Updated February 2021
If you’re in the market for a convertible carseat that will allow you to keep your child rear-facing for “as long as possible” – you’re in the right place! This guide will help you navigate many of the most popular options currently available in the U.S. market and help you to identify which seat(s) may in fact allow your child to stay rear-facing for as long as possible.
First, let’s define the term “Extended Rear-Facing” because that term is often thrown around loosely and to my knowledge there isn’t a general consensus in the Child Passenger Safety field of what that term means exactly. In its most basic sense, Extended Rear-Facing can be defined as use of a carseat in the rear-facing position beyond the bare minimums generally established and accepted by carseat manufacturers for forward-facing usage. Since many (but not all) convertible and combination carseats still allow toddlers as little as 12 months and 22 lbs. to use the seat forward-facing – you could define Extended Rear-Facing as anything beyond 12 months and 22 lbs.
However, that’s not what most parents and advocates think of when they hear the term. Some car seat manufacturers (mainly Evenflo) and some state laws require rear-facing until at least 24 months before turning a child forward. NHTSA and the CPS Technician Certification Curriculum define “Best Practice” as rear-facing to the limits of the carseat.
For the purposes of this guide, we will focus our attention on the convertible seats that have proven themselves to last longer than most of the seats on the market today, specifically in the rear-facing position. For the record, this isn’t meant to be an all-inclusive list so there are probably a few good ERF seats that weren’t included simply because I didn’t have access to them during the project period.
Convertible seat recommendations have been sorted into three groups. The first group is a list of seats that are very tall and rated to 40 lbs. in the rear-facing position. The second group is a list of seats with higher RF weight limits but they aren’t the tallest seats on the market and most of them are likely to be outgrown by height before the weight limit is reached. The third group includes very tall seats with higher RF weight limits.
If you already have your child’s stats from a recent visit to the doctor – great. If not, use the links below to the WHO & CDC Growth Charts and plot your child’s height and weight on the graph.
Boys under 2 years old / Boys over 2 years old
Girls under 2 years old / Girls over 2 years old
Keep in mind that just because a baby might be 20 lbs. at 5 months old doesn’t mean he or she will be 40 lbs. by age 2. A baby’s weight gain almost always slows down – usually by 9-12 months old as they become more mobile. However, if mom is 5’9″ and dad is 6’3″ and built like a linebacker then it’s reasonable to assume that this child’s growth pattern may continue to be way above average.
If your child’s weight and height are average, slightly above or below average, and your child doesn’t have a very long torso, then ANY of the seats on this list will last your child a very long time in the rear-facing position and you should make your decision based on all the other factors (price, features, ease of use, etc.).
In most of the pictures below, my beautiful, gracious and very accommodating model is 40″ tall and 34 lbs. at 4 years old. She is average (around 50th percentile) in both height and weight for a 4-year-old.
*Please note: most of the pictures purposely depict misuse because I was attempting to show how much growing room she still had height-wise. In cases where the carseat had an adjustable headrest, I raised it to its maximum height to show how much growing room there could be for a taller child. The proper placement of harness straps on a rear-facing carseat is to have the straps coming from a point that is “at” or just “slightly below” the child’s shoulder level.
Tall convertible seats with 40 lbs. RF weight limit:
These seats in this group are well-suited for children who are either average height & weight for their age or more tall than heavy. If your child is at or above the 75th percentile for height but average or below average in weight, these seats will accommodate your child’s growth nicely. These seats are also excellent choices for children who carry most of their height in their torso. If your child’s weight and height are average, then ANY of the seats on this list will last your child a very long time in the rear-facing position and you should make your decision based on all the other factors (price, features, ease of use, etc.).
Britax ClickTight Convertibles (Marathon CT, Boulevard CT, Advocate CT)
These ClickTight convertibles from Britax are so tall that there is no way any child could ever outgrow them by height before reaching the 40 lbs. RF weight maximum! We have a complete review of the Boulevard CT here. And a complete review of the Marathon CT here.
