It seems like every year, the recommendations and regulations for car seats change — and we know how frustrating it can be to understand which car seat your child needs. As of right now, The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that all babies remain rear-facing for at least 2 years, but ideally as long as possible.
There are two basic types of rear-facing car seats: the infant seat and the convertible car seat. The infant seat typically doubles as a carrier, and most can be clicked into your stroller. They're convenient, portable, and really my favorite option for a newborn who will be going from house to car to stroller with some regularity. After that, you'll want a reliable, well-built rear-facing convertible car seat that fits your needs and those of your tiny traveling companion.
Best Rear-Facing Car Seats
What to Consider
The great thing about the (seemingly) overwhelming process of buying a rear-facing car seat is that all car seats sold in the United States must meet specific guidelines set by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) — and if there's an issue, they get recalled right away. Thankfully, the best rear-facing car seats go above and beyond, with tons of features, durable fabrics, and easy installation. The biggest things you want to consider are fit, style, features, and price.
Fit
Surprisingly, there's no standard on the sizing of these seats. Some are pretty heavy and pretty wide, so keep both the size of your car and child in mind (for example, pay close attention to height limitations if your toddler is tall.) Fit also refers to the type of strollers that your infant seat can click into. If you want one car seat and one stroller, you need to make sure they are compatible. Keeping weight in mind is crucial as well, as some car seats are pretty heavy.
Style
There are only a few styles to choose from when it comes to rear-facing car seats: the infant seat and convertible seat that I mentioned earlier — plus, there’s also the combined infant-seat stroller. Even though there’s only one of these available on the market right now, it’s so good that it deserves to be mentioned.
Features
Some car seats, like the Cybex convertible seat, can conveniently turn so that your baby can be easily put into and taken out of your car seat. Others, like the UppaBaby car seat, have threadless strap adjustment, which makes cleaning and adjusting the seat so much easier. There are also features like ergonomic handles, cup holders, different leveling devices, and stability bars that make the car seat more secure in the event of a collision. The point we're trying to make here? There are a ton of bells and whistles out there to choose from. Assess which features best suit your needs and prioritize those on your shopping list.
And of course, you can't talk about car seat features without discussing how to clean them. Babies are wonderful — and oh, so gross — so finding easy-to-clean car seat fabrics are a game changer.
This list features the best rear-facing car seats with the best features in a range of prices and styles, all that exceed the standards set by the CPSC. I have personally tested most of the car seats on this list, and all of the others have been tested by people I know with infants and toddlers who fit the seats.
1
Best All-in-One
Doona+ Infant Car Seat & Stroller
- Easy to install
- Antibacterial fabric
Key Specs
- Suitable for up to 35 pounds
- Height limit: 32 inches
The Doona is a combined car seat and stroller. On the top is a traditional car seat with a unique, telescoping handle, and attached are integrated wheels and chassis that lock beneath.
The fabric is easy to clean, moisture-wicking and is antibacterial. The cushions are designed to hug your baby and support their spine, and if they're fussy, there's a rocking function. The UPF-rated canopy really keeps baby cool, and the whole thing only weighs 16.5 pounds.
More: The Best Car Seats on the Market
2
Most Reliable
Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
- Been around forever
- Machine-washable and dryable
- One of the more affordable seats
Key Specs
- Rear-facing from 5 to 40 pounds
- Height limit: 49 inches
This car seat is highly recommended by the NHTSA, Consumer Reports, and our testers. It's one of the safest and easiest to clean.
Britax's ClickTight system is the easiest to install on the market. The entire process is done in moments, and bubble level indicators assure you that it's safe and level.
Britax's seven-position recline is super comfy, and the cover is machine-washable and dryable. The steel-reinforced frame is coated in hard poly, and the dense, orthotic cushions are designed with maximum breathability in mind.
The 14-point quick-adjust harness and headrest can be raised quickly when your notice your child creeping up in size.
This is the convertible seat I used for my children, and I absolutely loved it.
3
Best Light Seat
PIPA Flame Retardant Free Car Seat & Base
Key Specs
- Suitable from 4 to 32 pounds
- Height limit: 32 inches
The Nuna PIPA car seat is only 8 pounds. No, I'm not kidding. That's it. It's made of flame-retardant materials for extra safety, has a 5-second install, and the canopy comes off easily.
It's roomy, a bit wider than standard infant seats, and the wrapped handle is a joy to carry. The threadless adjustable straps are easy to maneuver, and the seat wipes clean easily.
Best of all, the flame-retardant fabrics aren't flame retardant due to a ton of dangerous chemicals —there's a patented weave that makes them retardant to flames.
