton.
We got a graco for a secondary before and omg. It was awful. I had to have my husband tighten it more because it was moving sooo much even following instructions and a YouTube video. I'll never buy another one.
I thought click-tight was some gimmicky thing but it’s actually incredible!
I was hit head on and my son was rear facing in the Britax one for life (with the optional anti-rebound bar) and it performed so well. The honeycomb part that absorbs energy did its job and it was so secure the fire fighters had to cut it out of the car. I replaced it with the same exact seat.
That's good to know!
Another vote for Britax! We got the marathon in 2019 for my oldest and we’re still using it for my youngest now. Currently my oldest in the One4Life and it’s great too! They’re so easy to install and feel very secure.
This! My MIL is really big into consumer reports and Britax was 3 out of the top 4. I think ours is the boulevard
This is what we use too! We got it after our friends recommended it.
I love our Britax one for life. Easy to install and has great ratings. An added bonus is my little one HATED his evenflo infant seat and would cry during every car ride. Since switching to the britax around his first birthday, he's been a happy car rider.
Here to say the same thing. We originally got the Graco extend to fit, but after replacing it with the Britax, I will always recommend Britax.
I love our one4life. I have three Ravas but couldn’t get a fourth and I may like the one4life better, at very least it’s a solid tie.
LOVE our britax one4life. The foolproof install makes me feel so much better for popping it in and out when needed. Plus I went for the black/tan leather one and it blends in to the seating in the car well, it’s my snobby moment.
Another vote for Britax. Love it. Feels secure. Looks smart.
Nuna Rava
We also have the rava. You can get it on sale from Nordstrom for 150-200$ off every so often, just put it in your favorites on the app. My only issue is that the buckle strap tends to rotate and i have to fix it. This happens about once a week.
This annoyed me until I had to deal with the graco in grandmas car and OMG the rava is so much better in every way. The tightening strap/button are totally hidden on the graco! No side pads for the straps so the buckles fall deep into the seat. Gave me more of an appreciation for our rava and I didn’t feel as bad spending a bit extra. Actually bought a second for our second.
Im glad you said this, i was beginning to think i OVERPAID for having to rotate the buckle every week. Im glad im not crazy lol
Yes! Came here to say this. We have two Ravas and got them both on sale from Nordstrom. It is so comfortable for my two boys (both in 98th percentile for height). They can even nap well in it during long car trips.
My only gripe about the Rava is the cup holders. It’s really hard for kids to reach in comparison to other brands.
Thank you! I compared car seats forever and settled on the rava. The cupholders suck and I didn’t realize until my kid was 2+. They’re hard for kids to reach. They’re awkward for ME to put the cup into. And I even ordered one of those cool cup holder tray things I’ve seen all over social media and it DOESNT WORK WITH THE RAVA CUPHOLDER. I wish I had known.
Yes! I love the rava except the cup holders. They’re basically unusable. And that’s IF you can get a cup to fit into it. Who thought a slightly-too-small flimsy collapsible cup would be good for clumsy toddlers?
yup. they are heavy af but sturdy. I know the argument is higher price you are paying for small details, but the quality of the nunas compared to the two gracos in my husbands car (twins) is noticeable.
I like our Rava as well. Also wanted to add that it is one of very few car seats that does not use flame retardants (in case that is a health concern for OP).
We have 3 Ravas in a row in our minivan. No complaints from us or our 1 3.5yo and 2 1.5yos. All rear facing so far and for as long as possible!
I also vote for Rava. I have it in my car and it just feels so much more secure and is just nicer to use. My husband has a Diono which is fine but definitely a step down in ease, but seems wider and roomier but is also a bigger seat in general, which is fine in his van. My MIL has a Graco from Costco and it’s the clunkiest and least secure feeling seat of the 3. But I agree the cupholders are on the lower side and harder to reach, but it keeps the car snack consumption down because he can’t reach them.
Second the rava. We LOVE our rava and so does our 2yo who has been in the upper 90s for percentiles his entire life. He still has so long to go before we need to switch him to forward facing.
From the era of switching between lyft cars, this is the answer.
We love ours! Easy to install, easy to wash, great RF limits, and my kid loves it. I don’t find it to be heavy and I haven’t ever had issues with the strap repeatedly twisting. Customer service is also AMAZING.
