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Best Convertible Car Seats for Newborns: Our 4 Top Picks (2021)

January 6, 2021 by noriza

Overall

Maxi Cosi Magellan

Maxi-Cosi Magellan All-In-One Convertible Car Seat With 5 Modes, Midnight Slate, One Size
Click for Price

Tall Babies

Diono Rainier 2AX

Diono Rainier 2AX Convertible Car Seat, Dark Grey
Click for Price 

Lightweight

Evenflo Tribute

Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat, Saturn
Click for Price 

Bringing your newborn home from the hospital is a magical and exciting time, but before you bring them home, you need to find the best convertible car seat for your newborn - a seat that's appropriate to transport them and will hopefully last for (at least) the first few years of their life.

With so many models out there, how do you find the appropriate one?

No problem! In this article, we review the top-rated car seats for newborns: 

  • Best overall convertible car seat for newborns: Maxi-Cosi Magellan All-in-One
  • Best convertible car seat for tall babies: Diono Rainier 2AX
  • Best lightweight convertible car seat for newborns: Evenflo Tribute
  • Best budget convertible car seat for newborns: Safety 1st Continuum

We also cover a few frequently asked questions about hospital regulations for transporting your newborn in a car seat, and how to narrow your car seat choices down.

Let’s get into it!

Quick Navigation
Best Convertible Car Seats for Newborns (Summary Table)
Best Convertible Car Seat for Newborns (Overall)
Best Convertible Car Seat for Tall Babies
Best Lightweight Convertible Car Seat for Newborns
Best Budget Convertible Car Seat for Newborns
FAQs - Newborns and Car Seats
Keeping Your Baby Safe: Installing a Convertible Car Seat for your Infant
How to put a newborn baby in a car seat
Conclusion

Best Convertible Car Seats for Newborns (Summary Table)


Top Picks

Best Convertible Car Seat for Newborns (Overall)

Maxi-Cosi Magellan 5-in-1

Maxi-Cosi Magellan All-In-One Convertible Car Seat With 5 Modes, Midnight Slate, One Size

The Bottom Line:

What makes the Maxi-Cosi Magellan 5-in-1 car seat so unique is that it’s specifically designed to grow with your baby. Also, it’s enhanced with features that are meant to make your baby’s car seat journey comfortable and safe. If you’re bringing your newborn home and you want a car seat that is high-quality, safe and secure, and puts your child’s comfort first, the Magellan is the car seat for you.

While there are other car seats that are engineered to grow with your little one, the Magellan is one of the few models that allows you to adjust the torso height. This car seat goes above and beyond to ensure that your child remains comfortable in every stage. Plus, the Magellan 5-in-1 gives you 10 whole years of comfort and security, so you won’t have to stress yourself out looking for another car seat.

All in all, if you want a car seat that strives to keep your baby cozy and secure, that’s easy to use and install, and will grow as your child does, then the Magellan 5-in-1 convertible car seat is where it’s at.

Pros & Cons of the Maxi-Cosi Magellan 5-in-1

Pros

  • 10-year lifespan
  • All-in-one car seat
  • One-Click LATCH system
  • Air Protect Side Impact Protection
  • 14 harness positions

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Heavy
  • Re-thread harness
Click Here for Best Price

Maxi-Cosi Magellan 5-in-1 Safety Features

 

The safety ratings provided by the NHTSA are as follows:

Rear-facing

  • Overall Ease of Use: 3 stars
  • Installation Features: 2 stars
  • Securing the Childs: 5 stars
  • Evaluation of Instructions: 3 stars
  • Evaluation of Labels: 3 stars

Forward-facing

  • Overall Ease of Use: 4 stars
  • Installation Features: 4 stars
  • Securing the Childs: 4 stars
  • Evaluation of Instructions: 4 stars
  • Evaluation of Labels: 3 stars

Booster Mode

  • Overall Ease of Use: 3 stars
  • Installation Features: 4 stars
  • Securing the Childs: 1 stars
  • Evaluation of Instructions: 4 stars
  • Evaluation of Labels: 3 stars

The Magellan 5-in-1 is manufactured with a patented Air Protect Side Impact Protection System built into the headrest to minimize the impact force of a car crash.