- Specs: Rear-facing 5-40 lbs.; Forward-facing 20-65 lbs., up to 49″ tall
- Features: ClickTight installation system, no-rethread harness with 14 height positions, base with 7 recline positions, optional anti-rebound bar is available for purchase separately, ARB models are sold with the anti-rebound bar
- Pros: Easiest convertibles to install with seatbelt using CT system; CT system acts as a lockoff device; rebound management features via RF tether or ARB; various energy-absorbing features built in; doesn’t take up a lot of room front-to-back when installed RF; well padded; fits newborns well; Made in USA
- Cons: Heavy; designed for seatbelt installations so it’s not especially LATCH-friendly
Chicco NextFit Sport & NextFit Zip
Even tall, skinny kids should be able to rear-face in the NextFit until they reach the 40 lbs. weight limit. These models are very well padded and the Zip version has a zip-off cover for easy cleaning. We have a complete review of the Chicco NextFit here.
- Specs: Rear-facing 5-40 lbs.; Forward-facing 20-65 lbs., up to 43″ tall
- Features: SuperCinch LATCH system; no-rethread harness with 9 height positions; base with 9 recline positions; lockoffs for seatbelt installation
- Pros: One of the easiest seats to install with LATCH; easy seatbelt installation using lockoff; doesn’t take up a lot of room front-to-back when installed RF; extremely well-padded; fits newborns very well
- Cons: Heavy and bulky; Can’t use SuperCinch to install with LATCH once child weighs more than 35 lbs. rear-facing or 40 lbs. forward-facing
Evenflo SureRide (aka Titan 65)
This is the rare extended rear-facing seat available for less than $100! Evenflo does limit the child’s height to 40″ tall which is very conservative because as you can see this 40″ tall child has a mile of growing room left above her head. Still, it’s a nice seat at a great price that will get most kids to age 3-4 rear-facing.
- Specs: Rear-facing 5-40 lbs., 19-40″; Forward-facing 22-65 lbs., 28-54″
- Features: 6 sets of harness slots; energy-absorbing EPS foam, basic hook-style LATCH connectors
- Pros: Fits newborns well; also fits older, taller kids well; lightweight; budget-friendly; can use LATCH up to 50 lbs. (forward-facing), made in USA
- Cons: Large gap between harness slots 3 and 4; deep sides make loading and unloading RF child cumbersome; continuous harness; no lockoffs for seatbelt installation; 40″ standing height limit for rear-facing is limiting
Graco Size4Me 65 & Graco Contender
These popular convertibles are impossible to outgrow by height before reaching the 40 lbs. weight limit. They also don’t cost an arm and a leg which is great for families on a budget. Some models come with a “rapid-remove cover” for easy cleaning. We have a complete review of the Graco Size4Me here and a review of Graco Contender here.
- Specs: Rear-facing 4-40 lbs.; Forward-facing 22-65 lbs., 49″ or less
- Features: No-rethread harness with 8 height positions, premium push-on LATCH connectors
- Pros: Fits average-sized newborns well; can use LATCH rear-facing to the limit of 40 lbs.; doesn’t take up a lot of room front-to-back when installed RF
- Cons: No lockoffs for seatbelt installation; rated down to 4 lbs. but may not be a good fit for smaller newborns or preemies
Graco 4Ever DLX All-in-One & Graco SlimFit All-in-One
The Graco 4Ever DLX All-in-One and Graco SlimFit All-in-One are rear-facing/forward-facing/booster seats that work well in all modes. Both the 4Ever (pictured) and the SlimFit are seats that just can’t be outgrown by height in the rear-facing position. Look how tall they are! We have a complete review of the Graco 4Ever here and a complete review of the Graco SlimFit here.
- Specs: Rear-facing 4-40 lbs., (SlimFit starts at 5 lbs.); Forward-facing 22-65 lbs., 49″ or less
- Features: No-rethread harness with 10 height positions, 4Ever base has 6 recline positions (3 for rear-facing), 4Ever DLX has a lockoff for use when FF, Milestone base has 4 recline positions (2 can be used for rear-facing), both models can be used as a booster when harness is outgrown, premium push-on LATCH connectors
- Pros: All-in-One (RF/FF/Booster) features grow with your child; can use LATCH rear-facing to the limit of 40 lbs.; doesn’t take up a lot of room front-to-back when installed RF
- Cons: Heavy and bulky; no lockoff on Milestone for seatbelt installation
Maxi-Cosi Pria 85
Maxi-Cosi does limit the rear-facing child’s height to 40″ tall which is conservative because as you can see this 40″ tall child still has plenty of growing room left above her head. Still, the Pria 85 model is a very nice seat with a ridiculous amount of padding that will get most kids to age 3-4 rear-facing. We have a full review of the Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 here.
