When it comes to affordable car seats, there are a lot of options on the market. It can be hard to determine which one is the best for your baby. In this article, we will review some of the best affordable car seats on the market and provide you with some useful tips on how to choose the right one for your needs. We’ll also answer some common questions that parents have about affordable car seats. So whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option or you just want to know more about affordable car seats, read on!
- Convertible car seats – these can be used as rear-facing or forward-facing car seats, and typically cost less than $200;
- Booster seats – these are for children who have outgrown their all-in-one or convertible car seat, and typically cost around $30;
- All-in-one car seats – these can be used from birth to about age 4, and typically cost between $100 and $200;
- Installation – most car seat installation services will charge around $50 to install a car seat;
- Car seat recalls – before you buy a car seat, check to see if it’s been recalled; many times, manufacturers will provide free replacement parts or even a new car seat altogether;
- Used car seats – depending on the condition of the used car seat, it may or may not be safe to use; always consult with an expert before using a used car seat.
Top list of affordable car seats
✔ Side impact protection: The grow and go’s side impact protection helps keep your child safe;
✔ No fuss for truly easy cleaning;
✔ One click UAS;
✔ EASY-TO-READ LEVEL INDICATOR: Helps eliminate guesswork from the installation process;
✔ PROTECTPLUS ENGINEERED: Helps protect your little one in frontal, side, rear, and rollover crashes;
✔ 4-POSITION ADJUSTABLE BASE;
✔ Graco ProtectPlus Engineered: a combination of the most rigorous crash tests that helps to protect your child in frontal, side, rear & rollover crashes;
✔ 8 position headrest is adjustable using one hand and easily adapts to your growing child's needs;
✔ Side impact protection: The grow and go’s side impact protection helps keep your child safe;
✔ No fuss for truly easy cleaning;
✔ One click UAS;
✔ EASY-TO-READ LEVEL INDICATOR: Helps eliminate guesswork from the installation process;
✔ PROTECTPLUS ENGINEERED: Helps protect your little one in frontal, side, rear, and rollover crashes;
✔ 4-POSITION ADJUSTABLE BASE;
✔ Graco ProtectPlus Engineered: a combination of the most rigorous crash tests that helps to protect your child in frontal, side, rear & rollover crashes;
✔ 8 position headrest is adjustable using one hand and easily adapts to your growing child's needs;
Best budget booster car seats
✔ The DuoZone combined head and shoulder protection with 10 positions for growing children;
✔ ErgoBoost double foam padding and contoured seat design provide support in all the right places;
✔ Removable, machine-washable seat pad armrest covers make this van optimized to care of your kids;
✔ IIHS Best Bet rating for use in booster mode;
✔ ASTM, and JPMA safety standards;
✔ 1 year limited warranty;
✔ The DuoZone combined head and shoulder protection with 10 positions for growing children;
✔ ErgoBoost double foam padding and contoured seat design provide support in all the right places;
✔ Removable, machine-washable seat pad armrest covers make this van optimized to care of your kids;
✔ IIHS Best Bet rating for use in booster mode;
✔ ASTM, and JPMA safety standards;
✔ 1 year limited warranty;
Best cheap car seats in 2022
PROS:
- Super comfortable, extra neck and lower body padding is a plus;
- Installation – watched a YouTube video and repeated steps with no problem;
- Easy tie back for straps;
- Lots of room for his legs;
- Easily Machine Washable;
- Under $200.
CONS:
- It has standard anchor clips, but they’re not too hard to use.
- It’s not at all easy to tighten the strap for the anchors.
Safety 1st Grow and Go All-in-One Convertible Car Seat FAQ
Can this car seat be used as a carrier for the baby?
This car seat can be used for an infant as small as 5 lbs and 19 inches, but it does not include a handle. This model is designed primarily with permanent installations to have more durability.
Are these car seat cup holders removable?
No, you can’t remove the cup holders from this car seat. They are integrated into its shell design and are non-removable.
Is it possible for your car seat to become a booster?
The Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in1 Convertible Car Seat does more than just convert between 5 positions; it’s also a great belt-positioning booster seat! The harness straps can be removed for use with children who are 40 pounds or less (but not less than 4 years old) as well as at least 52 inches tall.
The Safety 1st Grow and Go All-in-One car seat is the perfect seat for your growing child. It grows with your child through 3 stages, from 5 to 40 pounds in rear-facing mode, 22 to 65 pounds in forward-facing mode, and 40 to 100 pounds as a belt-positioning booster. The side impact protection helps keep your child safe, while the harness holders make it easy to get your child in and out of the seat.
