5 Best Car Seats For 6 Months Old In 2024
When it comes to choosing the right car seat for your six month old, there are several factors to consider. At six months, your baby is likely learning to sit up unassisted and has good head and neck control. He or she is probably more interested in the world around them and may be starting to chafe at the confines of a standard infant car seat with its limited positioning options.
WIth these things in mind, you’ll likely want to look for a convertible car seat. Convertible seats can be rear or forward facing—at six months, your baby should still ride rear-facing but buying a seat that can also face forward is a smart investment. The ideal car seat for a six month old combines the best features of an infant car seat, like safety and comfort, with the flexibility offered by a convertible car seat. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites:
Best Overall: Orbit Baby G5 Toddler Car Seat
Most Comfortable: Maxi Cosi Pria
Easiest to Install: Nuna REVV
Best on a Budget: Evenflo Revolve360 Slim Convertible Seat
Most Versatile: Graco Turn2Me™ 3-in-1
Best Overall: Orbit Baby G5 Toddler Car Seat
With the ability to dock in and out of a rotating base, the Orbit Baby G5 Toddler car seat offers unmatched flexibility.
One of the best things about infant car seats is their portability and integration into a travel system—a feature that’s typically lost when the transition is made to a convertible seat.
But Orbit Baby’s convertible car seat uses the exact same SmartHub rotating base as its infant seat, which means you can still dock your car seat on a stroller. For a 6 month old, feature is especially appealing.
Pros
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Rotates into position when installed rear facing to save on back strain
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Can be fully detached from its base and is compatible with all Orbit Baby strollers
Cons
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Its rear facing weight limit is 35 lbs, which is lower than some other convertible car seats
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Only available for purchase online or in certain Nordstrom stores
Most Comfortable Convertible Car Seat: Maxi Cosi Pria
With plush, state-of-the-art fabrics and built-in automatic fans for ventilation, the Maxi Cosi Pria earns a spot on our list as the most comfortable convertible car seat.
Pros
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Plush seat materials are also machine washable
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Offers 3 modes of use: rear-facing, forward-facing, and belt-positioning booster
Cons
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Larger than most convertible car seats and may not fit well in all vehicles
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Does not have a rotating base, like the Orbit Baby G5 toddler seat
Easiest to Install Convertible Car Seat: Nuna REVV
Offering 10 different recline positions and the ability to rotate into rear or forward facing position, the Nuna Revv is the easiest car seat to install on this list.
Pros
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Ten recline positions and one handed head support adjustment
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Integrated rebound bar doubles as a carry handle when switching cars
Cons
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Has a low weight limit for a convertible car seat, at just 40 lbs
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Cannot be undocked, which means you cannot transfer the seat to a stroller like the Orbit Baby G5 toddler car seats
Best on a Budget: Evenflo Revolve360 Slim Convertible Seat
At $320, the Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim Convertible Seat is the most affordable convertible car seat on our list that also offers a rotating base.
Pros
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4-65 lbs weight range means it will fit your child for a long time
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At less than 17 inches wide, it’s narrow profile can be helpful if you need to accommodate more than one car seat in your backseat
Cons
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Cannot be detached from its base, which means it can’t be transferred to a stroller like the Orbit Baby G5 Toddler Seat can be
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At almost 30 lbs, it’s a heavier seat that could make transfers between vehicles more difficult
Most Versatile: Graco Turn2Me 3-in-1
With its ability to function rear-facing, forward-facing, or as a booster seat, the Graco Turn2Me 3-in-1 is the most versatile convertible car seat on our list.
Pros
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Can be used rear-facing, forward-facing, or as a booster seat
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Weight limit stretches from 4 lbs to 100 lbs, which means you won’t have to buy more than one car seat
Cons
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Cannot be undocked, which means you cannot transfer the 3-in-1 car seat to a stroller like the Orbit Baby G5+ infant seat or the G5 toddler seat can
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At more than 19 inches wide, it’s the the widest seat on our list which could cause fit issues if you need to position multiple car seats
How To Choose a Good Car Seat For a 6 Month Old
Choosing the best car seat for your 6 month old means weighing safety, convenience, ease of installation, maneuverability, and height and weight limits to determine the best fit for you.
Safety
Your 6 month old needs to ride in a rear facing position, so choose a car seat (infant or convertible) that can accommodate them and fits well in your vehicle.
Convenience + Maneuverability
If you plan to switch the seats between vehicles or want to use it with a travel system, take that into account when choosing your seat. Most convertible car seats don’t detach from their base; the Orbit Baby G5 is the exception and can still work with a travel system.
Ease of Installation
A car seat is only as safe as its installation—and how easy a seat is to install is often the difference between one that’s used correctly and one that isn’t. Make sure the car seat you choose can be installed using your preferred method (LATCH or seatbelt) and that it also fits properly in your backseat.
Height + Weight Limits
Babies should ride rear facing for as long as possible, but at a minimum until they’re one year old. Make sure you choose a seat that can accommodate your baby safely in the proper position.
FAQ
What type of car seat should a 6 month old use?
Your 6 month old can probably ride safely in either an infant or convertible car seat that is rear facing. Car seat sizing is determined by height and weight, rather than by age, so if your baby is on the exceptionally small (or large) size, the guidelines could be slightly different. Regardless of the type of seat used, babies should remain rear-facing for as long as possible and until they are at least a year old.
Can a 6 month old ride forward facing?
No, 6 month old babies cannot safely ride forward facing yet. You should use either an infant car seat (which is rear-facing only by design) or a convertible car seat that’s rea-facing until your child is at least a year old, but ideally for as long as possible.
What features should I look for in a car seat for a 6 month old?
For your 6 month old, you want a car seat that is safe and installs easily into your vehicle. Beyond that, look for features like comfort, maneuverability, and adaptability for the future.
How long can my 6 month old use an infant car seat?
You’ll want to check the height and weight limits for your individual car seat to determine when your child has outgrown it. Keep in mind that they’ll likely outgrow it by height well before the weight limit.
Conclusion
Choosing the best car seat for your 6 month old is a matter of weighing the features you want against the needs of your lifestyle. The right car seat will safely seat your child in a rear-facing position, ideally with the flexibility to convert to a forward facing one as they age. Many of today’s convertible car seats offer convenient features like 360 degree rotation and multiple positioning options to make sure you get the best fit in and out of the vehicle.