- Specs: Rear-facing 9-40 lbs. (Pria 85 starts at 14 lbs.), 40″ or less; Forward-facing 20-65 lbs., up to 52″
- Features: No-rethread harness with 9 height positions, deep head wings with Air Protect technology, premium push-on LATCH connectors
- Pros: Low sides make it convenient to load and unload child from seat; very well padded; doesn’t take up a lot of room front-to-back when installed RF; can use LATCH rear-facing to the limit of 40 lbs.; Made in USA
- Cons: No lockoffs for seatbelt installation; not suitable for use with newborns; 40″ standing height limit for rear-facing is limiting
Convertible seats with higher RF weight limits
The seats in this next group are more likely to be outgrown RF by height than weight. They are better suited for children who are at or above the 75th percentile in weight but who are average or below average in height.
Clek Foonf & Clek Fllo
The Clek Foonf and Clek Fllo convertibles are highly regarded for their advanced safety features and high rear-facing weight limits. They aren’t as tall as many of the models listed above so they will likely be outgrown by height before the weight limit is reached. However, since they are rated to 50 lbs. in the rear-facing position, they are a great ERF option, especially for kids who are more heavy than tall. We have a complete review of the Clek Foonf here. And a complete review of the Clek Fllo here.
- Specs: Rear-facing 14-50 lbs., 25-43”, able to sit upright alone, head is at least 1” below top of headrest; Forward-facing 22-65 lbs., 30-49” tall
- Features: 5 sets of harness slots, structural headrest, anti-rebound bar (ARB), REACT safety system, lockoffs for seatbelt installation
- Pros: Advanced safety features, rebound management using ARB, narrow, Crypton super fabrics
- Cons: Very heavy, pricey, Foonf LATCH limit for rear-facing is 25 lbs., not suitable for young babies unless you purchase the additional “Infant Thingy” insert.
Diono Radian 3R & 3RX
The Diono Radian 3R & 3RX models both have a rear-facing weight limit of 50 lbs. but they aren’t as tall as many of the models listed in the first group. They will likely be outgrown by height before the weight limit is reached. The Diono Radian seats but are better suited for kids who are more heavy than tall. We have a complete review of the Radian 3RXT here.
- Specs: Rear-facing 5-50 lbs., up to 44″ tall and requires at least 1.5″ of shell above head; Forward-facing 20-65 lbs., less than 57″ tall
- Features: 5 sets of harness slots, RXT model has a 12-position adjustable headrest, steel frame, allows RF tethering, folds flat for travel or storage
- Pros: Optional angle adjuster (not pictured, sold separately) allows the seat to be installed more upright for older kids who have complete head and neck control; rebound management features using RF tether; low sides make it convenient to load and unload child from seat; narrow
- Cons: Heavy; takes up a lot of room front-to-back without optional Angle Adjuster; LATCH limit for rear-facing is 35 lbs.; lacks a lockoff for seatbelt installation; challenging install in some vehicles, may not fit small babies.
Diono Radian 3RXT
This convertible model from Diono adds side wings for increased side-impact protect and is rated to 50 lbs. rear-facing. However, it isn’t any taller than the Radian models. Like Radian, the Rainier is a great option for ERF but will likely be outgrown by height before the weight limit is reached. These seats are best suited for kids who are more heavy than tall. We have a complete review of the Diono Rainier here.
- Specs: Rear-facing 5-50 lbs., up to 44″ tall and requires at least 1.5″ of shell above head; Forward-facing 20-65 lbs., less than 57″ tall
- Features: 5 sets of harness slots, 12-position adjustable headrest, steel frame, allows RF tethering, folds flat for travel or storage
- Pros: Optional angle adjuster (not pictured, sold separately) allows the seat to be installed more upright for older kids who have complete head and neck control; rebound management features using RF tether; low sides make it convenient to load and unload child from seat; narrow
- Cons: Heavy; takes up a lot of room front-to-back without optional Angle Adjuster; LATCH limit for rear-facing is 35 lbs.; lacks lockoff for seatbelt installation; finicky install in some vehicles, may not fit newborns well
Very tall convertible seats that also have high RF weight limits
The seats in this last group offer the best extended rear-facing opportunities to children at the top of the growth charts in both height and weight.
