Best Forward-facing Car Seats: Top 8 Picks Suitable for Toddlers and Preschoolers

If your kiddo is outgrowing his rear-facing seat, it's maybe time to switch to a forward-facing seat.

But, as you know, there are various car seat models available on the market: convertible, 2-in-1, and even 3-in-1 seats!

So, which one should you pick, and how do you make sure you made the right decision?!

This is where I step in and help you pick from one of the finest and safest forward-facing car seats on the market.

Below is the list of eight unique versions of the best toddler car seat that will save your time on installation and, most of all, money on future purchases!

If you are a new parent, you may wonder what a front-facing car seat is and how it is different from the rest of the car seats on the market?

Let's clarify.

A forward-facing one can be used in the rear seat and is the second safest option to restrain your child in transportation.

The first one, rear-facing, is recommended to be used the longest or as far as the kid meets the requirements.

As soon as your kid outgrows his car seat, you know there has to be a transition from rear-facing to forward-facing.

Sometimes, you will not find a car seat with a specific "forward-facing car seat" in the title. Often, they are referred to as a 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 version, where they transform into a booster or even into a rear-facing car seat.

These kinds of convertible car seat picks are great if you are a new parent, as you will get to save a lot of money and won't need to purchase a separate seat for each stage!

As many of the forward-facing car seats include the "harness-to-booster" models, it's essential to clear the air on this issue!

Besides the installation, front-facing car seats use ONLY a harness as a restraining device.

Unlike a highback booster that is often used with a regular car seat belt, forward-facing car seats are reserved for toddlers and preschoolers who have yet not met the standards for the highback or backless boosters.

They should keep using these toddler car seats until they have exceeded the weight and height recommendations by the chosen car seat manufacturer.

After that, it's best to use these seats with the 5-point harness. Then, the child is at least five years old.

But, what about infant car seats and convertible ones? Who is the best candidate for those car seats?

An infant car seat is used from birth and is installed rear-faced.

These seats often have a newborn insert which you can easily take out as soon as your baby grows into a toddler. Typically, they accommodate babies up to 35 pounds.

An infant car seat is unique because it is more compact and suitable for travel than a convertible car seat. They are also great if you are traveling a lot as they are lighter for portability.

Are there any cons to using an infant car seat?

Well, only that the baby grows out of the ridiculously fast, and you will find yourself purchasing another seat sooner than you think!

Read more —

A Helpful Guide Of The Best Infant Car Seat For Small Cars

Convertible car seats are a great purchase if you want to invest in a long-lasting model.

As the name suggests, they convert so you can use them in rear-facing and forward-facing modes.

What's awesome about them is that you can use them when your baby is an infant until they are ready for their first booster seat, which is around when they reach 65 pounds.

Are there any cons to using a convertible car seat?

They are bulky, and many of the models do not fit carpooling or three-in-a-row car seat installations.

Generally, people tend to mistake these two and think that they perform the same function. Well, although we can't disagree, we can't fully agree as well.

Here's the deal.

You would use convertible car seats to kill two flies with one stone. First, if you already have an infant, getting a convertible car seat makes more sense than purchasing a separate one when they are ready for forward-facing seating.

But, if your toddler is already ready for a forward-facing seat, then it's for the best if you pick a 2-in-1 combo where you get a seat and a booster you can use later on.

It's all about investing smartly!

Read more —

Best Travel Booster Seats (Top 8 Picks That Will Astonish You)

Best Forward Facing Car Seats: My Top 8 Picks

Read more —

Best Folding Car Seat For Travel: Clever 2022 Guide For Ambitious Parents

Safety Considerations When Purchasing Front-facing Car Seat

1. A Five-point Harness Is a Must!

I don't think they are mature for a three-point harness just because your kid is toddler age. A 5-point one is much safer and should be used if the child can meet the weight and height limit.

In case of a car crash, a 5-point harness can distribute force evenly throughout the body.

2. Size of The Seat

There are two main points why you should always check for seat size.

First of all, it is the comfort of the child.

You don't want to pick the one they will quickly grow out of and get all unforgettable while riding. Second, a tall design is always the best for a growing toddler.

The second reason is the size of your car.

This specifically refers to parents who carpool or have two or three kids.

Again, your best chance is getting a front-facing car seat that is slim and narrow and can allow for three in row installations.

