Buying a safe, high-quality child car seat is at the top of every parent's list of priorities. They'll need an infant carrier for their first journey home, but did you know that your child could potentially be using a car seat until 12 years old? While toddlers need plenty of extra protection during car journeys, this becomes less and less as children grow. If you're looking to buy a single seat that'll keep your child safe for years to come, you'll benefit from a car seat that covers several stages of their development.
If you're looking for a convertible car seat that'll serve your child from toddler to pre-teen, we're here to help. We've selected our top ten favourite multi-stage car seats from brands such as Maxi-Cosi and Joie. And don't worry if you're a parent that's strapped for time — all of them are available to order to your door from online stores such as Amazon, John Lewis and Argos.
Quick List - Top Car Seats for Toddlers
RECARO
Integrated Sound System With Speakers to Keep Them Entertained
Dr Jonathan Henderson is a consultant paediatrician who practices for the NHS and his award-winning private practice. His medical qualifications (MB, BAO and BCh) were all completed at Queen's University Belfast in 2007. He then obtained his membership with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2012 and later became a college fellow in 2019. In addtion to his clinical work, he contributes to e-learning programmes and teaches paediatrics internationally to other healthcare professionals. Dr Henderson, who is on the speciality register of the General Medical Council, has a keen interest in promoting quality improvement in paediatrics and has presented work both regionally and nationally.
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Dr Jonathan Henderson is a consultant paediatrician practising for the NHS, as well as privately. His medical qualifications (MB, BAO and BCh) were all completed at Queen's University Belfast in 2007.
He then obtained his membership with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2012. In addition to his clinical work, he contributes to e-learning programmes and teaches paediatrics internationally to other healthcare professionals. Check out more about him on his website.
Because car seats are quite heavily regulated due to safety concerns, they have a grading system which makes it easy to see which sized child should be in which car seat. The system is done in groups, of which there are three.
These groups indicate a weight bracket that children should fall into if the seat is going to work for them. Group 0+ car seats are for newborns, while group 1 is for toddlers between 9 and 18 kg. For children from 15 to 25 kg, pick a group 2 seat, and for children between 22 and 36 kg, go for group 3.
Car seats don't tend to just fall into one of these groups as this would make their age range very limited. Instead, you will find that they list a combination of groups. For example, a 0+/1 car seat will be suitable from birth to a young toddler. In some cases, you will get seats which are 0+/1/2/3, meaning they can be used throughout the entire time your child might require a car seat.
It's important that you follow the manufacturer's guidance on the car seat that matches your child's weight. Don't assume that seats covering a wider weight group are the best. There may be a cost factor in this decision, and expensive doesn't always mean the safest.
In addition to indicating which car seat groups they fall into, most will also mention which ages can use them. With a toddler, it is probably best to get a seat which goes from about 9 months to 12 years. It's hard to imagine that a seat suitable for a 9 month old could still work for a 12 year old, but with clever adaptations like adjustable headrests, it's possible.
Some start a bit older, at about 4 years old. This is because this age marks quite a jump up in their development and they might not be as enthusiastic about having the same level of restraint that was necessary when they were younger.
The seatbelt should not come up from behind the shoulder but from above and down - many seats for the older child grow with this function. I have noticed the benefit when our four kids jump into the "wrong" seat of their sibling's in the car. Easily adjustable headrests support a range of age groups on a single chair.
The first method is the older one of the two which uses the seat belt to stay in place. Depending on the brand, it will thread through the car seat in one way or another, keeping it in place.
This is the most common form of car seat attachment, although it is not as secure as the other method and requires regular checking and fiddling around to make sure it hasn't come loose.
Be sure to place the belt around the seat and across the correct hooks based on the manufacturer's instructions. Also, double check that any clamps on the seatbelt are secured and not loose. Try to move the seat yourself to see if any slack needs to tighten up before placing your child on the seat.
ISOFIX is new technology that can be found in cars that were made after November 2014. It stands for 'International Standards Organisation Fix' and is a way of attaching a seat that doesn't require getting tied up in knots with a belt.
You connect the seat to the frame of the car, clipping it into holes at the side of each seat. This makes it a lot more secure, keeping your toddler in place. Even though there should be a level of standardisation, it is always worth checking both your car and car seat manufacturers' websites to ensure compatibility.