Graco Extend2Fit
Extend2Fit is a convertible seat from Graco with a unique legrest extension feature which can provide additional legroom for an older rear-facing child if you have enough space in your backseat to accommodate that (it does take up more room when legrest is extended). Extend2Fit is very tall and rated to 50 lbs. in the rear-facing position, making it one of the best choices currently for kids who are both very tall and very heavy. The child outgrows this seat rear-facing when the top of their head is 1″ from the plastic adjuster on the top of the headrest or when they reach 50 lbs. The same child modeled this seat but these photos were taken a year and a half after the others so she is obviously taller and a little heavier. She is 37 lbs. and 43″ tall in these pics. As you can see, she still has plenty of growing room left in the rear-facing position.
- Specs: Rear-facing 4-50 lbs., head at least 1” below plastic adjuster at top of headrest; Forward-facing 22-65 lbs., 49″ or less
- Features: No-rethread harness with 10 height positions, 6 recline positions on base (4 for RF; 3 for FF; position #4 can be used RF or FF), 4-position legrest extension (for RF use only), premium push-on LATCH connectors
- Pros: Best-in-class legroom for older kids when legrest is extended; can use LATCH rear-facing to 45 lbs.; doesn’t take up a lot of room front-to-back when installed RF without extending the legrest, fits average-sized newborns well.
- Cons: No lockoffs for seatbelt installation; takes up more room front-to-back when installed RF with legrest extended.
Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit
4Ever Extend2Fit All-in-One is a rear-facing/forward-facing/booster seat that works well in all modes. This 4Ever model offers Graco’s unique legrest extension feature which can provide additional legroom for an older rear-facing child if you have enough space in your backseat to accommodate that (it does take up more room when legrest is extended). 4Ever Extend2Fit is very tall and rated to 50 lbs. in the rear-facing position, making it one of the best choices currently for kids who are both very tall and very heavy. A child outgrows this seat rear-facing when the top of their head is 1″ from the plastic adjuster on the top of the headrest or when they reach 50 lbs. The same child modeled this seat but these photos were taken 2 years after the original photos so she is taller and heavier. In these 4Ever Extend2Fit photos she is 42 lbs. and 44.5″ tall. As you can see, she still has plenty of growing room left in the rear-facing position.
- Specs: Rear-facing 4-50 lbs., head at least 1” below plastic adjuster at top of headrest; Forward-facing 22-65 lbs., 49″ or less
- Features: No-rethread harness with 10 height positions, 6 recline positions on base (4 for RF; 2 for FF), 4-position legrest extension (for RF use only), premium push-on LATCH connectors
- Pros: All-in-One (RF/FF/Booster) features grow with your child; best-in-class legroom for older kids when legrest is extended; doesn’t take up a lot of room front-to-back when installed RF without extending the legrest, fits average-sized newborns well.
- Cons: Heavy & bulky; rear-facing latch weight limit is 35 lbs. (over 35 lbs. must install with seatbelt); no lockoffs for easier seatbelt installation; takes up more room front-to-back when installed RF with legrest extended.
Looking for info on which convertible seats take up the least amount of room when installed rear-facing? Check out our popular Ultimate Rear-Facing Convertible Carseat Space Comparison.
Special thanks to my lovely little assistant and her mom, who is a fellow CPST-I. I couldn’t have completed this project without their help. If you’re wondering how one bribes a child to sit and smile in carseat after carseat….
Thank you for such a comprehensive review of extended rear facing seats! Any recommendations for the best extended RF seats for an average size 4 year old that are good for travel/relatively lightweight, and not too hard to install? We don’t own a car, so we would be moving the seat in and out of rental cars/taxis. We currently have a Cosco Scenera Next that has served us well, but we are hitting the height limit. Thanks again!
My 4 year old(5 in late October) granddaughter is already almost 47″ tall. (Dad 6’4″) All the car seats mentioned have a limit of 49″. Not sure of her exact weight but would say she’s a bit on the heavy side of normal. She’s in a forward facing Diono now and it’s now clear that she needs a new safety seat. Recommendations?
