Best Convertible Car Seats for Small Cars

Convertible car seats sound like something straight out of the Jetson's, which was a futuristic cartoon where everybody was flying around space).  Does it become a stroller? (which actually does exist)

Now that you've become a parent and are in on all the jargon, you know that convertible seats are usually the second stage of seats that your baby grows into.  But what if you have a small car?  Small cars are great! They are often more affordable than larger vehicles, have better gas mileage, and are better for the environment. Unfortunately, owning a small car does make finding a car seat more challenging.

Many car seats are large and bulky, especially the convertible ones. When you place the car seat in the back seat of your small car, you will quickly discover the car seems even smaller than you originally thought.

Suppose you're looking to travel light in a city or on an airplane, then you also need a compact convertible car seat.   Fortunately, car seat manufacturers do not want parents to have to give up their small cars for minivans or risk their precious child’s safety.  While your options will be more limited, this may actually work in your favor. You can  eliminate any of the larger car seats from the baby registry and focus your time deciding between the best convertible car seats for small cars.

There are also a few gems in here that can be used from infant sizes on, which means you don't have to buy another seat later!

Key Criteria For Compact Convertible Car Seats

When shopping for a car seat for a small car, the first thing to look for should be safety. Typically you will not need to lose sleep over this, as long as you don't have a second hand seat.  Car seats must pass rigorous safety tests before they even hit the market. If you want to check a car seat’s safety ranking, visit Consumer Reports Car Seat Ratings.  You can also check for recalls of a particular model.

Next, size matters when shopping for car seats for small cars. As we mentioned previously, you should go ahead and eliminate the bulkier car seats from your list. Pay attention to the size of your vehicle and the car seat dimensions. For instance, if you own a mini, then you will be much more limited when it comes to finding a car seat with dimensions small enough to fit.

Additionally, check for ease of use. This means looking for how the car seat is installed, how the belts and closures function, as well as cleaning and care instructions. When it comes to the best car seats for small cars, you need to make sure that the car seat not only fits but that it also is easy to put in and remove from the vehicle.

Finally, consider your budget. Car seats vary in costs. You should look for the best car seat for your small car within your budget. Thankfully, there are affordable car seats that will fit in small cars and are just as safe as their more expensive counterparts.