This is a great option as it provides the most secure method of fixing a car seat. The seat/base grips and locks to the car itself rather than relying on the seat belt alone. So if there was an accident, there is a lot less movement, thus protecting your child as best as possible.
Newborn and infant car seats are backwards-facing, but once your child reaches 15 months, it's time for them to start sitting forward-facing. At this point, you must have either a car seat that faces forward or a 2-in-1 seat that you can reverse.
Forward-facing car seats come in two forms: a full chair with a back or a booster seat which only includes the cushion. The advantage of choosing a car seat with a back is that it's more likely to have side panels, which offer your child additional protection in case of accidents. Your child will also love being able to rest their head on the side panels for a quick snooze!
If you want the best of both worlds, plenty of booster seats have removable backs. Once your child reaches 22 kg and is ready for a little more freedom, you can remove the back from the base. This leaves them with only the cushion, which elevates them so they can safely use an adult seatbelt.
Want to make wearing a seatbelt a little comfier for an older child? Check out the best Seat Belt Covers!
Boosters without a back don't provide better protection if in a car accident, especially if the collision is side on as your child could be thrown around a car more due to the lack of support to the head and neck. You also need to be mindful of the law and any changes made by visiting the gov.uk website.
Once their seat has been secured in place, strapping your toddler in tightly is the next thing to do to keep them safe. For young toddlers, they will require a harness built into the car seat. These can have either 5 points – meaning there are two straps over the shoulders, two round the waist and one between their legs – or 3 points, which is the same only without the waist strap.
Car seats for older toddlers (around the ages of 3, 4 and above) won't require a harness because it is at this age that a child starts using the car's seatbelt. They can be cleverly interwoven into the car seat to make this step up comfortable and safe for your child.
The 5 point harness provides good support around the hips that the 3 point harness does not. During an impact, the child will be supported across their whole body as there is more stability and less movement within the seat from this additional support.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Maxi-Cosi Titan Plus Car Seat | ![]() | Temperature Control Technology to Prevent Overheating | |
2 | Cybex Silver Pallas B-Fix | ![]() | An Innovative Design That’s Top of Its Class | |
3 | Maxi-Cosi Mica Up | ![]() | An ISOFIX Seat That Protects Your Child as They Develop | |
4 | RECARO Tian Elite Group 1/2/3 Car Seat | ![]() | Integrated Sound System With Speakers to Keep Them Entertained | |
5 | Joie Everystage Group 0+/1/2/3 Car Seat | ![]() | Toddler Car Seat That Converts Into a Booster | |
6 | Britax Römer Evolva 1-2-3 | ![]() | An Affordable and Adaptable Car Seat From a Trusted Brand | |
7 | Britax Römer Discovery Soft-Latch Car Seat|Storm Grey/ Black | ![]() | Lightweight Travel Car Seat for Children Over the Age of 4 | |
8 | Harmony Elite | ![]() | Affordable ISOFIX Car Seat for Toddlers | |
9 | Trunki BoostApak Car Booster Seat | ![]() | Travel Toddler Car Seat That Folds Into a Backpack | |
10 | Cuggl Dream Group 3 Car Booster Seat | ![]() | Booster Seat for Older Toddlers and Children |
This option from Maxi-Cosi perfectly covers the toddling ages. Car seats, with all their cushioning and supports, can feel a bit stifling for a toddler, but the ClimaFlow temperature control technology of this seat helps to keep them cool.
To keep the parents happy, the ISOFIX compatibility of this car seat makes it very simple to plug in and offers maximum safety, and to keep a smile on your child's face there's a cup holder in which they can store their favourite beaker.
They're a lesser-known brand, but Cybex can more than hold its own against some of the big hitters when it comes to keeping children safe. The innovative design of the Pallas B-Fix is a testament to their ingenuity.
Instead of a regular harness, the B-Fix uses an impact shield to keep your child safe. It's not something we're accustomed to seeing on car seats, and this may make some parents uncomfortable, but the proof's in the pudding — in 2020, the Pallas B-Fix topped several tests, including the ADAC car seat test.