The Safety 1st Grow and Go All-in-One car seat is the perfect option for parents on the go. With its Quickfit harness system, you can easily adjust both the harness and headrest in one simple step. The washable and dryer-safe seat pad also features snaps that make it simple to take off of the seat; no fuss for truly easy cleaning. Plus, with its One-click UAS system, installation is a breeze.
Hey guys. So I bought this car seat because she’s still in a baby car seat and, um, she will need a big one really, really soon. And so I wanna make sure she’s very comfortable. And since it was on sale, you know, I found something on sale had to buy it, um, decided to get it because it looks super comfortable.
So I’m going to try to open it, see if it’s easy to unbox put together. What have you? Okay, Guys, I have a different angle. Let me see if I can get this box over here. Hey, what did I do with scissors? Okay.
Okay. So here is the car seat. It’s the Safety 1st Grow and Go All-in-One car seat. Now my baby is getting bigger, so I do need a different car seat pretty soon. And since this one was, I think it was on sale or it was just a better, there was one that was like $240.
And I found this one that is similar exactly the same, uh, just a different brand for a hundred and something dollars. So she will need this pretty soon. Um, so yeah, that see how this goes. Cause uh, you know, the stroller did not go so well for me as y’all probably saw I was struggling.
The thing is huge Thing is so well it’s ready. Equipped.
It looks like it’s ready to go. Um, here it is from the side. Let me see it Here. It is. It looks so comfortable guys. I mean, it really does.
Doesn’t it? And this actually has Two things here. So, um, what do they Have these instructions at?
I, I don’t see it anywhere. It’s over here. I found it. Okay. So, Okay. Let me pause this or stop. So I’m just gonna show you how it declines real quick. Um, you pull a lever that’s right here and that’s where this recs there’s one. That’s two. So that’s for rear-facing. I do believe. And that’s it. That part.
Okay. So’s rear-facing. So my baby’s only 16 pounds. So she would use this rear-facing scene and then forward-facing is right there. And I really like it. It looks comfortable. Um, she always wants to sit up in her car seat, so we’re gonna see how that works. How much more up she can be, because I think you don’t have to recline it all the way with this car seat specifically.
I think you can have it slightly reclined, which is what I was looking for for her because in her car seat, in the car, she is always trying to lift herself up and okay. So then I’m gonna show y’all how it would look in my car because I have a Chevy Impala.
All right. Well, we’ll see. Hi. All right. So here I am. Here I am in my car. Um, just a moment.
Do you wanna see what I’m doing?
Okay. Let’s see How this works. So Now this is sitting up. Oh, um, this is super close. Yeah. I might have to grab that camera. Um, Turn it around and do the this
So this is reclined all the way. Um, if a tall person is driving this, it’s not gonna work because it’s already touching this seat over here. I don’t, you can see that that’s the seat. That’s my son. When he has his seat back, he’s kind of tall.
Um, but it’s already touching. It’s probably touching perfectly. So like my boyfriend wouldn’t even probably wanna drive with this thing like that. If it was reclined all the way, but I think I don’t have to recline it all the way. I think I would have level two for her, and this is much better. It’s in a sitting position and I think she would like it a lot better.
So I’m gonna let him like put it together. But I think that if it’s at a level two, the comfort for everybody, uh, would be good. Cuz I think that my kids’ dad is like five-eight, I guess. I don’t know. I forget, but Ooh, these locks look at that easy to get out to clean. I love that it has cup holders.
Um, and I hope that riding with a much more comfortable seat makes her happy because she cannot be in the vehicle for probably more than 20 minutes without getting upset without, you know, whining and crying. And it’s just so uncomfortable for her. So I’m hoping this makes a difference, but this is a really good sitting position. Um, and on the book, it says that she’s not tall enough to be forward-facing. I’m going to look into that cause I would rather her be in a forward-facing position.
Let me see, See, this is super cute. It looks like it’s super it’s well reclined and everything. Um, even if it was like, what’s that number two?
That’s number one, actually, number one looks really good too. So yeah, I’m gonna look into that and we’ll see how her dad, her dad puts this buckle is this and puts it together cuz I’m struggling.
And it does have a latch, which I have a latch-up here in this car. Um, I have latches in here. I do believe. And it looks like the forward-facing it does have a where you put the seatbelt in the back. So all three have the forward-facing and rear-facing, um, all have you have to put the seatbelt in here? Um, so it’s easy and yeah, I hope my baby likes it. We’ll see which I think she will.
