Best convertible car seat
In this car seat comparison, you can find out what the Tell Me Baby community thinks are the top car seats on the market.
Car seat comparison chart
Click on the Product Name to read more reviews and product details.
"Love this car seat! Easy ro install and give a clean if it needs it. Great quality fabric that doesnt pill and look all weird."
"Love this car seat! Easy ro install and give a clean if it needs it. Great quality fabric that doesnt pill and look all weird."
"Very happy purchase. The carseat is easy to install, and our little one loves sitting in it whilst travelling."
"Very happy purchase. The carseat is easy to install, and our little one loves sitting in it whilst travelling."
"We have 3 all up, from birth to toddler and their are great can fit side by side in one row and fit perfectly..."
"We have 3 all up, from birth to toddler and their are great can fit side by side in one row and fit perfectly..."
"It is very spacious and the seat itself is very plush and comfortable (my daughter falls asleep in it every car ride.)"
"It is very spacious and the seat itself is very plush and comfortable (my daughter falls asleep in it every car ride.)"
"By far the best seat I’ve found! I have now used these for both my boys, and will continue to use for any future babies."
"By far the best seat I’ve found! I have now used these for both my boys, and will continue to use for any future babies."
"After plenty of research I bought this seat for my little one at 6mths old, I love that there’s plenty of options and that the seat wil..
"After plenty of research I bought this seat for my little one at 6mths old, I love that there’s plenty of options and that the seat wil..
"This is an excellent car seat, it rear faced my daughter until she was two, and is now serving my son (5 weeks old)."
"This is an excellent car seat, it rear faced my daughter until she was two, and is now serving my son (5 weeks old)."
"The seat that does it all. Extended rear-facing, extended harnessing, slim and easy to adjust!"
"The seat that does it all. Extended rear-facing, extended harnessing, slim and easy to adjust!"
"No amount of money is too much when it comes to ensuring our child’s safety, and the Maxi Euro was worth every single cent to instil pe..
"No amount of money is too much when it comes to ensuring our child’s safety, and the Maxi Euro was worth every single cent to instil pe..
"Its a little big chunky for small cars, but fits in our SUV. It’s perfect for the tiniest of babies and will grow and change."
"Its a little big chunky for small cars, but fits in our SUV. It’s perfect for the tiniest of babies and will grow and change."
How to choose a car seat
If you are looking for the best car seat for your baby, use the above car seat comparison chart to search by:
Key car seat information
- Brand
- Product
- Image
- RRP
- Star rating (from the Tell Me Baby community)
- Number of reviews
- An example of a recent review
Choosing the best car seat
When choosing the right car seat for your baby the first thing to be aware of is Australian child restraint laws:
- babies under 6 months must be seated in a rear-facing car seat with a built-in harness
- children under 4 years must be seated in a car seat with a built-in harness
- children under 7 years must be either in a booster or harnessed car seat
- children 7 years and older can use an adult seat belt, however, it’s recommended to keep them in a booster for as long as they can.
For more information about child restraint laws and car seat requirement head to the KidSafe website.
Types of car seats
Below are the main different types of car seats you’ll find in Australia.
Infant car capsules (birth to approximately 6 months)
Car capsules can be a great option for easily getting baby in and out of the car without having to remove them from their car seat. The base of the capsule is installed into the car and the seat itself is able to be taken in and out. They are also very convenient when paired with a compatible pram to create a complete travel system.
Convertible car seats (birth to approximately 4 years)
Convertible car seats are probably the most popular option for newborns because they’re the most versatile. They are able to be positioned rear-facing for at least the first 6 months, though they can stay rear-facing until your child reaches the maximum height marker for the rear-facing position. Depending on the car seat and your child’s height, you may be able to keep your baby rear-facing for much longer than 6 months. Then they can be turned to be a forward-facing car seat until your child is 4 years old.
Booster seats (4 years to approximately 8 years)
Booster seats don’t have an in-built harness, so they’re not for children under 4 years old. Booster seats use the adult seat belt and “boost” your child up to an appropriate height and also position the seat belt securely. Some booster seats have a tether that attaches to the car’s anchor point, though not all of them do. This depends on the weight of the car seat itself. Often the car seats with more features and padding require a tether, whereas light and compact booster seats do not, making them ideal for quickly popping in and out of the car, as all you need to do is adjust the seat belt.
Convertible booster seats (6 months to approximately 8 years)
Convertible booster seats offer a forward-facing position only, so aren’t designed for babies under 6 months – though they are a great option if you’re looking for a harnessed car seat for a tall toddler. They can also be a logical follow on car seat from an infant car capsule.
Convertible car seat/booster (birth to approximately 8 years)
There are a couple of car seats in Australia that are designed to go from birth all the way until 8 years old. These also offer the option of extended rear-facing. While they are generally are more expensive option initially, they might be the only car seat your child will ever need from birth so can save money in the long run.
Extended rear-facing
Another factor to consider when choosing a car seat for your baby is how long would you like the option to keep them rear-facing? While it’s legal to switch your baby to a forward-facing seat when they turn 6 months old, generally the longer they remain rear-facing the safer they are, so keep this in mind when you’re choosing your rear-facing car seat. For example, type A4 or Type A4/G car seats are designed to be used rear-facing until 30 months, which is nearly 3 years old.
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