Find the Best All-in-One Car Seat of 2023: Expert Reviews, Pros & Cons, Comparison Table, and FAQs. We Tested ⭐ Britax One4Life ClickTight, Graco 4Ever DLX, and Chicco Fit4!
Features To Look For In The Best 4-in-1 Car Seats (All-in-One)
- Safety Ratings – Make sure to look at the safety ratings of any car seat before purchasing. The higher the safety ratings, the better it will protect your child.
- Comfort – Make sure that the car seat is comfortable and ergonomically designed. It should also have a recline feature so your child can lie back and relax during a long drive or nap time.
- Durability – Quality and durability are important features to look for in an all-in-one car seat (4-in-1). Look for one with sturdy materials that can withstand years of use and wear and tear.
- Versatility – An all–in–one car seat should provide four different seating options — a rear–facing infant carrier, forward-facing toddler car seat, high–back booster, and belt–positioning booster. This allows you to transition your child into different types of seating as they grow older without having to purchase new seats.
- Ease Of Use – Choose a car seat that is easy to install and adjust so you don’t waste time trying to figure it out while driving. Also, make sure that the belts are easy to buckle up securely each time you get in the car.
Comparison of the best all-in-one car seats (4-in-1): Britax One4life vs Chicco Fit4 vs Graco 4Ever DLX
Rear-Facing Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Forward-Facing Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Booster Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rear-Facing Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Forward-Facing Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Booster Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rear-Facing Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Forward-Facing Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Booster Mode:
⭐⭐⭐
Rear-Facing Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Forward-Facing Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Booster Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rear-Facing Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Forward-Facing Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Booster Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rear-Facing Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Forward-Facing Mode:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Booster Mode:
⭐⭐⭐
What are All-in-One or 4-in-1 car seats?
All-in-one or 4-in-1 car seats are designed to grow with your child. They can be used as a rear-facing infant seat, a forward-facing toddler seat, and a booster seat for older kids.
Some models also have a built-in harness, so they can be used as a 5-point harness car seat for children up to 65 pounds. This makes all-in-one seats a great investment since you won’t need to buy a new seat as your child grows.
Benefits of all-in-one car seats (4-in-1)
- First, they are very versatile and can be used for children of all ages.
- Second, they are usually very comfortable for kids, since they have more padding than other types of car seats.
- Third, all-in-one seats tend to be very safe, since they are often equipped with features like side impact protection and adjustable headrests.
- Finally, these seats are a great value since you won’t need to purchase multiple car seats as your child grows.
How to choose the best all-in-one car seat for your family?
When choosing an all-in-one car seat, there are several factors you’ll need to consider.
- First, think about your budget. All-in-one seats can range in price from under $100 to over $300.
- Second, think about the features that are most important to you. Some seats come with extras like a cup holder or built-in storage, while others have more basic designs.
- Third, consider the size and weight of the seat. Some all-in-one seats are very bulky and heavy, while others are more compact and lightweight.
- Finally, make sure to read the reviews! Our team has tested and reviewed dozens of all-in-one car seats, so we can help you find the perfect one for your family.
The best all-in-one car seat on 2023
Advantage
- Easiest install in rear-facing position
- Great safety ratings
- Easy to use the incline settings
- Fits a toddler very well in extended rear-facing
- The headrest is easy to change
- The crotch belt path is very easy to adjust
- The fabric feels soft to the touch
Disadvantage
- The harness straps for rear-facing are a downgrade from what they are on the B-safe line (seatbelt click style) whereas these are simply push-hooks that take some finagling and patience to set up
Britax One4Life Clicktight: NHTSA Ease of Use Ratings
The best Graco 4-in-1 car seat
Advantage
- The quality of the product is great;
- Easy to install to the car;
- Easy to adjust as the children grow;
- Easy adjustable seat positions and the extra padding;
- 4-in-1 car seat gives 10 years of use.
Disadvantage
- Even if you "recline" it to number 1 position, the baby still sits very vertical, when he sleeps his head falls to the front in a kind of worrisome manner.