Maxi-Cosi is one of the best-known car seat brands in the world. That's because they don't compromise on safety. Their products tend to cost a little more than their competitors', but they offer unparalleled protection for your child. The Mica Up is a perfect example of this. This seat faces rearwards when your child is small and then swivels as they grow into toddlerhood.
In combination with the ISOFIX fittings and support leg, this adaptability ensures that they remain as safe as possible during both of these critical developmental stages. This seat's main drawback is that it's only suitable once your baby reaches four months, meaning you'll have to buy an infant carrier that you probably won't use for very long!
What makes this car seat stand out is the thoughtful little extras. Your toddler might feel quite separate from the rest of the car with the vast amount of support around their head and ears, so this seat includes a sound system with speakers to keep them entertained.
There is also an air ventilation system which will make the seat feel less stuffy, especially on hot days. It is a bit more on the costly side, but this seat will last and last, so it will be a worthwhile investment.
With just one purchase, you can have a car seat that will be suitable throughout your child's need for one. With its reversible seating position and removable extra padding, it will be suitable for a baby. Once they are beyond this point, you can slowly start transforming the seat into one that is more appropriate for a toddler.
The transformative power goes as far as being able to convert to a booster seat, catering to any requirement your toddler could have at different stages. With the multi-recline feature, they can cruise around in luxurious style.
The clue's in the name — the Britax Evolva 1-2-3 'evolves' with your child as they grow up. The harness will keep your child secure from 9 months until they reach four years old, at which point the Evolva transforms into a regular booster seat.
There's no denying that the Evolva doesn't encase your child as much as some car seats do, and the recline system is rather primitive. It is, however, a sturdily built seat from a highly trusted brand. And it has cup holders, which are sure to come into their on long journeys!
Lugging around a car seat can put a real strain on you, which is why Britax have created a car seat that is wonderfully light. For an even more lightweight option, you can convert this seat into a booster when they're ready by removing the back.
Due to the lack of straps and extra support, this car seat isn't suitable for children younger than 4. It relies on the use of car seat belts, which is fine is your child is a bit older, but not an option if they're still in the group 1 weight category.
As full car seats go, this is a more affordable option, but not one that sacrifices exciting extras. The ISOFIX attaching system will keep your child firmly in place, and the cup holder means you don't have to constantly be handing them their beaker when they're thirsty.
This seat is great for older toddlers due to the more open nature of the seat, but it is only suitable for older toddlers, which might put you off buying it if your little one is on the small side.
This ultra-portable car seat not only acts as a little booster when travelling but also doubles up as a rucksack with enough space to fit a few essentials. For families who are often on the go, this car seat is just what you need. There's no need to worry if your child makes a mess either, as the easy-wipe material will look as good as new in no time.
Whilst this seat does have a back, it is not the usual car seat back and offers far less support. This means that it isn't suitable for young children, and it's difficult to tell from the lack of car seat group. It may be handy in emergencies, but this seat is definitely not the most secure.
If your child is over 22 kg and is ready to move onto something a bit more grown-up, then this booster seat could be the option for you. Coming in at less than a tenner, it is extremely reasonably priced, and being a booster seat means that it can easily be moved from car to car when compared with other, more bulky choices with backs.
The big drawback with booster seats like this is their lack of security. This booster seat is not fastened in at all, which might mean your child moves around more than they – or you – would like.
Your child must weigh at least 9 kg before they can use a 'Stage 1' car seat. You don't need to move them into a new seat immediately, though — you can keep them in their infant seat until 13 kg. Many manufacturers recommend that you do, as there are many benefits to rear-facing car seats.
Government guidance says that children can use booster seats at 15 kg. Booster seats let your child use a regular car seatbelt rather than an integrated harness. We highly recommend checking that your child is tall enough so that the seatbelt sits comfortably across their shoulder - and not their neck - before making the transfer.
No. 1: Maxi-Cosi|Titan Plus Car Seat
No. 2: Cybex|Silver Pallas B-Fix
No. 3: Maxi-Cosi|Mica Up
No. 4: RECARO|Tian Elite Group 1/2/3 Car Seat
No. 5: Joie|Everystage Group 0+/1/2/3 Car Seat
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