The Best Car Seat for Big Toddlers

The Best Car Seat for Big Toddlers

Car seat shopping for your toddler? You may be on the hunt for a safe, affordable car seat that suits your growing child, mainly if they are on the tall side of average.

Convertible car seats are the best option for tall toddlers; they have various seating options that can be adjusted as your child grows, and they won’t feel cramped or uncomfortable in an infant seat. 

This post contains the best car seats for large toddlers who need extra space and features for comfort and safety reasons.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Evenflo EveryFit 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat

Ideal for tall, growing toddlers, Evenflo EveryFit provides a comfortable, smooth ride for your child in any type of vehicle. Its rear-facing capabilities fit children from 4 pounds up to 40 pounds, while the forward-facing options seat children from 22 pounds up to 65 pounds, and the booster seat fits kids up to 120 pounds.

Why We Like It

  • 32.5 inches in length keeps tall toddlers (up to 63”) comfortable and safe
  • High back booster and no back booster options for kids over 4
  • Four modes of seating for up to 10 years of your child’s life
  • Seats children safely up to 120 pounds
  • Multiple seat adjustment options for comfort and safety 
  • Proper head angles to avoid slumping
  • 12-position headrests and rethread harness straps for easy adjusting
  • Removable cushions and machine-washable fabrics

Britax One4Life Click Tight All-in-One Car Seat

For decades, Britax has been offering safe and quality car seat products for babies and children of all sizes. The One4Life ClickTight car seat is no exception; with seating options from infancy to a big kid at 120 pounds, you’ll confidently secure your child in this seat for many years of their life. 

Why We Like It

  • Click tight installation done in 3 easy steps
  • Quick-push 9-position recline options
  • Two layers of side impact protection for your child’s head, neck, and torso  
  • V-shaped tether and a high-strength steel frame to protect your child in the event of a crash or accident
  • 15-position headrest and harness adjust simultaneously with one hand
  • Made from strong alloy steel
  • Premium padding, washable fabrics, and mesh lining for breathability

Chicco Fit4 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat

This Chicco convertible seat allows parents to secure their children from birth through toddlerhood and up to age 10. With rear-facing options for a baby and forward-facing and booster seating for your growing child, Chicco’s sleek design and unique safety features make it easy to understand why so many parents invest in this brand for their growing children.

Why We Like It

  • A steel reinforced frame, and two layers of  energy-absorbing foam surround the head and torso 
  • The 10-position headrest accommodates growth and taller children 
  • FitKit System contains various padding layers for comfort and support that can be removed as your child outgrows them
  • Leveling system, latch tightener, and belt-tightening system for a secure install every time 
  • Space-saving fit for multiple car seats in one vehicle
  • 9-position recline for maximum comfort
  • Stages 1 through 4, from infancy to sitting forward-facing in a booster seat with a seatbelt 

More car seat reviews: Cosco Scenera vs Maxi Cosi Romi Car Seats

Graco 4Eever DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat

One car seat for ten years… sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? The Graco 4Eever DLX car seat offers just that and then some. For a tall toddler, Graco’s seat provides a high back belt-positioning booster and backless belt-positioning booster that can secure your child for up to 10 years.

Why We Like It

  • ProtectPlus engineered safety features protect children from frontal, side, rear, and rollover crashes
  • Forward-facing seating options from 22 pounds to 120 pounds
  • 10-position headrest for maximum comfort and reducing head slumping
  • Easy and secure installation in any position or vehicle
  • Rapid remove cover can be swapped out without uninstalling the car seat
  • 6-position recline options to cater to your child’s growth spurts

Related post: Check out our full review of Graco 4ever vs DLX car seat!

Safety 1st Grow and Go All-in-One Car Seat

Safety 1st is a well-loved brand for its safety and comfort features for rear-facing and forward-facing car seat options. The Safety 1st Grow and Go seat is designed to secure your child from their first ride home from the hospital to school, sports, and other events that come with growing up.