3. Installation

As you had the chance to see, there are two ways of installing car seats.

One of them is the LATCH system which is considered more accessible by many parents. They use built-in anchors which secure the car seat and keep it in place.

The other way is to connect the car seat via the car's seat belt.

Both systems have their advantages, but they also come with flaws as not many cars can use the LATCH system.

4. Know Your Car Seat History

One of the top tips I can give you is to never use second-hand car seats!

As tempting as it does sound to save a couple of hundred dollars on a car seat, we advise you to purchase a new one!

If you already didn't know, car seats do have an expiration date, and once they are worn out, they lose the efficiency in keeping your little passenger safe!

FAQs

Why is rear-facing safer?

Rear-facing seats are safer because of their reinforced support of the head, neck, and spine during the ride and in the occurrence of a crash.

In addition, if a crash does occur, the forward movement will allow the child to spring back into the seat and ensure equal shock absorption.

Along with a rear-facing car seat, children should be restrained with a 5-point harness that will protect their torso and prevent spinal injuries during the crash.

What are the benefits of forward-facing car seats?

Unfortunately, there aren't many benefits the forward-facing car seats can offer.

As your children grow, they are only better in design; they will follow their development and create enough space for their body parts.

In addition, your kids can look forward and see what's in front of them. But, other than that, you don't really have some extraordinary benefits.

The forward-facing seats also have harness systems to keep children safe and stable in the seats.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests keeping your children in the rear-facing seats as long as possible.

This is because they are the safest models, more robust, and more secure than all other models.

Are forward-facing car seats illegal?

No, they are not. In fact, you can find numerous two-in-one car seats that are both rear and forward-facing, so they are allowed to be used. 

However, you must obey all car seat safety laws and security regulations to correctly use the forward-facing car seats. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, your child must be of required size and weight to be able to use a forward-facing car seat. 

If not, you mustn't place your kid into a forward-facing car seat. That would be illegal.

In addition, all US states have their car seat laws, and you must obey the rules, but they vary depending on the state. You can find them here and examine all details. 

When to switch to a forward-facing car seat?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should remain in their rear-facing seats until they have exceeded the height and weight recommendations for the rear-facing position.

As soon as they do, it's time to switch to the forward-facing seats.

In addition, it's essential to use the 5-point harness as one of the safest restraining devices during car transportation.

What are the laws for forward-facing car seats?

As the NHTSA experts state, you should keep your children in the rear-facing car seats as long as possible. They are the safest!

They should remain in the rear-facing seats until they're ready for the forward-facing car seats.

To use the seats, they must exceed the maximum weight and size limits the manufacturer allows.

Roughly speaking, they can be between 1 and 3 or 4 and 7 years old. Therefore, it would be best to use the forward-facing models when preschoolers and toddlers.

And, their seats must have harness systems and tethers until they again reach the maximum weight and size limit issued by the manufacturer.

What is the minimum weight for forward-facing car seats?

The NHTSA and the AAP experts recommend keeping your child in the rear-facing car seats as long as possible.

Once they overgrow the maximum size limits, they are ready for the forward-facing seats.

They should be at least two years old to use the forward-facing seat. In addition, their weight should be at least 40 or 50 pounds to be able to use the forward-facing car seats correctly.

So, they will keep your baby safe until they are ready to use the next-level seats - booster car seats. They must be between 65 and 100 pounds for the next car seat. 

What are the best forward-facing car seats that recline?

You can find multiple models, including boosters or convertible seats.

You can go for the Graco Sequence 65 Convertible Car Seat, as it offers a lightweight structure and six reclining positions.

However, many experts agree that the best forward-facing car seat is the Britax Grow with You ClickTight Harness-2-Booster Car Seat due to its multiple reclining options.

However, you can always find other multiple models available on Amazon or here.

Our reviews offer only high-quality models with maximum safety standards and comfort benefits for your little ones. So, whatever choice you make, you cannot go wrong.

But, you can examine the reviews thoroughly to find the best solution.

Are forward-facing car seats allowed in the front?

They are, yet it's not recommendable. The forward-facing car seats must be installed in the vehicle's back seat, in the central position if possible, but if not, then near the window.

However, if you cannot install the car seat in the back seat of your vehicle, you can install it in the front seat. But, you must keep the seat at the maximum distance from your airbag system.

