As parents, we do what we can to prepare for the unexpected. Investing in the best child restraint takes more than hopping on the internet and finding the cheapest car seat. We have to consider the safety, the ease of use and installation, and the comfort level that best suits our specific children’s needs.
The first thing to consider is the brand that best offers you a solution. You will hear a lot of noise and read even more claims. And, it becomes overwhelming, regardless of how old your little person is.
Let’s delve into some car seat brands, together, and find the one that meets your needs and keeps your precious cargo safe and secure.
Britax
Britax was born in 1939, well before child restraints were invented. In 1973, they acquired RÖMER, a vehicle seat belt company. The European company began selling its quality child restraints and seats in the United States in 1996.
The Britax brand has a solid reputation in the marketplace. Their various models are stylish, but most importantly, they consistently have high safety ratings and above-average crash test results. It helps that Britax listens to consumers and works to improve their infant car seats based on parent’s feedback.
When it comes to awards, Britax has plenty. We found a few that highlight their fan-favorite models.
Looking for the best infant car seats can be overwhelming. We are going to break down a few of the safest Britax child car seats.
The Britax Endeavor is a safe choice. It scores average on both head sensor and chest sensor crash tests. It has added layers of protection, including a steel frame, a safe-cell impact-absorbing base, and an anti-rebound bar.
If you are looking for something easy to use, the Britax Endeavor is quite parent-friendly. The premium-feature of the Endeavour infant car seat is that the ease of use covers every type of installation – LATCH, belt, and no base.
Additional Safety Features:
The Britax Endeavors is a good overall performer, but it is expensive. The premium-priced infant rear-facing car seat has a lot of features and extras that parents enjoy. It is all about what your budget will allow.
Infant car seats have to meet or exceed safety standards. The Britax B-Safe 35 has better than average crash test results. Britax tends to offer additional safety features. The B-Safe 35 has side impact protection (SIP) and a honey-shaped impact zone on its shell.
The ease of use is outstanding for the Britax B-Safe 35. It works best with the LATCH system, but it excels with every installation. The adjustable crotch strap helps tons when you are getting your little person in and out of their rear-facing infant car seat.
Additional Safety Features:
The Britax B-Safe 35 works best for parents that enjoy walks in the park or only use one vehicle. It is not ideal for taking in and out of a car, but the carrier works beautifully with a stroller.
Chicco
Chicco is a brand that has been developing and selling baby gear for over fifty years. Pietro Catelli was an inventor and developer in the pharmaceutical industry. After the birth of his son, he began his journey into everything baby-related. Chicco is now a global brand that produces various child restraints along with other baby swag.
The Chicco brand is all about its love for babies. It is known for innovation at an affordable price. Chicco partners with pediatricians, ergonomists, and parents to produce safe and efficient car seats.
The marketplace has more car seats than any one parent can research. Chicco has won several awards in recent years that help them stand out against the crowd.
Reputation is everything, and Chicco works hard to produce and sell car seats that show off their overall positive attitude. Come along with us as we review a couple that seems to shine.
The Chicco KeyFit 30 infant car seat is where safety and affordability come together. It has impressive crash test results, too. The head sensors rank well above many other rear-facing car seats. The addition of energy-absorbing foam for side impact protection (SIP) makes the KeyFit 30 a star in the rear-facing car seat category.
The overall ease of use and installation of the Chicco KeyFit 30 is above average, too. Parents love the easy-to-use LATCH system when installing. the process of tightening and adjusting is a breeze, too. It is uncomplicated when you are buckling and unbuckling your infant.
Additional Safety Features:
The Chicco KeyFit 30 is zooming into 2021 with great reviews and a handful of infant car seat awards. The KeyFit 30 balances crash protection, ease of use and installation, and vehicle fit at an affordable price. No wonder it is a parent favorite.
The Fit4 All-in-One exceeds safety standards. Chicco has gone one step further, adding additional features to ensure that your growing kid is adequately shielded from harm. It uses EPS foam for energy absorption and a steel-reinforced frame.