Why We Like It

  • Designed for three stages of life; rear-facing, forward-facing, and belt-positioning booster
  • Seating options for infants from 5 pounds up to 100-pound children
  • Belt-positioning booster seat from 40 to 100 pounds
  • Single-hand adjustable headrest caters to your growing child
  • Side impact protection keeps children safe in an accident 
  • Forward-facing height is 29 to 52 inches tall 
  • Removable pads and comfort layers as your child grows out of them
  • 5-point safety harness 
  • The affordable price tag for growing families
  • Machine washable and dryer-safe padding for easy cleanup

Related post: Best Swings for Big Babies

Diono Radian 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat

Made from sturdy alloy steel, the Diono Radian convertible seat is designed to grow with your child from infancy up to 10 years of age. With impressive impact and absorption features to keep your children safe on the road, it’s no surprise why so many parents invest in Diono products for their growing families. 

Why We Like It

  • Seats children from 4 pounds up to 120 pounds
  • Maximum height weight extended headrest is 31.9”
  • Five harness positions for safety and comfort
  • 12-position headrest with easy adjusting for parents 
  • High back booster mode designed for taller, growing children
  • Easy-adjust 12-position headrest to improve your child’s head containment 
  • Slim-fit convertible design allows for three car seats in one row without sacrificing safety

Families are fortunate that many car seat options are available at a wide array of price points. While a more expensive car seat doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safer than a cheaper version; there are benefits to spending more on a convertible seat your child will use for up to ten years.

Related post: How To Save Money On Car Seats

What to Look For In a Toddler’s Car Seat

There are a lot of features and add-ons that car seats offer, and while the bonus stuff is nice, it’s essential to prioritize the most critical factors of a car seat when buying one for your toddler.

best car seat for big toddler

Safety

All car seats must meet minimum safety standards as required by law. However, some car seats are safer than others, so it’s up to parents and caretakers to do their research to find the best fit for their child. This post goes into great detail about how to know if a car seat meets U.S. safety standards.

In forward-facing car seats, always look for a 5-point harness and top tether to prevent tipping in the event of a car accident. Additional safety features include side, back, and headrest foam padding that will absorb most of the shock from an accident and help your child avoid any potential injuries. Look for seats with side-impact protection, the LATCH installation system, and the anti-rebound bar to prevent the seat from moving. 

Fit

First and foremost, consider the size of the car seat you’re about to buy. If you have multiple children in the backseat, will adding this car seat drastically decrease room for your kids? Many convertible seats offer slim designs so you can fit three car seats or boosters in the back seat, which is a convenient option for families with three or more children. 

If you plan to swap your car seat between vehicles, consider the seat’s weight. Some brands, like Britax and Graco, have notoriously heavy car seats that are difficult to maneuver and install in different vehicles. Many lightweight options on the market weigh less, are slimmer in design, and still offer the same safety features and comfort for your toddler. 

Related post: Car Seats for Big Babies

Height & Weight Limitations

If you’re ready to upgrade your toddler to a forward-facing convertible seat, keep in mind there are still minimum weight requirements and manufacturing recommendations made by the brand. 

Also, remember that the belief that children can be forward-facing by age 2 is outdated; you should be basing your decision to switch them forward-facing on their height and weight following their current car seat’s recommendation to be rear-facing. 

For example, if they’re too tall or weigh too much to use the rear-facing car seat safely, it’s time to turn the car seat forward or upgrade it entirely. 

Most convertible car seats support children rear-facing until around 40 or 50 pounds, so rest assured that they can still ride rear-facing if you are more comfortable with that option. 

Comfort

Your child will usually tell you when they aren’t comfortable, or you’ll hear it in the form of whining, crying, or complaining. 

When outgrowing a car seat, your child may whine and wiggle more than usual, trying to get comfortable. In a convertible car seat, they may instantly seem more relaxed. Convertible seats are typically larger, offer comfort layers based on size, and have bigger headrests. Your child will also sit more upright in a convertible car seat, allowing them to see more if they are forward-facing and stretch out more if they are rear-facing. 

Look for convertible car seats with breathable material, mesh lining, and extra cushion between the headrest and the back pad.

Related post: The Ultimate FAA Approved Car Seat List

Wrap up – The Best Car Seat for Big Toddlers

best car seat for big toddler

It’s worth investing in a safe, high-quality car seat that will last for a long time. If you’re willing to spend the money, it’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about later. Your child’s safety is worth it!

Related post: The Best Car Seats for Pickup Trucks

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