As your baby gets older, it is time for him to transition to a convertible car seat. These seats can rear face your child and then transition him to forward facing when he has reached the appropriate age and weight. Unfortunately, most of these car seats weigh a lot. They are cumbersome to carry. Instead, you should look for the best lightweight convertible car seat.
Lightweight car seats are convenient. You can transfer them from car to car with less trouble. If you are traveling, it won’t break your arms to carry it through the airport. Once you reach your destination, a lightweight car seat is ideal, especially if you are renting a car.
Important Features to Check Out
There are some features to all car seats that you need to consider. It will make your decision easier.
- Weight Limit: Some states are now placing laws that children must be rear faced until two years old. It is important to rear face until at least two for safety. Most states rear face until 40 pounds, but you may want to consider a seat with a higher limit if you have a bigger baby.
- Safety: Look to see what safety features the car seat offers. Our child’s safety is the most important thing! They should meet or exceed test crash standards. Did they check for side impacts? These accidents can be extra damaging to your child. A great car seat protects your baby in all situations.
- Extra Features: When you are stuck between two seats, take a look at their extras. They can make a huge difference. Every car seat needs a cup holder for your child’s drink or snacks. Some manufacturers have created an easier way to adjust the height and harness.
The Best Lightweight Convertible Car Seat
Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat
Our first choice for a lightweight car seat is also a budget friendly option. Evenflo put the car seat through rigorous test standards. They made sure your child will be safe during side impact wrecks specifically since they are the most dangerous. The Tribute LX meets all federal safety standards and can keep its structural integrity in a car crash twice the test standard.
Evenflo designed their Tribute LX to be lightweight and compact, perfect for transferring between vehicles. The seat weighs only nine pounds! There are some great other features like two crotch buckle positions, four harness positions with adjustment up front, and machine washable pads. You can’t ask for more in a budget friendly, but super safe, lightweight convertible car seat!
Safety 1st Guide 65 Convertible Car Seat
Safety 1st makes some great car seats, and one of them is in the running for the best lightweight convertible car seat. Parents can use the Guide 65 to rear face their child from 5 to 40 pounds. Then, you can forward face your baby from 22 to 65 pounds. There are multiple positions available for the headrest, fitting your child as he grows.
The Guide 65 has some other great features. They tested it for side impact protection, which is imperative. The entire seat weighs only 15 pounds. It is heavier than the Tribute LX, but it is still lighter than some of the other options on the market! This car seat is also narrow. You can typically fit three Guide 65 car seats across in your vehicle, a great feature for parents of multiples.
Diono Radian RXT All in One Convertible Car Seat
Car seat enthusiasts love the Diono Radian RXT. It is a top-seller with some amazing features. Even though it is more expensive, the Radian is versatile, making it worth the extra cash. It is the only car seat you will ever need! First, parents rear face their child from 5 to 45 pounds. Then, you can forward face your baby from 20 to 80 pounds. As your child ages, the car seat converts to a booster mode for kids who wear 50 to 120 pounds!
There are some great qualities with the Radian. It has a full steel frame and a Safe Stop energy absorbing harness. The Safe Stop absorbs the energy from the crash for kids who are 20 to 40 pounds and forward facing. You can have three Radians across in most vehicles, an impressive feature. Each car seat includes one cup holder, and they can fold flat for easy travel and storage. Radians are approved for airplanes by the FAA! Overall, even though they are expensive, the Radian is a great value because you get almost ten years out of one seat!
Safety 1st Grow N Go EX Air 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
Here is another best lightweight convertible car seat by Safety 1st. As you can tell, they are a leading brand! The 3-in-1 grows with your child. You can extend rear facing up to 50 pounds, keeping your child safer for younger. Then, you can forward face from 22 to 65 pounds. Finally, the Grow N Go switches to a booster from 40 to 100 pounds.
This car seat is a small seat, giving the parent in front seven more inches in front when compared to other seats. For rear-facing children, there are three different positions, providing a great fit for your baby. Another impressive feature is their Air Protect, which is an advanced cushioning system that exceeds government standards. Your child will be very safe while on the go.
The Grow and Go weighs 20 pounds, which is on the heavier side of lightweight car seats. However, the fact that it will last from birth up makes it worth the few extra pounds!
Graco Milestone All-in-1 Car Seat
No car seat review is complete without at least one from Graco. The Milestone fits infants 5 to 40 pounds while rear facing with a harness. Toddlers can forward face from 20 to 65 pounds. Last, preschoolers can use it from 30 to 100 pounds as a belt positioning booster.
The Milestone has some impressive features. Graco added the Simply Safe Adjust Harness System that lets you adjust in one motion. It makes adjustments convenient and straightforward. Their exclusive InRight LATCH attachment allows parents install the car seat in a few seconds.
Graco puts all of their car seats through rigorous testing. This car seat meets and exceeds all US standards. They used the New Car Assessment Program that tests car seats at twice the average force. Also, Graco tests their car seat’s integrity in Extreme Car Interior Temperatures. They want to make sure the car seat will perform the same even after going through significant fluctuations.
Overall, the Milestone will keep your baby safe for years. The car seat has a steel reinforced frame that gives strength and durability for years. It also has EPS energy absorbing foam for impact energy management.
Graco My Ride 65 LX Convertible Car Seat
The My Ride 65, by Graco, is a fantastic lightweight convertible car seat. The entire seat weighs only 16 pounds, pretty light for a car seat! It is designed to protect your baby from infancy through toddlerhood. Parents can rear face their baby from 5 to 40 pounds. Then, the seat forward faces from 20 to 65 pounds.
This convertible car seat meets or exceeds all federal standards. It is side impact tested to make sure your child is safe. There is energy absorbing foam. Graco also tested the My Ride 65 for Extreme Car Interior Temperatures. Their car seats were tested at twice the force to make sure the structural integrity stands.
The child has dual integrated cup holders for your child’s drinks. Parents can adjust the harness from the front to make sure that your child is safe and secure. So many parents love the Graco My Ride 65!
Cosco Apt 50
The last choice for the best lightweight convertible car seat is by Cosco. It is an affordable, budget friendly car seat with some great features. The Apt 50 has a higher rear facing limit! You can rear face your baby up to 40 pounds. Parents can forward face their child up to 50 pounds, giving you plenty of usage out of this seat.
The Apt 50 only weighs 11 pounds. It is perfect for traveling. Cosco ensured it is certified for use on airplanes. Since it is lightweight and compact, you can carry it throughout the airport easily. There are two cup holders for snacks and drinks. Also, you can take off the seat cover and wash it in the machine. For less than $60, the Cosco Apt 50 is an excellent choice for a lightweight convertible car seat!
These are seven great choices for the best lightweight car seat! If you are flying, the Cosco Apt 50 is budget friendly and lightweight, the perfect combination for vacation. For a convertible car seat for everyday use, the Graco Milestone or Graco My Ride 65 are ideal. They are lightweight with great features and excellent safety qualities. Keeping our babies safe is the most important job of a parent!
