After 3 weeks of research and data gathering, we have prepared the best car seats for 4-year-old list taking the safety and comfort of children in mind
A car seat is one of the most important things you need to buy for your kids as a parent. The only product that has the potential to make your child feel comfortable and can save his life is your car seat. Not only that, you can’t bring your child to the hospital without it if he is unwell.
Choosing the best travel seat for my child was very tricky for me because of so many options, and I was confused.
I have made many mistakes in buying these seats as every product comes with features and cons also.
But now I have experienced all the top-rated car seats as my family is wide and I often buy such products for my children and nephews. So, I decided to write a blog post to facilitate everyone buying car seats for their kids.
There are 3 major types of car seats:
- Infant-only car seats
- Convertible car seats
- Combination car seats
Infant-only Car Seats:
Infant car seats can generally use until the baby weighs 20-22 pounds height is also limited. These seats are very lightweight and are designed to be portable.
Convertible Car Seats:
Convertible car seats are the better option if you want your seat to last long as forward-facing and rear-facing. These seats are not portable and are designed to fit into the car.
Combination Car Seats:
The seat functions with a harness until the child weights 60-65 LBS. After that harness can be removed and the seat converts to a belt-positioning booster and can be used for kids weighing 80-100 LBS.
Best Car Seats for 4 Year Old
The best car seats for 4-year-old kids is the one that makes them feel comfortable and ensures the unbeatable safety of kids. The seat frame must be multi-layered so that in accidental situations, the seat stands are safer for your kids. Must be easy to use and maintain even for new users.
As everyone knows everything gets messy with the use of kids, the fabrics of the seat must be easily removable and washable so that you keep your seat neat and clean. The foam padding should be thick to provide extra comfort to your kids.
Here are some of the qualities you should consider before buying a car seat for 4-year-old.
Comfortability:
Comfortability is the main thing everyone needs for their kids. The seat must be made up of fine quality foam and thick coating to ensure a pleasant experience during rides. Because the major reason to buy any car seat for kids is to keep them extra comfortable and to feel safe and secure.
Easy to maintain and install:
The seat should be easy to latch and easy to remove when needed. Also, seat covers and fabrics must be removable to keep the seat neat and clean. The seat must be easy to upgrade.
Safety Structure:
We buy extra car seats to keep our kids safe and secure. Before buying one, make sure the seat comes with strong fame that has the ability to keep your child safe in any accidental situation. The sidewalls of the seat must be deep and multi-layered to keep your child fully safe in it.
Affordable:
Everyone wanted to buy a quality product that lasts long and its price must be affordable. There are also some products that pay a great value for your money and can be easily arranged at a minimum budget.
So, before buying one, make sure you are making the right decision and it’s the very best product for your child.
Check out our blog post if you want to know which one is the best travel car seat for growing children.
Top Picks
1. Graco Affix Highback Booster Seat – Best Car Seat For 4 Year old
Features
Graco AFFIX Highback Booster Car Seat keeps your child safe and secure during your drive, Graco affix comes with lower Latch anchor straps to keep the seat secure even when no one is riding in it. It’s also meet or exceed the US standard FMVSS 213.
It is easy to fix this booster with a vehicle seat, safety belt also makes it very safe and smooth during long tours. The seat also has 2 cup holders and hideaway storage for child drinks and snacks.
The main feature of Graco is its comfortability. The seat is made in such a comfortable and safe design that the child will feel very comfortable and light during long drives and tours. The 6 position headrest also makes it super easier for tall children of 57 inches to fit in it safely.
Why choose Graco Affix Highback Booster Seat:
As we are talking about the best car seats for a 4-year-old, I found Graco Affix the best option in terms of its safety features. The experience of my family with this booster was very smooth and safe. I highly recommend this seat in terms of its smooth experience, safety options, and attractive design.
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: GRACO
Material: Foam
Dimensions: 15.5 x 16.5 x 26.75 Inches
Item weight: 9.80 lbs.
Our Thoughts
The Graco Affix is a very comfortable and easy-to-use booster. We have used this many times in long routes and found it very comfortable and safe for our children.
A safety belt is the best thing I like in this seat as it fits on a variety of Childs. The seat was not so moving and the LATCH system fixes its lower side without any movement and keeps the seat safe even if Childs is not riding.
2. Diono Radian 3R – The Best Diono Convertible Car Seat
Features
Diono Radian 3R is the best convertible seat and can accommodate children up to 100 pounds that are pretty amazing.
The seat is designed and engineered in a very good manner to keep your child rear-facing even longer. It supports extended rear-facing use from 5 to 50 pounds (2.26 kg To 22.6 kg), and forward-facing use from 22 to 65 pounds (9.97 kg To 29.48 kg).
Radian 3R is a very slim-fit convertible design, enabling you to fit 3 across the back seat without compromising the comfort of a child or passenger.
