Key Takeaways

 

• 2 year olds should be in a convertible car seat, which can be rear or forward facing.

• When choosing a convertible car seat, consider factors like the size of the car, how often you’ll need to uninstall the seat, and the positioning of the seat itself.

• The best convertible car seats offer comfort and safety for your child with an easy installation.

• Top options include Orbit Baby G5, Nuna Revv, Graco 4ever DLX and others.

 

When it comes to choosing a car seat for their 2 year old, parents will want to look for what’s referred to as a convertible car seat. As the name suggests, a convertible car seat is a flexible car seat option that can grow with your child. It can be configured forward or rear-facing and is often the next step after an infant car seat.

You’ll want to consider safety, comfort, ease of installation, and adaptability, among other things. With so many factors to consider and so many car seats on the market, we’re here to help with a roundup of a few of our favorite contenders.

What Kind of Car Seat do 2 year olds need? 

 

Your 2 year old should ride in a convertible car seat. As the name suggests, a convertible car seat offers the flexibility of being either rear or forward-facing. They sit up higher than infant seats, offering your toddler more comfortable positioning and a better view of their environment.

The bare minimum age for forward facing is 1 year, although many states have now upped that to 2 years. In general, car safety experts recommend that your child remain rear-facing for as long as possible. 

Parents should also consider their child’s weight for forward facing car seat, as weight limits play a key role in determining when it’s safe to make the switch.

Understanding when to change car seat is equally important, as it ensures your toddler transitions safely from rear-facing to forward-facing or to a booster at the right time

Two year olds should not ride in booster seats. A booster seat isn’t appropriate until your child is at least 4 years old.

Why Choosing the Right Car Seat Matters for Your 2 Year Old

 

As any toddler parent will tell you, 2 year olds are known for their opinions. If your lifestyle requires a fair amount of time spent in the car, choosing the right car seat could be the difference between a content 2 year old and one who isn’t. (And, let’s be honest, the difference between a happy 2 year old and an unhappy one is … stark.)

Safety, ease of use, and proper installation are all top priorities when choosing a car seat. Beyond that, consider the features that work best for your family and daily needs to choose the right fit for you.

Orbit Baby: Best Flexibility

 

With the ability to dock in and out of a rotating base, the Orbit Baby G5 convertible 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.

Key features

 

Let’s take a closer look at some of the G5’s best features.

• Rotates into position

When used rear-facing, the G5 rotates into position to save on back strain.

• Undocks from base

Unlike most convertible car seats, the G5 can still be undocked from its base to use with a stroller or switch between cars.

• Machine washable soft-touch fabrics

Comfort for your little one with the durability parents love

• Higher height limit

While many convertible seats max out at 49” for forward facing, the G5 can accommodate up to 53 inches—greater for taller kids

Pricing

 

At $499, the Orbit Baby G5 is a solidly midprice convertible car seat option.

Where the Orbit Baby G5 shines

 

• Flexibility: the docking feature isn’t typically found in convertible car seats

• Slim profile: great if you need to accommodate multiple car seats or boosters

• Competitively priced: a good investment, especially since it still works with Orbit Baby’s stroller

• Higher height limit: allows them to stay in a five point harness longer

Where the Orbit Baby G5 falls short

 

• Slightly lower rear-facing weight limit: The 35 lbs rear-facing weight limit is lower than some other options.

• Limited store availability: Only available for purchase online or in certain Nordstroms

Customer reviews

 

• “I went with Orbit Baby and I’m really happy with it. It's got full 360 rotation (not just partial like some) and is super easy to move between our cars. my daughter seems comfy in it too which is the most important thing.” - Reddit

• “Orbit baby! The infant seat does swivel on the car seat base but has to be returned to rear facing for it to lock into place. You will probably still have to buy the infant seat and then upgrade to the larger seat tho. My 95% baby outgrew it in under 6 months. The infant seat and the toddler seat both swivel on the base, are both removable, and both fit onto the stroller. Although, we prefer using the actual stroller seat and leaving the toddler car seat in the car now.” - Reddit

Who the Orbit Baby G5 is best for

 

The G5 is a great convertible car seat for families who want to continue using their travel system. It’s easy to install and occupies less space than some other seats, making it a good compact car or multi-car seat configuration option.

Romer Veni

 

The Romer Veni earns high marks for its ease of installation.

Key features

 

• Use a bolded bullet point and colon to describe each feature

Pricing

 

The Romer Veni is priced at $599.99.

Where the Romer Veni shines

 

• Ease of Install: regardless of positioning (rear or forward) or method (LATCH or seatbelt), the Veni is easy to confidently install

• Extended rear-facing capability: accommodates up to 50 lbs

Where the Romer Veni falls short

 

• Heavy: at 28 lbs, it’s on the heavy side which might be important if you plan to move it between vehicles 

• Positioning: Some parents and car safety experts note the Veni positions the child in a more crunched/V-like position that isn’t ideal. 