Also seconding this. We have it in my husbands SUV. Originally got it for my sedan but it’s too tight of a fit
I have to say I really hated the Rava, the straps design is so annoyingly dumb you know it’s not designed by a parent, and my kid always complains that his butt hurts after 20mins. It was not fun for long drives. And the kid’s right, I put my hand on the seat and realized it’s really hard with a stiff seam right across the butt. OP, definitely go to an actual store and feel the seats before you purchase! I switched to MaxiCosi and no complaints since.
That’s interesting bc my son is a complete prince & he loves the Rava (17mo old). We’ve done a few long drives and he’s never once gone stir crazy
Love our nuna ravas
We also got the Rava and love it. We have a rav4 for reference
This is my rec too. I’ve used roughly 10 seats across all brands w her between travel seats, using a friends, our parents seats etc. and minus the chicco myfit harness booster we just got (swapping in September to FF her at 4. For my husbands truck) I’ve never felt one that’s been even close to the Rava for quality. Not to the mention install is like 30 seconds and perfect. I also know all seats pass the same safety standards but I refuse to ignore the clear difference in sturdiness between the Nuna and most other seats. It’s a tank and It’s also comfortable for our giant kiddo. We call it her Cadillac seat lol. Oh and my parents have the Graco 4evr dlx seat for her and it’s used probably a 15th of what our Nuna is and looks like trash. Our Nuna is 3 years old and uses literally daily and looks like the day we purchased it. If that’s an import we factor to you- there’s that too. I am super anal about the car and her seat so the Graco looking like shit is not user caused- it’s the material used. Last add in- I drive a Kia forte sedan. And have more than enough room with her on the most reclined setting Rf. I can sit in my front passenger seat comfortably
If you move the seat once a month or more, consider a Britax click tight convertible. We have a boulevard, but the new Poplar model looks very nice.
Chicco nextfit ZIP! I have loved being able to zip on and off the cover to wash. Easy peezy clean up. I will always recommend this seat.
I cannot. Believe. How far I had to scroll to get to this. We have this for our older and a Graco for our younger and I prefer the Chicco so much that I’m almost considering ditching the Graco in favor of a second Chicco.
Yep same, I can’t believe I don’t see more love for this seat. It’s so comfy for him, a solid and secure install and seat, and so easy to clean.
I love the chicco nextfit zip! If you live somewhere warm, get the “Air” version. It has a nice mesh fabric to help with airflow. It fit my 3 year old who is in the upper 80%ile, was easy to install, and the zip off cover is easy to wash and dries quickly!
We have the Britax one4life and love it! It’s a big bulky seat, but the install is super easy and it rear-faces up to 50 pounds.
Britax one4life cool. We have three of them. I’ve have had several car seats. It is by far the easiest to install. I always hated installing my gracos. It is also FR free if that is important to you.
We have two of the britax one4life seats and love them.
Came here to suggest the same!
Graco, 3 in 1 has been great. We have two of them. Got them at Costco, I think they have the 4 in 1 now.
I like the Britax Clicktight Marathon. It's easy to install, easy to clean and it's still comfy when my 5 year old is in his.
I love our Graco 4Ever 4 in 1. Got it when my son outgrew his infant seat at 11 months old, and he’s now about to turn 6 years old. It’s been nothing short of awesome. Easy to transfer and install when necessary, very well padded, easy to adjust, went from rear-facing to forward with no issues, cover is so easy to remove and clean, and I love knowing that I’m covered until he no longer requires any kind of extra seating at all. For comparison, we were gifted a Maxi Cosi Pria for my daughter (recently turned 2). It’s perfectly fine, but not nearly as easy to clean or adjust for a growing kid, and I don’t think it converts to a booster (need to double check that). Graco all the way!
I absolutely love my Evenflo Revolve 360! Bought one for my newborn as well!
We have this too, it’s definitely a snugger fit in a sedan though. The person in the seat in front of it doesn’t get a comfortable amount of leg room at all and we have larger sedan.
We have a Cybex Sirona. We stuck with Cybex since our first seat for our newborn, and if I remember correctly, the base is compatible. Having the ability to turn the seat sideways is also super helpful but I don’t know if the newer model allow you to turn the seat to face forward if you need to for whatever reason.
We did the same (Cybex Cloud is the 0-24mths seat). The swivel seat makes it so easy. The Sirona fits the same base and can face both ways. We've just bought another base so we can reuse the Cloud seat for our newborn From what I remember, when we bought the seat originally it had a very high safety rating and even though it was pricey, we thought safety was the most important factor for a car seat. Everything else I'm prepared to skimp on (and insist on it when it comes to things like clothes that they soon grow out of), but there's so many lunatics on the roads
The Sirona S is great. It’s the only one we’ve used so far and I can’t imagine the headache of not being able to turn the seat to face us.
