6 Best Toddler Car Seats in 2025: Parents' Guide to Top Choices

Most parents choose to transition from an infant car seat around the 1 year mark. Sometimes this is because the height or weight limit has been reached, but often it’s because their child is ready to sit up a bit more and engage with the world around them. 

The toddler phase can be a notoriously tricky time for car rides. Newly mobile and ready to test out their crawling/walking/running/climbing skills, your child may chafe at being restrained in a car seat. Choosing the right seat with the right features can go a long way to improving the experience.

The Best Toddler Car Seats: A Quick Glance

When it comes to choosing a toddler car seat, parents will want to look for what’s referred to as a convertible car seat. As the name suggests, these car seats offer flexibility and can face either forward or backward. 

Keep in mind that rear-facing is the safest position for your little one, and ideally they’ll stay rear-facing for as long as possible.

With so many convertible car seats on the market, offering an array of features, how do you choose the best one for your toddler? We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites in several categories to help you narrow it down.

• Best Overall: Orbit Baby G5 Toddler Car Seat

• Most Comfortable: Maxi Cosi Pria

• Easiest to Install: Britax Poplar S

• Most Versatile: Graco Turn2Me 3-in-1 

• Most Tech Savvy: Cybex Sirona S

• Most Space Conscious: Clek Foonf

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. 

Orbit Baby’s convertible car seat uses the exact same SmartHub rotating base as its infant seat. This means you can still dock your car seat on a stroller while enjoying the higher weight capacity and positioning flexibility a convertible car seat offers.

Pros

• Rotates into position (it's a 360 swivel car seat) when installed rear facing to save on back strain

• Can be fully detached from its base and is compatible with all Orbit Baby strollers

Cons

• Its rear facing weight limit is 35 lbs, which is lower than some other convertible car seats

• Only available for purchase online or in certain Nordstroms

Most Comfortable: Maxi Cosi Pria

The Maxi Cosi Pria is equipped with plush, state-of-the-art fabrics and built-in automatic fans for ventilation to keep your toddler comfortable.

Pros

• Plush padding and fabric for a cozy ride

• One-handed harness adjustment makes it easy to adapt as baby grows

Cons

• Bulkier seat that may not fit in all vehicles

• Heavy, making it difficult to switch between cars if needed

Easiest to Install: Britax Poplar S

Some car seats install easily with LATCH but are difficult to secure with a seat belt. Others are the opposite. The Britax Poplar S earns top marks for being easy to install regardless of the method.

Pros

• ClickTight system makes it easy to install—and to feel confident you’ve installed it correctly

• Slim profile is good for smaller vehicles or fitting multiple seats

Cons

• Limited rear-facing leg room

• Heavy seat that’s hard to switch between vehicles

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 wins points for its versatility

Pros

• Weight limit stretches from 4 lbs to 100 lbs, which means you won’t have to buy more than one car seat

• Rotates into position to make buckling and unbuckling easier

Cons

• 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

• LATCH installation can be tricky

Most Tech Savvy: Cybex Sirona S

A Bluetooth-enabled chest clip (and corresponding mobile app) makes the Cybex Sirona S a great choice for the tech savvy consumer.

Pros

• Bluetooth enabled chest clip sends mobile app alerts if a child unbuckles the chest clip, if the back seat becomes too warm or too cold, or if the driver unintentionally leaves the child behind

• Offers a one-handed swivel seat for easy install

Cons

• 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

• Limited recline options when rear-facing

Most Space Conscious: Clek Foonf

In addition to its slim profile, the Clek Foonf can accommodate a child rear-facing up to 50 lbs.

Pros

• Sleek design that fits well with smaller cars or when fitting multiple car seats across

• High weight and height limit for rear-facing when compared to other options

Cons

• More difficult to install, especially rear-facing

• Expensive

Why Choosing the Right Toddler Car Seat Matters

Depending on your lifestyle and what your commute looks like, your child might log a lot of hours in their car seat. Choosing the right car seat—and installing it correctly—helps keep all that car time as safe and enjoyable as possible. 

Choosing features that appeal to both kids and parents is the best way to make sure you pick the right toddler car seat for your family.

Tips for Selecting the Perfect Car Seat

Comfort is King … for both of you!

Choose a car seat with top of the line materials and a variety of recline positions to ensure a comfortable ride for your little one. For your comfort, look for seats that rotate into position to save on back pain and seats that are easy to install securely. 

Check the Fit for Your Vehicle

Odds are you’ll initially use your toddler car seat in a rear-facing position. When measuring to ensure a seat fits in your car, don’t forget to account for the depth between the driver or front passenger seat and the headrest of your car seat.

This is especially true for smaller cars or if the driver (or front passenger) is particularly tall and needs their seat positioned further back than usual.

Don’t Overlook 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 an 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).

Height + Weight Limits

Babies should ride rear facing for as long as possible, but at a minimum until they’re one year old—and up to 2 years old in some states. Make sure you choose a seat that can accommodate your toddler safely in the proper position. 

Also, keep in mind that the combined weight limit for LATCH anchors is 65lbs, and that limit includes both your child’s weight and the carseat’s. After that threshold, you’ll need to use a seatbelt for installation.

FAQ

At what age do you switch to a toddler car seat?

As long as you use it rear-facing, you can switch to a toddler or convertible car seat as soon as your child meets the seat’s weight minimum. Most parents transition from an infant car seat to a convertible car seat around the 1 year mark.

What kind of car seat is best for a 2 year old?

A 2 year old should still be in a convertible car seat. Booster seats should not be used until a child is at least 4 years old.

Can my 2 year old sit forward facing?

Legally, yes a 2 year old can sit forward facing. However, most car seat safety experts agree that it’s safest to keep a child rear-facing for as long as possible.

Choose Orbit Baby and Have Your Toddler Travel in Style

Choosing the right car seat for your toddler is a balance of safety and comfort. Today’s car seat market is full of seats with styling and features that offer innovative solutions to some of the biggest travel headaches. 

By considering your daily needs and preferences, you’ll be able to pick the convertible car seat that works best for both you and your toddler.