This system also provides an added level of comfort to your child’s car seat experience. The Magellan 5-in-1 does NOT have an energy-absorbing base or a metal frame, but it’s equipped with other safety features that give your child the ultimate security and protection.

Maxi-Cosi Magellan 5-in-1 Ease of Installation

The Magellan 5-in-1 measurements are listed below.

  • Weight: 25 pounds
  • Width: 19.6 inches

There are 14 harness/headrest positions included in the Magellan 5-in-1 that allow you to create a customized fit for your growing child. In addition to this, the Magellan 5-in-1 comes with an easy-to-use adjustable torso with 3 torso heights.

To make clean-up go by quickly and easily, the Magellan is outfitted in premium fabrics that are machine-washable and dryer safe.

Here's a short video that will demonstrate how to properly install your Maxi-Cosi Magellan 5-in-1 convertible car seat.

You can also refer to the product manual for further instructions on how to install your car seat.

Maxi-Cosi Magellan 5-in-1 Longevity

 

Rear-facing

  • Height limit: up to 40 inches
  • Weight limit: 5 - 40 pounds

Forward-facing

  • Height limit: 29 - 49 inches
  • Weight limit: 22 - 65 pounds

Booster

  • Height limit: 43 - 57 inches
  • Weight limit: 40 - 120 pounds

Maxi-Cosi Magellan 5-in-1 Ease of Use

 

The Magellan 5-in-1 has One-Click LATCH connectors that make installing/uninstalling your car seat easier and quicker. Even with this system, you can still install this car seat using your vehicle seat belt.


The Magellan 5-in-1 does NOT come with a non-rethread harness system which means you will have to re-thread the harness to change the harness height.

Maxi-Cosi Magellan 5-in-1 Comfort & Quality

The Magellan 5-in-1 is designed with high-quality fabrics, and it’s well padded to ensure that your little one is always riding comfortably. The side impact protection provides extra padding in the headrest so that your child’s head and neck are constantly snug and supported.


Additionally, The Magellan 5-in-1 is equipped with an easy-to-remove infant insert pillow to add another layer of comfort and luxury. It's also designed with self-wicking fabrics that are breathable and keep your little one cool in every season.

Click Here for Best Price
Read Our Maxi-Cosi Magellan Review

Best Convertible Car Seat for Tall Babies

Diono Rainier 2AX

Diono Rainier 2AX Convertible Car Seat, Black

The Bottom Line:

Finding a convertible car seat that will seat your baby comfortably can be taxing. If your child is tall, it can be harder to find something that they won’t quickly grow out of. That’s what makes the Diono Rainier 2AX so unique. It can seat children that are up to 57 inches tall which is 3 inches taller than 99% of other car seat models.

The Rainier 2 AX also has as adjustable harness system so that even as your child grows, they’ll always be comfortably buckled in. Additionally, this car seat comes with expandable leg rests so that your growing child has an easy time getting in and out of their car seat.

The Rainier 2AX is engineered to fold-up easily to make storage and traveling simple and time-efficient. It’s also compact enough to fit 3 across in your back seat or free up enough space so you’re other passengers can ride comfortably.

So, if you’re looking for a car seat that has a higher height limit, an easily adjusted harness system, and a compact design to free up car seat space and make traveling easier, then the Diono Rainer 2AX is the car seat for you.