More: Toddler Car Seats We Recommend
4
Most Innovative
CYBEX Sirona S with SensorSafe, Convertible Car Seat
- Great straps
- Multiple safety features
- Cool spin function
Key Specs
- Rear-facing from 4 to 50 pounds
- Height limit: 49 inches
Our tester exclaimed about this car seat that "The shoulder straps are the best of any car seat I've ever had." Noting that they're not too cushy, but easy to slide, attach, and are ridiculously comfortable for the baby.
And that's not even my favorite part of this car seat. The whole thing swivels 360º, so you can take your baby out from anywhere in the car at any time, with no reaching.
It also has something called the SensorSafe car seat system which alerts the driver if the child has unbuckled themselves, been in the seat too long, or accidentally left behind in the car. That could be a potentially life-saving feature. The 12-position headrest and no-rethread harness give you ample ability to customize the fit.
It's a little wide, but it's easy to install if you watch the online instruction videos. (My tester likened the written instructions to IKEA guides.) It's also machine-washable.
5
Highly Rated
UPPAbaby MESA Infant Car Seat
- Extra Safe
- Easy to clean
- Very luxe
Key Specs
- Suitable from 4 to 35 pounds
- Height limit: 32 inches
This car seat is a real winner. It's easy to install, easy to clean (machine-washable), and compatible with UPPAbaby's entire stroller system. Plus, it weighs only 10 pounds and the design just looks nice.
If you're not impressed enough, the UPPAbaby Mesa was rated 5-stars from the NHTSA for its stability, collision protection, and overall safety.
Yes, it's a pricier car seat, but when you consider all it offers, from the strap-tightness indicator and self-retracting latch connectors to the indicator window that assures you it's connected properly when you click in, it's hard to beat.
And because I cannot stress this enough, it cleans easily. The breathable mesh fabric wipes clean well with just baby wipes.
6
Sturdy and Sound
Clek Foonf Convertible Car Seat with Anti-Rebound Bar
Key Specs
- Rear-facing 14 to 50 pounds
- Height limit: 43 inches
I could write sonnets about this car seat. Do you see how delightfully narrow it is? Yep. It's the sedan car seat of your dreams, and you can fit three across the back seat.
Clek is known for their innovations with safety and rigorous testing, which is why it's so spendy. It's built like an actual tank with steel framing and durable poly seating. There is also a coating for seat fabric that is both antimicrobial and Greenguard-certified.
The Clek Foonf is built to grow with extended rear-facing capability and a limit of 50 pounds. It has an easy recline function and an adjustable no-rethread harness.
And that cover? It's made of Crypton Super Fabrics, which protects it against stains, baby... stuff, and bacteria, with no brominated or chlorinated flame retardants.
7
Buyers’ Favorite
Chicco KeyFit 30 Zip Infant Car Seat, Minerale
- Affordable
- Easy to install
- Easy to clean
- Sticky canopy
- Harder to hold
Key Specs
- Suitable from 4 to 30 pounds
- Height limit: 30 inches
Chicco is the brand that reminds all of us that high quality does not have to mean unholy pricey. Their fabrics are a revelation of breathability and easy cleaning, their straps are simple and easy, and they're consistently rated at the top on Amazon.
It's only 17 pounds, and it's pretty slim, which is excellent for people with smaller cars.
The harness tightens with just one hand — plus, it has a bubble leveling device and a rigid latch for easy installation. Bonus that extra bases are affordable enough that you can buy more than one for multiple cars.
They don't sacrifice safety, either — these rear-facing car seats are consistently rated highly by NHTSA.
A big part of their high rating is how easy it is to install, which eliminates the risky guesswork of it all, making the whole thing safer for your baby.
8
Very Cool Harness
Maxi-Cosi Magellan XP Convertible Car Seat
- Durable
- Easy to adjust
- Multiple settings
- Hard to move once it’s in the car
Key Specs
- Rear-facing 5 to 30 pounds
- Height limit: 49 inches
BestProducts’ executive director, Christine Anderson, uses this car seat and absolutely loves it. She says choosing the Magellan was a no-brainer because “With the Magellan, you’re purchasing a 5-in-1 convertible car seat (no extra infant seat or booster seat required). They’re all in there.”
This truly is a car seat built to be used from birth through pre-K and beyond. It has adjustable side-impact protection, with a threadless harness and easy buckle. Like the Chicco, it's machine-washable and dryable, and zips off for easy cleaning.
The headrest has a 14-position adjustability, the whole thing reclines in seven different positions. The Magellan uses Maxi-Cosi's patented Air-Protect technology that provides extra impact protections, and the material is soft, durable, and breathable.
And parents love the hideaway harness. You no longer need to worry about losing the harness when transitioning from a five-point harness to a booster with a belt, because it goes right in the seat.
Cat Bowen
Parenting Editor
Cat Bowen is the parenting editor at BestProducts.com where she researches all of the best products for families from pre-conception through their teen years, focusing on matching scientific evidence with real-life needs.
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