Best Toddler Car Seats

There are a few types of car seats for toddlers:

* Forward-facing toddler car seats can only be used facing forward and with a harness strap; appropriate for children until they are 40 to 80 pounds
* Convertible car seats can be used in the rear-facing position until a child is 30 to 35 pounds, then converted to a forward-facing car seat; some models can also be used as a booster seat
*Combination car seats can be used as a forward-facing car seat with a harness strap until a child is 40 to 65 pounds, then as a booster seat
* Built-in seats come with forward-facing seats built in some vehicles. Vehicle owner's manual should be read or the manufacturer can be contacted for details about how to use these seats.
*Travel vests can be worn by children between 20 and 168 pounds and can be an alternative to traditional forward-facing seats. These vests are also useful for when a vehicle has lap-only seat belts in the rear.

Top 5 Convertible Toddler Car Seats.
Manufacturer/Model Name , Overall Ease of Use Rating

Recaro Signo, 4 stars
From the Manufacturer:
Recaro Signo Convertible Car Seat offers the latest safety protection like energy-absorbing EPS foam, deep side wings and an excellent fit for children weighing 5 to 70 pounds over the age of one year. Due to its outstanding versatility, it provides the perfect platform on which to watch your child grow. It has height-adjustability which offers optimum safety for toddlers and young children. As soon as your child outgrows the 5-point harness and seat cushion, you can remove them, converting the young Signo into a booster seat. It has a rear and forward facing, latch system with adjustable harness locations and top tether. The seat is made of hand washable fabric. This car seat has side impact protection system. The extra large side protection shell provides additional support when cornering.
Read Recaro Signo Convertible Car Seat Customer Reviews
Buy Recaro Signo

Britax Roundabout, 3 stars
From the Manufacturer
The legendary Britax Roundabout convertible car seat is renowned for safety, comfort and convenience. The Roundabout¿s compact size is ideal for use with vehicles with limited rear-seat space. Unique features including a sculpted base, push button release LATCH system with patented Versa-Tether, and built-in vehicle belt lock-offs make a tight installation in your vehicle quick and simple. The tangle-free polyester 5-point harness with 3 harness heights ensures a snug and secure fit and push button harness adjuster help you effortlessly secure your child every day. The Roundabout also features rear- and forward-facing recline for child comfort and positioning. The Roundabout also offers a cozy, washable seat cover for that ultimate comfort experience for children rear-facing from 5 to 35 pounds or children forward-facing from 1 year old and 20 to 40 pounds. The Roundabout is made in the USA with U.S. and global components.
Read Britax Roundabout Convertible Car Seat Customer Reviews
Buy Britax Roundabout

Britax Marathon, 3 stars
From the Manufacturer
The legendary Britax Marathon convertible car seat is renowned for safety, comfort and convenience and for the ability to keep your child in a harnessed child restraint up to 65 pounds. Unique features including a sculpted base, push button release LATCH system with patented Versa-Tether, and built-in vehicle belt lock-offs, make a tight installation in your vehicle quick and simple. The tangle-free polyester 5-point harness helps to effortlessly secure your child every day. The Marathon also offers a patented HUGS system, belly pad, and a plush & washable seat cover for that ultimate comfort experience for children rear-facing from 5 to 33 pounds or children forward-facing from 1 year old and 20 to 65 pounds.
Read Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat Customer Reviews
Buy Britax Marathon

Britax Decathlon, 3 Stars
From the Manufacturer
If you like the legendary Britax Roundabout and Marathon, you are going to love the Britax Decathlon convertible car seat! The Decathlon has been designed to take our renowned focus on safety, comfort and convenience a step further. The Britax Decathlon car seat achieves the ultimate in luxury and comfort with removable head and body positioning pillows. The three buckle positions provide a snug and secure fit as your child grows. Unique features including the sculpted base, push button release LATCH system with patented Versa-Tether, and built-in vehicle belt lock-offs make a tight installation in your vehicle quick and simple. The tangle-free polyester 5-point harness with four harness heights ensures a snug and secure fit. The push button harness adjuster help you to effortlessly secure your child every day. Achieving the ultimate in luxury and comfort, the Decathlon offers patented HUGS system, belly pad and a plush & washable seat cover as well as rear and forward-facing recline for child comfort and positioning . The Britax Decathlon is the ultimate convertible restraint for children rear facing from 5 to 33 or 35 pounds and children forward facing from at least one year old and 20 pounds, up to 65 pounds. The Decathlon is made in the USA with U.S. and global components.
Read Britax Decalthon Convertible Car Seat Customer Reviews
Buy Britax Decathlon

Britax Diplomat, 3 Stars
From the Manufacturer
The Britax Diplomat is a compact convertible car seat ideal for use with vehicles with limited rear seat space. The Diplomat features True Side Impact Protection with deep side walls and head support to provide advanced protection in side impact collisions. Easy-turn knob quickly adjusts headrest and harness height without having to uninstall the seat. Tangle-free, five-point harness ensures a snug and secure fit. Premium push-button LATCH connectors provide a quick, simple and tight installation. Unique features include the patented Versa-Tether for energy management, rear- and forward-facing recline for child comfort, and a body pillow for positioning. The Diplomat fits children rear facing from 5 to 35 pounds and children forward facing from at least one year old and 20 pounds, up to 40 pounds. The Diplomat is made in the USA with U.S. and global components.
Read Britax Diplomat Convertible Car Seat Customer Reviews
Buy Britax Diplomat