Pros & Cons of the Diono Rainier 2AX:

Pros

  • Has a height limit of up to 57 inches
  • Fits 3 across
  • Extended rear-facing use
  • 12 headrest positions
  • Plenty of legroom

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Heavy
  • No built-in lock-off
Click Here for Best Price

Diono Rainier 2AX Safety Features

The safety ratings provided by the NHTSA are as follows:

Rear-facing

  • Overall Ease of Use: 2 stars
  • Installation Features: 1 stars
  • Securing the Childs: 2 stars
  • Evaluation of Instructions: 5 stars
  • Evaluation of Labels: 2 stars

Forward-facing

  • Overall Ease of Use: 2 stars
  • Installation Features: 3 stars
  • Securing the Childs: 3 stars
  • Evaluation of Instructions: 3 stars
  • Evaluation of Labels: 1 stars

The Diono Rainier 2AX is equipped with enhances side impact protection and extra-deep side walls that provide support and superior security for your child’s head and neck. It’s built with a full metal frame and reinforced aluminum side walls to supply top-of-the-line protection for your little one. The Rainier 2AX has an energy-absorbing base that helps to reduce the impact force of a car crash.

Diono Rainier 2AX Ease of Installation

 

The Rainier 2AX measurements are listed below.

  • Weight: 27.55 pounds
  • Width: 17.8 inches

The Diono Rainier is equipped with a 5-point harness that can be easily adjusted to give your little one the most comfortable fit in every car seat position. It’s also fitted with premium plush-knit fabrics that are not only cozy, but they’re machine-washable and dryer safe, making hard-to-clean messes simple and easy to get rid of.


This short video will explain how to properly install your Diono Rainier 2AX car seat.

You can also refer to the product manual for detailed instructions on how to install your car seat.

Diono Rainier 2AX Longevity

Rear-facing

  • Height limit: up to 44 inches
  • Weight limit: 5 – 50 pounds

Forward-facing

  • Height limit: up to 57 inches
  • Weight limit: 20 – 65 pounds

Diono Rainier 2AX Ease of Use

The Rainier 2AX has a SuperLATCH system to make installation as easy as 1,2,3. There’s an audible-click/visual-locking indicator to help you accurately install your car seat. You can also install your car seat by using your vehicle seatbelt.


The Rainier 2AX does NOT come with a non-rethread harness system, so you have to re-thread the harness to adjust the harness height. This can take a bit of time, but because of the SuperLATCH feature, reinstalling your car seat shouldn’t be too hard.

Diono Rainier 2AX Comfort & Quality

The Rainier 2AX has a decent amount of padding throughout the car seat to ensure that your child is comfy and snug at all times. With enhanced side impact protection, your child will receive more cushion and comfort in the headrest to properly support their head and neck.


To add an extra layer of comfort, the Rainier 2AX is equipped with easy-to-remove tailored infant support cushions. The fabric isn’t very breathable, but your child will still have a cozy ride with the premium fabrics and luxury padding.

Click Here for Best Price
Read Our Diono Rainier 2AX Review

Best Lightweight Convertible Car Seat for Newborns

Evenflo Tribute LX

Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat, Saturn

The Bottom Line:

If you want a car seat that’s lightweight, inexpensive, and has been thoroughly tested to ensure that’s safe, then look no further.

One of the unique features that sets the Evenflo Tribute LX apart from other models, is its super lightweight design. This car seat only weighs a little over 9 pounds. So, if you’re planning on traveling a lot or going places where you must carry your baby around for a long period of time, then the Tribute LX is just the seat for you.

It’s also one of the cheapest convertible car seats that’s available on the market. A majority of the car seats you’ll find today will run you about $100 to $400. But, with the Tribute LX, you get the same high-quality features and extensive crash tests as those expensive models, and it’s all under $100.

The engineers at Evenflo go above and beyond to ensure that your baby will always be well-protected in their seats. They’re the only brand that I’ve found that conducts crash testing at energy levels that are 2X the Federal safety standard.

With the Evenflo Tribute LX, you won’t strain yourself carrying your car seat from one place to another, and you won’t hurt the bank by investing one. You’ll also receive a car seat that goes the extra mile to guarantee your child’s safety and security.

