Convertible seats are usually a bit expensive than other types of car seats, but we have researched and enlisted some top-rated affordable products to help those people who are having a low budget. Car seats provide people the ease to handle and carry their kids while traveling; In addition, they provide comfort and protection as well.
Initially, most parents put their newborn child in an infant car seat normally under the age of 1 year. When their baby outgrows the infant seat they have to look for other options like convertible car seats. We have published an article on the 5 best inexpensive convertible car seats in which we have reviewed some best affordable convertible car seats along with their pros and cons, but here we are willing to minimize that number and we are reviewing 3 top-rated affordable convertible car seats of 2021. These seats are budget-friendly and anyone can buy them easily without any fear of being out of the budget.
What do our choosen convertible car seats offer?
Mainly a convertible car seat is multimode, and can operate in different ways; can operate in rear-facing( infants must be put in rear-facing mode), front-facing, and some convertible car seats can be used as a booster seat for school kids too, when your child is able to ride without the harness, you can use a booster seat which holds your kid with the help of a belt system and finally you can switch to backless booster seats.
Our experts picks offer you the following best advantages:
- Inexpensive and affordable
- Safe and extra-comfy
- Durable
- Easy to install
- Compact and lightweight
- High rating of crash tests
3 Top-rated affordable convertible car seats
Safety 1st Jive | ||
Graco Extend 2Fit | ||
Graco Contender 65 |
1. Safety 1st Jive 2-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
To be very honest Safety 1st Jive 2-in-1 car seat is the least expensive convertible seat with quality features. Along with the major tag of affordability, it has other must-have features as well. This car seat does not require a base, yet again proving affordable by saving your money on buying the base that most convertible seats require. It offers different recline positions and you can adjust it according to your best suitable angle. If you are concerned regarding safety which you must should, thankfully it is FAA-approved.
Let us clear one thing this particular seat cannot be used as a booster seat, it is a 2-in-1 seat ( can operate in rear-facing and front-facing harness mode).
Specifications
It is a 2-in-1 car seat; in the rear-facing mode, it can accommodate a child of 5-40 pounds up to the height of 40 inches. In forward-facing, the weight range is 22-65 pounds up to the height of 49 inches. The weight of the seat itself is 14.25 pounds.
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The best reason to buy Safety 1st Jive
Safety 1st Jive is the most affordable convertible seat, without any doubt convertible seats are a bit expensive and can take a serious chunk of your money. Most convertible seats are in the price range of 250-300$, but this particular seat is under 100$ due to which it is included in the list of top-rated affordable convertible car seats.
At a very low price, it offers huge advantages; It is very comfortable and has nice padding to protect your kid in case of any collision, have 2 cup-holders to give your child ease to take snacks and drink. In addition, to assure safety it is approved by FAA.
Similar car seats: Car seats similar to safety1st Jive are also available in the market, just check them and buy if you love them.
Safety 1st Grow and Go All-in-One Car Seat: It is a 3-in-1 car seat and can operate in three different modes; Rear-facing, front-facing, and belt-positioning booster. So, overall it can serve your child from birth(5Pounds) to the weight of 100 pounds. The main features of this car seat are as follows:
- Quickfit harness that allows you to adjust harness and headrest height in one motion
- Machine-washable seat pad
- 3 positions of recline
- One-click universal anchorage system(UAS)
2. Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat
Graco Extend2Fit seat is another affordable car seat having more features than the previous one( Safety 1st Jive) that’s why it is a bit costly, but overall it is among the best affordable convertible car seats. It’s price is under 200$.
Graco Extend 2Fit convertible car seat is the best pick for parents who want their child to ride longer in the rear-facing mode because it can accommodate a child up to 50 pounds. It offers an additional 5″ legroom that makes it difficult to install in small cars. The major plus point of this particular car seat is that you can put your baby in rear-facing mode for a bit longer duration up to the weight of 50 pounds, while other seats offer the upper weight limit of 40 pounds only.
It is NHTSA and AAP approved so be relaxed if you are concerned regarding safety, that you should while choosing a car seat for your child.
Specifications
It is a 2-in-1 car seat; The weight limit for rear-facing is 5-50 pounds plus the 5″ extra legroom gives you the benefit of using it in rear-facing for longer, in forward-facing you can put your child in the weight range of 22-65 pounds up to the height of 49 inches.
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The best reason to buy Graco Extend 2Fit
Graco Extend 2Fit is a very handy car seat, it has all the features that a perfect convertible seat should have. But, the biggest reason to make it the part of your baby gear is its extended rear-facing ability. Most convertible car seats have the weight range of 5-40 pounds for rear-facing mode, but this particular seat can be used for babies up to the weight of 50 pounds in rear-facing.
Because it can be operated in rear-facing mode for relatively larger babies so, it offers extra 5″ legroom to facilitate your baby to stay in it with extra comfort and ease.
But hold on if you are having a small car and have to travel along with 4-5 family members, then this car seat may cause an issue regarding space left for other members because it takes a bit more space than regular convertible car seats, and it should take more space because it is equipped with extra 5″ legroom.
Similar car seats: Car seats with similar specifications plus some advancements are as following:
Diono Radian 3RXT, 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat: It is a 4-in-1 car seat, and you can use it for 10 years without any issue. It is a slim and lightweight car seat, it is a fit 3 across. The main features are as below:
- Slim and compact
- Can serve you for 10 years
- Extended rear-facing up to 50lbs
- Made of steel-reinforced frame
- High ratings of crash tests
- Great quality padding and material
3. Graco Contender 65 Convertible Car Seat
Graco Contender 65 is a high-quality car seat with a unique and beautiful design. It is an inexpensive car seat under 100$ that makes it very affordable. As we all know, convertible seats are a bit expensive and to find a product under 100$ is very difficult, but thanks to Graco contender 65.
