Best Affordable Car Seats
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We know — if there’s one baby item you don’t want to skimp on, it’s a car seat. But you don’t have to shell out big bucks to keep your baby safe.
In fact, all car seats that are sold in the United States are designed to meet strict government safety standards. And the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) tells parents that there’s no “safest” seat — rather, the best one for your child is the one that fits her properly and is installed correctly.
Finding the right type of car seat for your little one depends on a few things. To start, the car seat should be appropriate for their height and weight. You’ll also want to think about your car setup: Do you have multiple children who use car seats? If so, you may want to prioritize slimmer car seats so everyone can fit comfortably. Will your child be a passenger in a few different cars? Then you may want to look for car seats that are light and easy to install.
Types of car seats
Infant car seats: These car seats, which face the back of the vehicle’s seat, typically come with a car seat base that remains in the vehicle. They’re designed specifically for infants, who should ride rear-facing, and these seats can only be used until your baby reaches the maximum weight or length for the car seat — which might be before they turn 12 months old.
Convertible car seats: Used as a rear-facing seat while your baby is small, these car seats can later be converted to a forward-facing seat after your child grows. Unlike rear-facing-only car seats, convertibles don’t usually come with a car seat base or feature a carrying handle. Some can be used from birth.
Booster seats: Designed to give kids a “boost,” booster seats help position your child so the seat belt falls across them properly. Some have high back seats, while others are backless.
All-in-one car seats: Also known as 3-in-1 seats, these car seats can be converted from a rear-facing seat, to a forward-facing seat, to a booster seat as your child grows.
How to choose an affordable car seat
Choosing an affordable car seat will largely depend on your budget. Once you land on that number,you should ask yourself a few questions to narrow down your selections:
Does the car seat have longevity? If you want to stretch your dollar, then you want to look for a convertible or all-in-one car seat. Unlike infant car seats, which can only be used until your child reaches the maximum weight or length for the car seat, convertible car seats and all-in-one car seats can be used once your child enters the forward-facing stage (as well as the booster phase, in the case of the all-in-one option.) These may cost slightly more upfront, but will cost less than having to buy a new car seat in the future.
What are the weight and height regulations? The larger the weight and height range, the longer your child will be able to use the car seat.
How easy is it to install? A cheaper car seat may lack the lower anchors or locked seat belts that make more expensive models easier to install. (Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean they are less safe. All car seats sold in the U.S. must meet the same federal safety and crash performance standards.) If you have trouble installing your car seat, then you may end up spending money to have someone else do it for you. This handy chart from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rates the ease of use for various car seats.
How we chose the best affordable car seats
To help you find an affordable car seat, we considered all options that were less than $250, the only exception being the best cheap infant car seat and stroller combo, which is more expensive due to the fact that you’re getting two items. For this category, we set a price limit of $350. From there, we turned to the millions of moms in our What to Expect community, who share their honest first-hand experiences — pros and cons — when it comes to buying and actually using an affordable car seat.
Here are the affordable car seats on the market that get the highest marks.
Why Trust Us?
What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.
Best Cheap Infant Car Seat Overall
Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35
- Lightweight
- durable and can last through multiple kids
- Some parents say it can be difficult to disconnect from the base or stroller
With the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35, installation is a snap — or, more specifically, three snaps. Install the car seat base with your vehicle’s seat belt or LATCH system, then use the level indicator on the side to find the right angle for the seat. At just under 15 pounds, the carrier is one of the lighter options on the market — a nice bonus, since it can fit into the Graco Click Connect Stroller (sold separately) to create a travel system.
Weight capacity: 4 to 30 pounds
Height limit: Up to 32 inches
Dimensions: 27.72 x 18.07 x 16.03 inches
Weight: 14.7 pounds
Best Affordable Convertible Car Seat
Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat
- Child can stay rear-facing longer
- easy-to-adjust harness
- Straps may be tough to tighten at first
A budget-friendly find, the Graco Extend2Fit allows your child to stay rear-facing a little bit longer. This is thanks to the seat’s four-position extension panel that provides an extra five inches of rear-facing legroom. The Graco convertible car seat also has a few features that add to the ease of use, including pockets to hold the harness while baby goes in and out of the seat and a push-button latch system for smooth installation. Plus, the No-Rethread Simply Safe Adjust Harness System means you don’t have to have superhuman dexterity to adjust the harness straps when your child outgrows their current level.