Parents love Chicco’s innovations when it comes to making their seats easy to use. The Fit4 All-in-One is a rear-facing to forward-facing car seat as well as a highback booster seat. In every mode, the Fit4 All-in-One uses the LATCH system and utilizes a no-rethread harness.
Additional Safety Features:
Parents looking for a long-term solution, the Chicco Fit4 All-in-One will protect your child as they grow. The three modes are both safe and comfortable for long rides or short drives.
Clek
Clek is newish on the child car seat scene. In 2007, the Canadian company wanted to address low booster usage in Canada. The brand is about parent-friendly designs with tons of safety. The founder, Chris Lumley, is a parent of two boys and tries to put that experience into every model.
Some child restraint brands go the extra mile to add premium features for comfort and security. Clek turns new technology into luxury, style, and safety.
With hundreds of car seats on the market, it is sometimes hard to see which ones truly shine.
We are going to cut through the noise and narrow in a couple of Clik’s best car seats to see if it is the right fit for you.
The Clek Liing has impressive crash test results. The rear-facing infant car seat does utilize the LATCH system and has rigid lower anchor connectors. The Liing is safer than some competitors because of its load leg.
Premium brands tend to lean towards making use and installation parent-friendly. The Clek Liing proves that safety does not mean complicated. The tensioning plate makes installing the belts simple, and the recline is adjustable without having to uninstall the seat.
Additional Safety Features:
The Clek Liing is an excellent balance between crash protection, ease of use, and vehicle fit. But, the rear-facing infant car seat is quite an investment. Another thing to consider is that it is a heavy seat and base. If you need to transfer it between vehicles, it might not be for you.
The Clek Fllo scores right above average when it comes to crash tests. It is the addition of EPP foam and an anti-rebound bar that adds to its safety score. The combination seat protects your precious cargo in both the rear-facing and forward-facing modes.
Clek leans towards user-friendly car seats. The Filo is above average when it comes to ease of use and installation. The LATCH system is super handy when securing the base to the backseat.
Additional Safety Features:
Clek car seats are not cheap in both price and quality. But, not everyone can afford a premium seat. The Clek Filo is on the heavy side, making it hard to transport between vehicles. It has balance, but it is not for everyone, either.
Cosco
Cosco started as the Columbus Speciality Company based in Columbus, Indiana. Now, after 70 years, they continue to stand by their motto, “Cosco’s Car Seats For Everyone™.”
Cosco has a nationwide reputation for producing safe, simple, and dependable child car seats. The brand does not confuse its customers with a bunch of features and extras. Cosco sticks to the basics when providing safety for your little human.
Over the years, Cosco has won its share of awards and ranks high on affordability lists and overall comfort.
We will explore what makes the Scenera NEXT popular and how Cosco could be the brand for you.
The safety of a convertible seat is the first thing parents worry about. The Cosco Scenera NEXT has overall good scores on their crash tests. Also, it has side impact protection and a five-point harness that adds to its safety rating.
Cosco believes in protecting your little, but they also focus attention on ease of use. The Scenera NEXT is a breeze using both the LATCH system and your vehicle seat belt. The harness and three crotch strap positions are straightforward in both rear-facing and forward-facing modes.
Additional Safety Features:
The Cosco Scenera NEXT does not come with bells or whistles. It is a bare-bones convertible car seat. But, it is ridiculously inexpensive and safe for children up to 40 pounds.
Backless boosters do not go through the same rigorous tests as other child restraints. The Cosco Rise exceeds Federal Standards and is Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) best bet booster car seat.
Cosco is about safety and ease of use without all the extra goodies that sometimes get in the way. The Cosco Rise backless booster seat is as simple as they come. The broad base and higher armrests make it easy for your growing child to buckle and unbuckle themselves in safely.
Additional Safety Features:
The Cosco Rise is insanely cheap. Even better than that, for parents that carpool, the backless booster seat is perfect. It is so lightweight and portable; your kid can tote it from car to car without your help.
Diono
Diono started out as Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products in 1999. Over the next ten years, they produced award-winning child car seats. In 2011, they finally transitioned into the company we know now.
Every car seat brand has fans for different reasons. Parents love Diono because they invent affordable and safe child car seats that are easy to use.