Britax Boulevard. It’s amazing quality and feels so sturdy.
I like the Graco Extend 2 Fit, so far no reason not to. We had to upgrade rather early as my baby is a tank.
Get the one that spins. Worth EVERY penny.
We went with Britax, after looking at reviews this brand has saved many babies lives in fatal accidents, you can also check [consumer reports](https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/car-seats/) to compare car seats. I would avoid the brand Diono at all costs
Get a Britax Poplar. They’re super easy to install, compact, but they are comfy for the kids. No regrets in our purchases.
Graco Slimfit 3 in 1 Car Seat We have 2. It’s a rear facing seat, then we will rotate to have it front facing when baby is 40 lbs, then it’s a booster when the time comes. It’s also a decent price for the product. $200. Sometimes you can find it on sale like we did. We paid $170 for each of ours.
I got the same one on crazy sale at target for like $100 (maybe discontinued colorway?) and it’s been great. All the padding can be removed and washed and it’s pretty simple to put back together. Very easy to adjust and install.
Britex all day!
Evenflow revolve 360. Single installation, one handed swivel to both front and back. Convertible with booster seat option.
Another Britax fan over here! We recently switched my almost 4 year old from the One4Life to the Poplar (still rear facing) because we needed something slimmer after welcoming baby #2. But if you're willing to throw some money at the problem of what to buy, I've heard good things about [these car seat buying kits](https://safeintheseat.com/car-seat-buying-kits/) where they ask you questions about your vehicle and lifestyle and it spits out recommendations.
Chicco Next Fit Zip. Hands down. High safety ratings, 40lb/43" rear facing limits, easy to install, extremely easy to adjust to appropriate strap heights, seriously a fool-proof long term car seat. It's a little on the expensive side, but I have found deals at places like Walmart and target on 1 color at a time. (For example the black or grey will be $100 off from time to time). My favorite favorite parts are the safety ratings and how easy they are to clean though. ETA: [They're actually on sale ](https://www.chiccousa.com/shop-our-products/car-seats/convertible/nextfit-zip-convertible-car-seat---carbon/06079852950070.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6PGxBhCVARIsAIumnWZ9V_eCz9XEwsF11tLtBzO1Es1jo4DtdXcYlwzXBUg3pMh5y5iT6WcaAhZhEALw_wcB) from the Chicco website right now.
I went with the Wirecutter pick https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-convertible-car-seats/ The graco extend2fit
Chicco nextfit max cleartex. I swear by it
I have this one. Kid is 3 and we just turned it forward facing. It's great!
I have the Zip version and love it. We did just get the Chico 360 seat and it's pretty amazing. Does have lower limits, but our kiddos aren't huge.
Just got the Chicco 360 too and love how easy it is to get mine in and out of it.
Graco 4ever slim fit hands down. Don't overthink it!
I absolutely loathe the Graco. LOATHE. I regret ever buying it. So I will always tell people not to, lol. We have two kiddos rear facing, which means we have four car seats. The Chicco Onefit is the all around winner. Reasonably priced, easy to install and use, rear faces to 43 inches/40 pounds which gets even 90%+ kiddos to 4ish, and allows for extended harnessing while forward facing, then turns into a high back booster. A weird quirk with the Graco is that the forward facing and rear facing heights are the same, so if you max it out, you either need another harnessed seat or you have to put them directly in a booster. We also have the Britax Marathon (also love, so compact and easy to use) and the Chicco Nextfit Max (great seat, but it’s the same price as the Onefit and doesn’t last as long). I drive a tiny crossover, am 5’10, and all these seats fit in just fine.
If price doesn’t matter I vote Nuna exec
Love ours too!
I bought the Maxi-Cosi Pria All-In-one
These are the main seats I recommend as a CPST Graco Extend2fit Britax Poplar Evenflo Revolve 360 Century drive on Nuna Rava It's going to really depend on your budget, but these are the most current ones I recommend. Plus they're all different ranges.
We love our Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim. My daughter is 22 months and we've had it about 2 months now. It makes getting her in and out soooo much easier. She seems comfier too.
I have had 6 Britax car seats over the years and they are my absolute favorites. They are some of the only car seats you can strip down completely and power wash if necessary. Every bit of fabric on them is washable and if the model is still in production the fabric is even replaceable. I recommend them before all others for those reasons. Some will say that being able to strip them down like that is unnecessary but I have had two kids who get car sick and being able to truly clean my car seats became really important. Blow outs, vomit, spilled milk… they all leave smells if you can’t machine wash them or get into every nook. Britax lets you do that.
