2021 Best Convertible Carseats for Extended Rear-Facing: the definitive guide for savvy shoppers!

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Updated February 2021ERF - Liam with phone and csb logo

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.

ERF-foonf-side-viewHowever, 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.

CDC growth chart boysIf 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 oldBoys over 2 years old
Girls under 2 years oldGirls 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.

ERF - Britax Boulevard CT ERF - Britax Boulevard CT ERF - Britax Boulevard CT

  • 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.

ERF - Chicco NextFit ERF - Chicco NextFit ERF - Chicco NextFit

  • 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.

ERF - Evenflo SureRide/Titan 65 ERF - Evenflo SureRide/Titan 65 ERF - Evenflo SureRide/Titan 65

  • 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

ERF - Graco Size4Me ERF - Graco Size4Me ERF - Graco Size4Me

  • 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.

ERF - Graco 4Ever  ERF - Graco 4Ever ERF - Graco 4Ever

  • 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.

ERF - Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 ERF - Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 ERF - Maxi-Cosi Pria 70

  • 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.

ERF - Clek Foonf ERF - Clek Foonf ERF - Clek Foonf

  • 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.

ERF - Diono Radian R120 ERF - Diono Radian R120 ERF - Diono Radian R120

  • 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.

ERF - Diono Rainier ERF - Diono Rainier ERF - Diono Rainier

  • 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. 

Graco Extend2Fit with full legrest extension Graco Extend2Fit - height room RF Graco Extend2Fit - height at max setting

  • 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….

Will work for sushi - clara

 




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