Weight capacity: 4 - 65 pounds
Height limit: Up to 49 inches
Dimensions: 21.5 x 23.5 x 19.5 inches
Weight: 19 pounds
Best Cheap 3-in-1 Car Seat
Safety 1st Grow and Go All-in-One Convertible Car Seat
- Works for babies and toddlers
- keeps little ones comfortable
- On the bulky side
- some parents say it's difficult to install
The Safety 1st Grow and Go car seat does exactly that: It grows with your little one through every stage of her childhood. The rear-facing carrier can be used from 5 pounds to 40 pounds, and the forward-facing seat can accommodate children up to 65 pounds. When she’s ready for a big-girl seat, simply remove the harness to transform the carrier into a booster. We’re also fans of the harness holders, which keep the belts in an easy-to-reach position.
Weight capacity: 5 to 100 pounds
Height limit: Up to 49 inches
Dimensions: 24 x 19 x 23.75 inches
Weight: 18.66 pounds
Best Cheap Car Seat for Travel
Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat
- Lightweight
- easy to carry and great for travel
- Some say it's a little harder to install
- better as a secondary seat
One of the more versatile car seats available, the Cosco Scenera Next can be used as a rear-facing car seat (starting at 5 pounds and up to 40 pounds), and later as a forward-facing car seat (from 22 pounds to 40 pounds). The carriers come in more than a dozen different colors and patterns, and the seat pads are washer- and dryer-safe. Bonus: You’re allowed to bring the Scenera Next with you on an airplane, so your little one will feel right at home during the flight.
Weight capacity: 5 to 40 pounds
Height limit: Up to 43 inches
Dimensions: 17.63 x 15.75 x 30.25 inches
Weight: 10.4 pounds
Best Affordable Car Seat That’s Easy to Clean
Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
- Not bulky
- fits in smaller cars
- Some parents say the straps are difficult to pull tight
Kids make a mess during travel, whether they mean to or not. Fortunately, the Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 has a seat cover you can take out (without removing the harness) and throw right in the washing machine. Not to mentio it can be used for a while. Babies who weigh 5 pounds and up can ride in the rear-facing position until they’re 40 pounds, or transition to a forward-facing position starting at 20 pounds. The seat also becomes a booster seat for children who weigh 30 pounds, and it can accommodate kids who weigh up to 100 pounds.
Weight capacity: 5 to 100 pounds
Height limit: Up to 57 inches
Dimensions: 26.81 x 19.88 x 22.36 inches
Weight: 19.69 pounds
Best Inexpensive Car Seat for Small Cars
Diono Radian 3R 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
- Takes of less space in car
- folds for easy travel
- Heavier than most car seats
Parents with compact cars will appreciate the size of the Diono Radian 3R. At 17 inches wide and 16 inches deep, this slim car seat was designed to fit three car seats comfortably in a row. It also folds it into a flat rectangle, making it perfect for travel — it’s even approved by the Federal Aviation Administration to use on flights.
Weight capacity: 5 - 120 pounds
Height limit: 57 inches
Dimensions: 17 x 28.5 x 16 inches
Weight: 29 pounds
Best Inexpensive Backless Booster Seat
Graco TurboBooster Backless Booster Car Seat
- Easy to use
- durable
- has convenient cup holders
- Some parents say the mesh material can snag
Your little one is still a few years away from sitting in the back seat on her own — but in the meantime, she’ll love this backless booster seat, which is designed for kids 4 to 10 years old weighing 40 to 100 pounds. She’ll love the extra-comfy armrests and dual cup holders, and you’ll appreciate the easy-to-clean design: Simply toss the cushions in the washing machine and disassemble the plastic parts and wash everything with soap and water.
Weight capacity: 40 to 100 pounds
Height limit: 43 to 57 inches
Dimensions: 16.54 x 7.09 x 16.18 inches
Weight: 5.3 pounds
Best Cheap Car Seat and Stroller Combo
Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System
- Biggest bang for your buck
- six modes of use
- Shoulder straps may be a bit narrow
Why save on one baby item when you can save on two? With the Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel system, you get a stroller and car seat for $320 (the same cost of buying Evenflo’s Pivot Modular Stroller alone.) And if you have two kids (or one with plans for another), the stroller stretches your dollar further by converting into a double via a slide and lock system. The car seat features side-impact protection and an anti-rebound bar, and can easily be taken out of the car and placed in the stroller.
Weight capacity: 4 - 50 pounds
Height limit: Up to 38 inches
Dimensions: Stroller, 25.5 x 47.0 x 34.0 inches; Car seat, 29 x 24 x 17.5 inches
Weight: 38 pounds
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