Otherwise, the airbag system can cause severe injuries to your little one due to pressure and forces in the potential accident. And you want to avoid it.

Find more info here about the proper car seat installation.

Should a forward-facing car seat be placed in the middle?

All car seats: if possible, should be placed in the back seat of your vehicle, in the central or middle position.

However, when you have two or more kids, the situation will change.

If you have a rear-facing and forward-facing car seat in the back seat of your vehicle, it would be best to place the forward-facing seat in the middle and the rear-facing seat next to the window.

The main reason for this is that the forward-facing seat has fewer safety benefits than the rear-facing car seat.

So, they are more vulnerable than your infants and more minor children and must be in the middle position.

Is a forward-facing car seat bad for a baby?

Yes, forward-facing seats are bad for the baby! Instead, babies and toddlers should ride rear-facing for as long as they fit the height and weight of the seat.

A baby is the safest in their infant car seats that are installed rear-facing.

The reason is that the rear-facing infant seat will absorb most of the crash forces during a collision and support the baby's head, neck, and spine.

Do forward-facing car seats need a base?

Forward-facing car seats keep your children upright to accommodate their longer legs. On the other hand, rear-facing car seats lean children backward. 

For this reason, the forward-facing car seats do not require a car seat base. Instead, you can attach the car seat as a wholesome unit. 

However, you need another installation model to use the car seat without the base. Thus, you must follow your instructions to use the seat belt system and attach it properly to the car seat. 

But, if you're still not sure about the procedure, you can consult your authorized safety technician or watch numerous videos to install the seat correctly.

Does a forward-facing booster seat have cup holders?

Some forward-facing car seats do have cup holders or only one removable cup holder, but other specific models may not have them at all.

The ultimate choice depends on your kid's needs and demands.

However, if you have a car seat without cup holders, you can purchase the cup holders separately to make your kids' trip more comfortable.

In addition, you can easily wash the units if they get too dirty.

It would be best to check our articles regarding the best convertible seats or find the models directly on Amazon to find the best models with or without removable cup holders.

Do forward-facing car seats expire?

Yes, they do. Typically, car seats will expire after six years after their date of manufacturing.

You can find the detailed info about car seat expiration & its serial number on the label usually attached to the car seat.

However, the procedure is different if you have a car crash. In that case, you must replace your car seat immediately!

Even if you don't see the external, physical damage on the seat's construction, you must replace it instantly, as there might be internal damage in the composition.

So, once your car seat takes place in a crash, its expiration date is instant.

What is the difference between a forward-facing car seat and a booster seat?

By following the guidelines of AAP, booster seats are to be used by toddlers who have outgrown their forward-facing seats.

The significant difference between these car seats is the harness.

With forward-facing seats, it's only possible to use a harness, whether it be a 3-point or a 5-point one.

However, boosters can be used either with a car's seat belt or a harness.

In addition, they can be either high back or backless, where the latter is reserved for older kids.

How do you install the convertible seats in rear-facing car seat mode?

Follow the procedure below:

- take the recline bar at the front of the seat and recline it

- follow the level indicators at the seat's side to find the best angle

- place the anti-rebound bar into two little inserts at the seat's front 

- find two belt paths - in the middle and bottom for forward or rear-facing

- feed the seat belt through the bottom path for the rear mode

- bring it over to the other side

- get it ready to buckle it in 

- once you get it through, go ahead and buckle it in

- take the shoulder belt and pull it all the way up, letting it back while it clicks

- it indicates that you have locked the seat belt 

- take the seat, push it to the vehicle seat and pull the shoulder belt of the seat pump 

- shake it a bit to see if it moves less or more than an inch in all directions, to prove its stability

Final Winner

When it comes to forward-facing car seats, my ultimate pick would be the Graco Tranzitions 3 In 1 Harness Booster Seat.

It's relatively lightweight and easy to use while accommodating to preschoolers and toddlers!

In addition, it can be used as a high back booster and as a backless booster, so as soon as your kid transitions from rear-facing car seats, you can use this one! 

Plus, it's one of the best budget-friendly options on our list!

Last Words

Child transportation security is our top priority, but so is informing on the right car seat you should use in different stages of infancy, toddlers and preschool.

These were a few of the top recommendations you can get if you are looking for a high-quality best toddler car seat in 2022.

I hope you have decided on your favorite one! Until next time!