Finally Revealed Big Kid Car Seat
They almost made it to daycare… another driver just T-boned their car…
Accidents are horrible. And they get worse when little ones get in the middle of them.
Sadly car accidents are all too frequent. If you want confirmation, just check your insurance premium. The higher they go means, the more accidents are happening.
You’re looking for a big kid car seat. This means that your little one is not so little anymore, and it’s time to upgrade. Now you can go with the next stage or get a car seat which will be used until there’s no need for one.
Decisions, decisions…
Look:
I know that the market is flooded with many car seats. To make things worse, you have to check a bunch of reviews and some dry features. Typically this whole process takes weeks if not longer.
This is why I’ve created the Best Big Kid Car Seat article. My purpose is to save you time. If I’ve achieved that, then you can use it on something more productive. By reading this post to the end, you will find the best car seat that is the right fit for you.
I didn’t go overboard and listed 98 car seats because that’s useless. I’ve chosen only the ones that are the very best and deserve to be on the list.
Also, I haven’t forgotten about the accident above. In a bit, I will share with you what happened in greater detail. You will find out which car seat was tested in real circumstances. And I will reveal how it performed.
Now let’s get this best article started.
#1 Clek Oobr High Back Booster Car Seat – Best Big Kid Car Seat
Clek Oobr High Back Booster Car Seat won the Best Big Kid Car Seat award.
Let’s face it kids always want something cool. After a certain age, they want to stand out from the crowd. The Clek Oobr answers this call perfectly. It’s one of the coolest looking car seats you can get.
Now there’s more behind the looks that you can imagine. First of all, it’s one of the safest car seats around. It has a strong magnesium frame and great side impact protection.
This car seat caters to the older kids from 40 to 100 pounds. This could be the last car seat that you ever have to buy. It’s a long-lasting one.
As for kids, there’s one more important factor besides the looks, which is the comfort. It has a recline feature so kids will be able to sleep without having their heads flop.
For parents, the installation is key. Clek did an outstanding job with this big kid car seat. It uses the rigid latch system. In less than 10 seconds, you have installed, and you can’t get it wrong. It’s so simple that why don’t other brands use this system?
Clek is known for making the most eco-friendly cover ever. They don’t use any harmful chemicals or flame retardants. Their secret is merino wool. So if you have a child with sensitive skin, this car seat is the winner.
With all these features, no wonder it won the best kid car seat award.
Pros:
It’s the best looking and safest car seat on the market
Right side click then left side click, and it’s installed
Superior fabric without any trace of toxic chemicals
Cons:
It’s a pricey car seat to buy
In certain cars, it might cover the belt buckle
#2 Chicco Myfit Harness + Booster Car Seat – The Coolest Big Kid Car Seat
He’s not breathing! Get to the Hospital!
These are scary words that no parent should hear. Yet for some friends of ours, this was quite frequent. You see, they have a little son who has breathing difficulties. If something blocked his breathing, he ended up in the ER.
The last scare came from the new car seat. Every time he has fallen asleep, his head will flop, and his breathing would stop. Now they have searched a lot until they have found the Chicco Myfit. This was the only car seat that had no head flopping.
Now they are much safer drivers since they don’t constantly check on their child through the rearview mirror.
The Chicco MyFit is the coolest car seat around. It’s so different, and it doesn’t look like all the other baby seats.
Besides looking like a professional race car seat, a lot is going on under the hood. Since it caters to big kids, the weight limit is set between 25 and 100 pounds. As you can see, you’ll be getting a lot of mileage out this car seat. Not to mention that this could be the last one you ever have to buy.
It has another key feature to keep in mind. It has a narrow base. The width is just 18”. This means that you can do 3 across without any issues.
The Chicco MyFit is the coolest car seat with a lot of hidden benefits.
Pros:
It’s a heavy-duty car seat that won’t move no matter what
Your child will sleep easily without the dreaded head slump
It’s well-cushioned, and it won’t overheat
Cons:
It has a narrow profile so thinner kids will be the most comfortable
Padding behind the belt not removable for washing
#3 Diono Radian 3RXT All-In-One Convertible Car Seat – The Narrowest Big Kid Car Seat
This incident happened with some friends of mine. The father took his son on their regular shopping run. Everything was the same. The little boy was sitting quietly in the back.
All this changed at the faithful intersection. Another driver ran the red light. Its impact was unavoidable.
The metal door screeched as it deformed under pressure. The collision happened on the same side, where the little boy was sitting. The front of their van was destroyed. The Diono Radianf saved a life that day. The little boy wasn’t hurt. He was fine.
First, let’s talk about safety. As you have seen above, this car seat delivers. With the steel frame, that little boy wasn’t harmed even in that horrible T-bone accident.
The biggest selling point for this big kid car seat is that it has a narrow profile. You can’t guess how wide it is. Here’s the answer it’s just 16.9”. This means that you will be able to do 3 across with ease.
The Diono Radian comes with many color combinations. You can pick the one that brings out your child’s personality. I love the colors they are so vibrant and energetic.
You’re getting a lot of mileage with this car seat. It can be used from 5 pounds all the way up to 120 pounds. Talk about money-saving in the long run.