It seems 2020 is a big year for Diono. The brand is raking in awards as it continues to improve its car seat models.
Let’s take a closer look at a couple of models to see if Diono is the right choice for you.
The Diono Radian 5 is a combination of a rear-facing and forward-facing car seat. It exceeds safety standards and has decent crash test results. The Radian 5 has EPP energy foam and SuperGrip energy absorbing harness pads that reduce impact crash forces.
Some convertible car seats are a hassle when it comes to installation and use. The Diono Radian has high scores in both departments. The harness is easy to adjust, and the user manual is super simple to read and understand.
Additional Safety Features:
If your family likes to take vacations or long drives, the Radian 5 is both a safe and comfortable convertible car seat. Also, it is narrow and fits well in the backseat with other passengers.
Booster seats do not go through the same crash tests that other child restraints do. With that said, the Diono Cambria has average results. However, the highback to backless booster seat has features that up their safety scores, such as its side impact protection and secure LATCH connectors.
The LATCH connectors make installation and use pretty straightforward, too. Getting a good belt fit is simple, and it has a spacious design that helps tons.
Additional Safety Features:
Parents that are looking for an affordable highback to backless booster seat will find that the Diono Cambria does its job well. It is heavier than a lot of options, which makes toting it from vehicle to vehicle a bit tedious.
Evenflo
Evenflo has been making quality baby products for nearly 100 years. It continues to be a trusted source of everything from bottles to child restraints. Evenflo Company, Inc. continues to expand and develop innovations to make parenting easier.
Parents want a trusted brand when it comes to anything baby related. Evenflo makes it their mission to provide safe, comfortable, and affordable child car seats so that no parent has to worry about their child’s safety based on price.
Some brands seem to make all of the lists. Evenflo consistently creates safe car seats at a price that most families can afford.
We are certainly going to delve into the details when it comes to the Evenflo Tribute LX, and while we are at it, we will see what else Evenflo has to offer.
It takes a lot to impress parents and car seat watchdogs. The Evenflo Tribute LX truly excels in safety. Its crash test scores rank up there with the best of them. The Tribute LX has side impact protection and a five-point harness for extra security.
The LATCH anchors make installing the Evenflo Tribute LX cut and dry. Buckling the harness is a one-motion task because of its convenient push buckle. It is a basic convertible rear-facing to forward-facing car seat.
Additional Safety Features:
If you carpool or have a large family, the Evenflo Tribute LX fits in any backseat with plenty of room to spare for siblings and friends. It might not have all the extras, but it has overall balance in safety and ease.
When it comes to crash protection at an affordable price, the Evenflo SureRide is a good choice. The convertible car seat easily exceeds crash test standards. Also, the SureRide has side impact protection and energy-absorbing foam.
The Evenflo SureRide uses the LATCH system to secure your convertible car seat. It has six easily adjustable harness positions. The fact it weighs less than ten pounds is super helpful if you use rideshares or carpool.
Additional Safety Features:
Some seats appeal to a wide variety of people. The Evenflo SureRide works for nearly every situation. Its slim, lightweight design makes it perfect for parents that regularly change vehicles. And, the price is hard to pass up when you are searching for that perfect convertible car seat.
Graco
Graco began as Graco Metal Products. It was not until 1953 that they invented their first baby product – an automated swing. Since then, Graco has been a leader in the industry and continues to work with parents and technicians to produce safe car seats for children of all ages.
Safety is only one aspect of child car restraints. When a company adds comfort, they become top performers in a crowded field. Graco has a reputation for producing high-quality car seats for infants to toddlers.
Graco produces quality car seats so often that they are always grabbing up awards and making it onto nearly every list.
It is pretty obvious which two car seats need a closer look. Let’s see why they are the best.
Sometimes a model comes along that impresses everyone. The Graco Extend2Fit surpasses expectations when it comes to their crash test results. The overall safety rating becomes more exciting because it is reasonably priced.
One of the best features for the Graco Extend2Fit is the no-rethread harness. It is an incredible help as you adjust the seat as your little person grows. The push-on LATCH connectors make secure installation a breeze with one swift movement.