Hi Mary. The next class of carseat, the combination carseat, would be the best for your granddaughter. It is a forward-facing carseat with a harness that can convert to a belt-positioning booster seat when she outgrows the harness. Because they’re for bigger kids, they have taller height limits. Good ones to consider are the Britax Frontier/Pinnacle, Chicco NextFit, and Graco Nautilus. We also have a list of our recommended seats here: https://carseatblog.com/safest-recommended-car-seats/.
we are grandparents looking for a carseat for our 7 yr old grandson whos tall and sknny weghs 44 lbs 44 inches we where lookng at dffernt seats I found the Saftey 1 st Alppha omega Elite and we are hopng ths s a safe 5 point seat
The Alpha Omega would certainly be outgrown by your 7 year old. It is a seat with all marketing, but the actual seat’s capacity doesn’t fit a child that large. You’ll want a combination seat (Harness to booster) such as a Britax Frontier, or a belt positioning booster such as a Graco Turbobooster.
Hi, can you point me to where does the manufacturer state that “rear-facing latch weight limit is 35 lbs. (over 35 lbs. must install with seatbelt)” for the Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit? I was not able to find that in the manual. Thanks.
Yvette, it’s in the manual on pg. 34 in the blue area under the picture. On the carseat, it should be on the label with the blue outline.
Thank you for this list. I have a 1 year old in the 86th weight, and 80th for height. Would you suggest I stick to the tall/heavy category, or the heavy/average height? We’re interested in the Evenflow Symphony AIO (the cup holders are fantastic) but I’ve read that it’s not exceedingly tall, so I found your list looking for something that might work better for my daughter.
April, I would stick with the taller category. Most carseats are outgrown by height before weight since kids tend to get more active and slow down on weight growth as they get older.
This may be a dumb question but I only have one baby and he’s young so…her legs are bent or stretched up in every pic…would kids her length be turned to front facing…? Sitting with legs bent would be kind of tiring for a kid right? lol I’m so sorry if this is dumb but i really don’t know! I know she’s just there for an example but I don’t know if it’s normal for children to be RF when they can’t stretch their legs straight or if that’s ok…? 😳 Thanks!
Saadi,
Not a dumb question at all. I wondered the same thing. But it is totally fine and normal for kids to rear face even as they get older. They will maneuver, get themselves into several comfortable positions, and be completely fine rear-facing. They could cross their legs, bend at the knees, stretch their legs up above the back of the seat, etc. Lots of kids rear face till 4 years old or more!!! Please try very hard NOT to turn your child forward-facing until at least 2 years, but if you can choose a seat that will allow you to rear-face you child until they are 3 or 4 years old, even better! Rear facing is several times safer in the event of a crash. In counties where rear facing is a must until older ages, there are significantly fewer deaths and injuries in young kids. Counter-intuitively, even leg injuries are reduced when a child rear faces. When a child is rear facing and the car stops suddenly, the car seat itself helps to cradle the child’s head, neck, and spine while it slows the body down. If a child is forward facing, only the harness attached at the crotch and across the chest and shoulders slow the child down, but the head and neck have little to slow them down.
I really like this blog/website for carseat info but as an RN and mother of 5, I find it a little counterproductive to show pictures of the carseats discussed, with a child strapped into them, with the seats/straps not adjusted properly. I see this in several of the pics and I did read the authors comment that these pics were intentionally taken and shared this way to give people an idea of how much growing room there is but I worry about the parents who may not read that comment, just look at the pics and assume that’s how the seat are supposed to be with a child strapped in.
Kelly – your point is well taken but there really wasn’t any other way for me to show how much growing room she still had in each of the seats with an adjustable headrest. I did my best to highlight the disclosure of misuse. I’ll consider what else I might be able to do to get that point across.
I think most people visiting this page would know enough to read the warning/the car seat manual but if you felt like being extra cautious you could put a warning into each picture itself. I appreciated the photos. I have a clek fllo and two Graco extend2fits and I’m shopping for a fourth. Looks like I should go with another extend2fit. 🙂
Thanks for the detailed review. After many hours of research we recently purchased the Britax Boulevard Clicktight. Putting our DD in it for the first time, I noticed that when I strapped her in, the short crotch buckle meant that the leg straps are super tight on her thighs and really dig in (She is also in cloth diapers). She is 10 months, 22lbs and 78 inches tall. She is 97th percentile for height, her dad is 6’4″ so I expect her to be on the tall side. I am concerned about the leg strap as well as her leg room in the rear facing position, as now I have read many people say that their tall kids got really uncomfortable quickly in the Britax compared to others. Can you shed some light on which of the above models you found to have better leg room for tall children (ie. which your DD was most comfortable in when modeling for you?) Thanks.