Well, she better because I just already paid for it, but I’ll keep the box while what?
We have to move the car to the street to make sure it’s level the way it’s supposed to be. But I mean, if she’s allowed to be forward-facing, I think she will be so much happier. I think facing that way. She’s super unhappy. Um, but she’s just not 20 pounds yet.
She’s got four more pounds to go, so yeah. Okay, guys. So update on the car seat, having it at, I think it’s a level two on here is not a, a good idea cuz while I was on the road, my baby’s head was like this the whole freaking time my kids had to actually push her head and hold it back.
Best affordable infant car seat
PROS:
- Installs easily in multiple vehicles
- Lightweight and portable
- Compatible with Graco Click Connect strollers
- Easily transport your child without feeling weighed down
- Fits newborn well/adjusts easily
- Makes traveling with your little one a breeze
CONS:
- The stitching on the harness material where it comes out around the thighs is awful.
- The infant insert is basically useless. The head support piece is especially bad.
- The fabric on the seat cover feels cheap and itchy. The cover is also only held on my little pieces of plastic that tuck in.
Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX Infant Car Seat FAQ
What type of connection is the car seat equipped with: click connect or classic one?
This vehicle is a part of the Click Connect family.
Can the car seat's strap be adjusted while it is in the base?
To adjust the length of the harness, you have to remove the Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX Infant Car Seat from the base.
Is this car seat safe for an airplane?
The Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX Infant Car Seat is certified for use in aircraft. Please only install this on forward-facing seats and never backward-facing ones.
Looking for a lightweight and affordable infant car seat?
Look no further than the Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX!
This infant car seat is designed to help protect rear-facing infants 4-35 lb and up to 32″, making it a great choice for parents who want peace of mind when traveling with their little ones.
The SnugRide 35 Lite LX features a 4-position adjustable base, making it easy to find the perfect position for your baby, and an easy-to-read level indicator that takes the guesswork out of installation.
Plus, the SnugRide 35 Lite LX is equipped with ProtectPlus Engineering, which helps provide optimal protection in frontal, side, rear, and rollover crashes.
Best budget convertible car seat
PROS:
- Easy to install
- This seat is compact and fits well on the back seat of my car;
- The straps are easy to put on my granddaughter and take off;
- The straps fit properly on my baby when she is in the seat;
- The seat will adjust as she gets bigger.
CONS:
- You really need a second person pushing down on the middle of the seat while tightening the belt to get it secure enough
Graco Admiral 65 Convertible Car Seat FAQ
Is this car seat able to recline positions in both forward and backward-facing positions?
The recline feature on car seats is there to make sure you install your child’s seat properly in order for them to be as safe during an accident or sudden stop. You should not change this while using it, because then the installation could get compromised and lead to potentially harmful consequences.
Is it going to be too heavy for traveling by plane?
The car seat has no handle, but it’s still easy enough to carry.
What is the depth of your car seat when it’s rear-facing and reclined?
The car seat is long enough to fit any child’s needs. When rear-facing on headrest position 1, it measures 29″ in length; but with the 5th position the length will grow up to 31″.
Looking for a car seat that will provide your child with reliable protection in any type of crash? Look no further than the Graco Admiral 65. This car seat is equipped with the Graco ProtectPlus Engineered system, which has been rigorously crashing tested to ensure your child’s safety.
The Simply Safe Adjust Harness System also allows you to adjust the harness and headrest height together with just one easy motion, so you can get your child settled in quickly and easily. And don’t forget about comfort – the Admiral 65 comes with extra padding to keep your little one cozy during every ride.
This car seat features an 8 position headrest that is adjustable using one hand, so it can easily adapt to your growing child’s needs. It also has a Hassle-free installation in the rear-facing position using LATCH and an easy-to-read level indicator.
Hi, I’m Saara CPST. I’m a certified child passenger safety technician in the province of Rhode Island. Um, and I’m here to demonstrate how to install the Graco Contender 65 rear-facing, um, using the seatbelt installation. Um, this video does not replace your owner’s manual for the car seat or the vehicle.
Um, but I just wanted to give a hands-on visual demonstration on how to install the car seat. Um, there aren’t so many resources out there, or sometimes you see a video where there’s somebody installing the seat. They push down once and the seat’s magically installed. I want to give you a real-life demonstration. Uh, the seat is recommended a lot, so I figured it was good. I idea.