Additional Safety Features:
The Graco Extend2Fit passes all the parent-friendly tests. It is a rear-facing to forward-facing convertible car seat that would likely suit any family. The price does not break the bank, and its safety scores are hard to ignore.
The right balance of safety, comfort, and ease of use is not an easy find. The Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 ranks above average in terms of crash test results. The premium-priced convertible car seat option is Graco® ProtectPlus Engineered™, which helps protect your child in frontal, rear, and rollover vehicle crashes.
The ease of use and installation scores for the Graco 4Ever DLX is rather impressive. It has a no-rethread harness that makes adjustments a breeze. It uses push-on LATCH connectors that make the process easy and helps reduce human error.
Additional Safety Features:
The Graco 4Ever DLX is a premium-priced convertible car seat. The all-in-one has all-around good scores, but it is not for every family. It lacks a lot of extra features that usually come at that price point.
Maxi-Cosi
In 1984, Maxi-Cosi, part of the Dorel Juvenile brand, took on the task of making safe infant car seats. Their child restraints began on the European market but are now available in North America.
When people think of the Maxi-Cosi brand, innovation and safety are the two qualities that come to mind. They continue to listen to parents’ concerns and to implement ways to make their child car restraints more user-friendly while also developing sleek designs and high-quality aesthetics.
The Maxi-Cosi brand is a well-known brand in Europe and Australia. They have turned parents and technicians into fans as they continue to expand over all over the world.
Maxi-Cosi is a German brand, and not every model makes it across the ocean. Let’s get a closer look at the options that are most common on American shores.
Not every premium-priced rear-facing infant car seat is worth the hefty investment. The Maxi-Cosi Mico Max Plus scores incredibly well on crash tests. It uses patented Air Protect® technology for additional side impact protection.
If you are looking for a seamless installation, the Maxi-Cosi Mico Max Plus infant car seat has integrated belt lock-offs and has an easy-to-use LATCH system. The harness is easy to adjust and is a safe fit for even the smallest of babies.
Additional Safety Features:
The Maxi-Cosi Mico Max Plus is an expensive rear-facing infant car seat. However, parents with smaller than average babies and preemies benefit from the quality and safety that the Mico Max Plus provides.
It is not a secret that Maxi-Cosi sells premium-priced seats with features that many other competitors do not have. The Pria 85 has high crash test scores. The convertible car seat has Air Protect® technology and rigid LATCH anchors that add to its overall safety scores.
The push-on LATCH connectors not only add to security, but they help with the overall use of installation and use of the Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 convertible car seat. Also, it has a no-rethread harness which is always a parent-friendly feature.
Additional Safety Features:
The Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 is on the pricy side of convertible car seats. It has great side impact protection and simple to use. If you are looking for a car seat that will last you awhile, the Pria 85 might be the right choice for you.
Peg Perego
The Peg Perego brand began in 1949 by providing parents with cheaper options for carriages and strollers. The Italian baby brand has gone on to expand its presence in the marketplace and the world.
Peg Perego products are unique in how they are made. The brand is about innovation and making the best quality juvenile products they can. It often comes at a higher price, but for some parents, it is worth it for the premium features and exciting extras.
The Italian-based baby brand continues to expand throughout the United States and Canada. It seems they measure up to American brands.
It seems the Peg Perego has a premium model that excites parents and reviewers. Let’s see what all of the hype is about.
Peg Perego creates and produces premium-seats at a premium price. The Primo Viaggio 4-35 has impressive crash test results, and they go the extra mile for extra protection. The rear-facing infant car seat has an anti-rebound bar at the foot of the base.
The Primo Viaggio 4-35 is pretty easy to install and use. The LATCH system makes it easy to secure your little person and their seat. The harness is trouble-free when you need to tighten or loosen the strap. Even the handle has a parent-friendly button to rotate it to your preferred position.
Additional Safety Features:
The Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 is a premium convertible car seat at a premium price. Not every family will be able to afford the Primo Viaggio 4-35, but if it is in your budget range, it is a good car seat.
We, as parents, worry about our growing kiddos when it is time to transition into a backless booster car seat. The Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle 120 exceeds safety standards. It has the additions of energy-absorbing foam and side wings that improve their overall ratings.