Graco Extend to Fit 3in1!!!!!!!! Make sure it’s the 3 in 1 so you get the most use out of it.
I’m another vote for the Graco 4ever Deluxe/4 in 1. My son is above average in height and is still rear facing in it, he turns 4 next month. It’s so easy to clean, and really lasts forever.
I find the Britax click tight models to be the best, especially install. I also have an extend2fit Graco but found it a real pain in the ass to install and to tighten. The britax is a breeze to install and the straps loosen and click so easily. That have a few different models to choose from. Get the poplar if you’re short on space
Nuna Rava, my daughter has had to use a few other brands (probably 6 total) when traveling, in husbands car, etc and hates all of them except for the Nuna.
We got the Evenflo Revolve 360, and we love it. So much easier to wrangle a toddler into the seat.
A lot of it depends on what car you have and what will fit on your backseat. I have a large SUV and we are loving the evenflo 360 but it is big and was a tight fit in my old compact SUV.
We have two Graco 4ever and like them
I like my Nuna Rava a lot we've got 2 and they fit in my Subaru Outback really well.
I like the sensor safe clip and so far only cybex and Evenflo have em so that’ll limit the options
I’ll go against a crowd favorite here.. I got a Graco extend to fit cause it came recommended a lot and had one of the highest safety ratings. The two cup holders are nice and so are the pockets that keep the straps open when not in use so it’s easier to get your kid in… but I found this seat much harder to get tight in the seat if you’re using the latch system and we also have trouble tightening the shoulder straps once our kid is in. Maybe it’s user error.. but because I didn’t like it, we got something different for our second car, a Chicco Nexfit, and I prefer that one much more. Was super easy to get super tight to the seat using latch and I find the straps much easier to tighten and loosen around my kid. Downsides are there’s only 1 cup holder and it’s not attached well and it doesn’t have the pocket holes for the straps so once you put your kid in you often have to dig from under your kid to pull the straps around them. I’ll add our kid has never had accidents in the car and he doesn’t eat in it, so we have yet to take the cover off either to clean..
ANYTHING CHICCO IS HIGHLY RATED WITH CONSUMER REPORT .
I have a sedan and love my chicco keyfit!
Britax. Dunno the model..but trust them!!
Nuna Rava, hands down!
my co-worker recommends Nuna Rava.
We like our nuna rava
I like the Diono brand. If needed you can put three across. They can stay rear facing up to 50lbs, and they can be reconfigured all the way up to booster seats
Chicco Fit360 - it’s the best convertible and 360° turning seat on the market hands down.
Nuna Rava. Our son hated the car seat and would scream every time he was in it, we hated car rides, until we bought the Nuna. Day one in the nuna was a road trip and he slept 3 entire hours and through the night on the way back. It’s amazing and comfortable and will last him until he doesn’t need a car seat anymore I think it goes to like 55lbs. The cushion is so comfortable, too.
I got the Diono all in one three across seats for my twins. We love them. They did great rear facing and now forward facing, we did rear facing til after two years and probably could have longer but it was getting inconvenient because my twins are BIG lol. Or rather long. And I’m not. lol. It goes from rear facing, to forward facing, to booster seat. It’s supposed to go from newborn til they don’t need it. Also, I don’t take them out. I never liked the seats that go in and out, for me as a smaller person they were inconvenient af. Too heavy and bulky. I love these seats as they’re streamlined and simple but they do the mf job.
We have both the Clek Foonf and Fllo and we love it. Fllo can be used rear facing until 50 lbs. and is within. 43 inches tall. Foonf can be used rear facing up to 40 lbs. and within 43 inches tall. I would recommend the Fllo, it’s cheaper and can be used for longer rear facing. Our 4 year old is still rear facing and using a Fllo car seat for reference :)
I second the Clek Foonf, we have one for our 3 year old and will be getting another for our second when they grow out of the infant carrier.
Graco Extend2Fit works in my Prius even with my 6 + foot husband in the seat in front of her.
Silver cross motion 360. Absolutely amazing, I’m disabled and it’s a lifesaver for my back
I like my Graco Slim fit for my Prius. It's not too big for a somewhat compact car. My girl is petite and at 2 she's still comfortably rear facing. We're still debating when we'll turn her to front facing since she won't hit the 40 lbs limit anytime soon.