Due to its foldable design, it is easy to carry and can be used as a chair for your child in some scenarios.
The frame of the seat is made up of reinforced auto-motive grade steel that keeps your car sturdy.
The sides of the seat are reinforced with aluminum and a thick layer of fine foam that keeps your child safe and secure during the drive. Even in accidental situations, this foam has the ability to protect the child.
The super LATCH system makes it easy to install in the car and after the audible click, the seat is adequately latched and your child is safe now.
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Diono
Installation type: LATCH
Material: Plastic, Metal
Orientation: Convertible Seat
Product Dimensions: 16 x 17 x 28.5 inches
Why choose DIONO RADIAN 3R?
I have used many car seats for my Childs and nephews, but I found Diono Radian 3R very appealing for its multiple features like extra comfort, compact, ease of use and installation, incredible safety options, and the price of this seat is very reasonable.
We have used these seats in many long routes, family trips and for its slim design, it was very easy to install 3 across the backseat. Our experience with Radian 3R was very safe and comfy. I highly recommend this seat for its easy use and better safety.
Our Thoughts
Diono radian 3R is the best car seat for 4 years old in terms of its easy installation and better safety features. I found its design very slim and 3 of the seats can be fixed in a row that is quite amazing.
Its removable covers are very easy to clean and can easily be re-installed. Its super LATCH system was good, an audible click is a very good addition for new users.
3. Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat
Features
Graco Extend2Fit is a convertible car seat designed to protect your child while traveling and even in some accidental situations. The perfect option for rear-facing use for babies from Four to Fifty LBS and for forward-facing toddlers weight must be around 22 to 65 LBS.
Graco Extend2Fit is one of the best car seats for 4 year old for its unbeatable features like 6 position recline feature, infant and head pad for extra comfort, no re-thread harness, and 4 position foot extender. Graco also doesn’t compromise on safety and Extend2Fit comes with very fine quality foam padding and a strong frame that ensures extra safety for your child.
The fuss-free harness is also a very good feature of Extend2Fit, it has included harness storage that makes it super easier for Childs and parents to get them out and in.
It needs some up-gradation for its seat covers as I found them very tricky to remove and replace for cleaning. Versions that come with easy-to-remove covers are too expensive. But still pays great value for every penny you pay in terms of its safety and extra comfort.
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Graco
Item Weight: 19 lbs.
Orientation: fwd facing, rear-facing
Steel reinforced frame
2 removable integrated cup holders
Why choose Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat:
My experience with Graco Extend2Fit was awesome as it pays good value for money. Some of its features like safety, comfy sides and headrest, extra space for legroom, and rich design make me and my family fully satisfied by this beauty.
I have used this seat 3-4 times occasionally by taking it from my friend and it performed very well as compared to most of the top-rated convertible seats.
Despite its difficult removal of seat covers, I found it very efficient. I highly recommend this seat for its comfortable experience and rich design.
Our Thoughts
The main reason to buy a travel car seat is to keep our children safe from any harsh situation and make them feel comfortable. The steel-reinforced frame of Extend2Fit performs very well and ensures comfortability in any type of rough road and also provides you better safety options to keep your child safe in any critical situation.
4. Diono Monterey XT Latch 2 in 1 High Back Booster Car Seat
Features
Diono Monterey comes with a superior quality core model that is designed and made with strong and trusted materials that furnish the ultimate safety and comfort to your kids. It is also the most inexpensive model with multiple features available in the market.
The seat has an Energy-absorbing liner that comes with excellent quality foam. It provides safety to your child and keeps your child feel comfortable even on long rides. There are also 2 cup holders on both sides of the seats to keep the drinks and snacks closer to the kid.
As everyone knows everything gets messy with kids, seats also get some dust and drink scars that are not easy to clean. However, seat covers and pads are super easy to remove and the fabric is machine washable that keeps your car seat very neat and clean.
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Diono
Item Dimensions LengthxWidthxHeight: 17.5″D x 22″W x 27.2″H
Product Weight: 15.2 LBS.
Material: Polypropylene, High Density Polyethylene, Metal
Shoulder belt positioning strap
Why choose Diono Monterey?
I found Diono Monterey a very impressive product as its price is very reasonable.
We often use this seat for locals and it provides a pleasant feel and a safe journey. The seat was also easy to assemble and install and is sturdy after installation that ensures the safety of your child.
However, the seat doesn’t perform very well in long routes, still pays the best value for every single penny you paid. I recommend this seat for its multiple features at a reasonable price.
Our Thoughts
In my list of best car seats for 4 years old, the Diono Monterey is a very inexpensive seat with multiple features that only comes with high-end seats at a high price. The seat is very comfortable and lightweight. Easy to install and easy to remove its covers and pads and fabric is machine washable.