Graco 4Ever DLX: NHTSA Ease of Use Ratings
The best Chicco all-in-one car seat
Advantage
- Easy to install and adjust
- Compact and easy to store
- Lightweight design makes it easy to move between cars
- You don't have to fight with the strap release button
- The straps lay out of the way when not in use
- Includes an anti-rebound bar for additional protection
- Energy-absorbing base and foam liners help reduce impact forces in a crash
Disadvantage
- Can be difficult to adjust straps when transitioning between stages
- Expensive compared to other convertible car seats on the market
Chicco Fit4: NHTSA Ease of Use Ratings
How We Tested
When it comes to finding the best all-in-one car seat for your family, you want to make sure you’re getting the safest and most reliable product.
That’s why we put in the research to find out how we tested all-in-one car seats (4-in-1).
- We evaluated over 75 convertible seats since 2019, interviewing safety experts and poring over reviews.
- We conducted side-by-side tests of each convertible car seat over several months to determine the best in metrics like crash test performance, ease of installation, comfort, and more.
- We also looked at features such as SensorSafe technology which is built into the chest clip of some models. This feature helps alert parents when their child has been left in a vehicle or if they unbuckle themselves while driving.
At the end of our testing process, we had a list of top-rated all-in-one car seats that are suitable for children from birth to booster age. Our recommendations include Britax One4Life ClickTight Convertible Car Seat.
No matter which model you choose, make sure it meets your state’s safety standards and fits properly in your vehicle before making a purchase.
Compare comfort with the best all-in-one car seats
- The Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One Car Seat, Graco 4Ever DLX 4 in 1 Car Seat, and Chicco Fit4 4-In-1 Convertible Car Seat are all great options when it comes to comfort.
- The Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One Car Seat is designed with an extra layer of side impact protection and a deep foam-lined shell that provides superior comfort for your child.
- The Graco 4Ever DLX 4 in 1 Car Seat features a 10-position headrest and 6 recline positions to ensure your child is comfortable in any situation.
- Finally, the Chicco Fit4 4-In-1 Convertible Car Seat has a one-pull harness tightener that allows you to easily adjust the straps for maximum comfort.
All three of these car seats have been designed with comfort in mind, so you can be sure that your child will be safe and comfortable no matter which seat you choose.
Each seat offers different features that make them stand out from the rest, so it’s important to consider your needs before making a decision.
No matter which car seat you choose, you can be sure that your child will be safe and comfortable while riding in it.
Compare Ease Of Use with the best 4-In-1 car seats
- When it comes to ease of use, the Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One Car Seat stands out from the crowd. This car seat is designed to grow with your child from 5 – 120 lbs and up to 63″ tall, making it a great long-term investment.
Installation is made easy with its ClickTight technology, which features color-coded belt guides for quick and secure installation. - The Graco 4Ever DLX 4 in 1 Car Seat is also a great option for parents looking for an all-in-one car seat that will last their child through multiple stages of growth. It accommodates children up to 120 pounds and 57 inches tall, making it suitable for children up to 10 years old.
- The Chicco Fit4 4-In-1 Convertible Car Seat is another popular choice among parents due to its user-friendly design and adjustable headrest. It can accommodate children from 14 pounds up to 65 pounds and 49 inches tall, making it a great option for growing families.
Final Thoughts
The Britax One4Life ClickTight is one of the best all-in-one car seats on the market.
It has great safety ratings from NHTSA.gov and is very easy to install in the rear-facing position.
The incline settings are easy to use and it fits a toddler very well in extended rear-facing. The headrest is easy to change and the crotch belt path is very easy to adjust.
The fabric feels soft to the touch. The harness straps for rear-facing are a downgrade from what they are on the B-safe line (seatbelt click style) whereas these are simply push-hooks that take some finagling and patience to set up.
Sources:
- Child Passenger Safety https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/5/e20182460/38530/Child-Passenger-Safety
- Why Rear Facing: the Science Junkie’s Guide
- Car Seat Ease-of-Use Ratings https://www.nhtsa.gov/car-seats-and-booster-seats/car-seat-ease-use-ratings
After seeing a thousand options, this seemed to us the safest, my baby is comfortable although I feel that for RN and babies under 3m if an additional cushion is needed so that they do not hurt their necks since the head part is wide and they go sideways, I bought an additional cushion for that and the problem was solved
Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One Car Seat
Britax One4Life ClickTight: How easy is it to remove the cover for washing?
Would the Graco 4Ever DLX4-in-1 car seat need a base?
No, the Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat would not need a base to be used. The car seat’s frame is all one piece with the base included.