Customer reviews

 

• “I have the Romer Veni in my Infiniti q50 sedan and it fits really well. I’ve got it in the middle seat and there’s room for people to sit still on either side.” - Reddit

• “I’m a CPST. The veni is virtually the same as the Britax poplar. The inserts are different. The straps can be hard to tighten but not as hard as the one4life. In general I don’t care for the Poplar/Veni as they put the child in a very crunched/V-like position.” - Reddit

Who the Romer Veni is best for

 

The Veni is a good option for parents who want a seat with a high rear-facing weight limit that also offers a narrow profile to accommodate multiple seats across.

Nuna Revv

 

Like the Orbit Baby G5, the Nuna Revv offers a rotating seat base for easy loading and unloading.

Key features

 

• Rotating base: rotates into position when rear or forward facing

• Integrated rebound bar: doubles as a carry handle when switching cars

• Ten recline positions: and one handed head support adjustment

Pricing

 

At $600, the Nuna Revv is the most expensive convertible car seat on our list.

Where the Nuna Revv falls short

 

• Low weight limit: The 40 lb weight limit even when forward facing is low for a convertible car seat

• Expensive: it has the highest price tag and briefest usage window on our list. 

Customer reviews

 

• “We love our Revv and the swivel function! We’ve even gotten compliments from strangers who wish that swivel seats existed when they had their kids years ago. It is big but it fits in our Prius as long as the person sitting in front isn’t super tall (it’ll fit behind me at 5’7 but not my husband at 6’3).” - Reddit

• “Tbh I’d never buy such an expensive seat with that low of a rear-facing limit but different things work for different people. If you really want a rotating seat I’d get another brand with a higher limit. Remember Nuna is great at marketing, but lots of other companies make flame retardant free fabrics.” - Reddit

Who the Nuna Revv is best for

 

If your child is at the lower end of the growth chart and your car can accommodate a larger car seat, the Revv could work well. 

Clek Foonf

 

For extended rear-facing, the Clek Foonf is a good option.

Key features

 

• High rear-facing weight limit: up to 50 lbs

• Narrow profile: accommodates multiple car seats across

• Cover isn’t machine washable: wipeable only, which might be a dealbreaker for some parents

Pricing

 

The Clek Foonf is $549.99.

Where the Clek Foonf shines

 

• High rear-facing weight limit: one of the highest in class

• Narrow profile: accommodates multiple seats across

Where the Clek Foonf falls short

 

• Heavy: at nearly 50 lbs, it’s by far the heaviest car seat on our list

• Tricky install: LATCH is straightforward, but a rear-facing seatbelt install can be hard

Customer reviews

 

• “I have 3 Foonf seats and my kids love them. We have done lots of road trips with zero issues.” - Reddit

• “Never again. Not machine washable, super heavy and a complicated (relative to other seats) install.” - Reddit

Who the Clek Foonf is best for

 

For extended rear-facing, the Clek Foonf is a great choice.

Graco 4ever DLX

 

Parents interested in one seat that will see them from the newborn years up to booster mode might fall for the Graco 4ever DLX.

Key features

 

• Versatility: works from 4 lbs up to 120 lbs in different modes

• Lightweight: at just over 20 lbs, it’s one of the most lightweight convertible options

• Easy install: rear or forward facing, seatbelt or LATCH, the Graco is consistently easy to install.

Pricing

 

At $329.99, the Graco is the most affordable car seat on our list.

Where the Graco 4ever DLX shines

• Well-priced: it’s a very affordable seat that doesn’t feel “cheap”

• Safe: highly rated for safety

Where the Graco 4ever DLX falls short

 

• It’s wider than average: might be an issue, depending on your car’s seating

• Booster mode isn’t ideal: while marketed as a one and done seat, it’s actually pretty heavy and difficult to buckle in booster mode.

Customer reviews

 

• “Wide but solid for the money. We have a couple similar ones that we have no problems with them. Consumer reports generally ranks Graco high during safety testing. There are ‘better seats’ (fit 3 across, easier to install, clean etc) but those are significantly more expensive.” - Reddit

• “We've had a few Graco seats and I didn't like them at all. The belts are soooo hard to tighten! We put them in grandparents car as they don't get used too often. Also not sure what your vehicle situation is, but you may want to consider slimmer seats. Car seats get so gross too and booster seats are cheap. I would just buy a regular convertible seat and get a booster later on!” - Reddit

Who the Graco 4ever DLX is best for

 

Parents who only want to buy one car seat might opt for the Graco. 

How to Choose the Best Car Seat

 

When choosing a convertible car seat for your 2 year old, consider the following:

Ease of Installation

 

Whether you plan to use LATCH or a seatbelt, make sure your chosen seat is easy to install in both rear and forward facing positions.

Size and Positioning

 

Consider the size of your vehicle and where your car seat will go, and choose a seat that fits the space. If you have more than one child, consider also how many car seats/boosters you’ll need to accommodate.

Comfort and Durability

 

The right fabrics and finishes can make for a more comfortable ride. Just as important might be the washability of those fabrics and finishes.

Travel in Comfort with Orbit Baby’s Car Seats

 

From safety features to comfort, today’s convertible car seats have a lot to offer. Take the time to research and choose the one that suits your needs and lifestyle best. 

For many parents, the ease of a travel system is something that’s missed when you move beyond an infant car seat. 

Orbit Baby continues that modular style with their convertible car seat for toddlers; a standout feature in a crowded field of contenders. With their versatility, the right convertible car seat can serve your family for years.