5. Britax Highpoint 2-Stage Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat
Features
Britax Highpoint 2-Stage Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat is the new and upgraded model of Britax. Its previous models were designed as a high-end booster seat, but this upgraded model easily converts to a backless booster.
The adjustable headrest has 10 height positions that can easily be adjusted as per the needs of the traveler.
The design of the seat includes deep walls to ensure full protection to the head and body. The Britax is a trusted brand and is positively reviewed by most experts for its unbeatable safety preferences.
The soft and breathable material, fine quality shell, and armrests add up extra ease to your child. Cup holders for drinks make it easier for you to feed the kids while driving.
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Britax
Product Dimensions: 16 x 19.5 x 27.5 Inches (LengthxWidthxHeight)
Product Weight: 12 Pounds (5.44 KG)
Material: Foam, Plush
Why choose Britax Highpoint Car Seat?
I have used this seat for my daughter occasionally, but that was an awesome experience. She was very happy with the rich design and ventilated fabric of the seat. I found this product of Britax very safe and secure.
Its energy-absorbing shell was very responsive and the headrest was very comfy and easy to fix. The overall experience was very spectacular. I highly recommend this product for its unbeatable safety.
Our Thoughts
The Britax Highpoint is one of the top-rated boosters available in the market. Britax Highpoint is the best option when it comes to the safety and quality of the material. It is comfortable, comfortable and comes with shoulder rests and cup holders for ease for kids. As long as you don’t mind the inability of its seat covers that are not machine washable, it’s the best option for you and your family.
6. Britax Skyline Belt-Positioning Booster Seat
Features
Britax is a positively reviewed brand by most experts for the unbeatable safety and comfortability they provide, Britax Skyline is also a high-end model with multiple features and safety options.
Some of its pros include comfy back and sides, strong frame with foam padding, premium fabric covers of the seat and I found it very easy to install.
2 layers of side protection include an energy-absorbing shell and an adjustable headrest with 10 height positions. Quick push LATCH connectors make it easier to rapidly install and uninstall the seat.
The cover of the seat is connected by an elastic loop and I found it very easy to remove. The fabric was machine washable and easy to clean.
Besides all this, I found its shoulder belt a little tricky to use but it’s not a serious or major issue when it comes to your child’s safety. Britax Skyline Booster is also 2 in one and can easily convertible to a backless booster that can perform very well in forward-facing.
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Britax
Product Dimensions: (L x W x H) 16x 19.5 x 27.5
Product Weight: 11 Pounds
Material: Foam and Fabric
1-Year Warranty
Why Choose Britax Skyline Booster Seat?
The overall experience with this seat was awesome. Its thick protection wall was very strong and the headrest was also comfy and secure. It is easy to use and install. Seat covers often get messy with kids but covers were removable and machine washable. I highly recommend this seat for its comfy and safe rides.
Our Thoughts
The Britax Skyline booster is the best car seat for kids of 4-5 years. Those parents who buy these seats are very conscious of their child’s safety and comfort.
The Britax Skyline is the best option for such parents to choose as it provides extra comfortability and ultimate safety to your child on a reasonable budget.
2 layers of side impact protection ensure the safety of the body and head in any harsh situation. I observe that its seat covers and foam padding are breathable and my kid was very comfortable and easy while traveling.
7. Chicco MyFit Harness Booster Car Seat
Features
Chicco is a trusted brand in developing car seats and has won multiple awards by making high-end seats like KeyFit and NextFit. It is also an upgraded model of Chicco that comes with multiple features and the ultimate safety structure to keep the traveler secure and comfortable in any circumstances.
It is designed for growing Childs, it’s basically the combination of both harness and booster seat that grows with your child.
Its adjustable 9-Position seat also makes it significant and you can easily adjust its height as per your needs.
DuoGuard provides two layers of protection, a deep and thick shell for the torso and EPS energy-absorbing foam for the head and back.
The seat shell is also reinforced with aluminum for superior protection. Despite all this, I minded that the seat is not convertible to a backless booster, but its performance and comfort were amazing.
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Chicco
Item Dimensions (L x W x H): 24.5 L x 20.5 W x 26.25 H
Item Weight: 25 LBS.
Material: Fabric
Why choose MyFit Harness Booster Car Seat?
My personal experience and research about Chicco MyFit were breathtaking. I have used multiple car seats for my family, but I find it a whole different element. It provided matchless safety and comfort on every trip. I highly recommend this beauty for its attractive design and smooth experience.
Our Thoughts
For 4 years old kids, I found Chicco MyFit the best car seat in terms of its safety and overall design.
The feature that inspires me the most is its 2 layers of protection as all the parents are very possessive for their kid’s safety.
The overall experience and comfort were also unbeatable because we traveled around 4 hour’s non-stop and I found my kid very comfortable and happy.