Hi Jen, our model makes herself comfortable in every seat. You can see the variety of ways that she positions her legs in the photos. I wouldn’t be too concerned with legroom because kids will always find a way to get comfortable. The crotch strap length is a different story. Call Britax and see what they say about it or if they can offer you a solution. If you feel that the length is a deal-breaker, you might want to try one of the Graco seats on this list since all those seats come with a longer crotch buckle. HTH!
I don’t have a Britax but I know exactly what you mean. I’d recommend the Graco extend2fit. It has the leg room shelf if you have the space for it. My tall three-year-old fits fine without it extended at all and has never complained. It has a long crotch strap which is great for the thigh problem I get with my clek fllo. My two babies both had/have chubby thighs and were/are in cloth.
Hi, Do you know anything about the Safety 1st UltraMax 360 or the Grow and Go EX Air? Those are the two I’ve been looking at online and I’m trying to figure out if they’d fit in my car. The Graco 4Ever that my friend has was a VERY tight squeeze, and I’m not sure how the dimensions of that compare with the other two. I’m also curious about the latches on those, whether they’re similar to the ones on the 4Ever (that are very easy to use)
Have you had the opportunity to try the Rava yet? I was looking at ordering it offline, but am concerned about the height issues. Also, what about the Peg Pergo?
Hi Laura, unfortunately no, I haven’t had the opportunity to try a Nuna Rava yet. I don’t have a review sample to test, no stores near me carry it at this point and I don’t know any local Rava owners. I’m sure I’ll get my hands on one eventually but I don’t know when that might happen. As for your other question, the Peg Viaggio convertible is not an ideal seat for extended rear-facing which is why it in’t included on this list. It’s not tall enough to compete with the other convertible seats on this list so unless your child is very short, there are better options. HTH!
I was looking for a rear facing convertible seat that reclines far enough back so my daughter’s neck won’t fall forward when she falls asleep. She is 14 months old and on the petite side; under 20 lbs, and under 30 inches.
Hi Kt, the Chicco NextFit, Graco 4Ever and Graco Extend2Fit would all be excellent choices for your situation. Do you have a Babies R Us or BuyBuyBaby nearby so you could try them out in your vehicle and see if you have a preference?
We have a unique situation…. 3 in car seats… Limited budget…. I’m not sure what to buy for who lol…
until we find an easier vehicle for three in seats and a 4th school age part time… this is ot situation. (which I hate) toyota sienna 2 bucket style seats middle row, technically 3 in a bench seat style in 3rd row.
-4yr old. 44″ 52# FF in an evenflow…. dont remember model. rf-40/ff-65
placement in 3rd row behind drivers seat ((HATE that we cannot reach her well…to not at all if vehicle is moving. she cant just buckle and unbuckle herself etc…
…. we purchased a high back booster, she matches height/weight… would be easier for buckling. if she stays buckled!… I’m uneasy about that switch still.
-22month old. 38″ 39# RF in another seat similar to 4 yr olds but cosco brand.
2nd row behind passenger. I DO NOT want tot FF yet. but has almost reached limit of current seats.
-2month old. 25″ 13# RF in an infant bucket seat.
If we could…. I’d have them ALL RF in a row (if it was a different vehicle) in high quality extended rear face seats! lol. or at least RF,FF,RF. 😉 but with the school aged child part time, we are shopping for a vehicle with limited options.
I’m eyeballing the GRACO EXTEND2FIT with RF limit of 50# for the almost 2yr old.
the high back booster (sadly) for the 4yr old
and baby left as is for now… tho difficult if we need three in a row.
any advice or ideas welcome!
Help. My grand daughter who we watch 2 days a week needs a new seat. She’s a big solid girl.
At least 36″ tall and 32 lbs. I have a Honda Civic not a big car.
What should I buy? Would like to pay $150. Possible.
Hi Maryann – the Graco Extend2Fit would be my first choice even though you probably won’t be able to take advantage of the legrest extension feature because using that takes up extra room which you probably don’t have in a Civic. Extend2Fit offers several different recline options on the base for rear-facing which creates more potential for finding the appropriate recline angle and taking up less space. Right now Amazon has the Extend2Fit in the “Solar” fashion on sale for $159 http://amzn.to/2m4uMKp
Hope that helps! Good luck!