If you have a big family or you want some extra space, the Diono Radian 3RXT is your best choice.
Pros:
Finally, a car seat where the baby isn’t slouching or sliding down
It’s lightweight and easy to move around
It’s soft and padded plus it comes with side impact protection
Cons:
The gray fabric is not that stain friendly
You can’t remove the fabric the only solution is spot cleaning.
#4 Britax Grow With You– The Most Comfortable Big Kid Car Seat
Britax is known for creating the most comfortable car seats. They have delivered as well with this Grow with You bid kid car seat.
It’s built like a tank for bigger kids. Since it caters to older demographics, the weight limits are set between 25 and 120 pounds. That’s a lot of mileage. After this seat, they will probably get their driver’s license. This Britax seat has a 9-year expiration date.
Kids will love this car seat because it resembles a miniature Nascar seat. This car seat stands out, and kids will love you if you get it for them.
The installation is the easiest I’ve seen. Ever since Britax came out with the Clicktight tech, life got a lot easier. All you have to do is pop open the back of the seat and guide the belt through. After that, you push it down, and your job is done. No additional force is needed.
Since kids will always be kids, you will know that they will leave a mess behind. So Britax thought of that as well. The cover can be easily removed, and machine washed.
The Britax Grow with You is the ultimate big kid car seat. It has the looks, and it’s super easy to install; that’s why I made it on my list.
Pros:
The safest car seat after you have clicked it in it doesn’t wiggle a bit
Your little one will be safe like a Nascar driver thanks to the 5-point harness
This is the ultimate traveling companion if you want to style
Cons:
Big and heavy you won’t be swapping between cars
This car seat needs better instructional videos
#5 Maxi-Cosi Magellan All-In-One Convertible Car Seat- Best Car Seat For Big Babies
This incident happened with my brother. It was his turn to drop their son off at daycare. The day started out with the usual rush. Everything went sideways when they crossed that intersection.
Another driver slammed into them. It was a horrible T-bone accident. The impact was deafening. Both cars got totaled instantly. The door bent into a weird angle because there was so much energy involved.
The father’s life was saved thanks to the airbags. When things got quiet, he checked on his son. He was lucky as well. He didn’t even have a scratch on him. He was scared, and he was fine.
This issue is a big one for many parents. What is the best car seat if you have big babies? If you have the money, then you have to upgrade earlier. Now for the rest of the parents, it’s better to go with car seats that cater to big babies.
The simplest solution would be getting a car seat that grows with your baby. This is why I’ve picked the Maxi Cosi Magellan. It can be used from 5 pounds all the way up to 120 pounds. Plus, it’s the roomiest car seat you can get. It’s not only roomy for your baby but the front row as well.
Besides being roomy, it’s super comfortable. Many parents told me that their kids have fallen in love with traveling after getting the Magellan car seat. Also, they sleep longer when they are strapped in.
All in all, the Maxi Cosi Magellan is a safe, roomy, and comfortable car seat. This is why I’ve picked it as the best car seat for big babies. It’s also the best Maxi Cosi car seat.
Pros:
It was crash tested in real life and the baby safe and sound
It’s one of the roomiest car seats you can get there’s space for the driver as well
It keeps infants and up to 10-year-old kids safe
Cons:
It’s heavy bulky and no way you can do three-way across
It has a steep learning curve
#6 Graco Tranzitions 3 In 1 Harness Booster Seat– Best Budget Big Kid Car Seat
This incident happened with a friend of mine. They were going home from ballet class with her daughter. She was occupied with something in the back.
It was their mundane commute. But everything changed when they stopped at that stop sign.
A drunk driver slammed into them from the back at 50 mph. The clash was loud. The trunk simply disappeared, and the back window shattered into pieces. To make things worse, the impact was so strong that the backseat deformed.
After things quieted down, the mother instinctively reached for her daughter. She was scared and wide-eyed. She was unhurt. All glass shards missed her. She was fine.
The accident above proves that it’s a safe car seat even if it’s cheap. You’re getting a lot of bonuses with this car seat. It’s affordable and gives you a lot of mileage. Obviously, it caters to bigger kids. The limits are set to 22 pounds and 100 pounds. As you can see, your child will be able to travel safely and comfortably for the years to come.
It will be the last car seat that you ever have to buy. It’s lightweight, so it’s an ideal car seat for traveling. Not to mention beats all those expensive and uncomfortable rental car seats. Stick with this one, and you can’t go wrong.
Finally, I want to mention that the Graco Tranzitions has a narrow profile. 3 across will be easy to do. It’s also one of the top-rated car seats for 3 across.
If you want an affordable car seat full of features, the Graco Tranzitions are the best solution.
Pros:
Finally, a super lightweight car seat that’s easy to transition in and out
It has a narrow profile so three car seat can be fitted in the back
The cushion gives extra comfort, so it’s good on long road trips
Cons:
The armrest feels short you can only utilize them in backless booster mode
It’s not the prettiest car seat around it gives a cheap feeling
If you liked this article, you might also like: What is the best Graco car seat?
