The Best Convertible Car Seats for under $300
I recently had to purchase new convertible car seats, so I thought I’d put my research so far, as a mother of 2, into a post.
I’ve owned quite a few different brands and models now, due to having multiple children and a few car accidents (you would have thought having a giant car would make you more visible to others!)
Things I’ve learned after using convertible car seats for 6 years
A lot of research and a few car accidents later, I’ve learned a few things:
Generally, all name brand car seats meet or exceed US safety regulations ✅
Yes, there are car seats that far exceed the legally required safety requirements, but other factors such as proper installation makes just as much difference. Be careful with unknown brands – check for FMVSS 213 certification.
Don’t waste time on reviews that rate car seats against tons of metrics 😵💫
There are blogs that perform their own crash tests and rate the seats against dozens of metrics. While the crash test results are interesting, I find that some of those ratings can be subjective, for example, comfort, or ease of use.
Many convertible car seats can hold infants 🚼
A “convertible” car seat means one that holds an infant or toddler, and transform into a booster seat for older kids. You can’t take the seat out and put it on a stroller though.
The best car seat for your family is one that is easiest for you to use!👍
This means not having an annoying belt buckle, or a belt that twists easily, or a button that’s impossible to reach. You’ll be getting the kids in and out of these seats multiple times a day sometimes, so if they’re not secured properly, the seat can’t do its job.
Get a convertible car seat with cup holders!🍼
This is a non-negotiable. I regret my first convertible car seat that installed as solid as a rock but caused me pain by not having built in cup holders.
The best convertible car seats of 2025
Graco Slimfit 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
What can I say? This is the OG car seat brand. I have to be honest though, despite the great performance and price point of Graco car seats, I hesitated for years to buy one because the logo was ugly.
I got over myself though and now I LOVE these seats because they save so much space, have thoughtful designs and come at a great price!
Britax Poplar Convertible Car Seat
My first convertible car seat was the Britax Marathon. I recommend them because the brand is known for safety.
I would recommend this Poplar slim fit car seat over the Marathon because I think it’s always a benefit to save space in the car, and because it has cup holders!!
Britax car seats install very firmly to the seat, giving peace of mind.
Safety 1st Grow and Go All-in-One Slim Convertible Car Seat
This one is only $160! This is a brand that has been climbing the convertible car seat charts. Goes to show that there is really no need to be paying $700+ for a car seat that has basically the same function and look.
Thank you for reading this far. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