What about the Nuna Rava?
Hi Christy – I don’t have a Rava and no one near me carries it which is why it isn’t included at this point. Sorry!
Hi! I am pregnant with my second child and definitely want to do extended rear facing with this one. I didn’t know as much with my first, and we probably turned him too soon. My question is, can you adjust the recline on any of these seats? I could be mistaken, but I thought I read somewhere that once the child is no longer an infant, they need to be sitting up a little more. We had a Chicco Keyfit 30 and could not adjust that one. I would appreciate any advice you can give. I’m trying to do as much research as I can before we register for seats!
Hi Brittany, many of these convertible seats do allow a range of recline for rear-facing. Some have a bubble or ball level indicator, others use a pair of lines to reference to ground level. A few models are unforgiving with a single line on a label that must be level, so these may not be as flexible for you. Keep in mind that these are convertible seats. While some can be used rear-facing from birth, none are generally suitable for low birthweight babies.
The Chicco Keyfit 30 does have a recline foot in the base. It is adjusted by pushing buttons on each side of the base. As long as the recline indicator ball is within the lines, you may have it a little more upright or a little more reclined. For newborns, we recommend using it as reclined as possible within the indicator limits. Some infant rear-facing only seats also allow you to add a rolled towel or pool noodle under the recline foot if your vehicle has sloped seats that prevent you from getting an acceptable level even with the foot fully extended.
Also check out our Recommended Carseats list. Our Editors’ Picks are at the bottom, sorted by budget category: https://carseatblog.com/safest-recommended-car-seats/
What if I am looking for a car seat that has many height settings for extended rear facing use that also has a lock off option. What would you suggest ?
What do you mean when you say no lock offs for seat belt installation?
Hi,
I was shopping for a convertible carseat and I found the Safety 1st UltraMax Air 360 though I can’t find many reviews. How does it compare to the other Safety 1st seats you recommend?
Thanks!
Hi! We are traveling this december to usa do you know if they have rear facing car seats for rent? We cant take our car seat because its too heavy (chicco nexfit) and im concern they they might loose it or damage it. The comoany name is dollar. Thank you
Hi Marianna, Dollar does rent carseats in many locations but if you can buy something inexpensive to take with you it might be cheaper and you are guaranteed to have an appropriate (and clean!) carseat for your child. If you rent a carseat you usually have to pay for each day that you rent. If you are staying more than 5 days it will be cheaper to buy an inexpensive convertible. I’m not sure what country you are coming from but here in the U.S. Walmart sells the Cosco Scenera Next for about $50 US dollars. Here is our list of seats we recommend for travel: https://carseatblog.com/25408/recommended-carseats-for-airplane-travel/
Hope that helps and enjoy your trip!
You may want to redo many of these examples after reading the manual as most of the car-seats specify in the manuals that the child outgrows the rear-facing position with the headrest in the lowest 2 adjustment positions and the head is 1 inch below the top of the headrest. The examples where you put the headrest all the way up would be misleading as that is against the directions in the manual.
Hi Matt – all the seats listed here allow the headrest to be used in any position when rear-facing as long as the harness straps are situated at or slightly below the child’s shoulders. There are a few seats with the height restrictions you cited but those seats aren’t on this list. Rest assured that we know our carseats (and their restrictions) and these seats are all usable RF to the maximum height positions, if necessary. 🙂
Chicco nextfit latch weight limit changed Feb 2015 to 35lbs.
Our 33-pound 2-year-old has grown too tall for rear-facing in the Chicco NextFit and Evenflo SureRide DLX. The problem with the Chicco is the positioning of the shoulder straps in relation to the top of the head rest. In order to keep the shoulder straps positioned at or below his shoulders, the head rest has to be lowered to a point where it is pretty much even with the top of his head. The Evenflo is just not tall enough any more. I don’t know if it’s due to his body proportions, but he has outgrown both of these seats for rear-facing well before reaching the weight limit.
We recently tried out some other seats and found that all of the other seats mentioned in this article would still work for him. The best option for his height-weight combo (97th percentile for height, about 5oth for weight) seemed to be the Safety 1st. It’s also one of the most affordable.