Best Forward Facing Toddler Car Seats

SafeGuard Child Seat,5 Stars
Product Description
Designed and built to tackle and resolve the five most common misuses of child seats, the SafeGuard Child Seat is the most advanced protection for your child -- easier to use than any other seat on the market today. Safety features: aircraft aluminum frame, SmartCore foam shell instead of conventional plastic and side impact protection. Ease-of-use features: Posi-Harness and Posi-LATCH utilize retractable technology, three-in-one adjustment positions harness, buckle strap length and headrest in one motion, no harness rethreading, cover is easy to remove and clean, memory foam and an installation DVD is included with the instruction manual.
Buy SafeGuard Child Seat

Graco Toddler SafeSeat Car Seat, 4 Stars
Product Description
The innovative Toddler SafeSeat Car Seat is one of the only toddler car seats that reclines while in use. This makes it easier to correctly install ? and it makes road trips more comfy for your little guy!
It's been extensively crash tested to meet or exceed U.S. standards, and engineered for safety. It features side wings, an innovative belt lock-off design that helps make it simple to tightly secure your car's seatbelt, and a 5-point harness that easily adjusts in the front.
Buy Graco Toddler SafeSeat Car Seat

EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) foam, is the standard white foam mostly used in bicycle helmets, picnic coolers and most car seats. EPS is not very flexible and breaks easily when compared to EPP foam.

EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) foam, has the useful characteristic of regaining its shape when deformed. It has an elastic nature.

Why do car seat manufacturers use EPP or EPS foam? Well, they absorb the impact of accidents and protect the head and the upper torso. This is the primary reason why EPS and EPP foams are used in car seats.

What happens if the foam is broken? Broken foam parts need to be replaced. Most manufacturers send a replacement for free. This depends on the manufacturer of course. I heard that Britax and Graco send it at no charge but you may need to pay for shipping. Some manufacturers say, "just tape it!"... I don't know how safe that is though...

Which car seat brands use EPS foam?
All Britax Car Seat Models like
Britax Roundabout,
Britax Marathon,
Britax Frontier Booster Car Seat ,
Baby Trend models
All Graco Car Seat Models
Combi Avatar,
etc.

Which car seat brands use EPP foam?
Orbit Baby Toddler Car Seat
Maxi-Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat
SafeGuard Child Seat
SafeGuard Go
some Dorel child seats.
Evenflo Triumph

Pay attention to safety features. Make sure the car seat has energy-absorbing foam linings and lines. The linings are usually made of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam or Expanded PolyPropylene (EPP) foam.

If you are buying a convertible car seat look for one with five-point safety harness rather than a molded plastic T-bar.

For booster seats look for one equipped with built-in locking clips; a locking clip ensures a car's safety belts remain in a tight position. Look for safety features such as EPP- or EPS-lined head-support "wings."

The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend using shield boosters. These car seats have a plastic shield that swivels and is held in place by a car's lap belt.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discourages the use of second hand car seats. Considering how much you can save and what's at stake, I think this is a good call. You never know how well the seat was cared for by the previous owners.

Orbit car seat manufacturer claims that Orbit Infant System is the best car seat and stroller for our babies. Why?
1. Easiest car seat to install
2. Most convenient stroller
3. Most advanced car seat

Orbit infant System

Exclusive full EPP foam liner for maximum energy absorption,
Ergonomically rotates for simple docking and undocking. Smarthub lets us easily dock the infant car seat from almost any angle
The micro-fiber upholstery's patent-pending design easily removes for machine-washing.
Unique ballistic nylon skin protects the seat and is padded for the carrying comfort.
Exclusive sunshade extension provides extra coverage
Deep cradle design gives our baby one of the largest side-protection areas available.
Patent-pending StrongArm technology makes a safe installation as easy and quick as the turn of a knob. It is also strong enough to be used for the future Orbit Toddler Car Seat.
Meets or exceeds all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS213).

Orbit Toddler Car Seat

Orbit's Toddler Car Seat is a revolutionary upgrade for your Orbit Infant System.
Easily docks onto Orbit's Base, Stroller and Rocker with the SmartHub (Base, Stroller and Rocker sold separately)
Rotates 360 degrees on the SmartHub for back-saving convenience and easy docking
Extensive side protection areas have multiple foam zones to keep your child secure
EPP foam is higher-grade, softer and more durable than brittle Styrofoam (EPS)
Adjustable headrest and fully removable upholstery can be cleaned without removing the restraint harness
Ballistic nylon back panel stores the full UV Sunshade, as well as all belts and straps
Meets or exceeds all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 213)
Can be installed Rear-Facing on the Orbit Base and Forward- or Rear-Facing without the Orbit Base (with the included Braces)