A convertible car seat is a child seat that “converts” from rear facing for infants and small toddlers to forward facing for children. Britax convertible car seats can accommodate children rear facing from five pounds up to 35 pounds and forward facing from 1 year old and up to 65 pounds depending on the seat.
When looking for a convertible car seat, be sure to choose one that best fits your child and fits in your car (see About Fit). At Britax, we encourage our customers to try installing the seat directly into their car at the retail site, because not all child seats are compatible with all vehicles. If you are considering a convertible car seat, try it in both the rear-facing and forward-facing positions.
You should follow the directions in both the child seat user guide and the vehicle owner's manual. Also, be sure to check the vehicle owner's manual for the type of retractor on the seat belt and verify that the type of retractor is compatible with the car seat that you have chosen.
Finally, we also encourage you to have your installation checked by a certified child passenger safety technician. Visit Safe Kids Worldwide to find an inspection station near you.
At Britax, we recommend that you choose a convertible car seat with the following features:
- More than one set of harness slots to allow room for your child to grow.
- Rear- and forward-facing recline for child comfort and positioning.
- A harness adjuster that is both easy to reach and use.
- A five-point harness, which represents five points of attachment: two at the shoulders, two at the hips, and one at the crotch.
- A seat that provides side impact protection against side impact collisions.