The LATCH system makes car seat installation easier. The Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle 120’s rigid system helps you secure your little one safely and simply. Making adjustments are just as straightforward with a smooth shoulder clip and its five different recline positions.
Additional Safety Features:
The Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle 120 is on-brand. It is a sleek, stylish, and safe booster seat. Families with a bit of budget wiggle room might benefit from the Shuttle 120 useful design.
Safety 1st
Michael Lerner founded Safety 1st in 1984 to specifically find solutions to parents’ struggles with safe baby products, especially while traveling. In 2000, they merged with the Dorel Group, and they continue to help families in both North America and Europe today.
Every car seat brand addresses different parent-related pain points. Safety 1st is all about innovation and quality without forgetting parents and convenience. Their commitment is to find smart solutions to everyday problems.
Safety 1st shows up in a lot of reviews, roundups, and ‘best of’ lists.
It seems there is a bit of hype about the Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1. We are going to take a closer peek at it and another Safety 1st model that might be the one for you.
Safety 1st is all about providing safety at a reasonable cost. The Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 is a good example of a trusted convertible car seat. It scores a little above average on its crash tests. It won the IIHS “Good Bet” for booster mode.
Safety 1st’s parent-friendly promise comes through with the Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 convertible car seat. The Grow and Go 3-in-1 has a no-rethread harness that makes adjustments easy breezy. The crotch strap is trouble-free to adjust, too.
Additional Safety Features:
The Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Convertible car seat works within most parents’ budget. It is a long-lasting seat that will see your child grow and transition into various car seat modes.
Booster seats are a stressful transition. The Safety 1st Boost Air is a highback to backless booster that exceeds safety standards. It has Air Protect Advanced side impact protection and side-impact wings.
The Safety 1st Boost Air requires a headrest, but other than that hiccup, the ease of use and installation is on-brand. The adjustment options are ideal, which helps secure a fantastic belt fit.
Additional Safety Features:
The Boost Air booster car seat is pretty barebones, but it comes at a price that makes it a good buy. It is a great solution for booster seats and will keep your toddler safe and sound.
What to Look for in a Safe Car Seat
Some child car seats have the bells and whistles you might want, and others have only the things you might need. It is somewhat about knowing which is what and finding the child restraint that best fits you and your child’s lifestyle.
Wrapping It Up
The marketplace is full of car seats of every shape and size. But, kids come much the same. It is about finding the right fit for you and your precious cargo. Part of that fit is reducing stress and worry when traveling.
It is not easy to narrow down choices, but we hope we helped. We wish your little person a safe ride, and we hope you come along with us, again, as we traverse the huge world of child restraints and car seats.
Sources:
- 1History & Heritage
- 2Awards - Britax
- 3Britax Endeavours Review - BabyGearLab
- 4Britax B-Safe Ultra - BabyGearLab
- 5About Our Brand | ChiccoUSA
- 6The Best Infant Car Seat for 2020 | Reviews by Wirecutter
- 7Chicco KeyFit 30 Review
- 8Meet Chris Lumley, Founder of Clek
- 9Clek Liing Car Seat Review | Experienced Mommy Review
- 10Clek Fllo Review
- 11Cosco Kids
- 12Cosco Rise Review
- 13Rise Booster Car Seat
- 14Diono
- 15DIONO RADIAN 5 – A TODDLER’S POINT OF VIEW
- 16Evenflo Tribute LX Review
- 17Evenflo SureRide Convertible Car Seat Review (2020): Affordable & Great for Travel
- 18About Us | Graco Baby
- 19Graco Extend2Fit Review
- 20Graco 4Ever DLX Review
- 21The Story Behind Maxi-Cosi
- 22Maxi-Cosi Max plus Review
- 23Maxi-Cosi® Mico Max Plus Infant Car Seat
- 24Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 Convertible Review – Safety, Comfort & Style
- 25Our History | Peg Perego International
- 26Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 Review
- 27Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle 120 Review
- 28Safety 1st
With two kids of my own, I’m passionate about child safety! I’m a research nerd who’s on a mission to make the world a safer place for kids – starting with car seats!
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