Which Car Seats Are the Best?

Some moms don’t remember what life was like before the Doona debuted nine years ago (for those of us who have both teenagers and younger children, we do know the difference!). We can’t believe it’s been that long, but it’s ultimately been the single most lifechanging baby item of the century. But you already know that.

We wrote about the Evenflo Shyft in this post on The Doona Alternative: Is It Better? While it’s priced just a little bit lower, there are added safety features which many enjoy. Those features, though, make it not so Shabbos-friendly if you will also be using this as your daily stroller. Read our full review to see if it’s a good option for you!

The Cosco is nice and lightweight, so it’s easy to use if you need to move it around for travel/switching cars. Plus, it’s nice and slim, so if you need to fit 3 across, you can in larger cars (also good for smaller cars when you just want more space). It’s quick and easy to install, and is roomy for your toddler as well. It’s difficult to install rear facing, so wait until baby is older. Very plush and comfortable, but not super easy to adjust harness.

This lightweight, simplified seat is FAA-approved, and quick and simple to install using either latch connectors or seat belt. The latch connectors also double as a carry strap, making it travel friendly. The PureCosi fabric is machine-washable and comfortable. This seat has reinforced side impact protection ensuring added safety.

This stylish and snug seat is made to be super narrow, allowing you to fit 3 across! Diono seats are made with overprotective super strong materials and are easy to install in your car. The Radian 3R can be used from  newborn stage (rear facing) through toddlerhood in high back booster mode. The fabric is removable and machine washable.

Everything you need, nothing you don’t. The Graco is super easy to install, is very roomy and comfortable for babies and it stays roomy even for your preschoolers (they love the convenient cupholders). But just because it’s roomy for a child, doesn’t mean it’s bulky–it’s not. It’s also pretty easy to adjust straps when needed, and is height adjustable so it can grow with your child.

While previously, you needed to spring for the expensive Nuna ($650!) to get the revolutionary feature of a rotating carseat (so much easier to put your baby in the seat when he can face towards you, then turn him rear or forward), now many brands offer it, and Evenflo gets it done at the nicest price. Plus, the Revolve360 Slim takes up minimal room in the car without sacrificing your baby’s comfort or safety. The Quick Clean Cover is easy to remove and wash. Plus, it’s easy to recline to keep your baby comfortable.

This versatile seat is exactly as it sounds – it’s good from birth all the way through age ten! (Which is great, if your 10-year-old will agree to sit in a booster!) The Pria All-in-One features side impact protection, a quick fix shoulder harness which easily raises the harness and headrest height as your child gets bigger. As with all Maxi Cosi seats, the premium fabric is removable and washable. On the downside, it’s bulky and takes up a lot of space.

Britax has long been the most reliable go-to brand in this category, with a great reputation for safety and comfort. Britax has improved the ease of the harness use over previous models, and while it’s heavy/sturdy (contributing to its safety), it still has a slim design so it’s not taking up excessive space in the car.  It’s easy to install and get the baby in and out, but it’s not so easy to remove and replace fabric for cleaning when needed. Overall, Britax is as reliable as it’s always been, plus they’re always improving, but other carseats might come with flashier features.

The Clek Foonf is one of the most narrow and safe convertible seats around. It has a patented safety system called REACT (Rigid Latch Energy Absorbing Crumple technology) in case of collision. This heavy-duty seat is proudly made in Canada, and is built like a tank with a steel and magnesium sub-structure (it’s 36 lbs!). The fabric is chemical-free and is available in various color options. While it’s super safe, it’s not easy to clean and not super padded or comfortable.