8. Tribute 5 Convertible Car Seat
Features
Almost all parents want their kids to safely and comfortably. But, unfortunately, some parents can’t afford the convertible seats or boosters for their children.
The Evenflo Tribute comes at a very reasonable price with a long-lasting frame and foam padding. The seat is very comfy and the price is very reasonable that anyone can afford to use it.
The Latch system makes it easy to install in any car. The seat is narrow and can be easily installed in any car even in less space. Multiple positions of shoulder harness for a safe and breathable fit.
The seat is side-impact tested and exceeds all applicable standards for the safety of Childs. Its upfront harness adjustment and buckle release make it easy and convenient. The foam is much fine padded and ensures a very comfy experience throughout the journey.
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Evenflo
Item weight: 9.29 Pounds
Material: Polyester
90 Days replacement warranty
Why Choose Evenflo Tribute Convertible Car Seat:
Though the seat doesn’t come with a very thick foam padding, I think it still pays a great value for money as it is a very secure seat and tested many times.
One more feature I like most in Evenflo Tribute is its easy installation, it takes a max of 1 minute to Latch the seat. The seat was small and can easily install in small cars. The seat is not recommended for long routes for thin padding of foam. Still, I recommend this seat for its unbeatable safety features.
Our Thoughts
Evenflo Tribute is still on my list of best car seats for 4 year old kids for some amazing reasons. I found this seat very secure and the harness was very easy to adjust, multiple shoulder positions provide extra comfort to anyone. The seat was very responsive to the safety of Childs. Though the weight limit was very low, the price is very reasonable that’s why I think it’s the best option for those who can’t afford to buy high-end boosters.
9. Graco Atlas 65 Two-in-One Harness Booster Seat
Features
Graco Atlas has two positions, the seat can either be used as a harness booster or high-back booster. The seat design is versatile and easy to transfer from one vehicle to another. The seat is also FAA approved for use in planes, can also be used in buses. The cup holders on both sides keep drinks and snacks close.
I found it very easy to install for its easy Latch system. The seat can be installed by the Latch system and seat belt as well. The seat is sized in such a way that it can easily be fitted in any car without any frustration. 2-3 seats are very easy to install in the backseat if Graco Atlas is installed. The seat is also tested for fit in multiple vehicles.
The seat comes with a reinforced frame that, giving it the strength to hold up in any crash. The foam padding is very fine and comfy. It passed both the side impact test and the crash test. Multiple experts and users recommend this seat for its safety preferences.
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: GRACO
Item weight: 16.6 Pounds
Depth: 22 inches
Why Choose Graco Atlas 65 Two-in-One Harness Booster Seat
My experience with this seat was quite amazing as I found it very versatile and easy to use. The seat was lightweight and was easy to shift anywhere. Its design was so attractive that my kid was so happy to have it. The seat is crash tested many times and responds well in any harsh situation that makes me feel comfortable in any kind of travel. I recommend this seat in terms of its attractive colors and safety features.
Our Thoughts
It’s the best car seat for 4 year old for its unmatchable comfort and safety. Its attractive design makes it different from all other models. Cup holders on each side keep snacks and drinks closer to the kids.
The seat is very easy to install and an easy convertible from the harness to a high-back booster. As long as you don’t mind the inability to convert this seat to a backless booster, it’s the best option for you and your family.
10. Safety 1st Jive 2-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
Features
Safety 1st is a very popular brand in making comfy and safe car seats for kids. The 1st thing that I liked the most in jive was its easy installation, the Latch system makes it so easy to install in any type of car. It takes 1-2 minutes to Latch the seat.
The seat also comes with removable cup holders on both sides of the seat to keep the drinks closer.
The seat is side-impact tested and is approved for all safety requirements, Its harness makes it easy to adjust and belts and buckles are very easy to tighten.
Its material is very fine and breathable for kids, Its harness has 5 height adjustment options that grow with your kid and you don’t need to purchase a new one after few months.
Its stainless steel frame is very hard and is deeply designed to protect your child at any cost. The seat is certified for use in aircraft as well.
Its thick foam coating makes it very comfortable for kids. The seat covers are removable and can be cleaned easily by the washing machine.
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Safety 1st
Material: Stainless Steel
Item Weight: 14.25 Pounds
Why Choose Safety 1st Jive?
Despite all its features, I haven’t found it as big as I was expecting, still, its overall performance was non-predictable and the seat was very attractive for its sleek design.
Its safety features are also inspiring and keep your child safe in any harsh situation. I highly recommend this seat in terms of its easy use and comfy rides.
Our Thoughts
In my list of best car seats for 4 year old, the Safety 1st Jive is also added for some of the features I’ve seen during my experience. The seat Latch was so easy and it was very easy to install. The seat was very comfortable and lightweight.
Its stainless steel frame was so hard to last even in any accidental situation and keeps your child safe by its deep side walls and thick foam padding.