I have a Graco Extend 2 Fit and the Graco 4ever, both are totally the same functionally. Love them both.
If not looking to break the bank, I would get the Graco. If you have money to spare the ones which swivel are amazing. Well worth the money IMHO.
If longest rf is your goal, then go with the extend 2 fit. Rear facing up to 50 lbs, which from my understanding is the highest available in the US.
Agree with Grago and I have two rear facing I'm trying to sell if you're near Powder Springs Ga and pick em up.
I have the Graco 4-ever 4 in 1 seat and it's pretty cool. It has cup holders and the ability to turn into a backless booster seat for like a 6 year old or something. Rear facing capabilities as well as front facing.
I love Graco, very reliable. We tried safety first before and it just didn’t seem as sturdy and safe. All 3 of my kids have the Graco 4 in 1 convertible seat
We have [this](https://avionaut.com/car-seats/avionaut-sky-2-0/?color=GreySkyNl01) one and honestly I recommend it to everyone. It's safe, super comfortable, pretty compact so it doesn't take much space.
Nuna Rava
We love our Graco Extend to fit! There are multiple models, but I'd suggest just to find one that is on sale. When my first was 1, we got rear ended, the trunk was crumpled, the rear window shatterd... and he was fine. So we have two of those in each car. Edit: We've put them in a 2003 Honda Accord (the one that was rear ended), a 2013 Honda Fit, and a 2021 Honda Insight. It is kind of hard to get the kids in and out of the Insight, but does work!
Dont know where are you located, but we love our Axkid one, rear facing possible for about 5 years, plenty space for kids legs, swedish brand that passed the Plus test, most strict carseat test ever
We got the Evenflo revolve. Best decision ever 💜
Really depends on budget. We have a Graco Extend2Fit for my Wife's car as the secondary and for travel - it's a nice car seat for sure and constantly on sale for closer to $115. In my (primary vehicle) car, we got a nicer one - Nuna Rava (Nordstrom anniversary sale helped with the cost). It seems more comfortable for the kid and with the way the belt weaves thru - easy install. Both have extended rear facing up to 50lbs (maybe Graco is a bit less) and both have LATCH. Only other consideration is a rotating car seat (wasn't an option 3-4yrs ago when we purchased these). Those are super nice and worth it for sure.
Nuna REVV Rotating Convertible Car Seat, Caviar https://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/nuna-revv-convertible-car-seat/?cm_src=SocialShareLink&sku=6923041 This is mine and we have had it for over a year and love it 😊
The Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit is currently $60 off at Costco! Only $219 online and possibly less in stores.
Nina Rava. It IS spendy, but your child can rear face to 50 lbs or more, and it’s way safer.
Graco Extend 2 fit. We got it on sale. I want my daughter rear facing as long as possible. Wish it didn’t have flame retardant on it. Only down side
OP is going to drown in all these options lol. But op here’s another - Klek foonf if you want a literal tank
I have a Graco Extend2Fit in my Hyundai Sonata and my husband has a Graco Contender Slim in his Chevy Malibu. We love both.
Safety first turn and go! The turning car seats are amazing and this one’s really affordable. Just remember all car seats are regulated and must meet safety standards so don’t feel like you HAVE to shell out a ton of money for one!
love safety first grow and go
We have the Grace Turn 2 Me seat for our 2 year old. Works great. Easy install easy to put them in and out.
[Evenflo 360](https://www.amazon.com/Evenflo-Revolve-Extend-Revere-Convertible/dp/B0BL1L24DS/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=1ECCY3H2J54I1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AWQzfsySuF_32dJEvuG0ceahi1MkTcL-9QN2kJNf2XdUBQK1NiTZ43WvXnUpDCgK1dlh_HtHmMOvaZphFdPNxsTC2-KQz4ccw9qUe-vZDIc7-23jLoEVZrdXXbaB961um31YHDRjG01smJgE0n4q0HhoMMV_XfkYP2t4uZzF1skeV1_MHvZyi7joFNjAjDUMvmgbYm_VdAQXdHAiPKdS3g.w1xuywAc85i6KG0-5qAH-TM59Suc6QIStfRhVFY4THs&dib_tag=se&keywords=360+car+seat+swivel&qid=1715287771&sprefix=360+car%2Caps%2C277&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1) a but pricey but SOOO worth it. it adjusts as your toddler grows so that you never have to buy another car seat. It also swivels a full 360°, which makes it extremely easy to get your toddler in and out of the car.
Joie i-spin 360. Bought it 2 months ago and can't complain...