Pros & Cons of the Evenflo Tribute LX

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Inexpensive
  • Compact design
  • Extensive crash testing
  • FAA approved

Cons

  • Not ideal for international travel
  • Harness straps can be uncomfortable
Click Here for Best Price

Evenflo Tribute LX Safety Features

The safety ratings provided by the NHTSA are as follows:

Rear-facing

  • Overall Ease of Use: 2 stars
  • Installation Features: 1 stars
  • Securing the Childs: 2 stars
  • Evaluation of Instructions: 4 stars
  • Evaluation of Labels: 2 stars

Forward-facing

  • Overall Ease of Use: 2 stars
  • Installation Features: 3 stars
  • Securing the Childs: 3 stars
  • Evaluation of Instructions: 2 stars
  • Evaluation of Labels: 1 stars

The Tribute LX contains side impact protection that’s been specifically tested at crash levels that are 2X the Federal crash test standard. It is NOT equipped with an energy-absorbing base or metal frame, but the extensive crash testing ensure that the Tribute LX will deliver the ultimate protection for your child.

Evenflo Tribute LX Ease of Installation

The Tribute LX measurements are listed below.

  • Weight: 9.29 pounds
  • Width: 19 inches

The Tribute LX comes with an Up-Front Harness Adjust that provide an easier way to get a snug and accurate fit your child’s harness. There are also 4 harness positions so that your child remains comfortable as they grow and get bigger.

Additionally, The Tribute LX is dressed in machine-washable fabrics that make getting rid of hard-to-remove stains a quick and painless task.


If you need help with installation, this short video will show you how to properly install your Evenflo Tribute LX convertible car seat.


You can also refer to the product manual for instructions on how to install your car seat.

Evenflo Tribute LX Longevity

 

Rear-facing

  • Height limit: 19 - 37 inches
  • Weight limit: 5 - 40 pounds

Forward-facing

  • Height limit: 28 - 40 inches
  • Weight limit: 22 - 40 pounds

Evenflo Tribute LX Ease of Use

The Tribute LX is LATCH-equipped; this provides an alternate and easier way to install your car seat. You can also install your car seat using your vehicle seatbelt. The Tribute LX is one of the few models that contains a non-rethread harness system - meaning you don’t have to re-thread the harness to adjust its height. This will save you time and energy in the long run as your child gets older.

Evenflo Tribute LX Comfort & Quality

The Tribute LX is adequately padded, so your child will always have a luxurious and comfy ride. Minus the side impact protection, you won’t find any excess padding in the headrest. However, the Tribute LX comes with a removable head pillow that provides comfort and support for your child’s head and neck - even as they grow.


The Polyester materials are soft and breathable, so your child will remain cool and comfortable in every season.

Click Here for Best Price
Read Our Evenflo Tribute Review

Best Budget Convertible Car Seat for Newborns

Safety 1st Continuum 3-in-1

Safety 1st Continuum 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat (Hollyhock)

The Bottom Line:

The Safety 1st Continuum 3-in-1 is great because the features you get with this car seat would cost around $200 to $400 in any other model. For this seat, you’ll only pay a little over $100.

These features include multiple recline angles to ensure that the car seat fits comfortably in your car, an infant insert pillow to give your baby a snug ride and a QuickFit harness system that allows you to adjust the harness and headrest at the same time. Additionally, the compact design of the Continuum 3-in-1 not only frees up more room in the back seat, but it also provides up to 7 more inches of legroom for the front seat.

The Safety 1st Continuum 3-in-1 is safe and simple to use, and it provides all the comfort and security that a newborn needs without costing an arm and a leg. So, if you’re looking for a car seat that’s budget-friendly, requires minimal effort to install and use, and is equipped with the same enhanced safety features that you’d find in an expensive car seat, then the Continuum 3-in-1 is the car seat for you.

