In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

How We Tested Convertible Car Seats

Monday March 20, 2023
convertible car seat - this chart shows the head sensor data for the clek compared to that...
This chart shows the head sensor data for the Clek compared to that of the Evenflo.
Credit: BabyGearLab, MGA Research

Our convertible car seat testing process begins with spending tens of thousands of dollars on professional crash testing of each seat at the same crash test facility used by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). But, we don't stop there. The seats are compared side-by-side to evaluate their performance in relation to one another in each metric, and one of each is sent to MGA for crash testing. Multiple testers used the seats in different vehicles. We use 3-4 different vehicles in our ease of installation testing to get a better overall feel of each seat's average functionality and features. All products are used following the manufacturer's guidelines and under the supervision of a Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technician.

Before testing, we consulted with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a certified CPS Technician to assist in developing comprehensive tests for car seats. The car seat test plan and testing process were reviewed and monitored by Dr. Juliet Spurrier, BabyGearLab founder, mother of two, and a board-certified Pediatrician.

Crash Tests


We conducted research and analyzed the crash test data of sled crash tests in professionally prepared reports. BabyGearLab contracted with the same test facility that is used by NHTSA to perform crash tests on car seats. We used the same testing protocol used by NHTSA in compliance with the FMVSS 213 standard. We used our test data with additional crash test data from NHTSA's test results to formulate an analysis of each seat.

Tests utilized a crash test dummy with sensors located in various body parts that record G-forces exerted on the dummy during testing. We reviewed and analyzed the results obtained from the sensors and rated the seats in comparison to one another. Our crash tests were conducted with a Hybrid III 3 YO Part 572 P dummy (3-year-old test dummy) in a forward-facing position because NHTSA crash injury studies have shown that the risks of injury are far more significant when children are forward-facing. The heavier 3 yr old test dummy provides a more strenuous test of the seats. For those reasons, we consider testing with a heavier test dummy in a forward-facing position to be more informative concerning differences that translate to injury prevention.



The more a seat managed to exceed the federal safety standards, the higher it scored in our analysis of the results. It is important to remember that all of the products for sale in the US comply with federal safety guidelines. However, each seat we tested responded differently in the sled testing, and we believe the results can help differentiate the seats from one another.

Installing the Roundabout in the rear facing position is very easy
Installing the Roundabout in the rear facing position is very easy
Installing the Roundabout is almost the easiest in the group to...
Installing the Roundabout is almost the easiest in the group to install

Ease of Install


We installed each seat in at least three vehicles of varying size and different makes, from a compact sedan to a passenger truck. At least two different testers installed the seats according to the manual instructions. Each installation was overseen by a certified Child Passenger Safety technician to ensure they were properly installed. The installers then ranked each seat compared to the other seats in the group for ease of installation, and the scores for all testers were averaged to create a final score for each seat. This methodology was repeated for installation using LATCH and the vehicle belt in both the rear and front-facing positions.

Ease of Use


To test ease of use, we used the seats the way they would be used under normal circumstances and scored their results compared to the other seats in the group. We used the buckles and chest clips, tightened and loosened the harness, adjusted the harness heights, removed and cleaned the seat cover, and assessed LATCH storage to help determine how easy or difficult each seat is to use.

convertible car seat - the fabric on the chicco wraps around and tucks into the shell for a...
The fabric on the Chicco wraps around and tucks into the shell for a very impressive overall finish. We liked this better than those that wrap around with elastic and look more like slip covers
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Comfort/Quality


Testing comfort and quality are a bit more subjective than the other metrics. We compared each seat to one another and ranked each as compared to the other products. The testing included the padding, fabric, positioning/infant inserts, materials used, shell construction, and the overall fit and finish. The feedback obtained from testers was then averaged to determine its final score.

convertible car seat - while the slimfit is fairly lightweight for the group, at almost 19...
While the SlimFit is fairly lightweight for the group, at almost 19 lbs it is still probably too heavy to carry for long periods of time.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Weight/Size


The options we tested in this review were all weighed in both forward and rear-facing configurations. We measured them completely, and the width and weight had an equal impact on the final score for size. Each seat was weighed using the same scale performed by the same tester. The seat weights were ranked from the heaviest to the lightest and were scored appropriately.

Honest, objective reviews. Led by a Pediatrician.

BabyGearLab was founded by a Pediatrician Mom with a mission to provide a reliable, independent, source of information to new parents. Our experts have tested thousands of baby and kids products to share key performance, health, and safety findings. We spend tens of thousands of dollars crash testing car seats to inform our ratings. And, we combine our review work with gobs of expert parenting advice. To assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing by people who care.

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