Um, I apologize if I’m a little out of breath or thing, it’s, uh, pretty cold here. We have a windshield of three degrees and I thank our videographer, Jesse, for all standing out in the cold on the floor east to film us.
So this is the Graco Contender 65 car seat. Its rear faces to 40 pounds and there’s no standing height limit for rear-facing. You just wanna make sure that as your child gets taller, you’ll extend the headrest. And once it’s fully extended, you need one inch of space under the red adjuster handle to the top of the child’s head. Um, it does four faces to 65, um, and 49 inches, but we’re only demonstrating the beer face and capabilities in this video.
So before you start installing, you wanna make sure first to be parked on a level surface, this type of seep, this seat has a ball indicator for the recline indicator. Um, and you always wanna make sure that when we’re facing you’re in the proper recline zone, and if you’re not parked on a level surface the ball, the indicator’s not gonna be working properly.
You’re also gonna wanna make sure to adjust the crotch buckle if necessary. There are two slots for the buckle. You wanna make sure the buckle is close to the child without coming out from underneath the child. Um, and once the seat’s installed, it’s pretty impossible to change that. See, I do that before installing the seat, but the harness can be adjusted while the seat’s installed without problems. So you can always wait until the seat’s installed and put your child inside and see where the proper he should be. You wanna make sure that the straps are always coming from at or below the child’s shoulders when we see them.
So the last step before installing is to flip the recline block on the bottom of the site seat
You’ll see there’s an orange side to match up before facing installations and a blue side to match up with the rear-facing installations. So all you have to do is flip the block. It locks into place. Blue matches up with blue. The recline indicator is showing the ball is in the blue zone, which is where it needs to be for rear-facing. There’s a light blue circle for zero months and older, and then a dark blue section for three months and older. Um, right now it’s a smack in the middle of the light blue zero months plus, so it’s perfect for any age of your face.
All convertible car seats have two belt pads underneath the child’s legs is where the rear face seatbelt path will be when we are, we are facing it’s closest to the seat back, and back here is the four-facing belt path.
So when installing for facing that will be closest to the seatbelt back
The first thing you wanna do is pull out your seat belt and thread it through the rear-facing belt path. Try not to pull it out all the way just yet, cause you don’t want it to accidentally block before you’re ready.
Now, all vehicles made, um, in the manufacturer year 1997, a newer are required to have locking seat belts. Um, the most common method of locking a seatbelt is called the switchable tractor, which is what this vehicle has. If you’re not sure how to lock your seat belts, your vehicle’s owner’s manual will have instructions and you can always meet with the CPSC to give you further guidance. So to lock the switchable track, he wants to pull out the seatbelt slowly all the way until it stops. And then let go and you’ll hear a ratchet and sound coming from the retract.
I’m gonna try to pull out the belt again
It’s gonna get stuck in a won command. Then you’re gonna wanna pull up on the shoulder belt and remove any excess webbing. Now I’ll often see people use one hand pushed down and the seat just is tight. Um, I guess lack the upper body strength. So I like to use my hips, my hands to push the seat down and back into the back of the vehicle seat to compress the cushions while pulling up on the shoulder belt, and then to test for movement.
You wanna use your non-dominant hand at the belt path, not up here, where it’s always gonna wiggle, but at the belt path and give it a tug for and backward and see if it moves more than one inch. In this case, I don’t see any movement. But if there is any movement, you would repeat the steps, push down, and pull up on the shoulder belt until you get less than one inch of movement, side to side, and front to back again. If you are testing up here, it’s gonna away. That’s not how to test for a secure install just at the belt path. That’s all you need to do.
You’re gonna double check that the recline indicator is still within the good zone. In this case, it’s actually a little bit out of the blue zone. So what you do to fix that is pushing down by the child’s feet. Make sure you’re pulling up to any slack and then double-check the ball again. And now it’s fully in the light blue zone.
If you’re having a hard time achieving the prop for recline, you can use a pool noodle with this seat and that’s a topic for another video. Thank you so much for watching.
Best cheap car seat for 4-year-old
PROS:
- Comparable in comfort and safety features.
- The latch release for the Chicco is a simple pulling on the strap in the front of the base and the one zip removal of the cover.
- You'll be able to quickly and easily remove the cover without any fuss.
- Comfortable for baby
- Safe for baby
CONS:
- Is a pretty big thing!
- It is extremely hard to pull the seat belt out in order to buckle.
- Latch release is easy to press
Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 Belt Positioning Booster Car Seat FAQ
Is the back of this car seat removable to convert it into a booster?