Pros & Cons of the Safety 1st Continuum 3-in-1

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Easy to install/uninstall
  • Durable
  • Lightweight
  • Frees up more legroom in the front seat

Cons

  • Won’t be the last car seat your child uses
  • Harness straps can be difficult to adjust
Click Here for Best Price

Safety 1st Continuum 3-in-1 Safety Features

The safety ratings provided by the NHTSA are as follows:

Rear-facing

  • Overall Ease of Use: 2 stars
  • Installation Features: 1 stars
  • Securing the Childs: 3 stars
  • Evaluation of Instructions: 5 stars
  • Evaluation of Labels: 2 stars

Forward-facing

  • Overall Ease of Use: 3 stars
  • Installation Features: 3 stars
  • Securing the Childs: 5 stars
  • Evaluation of Instructions: 4 stars
  • Evaluation of Labels: 1 stars

Booster mode

  • Overall Ease of Use: 4 stars
  • Installation Features: 4 stars
  • Securing the Childs: 4 stars
  • Evaluation of Instructions: 5 stars
  • Evaluation of Labels: 3 stars

The Safety 1st Continuum 3-in-1 does have side impact protection to provide an extra layer of support and security for your child’s head and neck. Unlike the other models we’ve reviewed, it doesn’t contain a steel frame or energy-absorbing foam or base.

Safety 1st Continuum Ease of Installation

The Continuum 3-in-1 measurements are listed below.

  • Weight: 14 pounds
  • Width: 19 inches

The Continuum 3-in-1 is equipped with a QuickFit harness that allows you to adjust both the harness and headrest in one simple step. It’s also fitted with a machine-washable seat cover to make clean-up just as easy as adjusting the harness.

Safety 1st Continuum Longevity

 

Rear-facing

  • Height limit: 40 inches
  • Weight limit: 5 - 40 pounds

Forward-facing

  • Height limit: N/A
  • Weight limit: 22 - 50 pounds

Booster

  • Height limit: N/A
  • Weight limit: 40 - 80 pounds

Safety 1st Continuum Ease of Use

 

The Continuum 3-in-1 car seat is equipped with a LATCH system to make installation easy and secure. It’s also compatible with seatbelt installation and contains a no-rethread harness that saves you time when adjusting your child’s harness height position.

Safety 1st Continuum Comfort & Quality

The Continuum 3-in-1 contains a decent amount of padding throughout the car seat to make your child’s experience enjoyable and cozy.

Click Here for Best Price
Read Our Safety 1st Continuum Review

FAQs - Newborns and Car Seats

  • Are infant car seats safer than convertible car seats?

Both infant and convertible car seats are safe. Convertible car seats in the rear-facing position may be a bit safer for children approaching a year old, but one type isn’t necessarily safer than the other.

  • What are the laws for taking a newborn home from the hospital in a car seat?

Laws regarding taking your baby home from the hospital in a car seat var by state. You can find your states regulations here. However, ALL states require that your baby leaves the hospital in a car seat.

  • What are the best tips for taking my newborn home in a car seat?
  • Look for a car seat before you go to the hospital so that you have enough time to choose one that’s right for your little one.
  • Get your car seat inspected to ensure that it’s safe and to make sure that you’re installing your car seat correctly.
  • Your baby must be seated in the rear-facing position until they’ve exceeded the height-weight requirements.
  • What are the best tips for choosing a convertible car seat for my newborn?
  • Don’t buy a car seat that doesn’t have the manufacture date or expiration date.
  • Find something that’ll grow with your child.
  • Choose something that’s easy to use and easy to clean.
  • Check out the recline angles that the car seat has.
  • Try to opt for a car seat that’s new and has their crash test results available to the public.

Keeping Your Baby Safe: Installing a Convertible Car Seat for your Infant

How to put a newborn baby in a car seat

Conclusion

As parents, we want nothing more than for our newborn to be safe, especially when they’re traveling from one place to another.


Remember that when looking for a car seat, you’ll want to find something that’ll be a one-time investment, that’s proven to be safe, and that’ll keep your child protected from the moment they leave the hospital.


We’ve reviewed some awesome car seats that are perfect for newborns, so you hopefully you feel more confident and informed on the type of car seat that that’ll be just right for you and your newborn!

noriza

Filed Under: Buyer's Guides

Primary Sidebar

Hey! I’m Sam, mom of Sadie and Xavier.

When I started searching for a convertible car seat I was overwhelmed by the choices out there.

But being a research nerd, I relished the challenge of finding the best seat for my needs. And in the process, I gathered a ton of info!

Read More About Me

SafeConvertibleCarSeats is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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