Buyer’s Guide
Here’s another bonus for you. To make your job easier, I include a small buyer’s guide. As you know, I review many car seats, so I had to create my own system.
Before I get to that, here are a few hot tips to keep in mind.
First of all, you have to decide where you’ll install the car seat. The safest space is in the middle of the car. Now for some, this is not doing, so there’s the second option behind the driver.
My second tip is about the install. All car seats are safe on the market because they passed the safety tests. If the car seat isn’t mounted properly, then it won’t be able to protect your child 100%. This is why it’s so important to keep the wiggle room under an inch.
Let’s get this buyer’s guide started.
Safety
This is the first and most important item on the list. Now here’s the truth all car seats are safe because they have to pass the government standards. Still, there’s a difference between the brands. For example, some barely pass it, and others go beyond the minimums.
The typical safety features include front and rear collisions. In recent years there has been a rise in side impacts. So a fair number of brands started, including side-impact protection or SIP. The more layers it can provide, the better it is. Typically there are between one to three layers.
Size Limits
This is the second category that I check. It’s good to know ahead of time how long you will be using it.
The longer you can use it, the later you have to upgrade, and the more money you’re saving.
Also, check if the car seat allows extended rear-facing or harness mode. Rear-facing gives the most protection possible for little ones. And harness mode offers more protection to little kids than the seat belt.
Install
Just recently read a troubling study which showed that 75% of car seats are installed poorly. This means that children aren’t protected by 100%.
This is so important to not just getting the right car seat but the one that’s the easiest to install. There’s some good news for you.
Lately, all major brands have evolved their installation process, so it has become effortless. From auto tightening to on push, I’ve seen them all.
Fabric
This is the last important item on my list. We’re dealing with kids so you can expect a mess and accidents. So it’s good to know how easy or hard it is to wash the cover.
This is the end of the buyer’s guide. If you like it, you can copy it.
Conclusions
We have reached the end of the best big kid car seat article. I hope you have learned a lot. By now, you should know which the right fit is for you. Now it’s your turn to take action because last time I’ve checked stocks were running low, you have to move fast and get it.
If you have tips or ideas, you can share them below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What is the safest car seat for a 5 year old?
The safest car seat for a 5 year old is the Britax Grow with You clicktight car seat.
What is the safest car seat on the market?
Currently the safest car seat on the market is the Britax Advocate.
What is best car seat for a 6 year old?
The best car seat for a 6 year old would be Britax Grow with You clicktight car seat.
Which is the best car seat for big kids?
The Clek Oobr is the best car seat for big kids.
Which is the best big kid car seat for coolness?
The Chicco Myfit is the coolest car seat for big kids.
Are big kid seats the booster seats?
Yes, the big kids seats are considered to be the ones that are above the convertible level. From forward facing and onward it’s considered to be a big kid seat.
What would a good alternative for these big kid booster seats?
There are many good booster seats on the market from high back booster seat to backless booster seat and even belt positioning booster seat. Here’s a quick list of alternatives: chicco kidfit high back boosters, graco affix, evenflo big kid high back booster seat, graco turbobooster backless booster car seat, other graco backless booster seats, peg perego viaggio shuttle high back booster seats. Actually many seats are recommended by the insurance institute for highway safety and the american academy of pediatrics such as graco affix , chicco kidfit high back booster seats, evenflo big kid backless boosters.
What are the weight and height limits for big kid seats in highback mode?
The weight requirements depend on how many year old your child is. The minimum weight requirements for convertibles is 20 pounds. The minimum weight requirements for booster car seats 40 pounds. If you want to use backless boosters than the it will be more than 40 pounds. Some forward facing booster seats are limited to 100 pounds. Other are limited to 120 pounds or 110 pounds. The most common weight requirements for a front facing car seat is 110 pounds. The 110 pounds is the upper limit. The upper limit for forward facing backless booster seats and for highback mode is 57 inches tall. Now if you’re interested in the best best booster seats i have a dedicated list for that. The 57 inches tall is 4 feet 9 inches. As you can see these highback mode booster seats are quite generous with their 57 inches tall height limit. These seats are recommended for kids who are at least 4 years old. The upper age limit is 12 years old. The height positions are adjustable with the booster seat.
What kind of safety standards do these highback mode booster seats for big kids come with?
On the list above there are only those booster seats that have the highest safety standards. Both the 2 in 1 and 3 in 1 booster seat comes with a 5 point harness for safety for a few year olds. It’s a good idea to have a booster seat with double foam padding the seat without it would be less secure.
How do you install a big kid booster seat?
Make sure you check out the manual and it will be easy to install. Also make sure to watch a few videos to be as fast as possible. The forward facing car seat can be installed with the car’s seat belt, latch system and the shoulder belt. The booster seat can only be secured with the vehicle seat belt. The safety belts (lap belt, seat belts) are mandatory in most states. The shoulder belt and the vehicle seat belt is harder to use and achieve belt fit.
What other features should you consider with a big kid booster seat?
The seat pad should be machine washable. The storage compartment are great to hide the harness covers and the harness straps when they are not in use. For long car rides cup holders are an essential. Some cup holders are machine washable.
Last Updated on October 25, 2023 by Brian Beasley