The back of this booster seat comes off to convert it into an even more superior mode, the perfect fit for your growing child. There’s also a release latch under where you would normally find seats that are equipped with backs – just make sure they meet all requirements before using.
Is it important to tighten both sides or just one side of the latches on a car seat?
The seat has a clever latch system that makes for easy tightening and release. The little hooks on the side of each loop fit into corresponding slots, so when you pull down in order to tighten it—both sides are simultaneously straightened out.
Is the frame of the car seat made from steel or plastic?
The car seat has heavy-duty plastic fabric that’s designed to protect your little one from injury in the event of an accident. The metal clips on this model make it easy for you to secure it tightly without worrying about ever forgetting.
The Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 Belt Positioning Booster Car Seat is the perfect seat for growing children.
With its DuoZone head and shoulder protection and 10 positions, it offers superior comfort and safety.
The SuperCinch LATCH attachment and one-pull tightener make it easy to keep the seat in place, while the ErgoBoost double foam padding and contoured seat design provide support in all the right places.
The 2 space-saving cup holders are perfect for snacks and drinks on the go, and the removable, machine-washable seat pad and armrest covers make it easy to keep the seat clean.
Best cheap booster car seat on 2022
PROS:
- Lightweight and slim size. It is very light, so you can take it anywhere! Plus there’s a cup holder my kids loved having someone store their stuff in too- makes traveling easier for everyone involved 🙂
- Install was super easy – straps are clearly labeled which makes working with this kind of seat less stressful than others I’ve had where once they’re installed on your car everything becomes clear but then after that its all up to chance because some people have luck catching their breath before finishing installing.
CONS:
- Durability is not very good after only 2 weeks of use, even though the seat itself seems like it’s made out of plastic. I’m worried about how long this will last before my kids are able to damage or rip through its fabric halves.
Cosco Finale Dx 2-In-1 Booster Car Seat FAQ
Is this car seat compatible with the latch system?
When used with the 5-point harness, this car seat can be installed using a latch system until your child reaches 50 lbs. Once they exceed that weight or if you switch to belt-positioning booster mode after installation then it’s time for them to use the vehicle belts.
Can the bottom car seat be detached from the backrest?
The bottom of the car seat is not detachable, but it can be used as a booster. You would just need to take out any 5-point harnesses and thread your own belt through their positioning slots so you’re safe while traveling.
Is this car seat rear facing?
What parents should know about the Finale DX 2-in1 car seat is that it can be used forward facing with a 5-point harness from 30 – 65 lbs., 32” to 49″. But if your child weighs 40something pounds or more then this may not work out well due to their height! You’ll want them in an appropriate booster mode instead where they’re over 43″.
This car seat is not approved for use as a rear-facing child seat.
The Cosco Finale DX 2-In-1 Combination Booster Car Seat is perfect for growing families and carpools. With a 5-point safety harness that converts to a belt-positioning booster seat, it accommodates children from 30 to 65 pounds forward-facing with a harness, and as a belt-positioning booster for toddlers and older kids 40 to 100 pounds. It’s easy to move from car to car, making it the perfect choice for busy families on the go.
The Cosco Finale Dx 2-In-1 converts from a regular car seat to a booster seat in no time, and it’s easy to keep clean. Just remove the pad and toss it in the washing machine and dryer – it’s that simple! This car seat meets all safety standards, so you can rest assured your child is safe while riding in your car. Plus, with its cool design and affordable price tag, the Cosco Finale Dx 2-In-1 is sure to be a hit with parents everywhere.
| Editors Choice: Top-list infant car seat |
|---|
| Best lightweight car seat in 2022 |
| Best narrow infant car seat |
| Best convertible car seat |
| Best affordable car seats |
The Review
Best affordable car seats in 2022
The Safety 1st Grow and Go All-in-One convertible car seat is perfect for budget-minded parents looking for a super comfortable option that will grow with their child. This seat can be used rear-facing from 5 to 40 pounds, forward-facing from 22 to 65 pounds, and as a belt-positioning booster for children up to 100 pounds. Plus, the easy tie-back straps and machine washable fabric make it a breeze to keep clean.
PROS
- Super comfortable;
- Installation;
- Easy tie back for straps;
- Lots of room for his legs;
- Easily Machine Washable;
- Under $200.
CONS
- It has standard anchor clips, but they’re not too hard to use.
- It’s not at all easy to tighten the strap for the anchors.
Review Breakdown
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Quality of material
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Durability
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Safety Features
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Leg room
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Versatility
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Easy to install