It can operate in two modes only; rear-facing and front-facing. Without any doubt, it is one of the best convertible seats plus it is still affordable, and people who are looking for a convertible seat under $100 might find it very attractive.
Specifications
Basically, it is a 2-in-1 car seat; In rear-facing mode, you can put your baby from 5 to 40 pounds like regular convertible car seats, in forward-facing the weight limit is 22-65 pounds.
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The best reason to buy Graco Contender 65
Graco Contender 65 is a very handy car seat in a very low price. Its main feature is its safety and affordability, it is crash tested and protects your child in frontal, side and rollover crashes.
Hassle-free installation and LATCH system offers easy and perfect fit in your car. The cup-holder gives your child easy access to drink and snacks.
The main feature of this particular car seat is its less price and premium features. Parents with a low budget might find it very affordable plus they will get all the necessary features that a convertible car seat must-have.
Similar Car seats: Graco has other car seats like Contender 65 with some differences
Graco Landmark 3-in-1 car seat: This car seat can operate in 3 modes( from infant to toddler); rear-facing mode with a weight limit of 5-40 pounds, front-facing mode with a weight limit of 22-65 pounds, and belt-positioning booster mode with a weight range of 40-100 pounds. Its main features are:
- No re-thread harness
- Integrated harness storage
- 4 positions of recline
Graco Milestone 3-in-1 car seat: It also can operate in 3 different modes and has all weight recommendations similar to that of Graco landmark car seat, The main features of this seat are as follows:
- 10 headrest height positions
- Push-button InRight LATCH system
- Integrated harness storage compartment
- Removable cup holder
The above-mentioned car seats are 3-in-1 cart seats which means they can save your investment on a booster seat and can serve your child years from infant to toddler and to school-going age. It will be a nice idea to buy one of these 3-in-1 seats instead of spending money on a 2-in-1 car seat firstly and secondly on a booster seat. In the long run, a 3-in-1 car seat proves to be the most affordable because both the aforementioned seats are close to 200$.
Summary
We have tried to review every single product duly, to give you the best possibility to pick a suitable car seat for your child. In order to give you more options, we have provided a brief overview of different other products which you can also consider.
As per our likings, we rate Safety 1st Jive as the most affordable plus efficient car seat among the 3 top-rated affordable convertible car seats which we reviewed in detail. You may disagree if you can spend more. But if you are just looking for the basic features at an affordable price then you must opt for our pick.
FAQS On Convertible Car seats
Here are the answers to the questions that mostly are asked by parents regarding convertible car seats:
What is the best lightweight convertible car seat?
Convertible car seats are usually on the heavier side and you will hardly find a lightweight convertible seat, Safety 1st jive convertible seat is the best lightweight car seat with all basic requirements plus it is so slim that 3 seats like this can fit on the back seat. It the best seat for small cars as it covers less space and does not cause any problem regarding space left.
Are expensive car seats worth it?
Expensive car seats mostly have premium features and made of high-quality material and certainly, they are more comfortable and safe. But that does not mean expensive seats give full value to your money, some expensive seats charge you more than the features they have but seats like CYBEX Sirona S Rotating Convertible Car Seat with SensorSafe 2.1 and Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat give full value to your money, they have very advanced features and surely much safer. Both have high ratings of crash tests and are approved by the regulating authorities like NHTSA and AAP.
What is the best car seat for occasional use?
Some car seats are used for everyday travel because they are easy to handle and mostly are permanently held in the vehicle. But if you not regular at carrying your baby with you then must choose the seat that is easy to carry and is lightweight too. Most parents who travel by public transport need lightweight and compact seats for their babies.
For infants, UPPAbaby MESA Infant Car Seat is the best car seat for occasional use, and if you are in search of a convertible car seat Safety 1st Jive 2-in-1 Convertible Car Seat will be the best suit for you.
What is the safest car seat of 2021?
Almost all the baby car seats are safe but depending upon the manufacturing material and design you can rate them relatively. Several regulating authorities are working in different countries that approve and rate a specific car seat such as in the US, Federal Aviation Authority(FAA) approves whether a particular seat is suitable to travel on airplanes or not. Other such organizations are NHTSA, AAP, and US standard FMVSS 213.
To recommend the safest, lightweight and the best affordable car seat is a bit hard task but we think Graco Contender 65 convertible car seat makes it to the tag of the best safest car seat of 2021
Does WIC gives you a free car seat?
WIC ( Women, children, infants) program gives aid to states to assist women, children, and infants in the fields of health, nutrition and education, etc. If you are enrolled in the WIC program you can also get free car seats. You have to provide some documents to show you are the legal parents of the baby/child. For more information, you can also visit the site: fulltimebaby.com
What is the best car seat for small cars?
After installing a baby car seat in small-sized cars, other passengers might find it difficult to adjust. But, Safety 1st Jive is the best solution to this. It is a very compact and slim convertible seat and covers a little space of your car seat.
4 thoughts on “3 Top-Rated Affordable Convertible Car Seats 2021”
Once your baby has exceeded the height or weight limitations of an infant car seat, it is time to transition to a convertible car seat. Since convertible car seats typically can accommodate newborns, you can choose to skip the infant car seat and opt for a convertible option from the start.