Best Cheap Convertible Car Seats in 2021 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

The beat cheap convertible car is one that is not only ultra-safe for your kid, easy to install, easy to carry around, doesn’t take much space, but also super comfy because we are talking about children like flowers, not adults.  We have worked really hard to gather the top 8 cheap convertible car seats for newborns to 8 years old.

As we all know that having a family comes with a range of responsibilities. Then it is your prime job as a parent to ensure that your child safe at all the time.

All families love to go on a road trip, and they don’t like to miss those trips. As a parent, you should be aware that fun trips come with a huge responsibility.

These seats are upgraded from an infant car seat that you may be aware of. There is a number of things that you need to know about before buying these convertible car seats.

When ordering a new convertible car seat for your child, you definitely don’t want to buy a product that after some time you have to return it because this seat doesn’t meet with your child requirement.

First, you need to consider factors such as your car size and even the cost of the products. Therefore you should only settle for only the best product available in the market that will make you and your child happy.

Every parent wants the best for them, and they want a car seat that makes their kid safe while driving and the good news is that all the car seats on our list are absolutely safe despite being budget-friendly.

You just have to think that which car seat can make more children more comfortable for that you have to buy a car seat that meets the requirement of your child.

Also, read the manual of the car so you can understand how you can install your convertible car seat in your car.

List of Best Cheap Convertible Car Seats 2021

Easy installation, excellent fit in almost all car types, and the weight limit in the rear-facing mode makes Graco Extend2Fit one of the most popular, and highest sold car sear ever and maybe the best cheap convertible car seat considering the features and overall convenience.

So Graco allows up to 50lb. in reading facing mode which is fantastic because we stumbled upon research when I was purchasing Graco Extend2Fit for my nephew from Amazon that says rear-facing is better for a child’s spine, and overall safety compared to forward-facing.

So the main problem with rear-facing is the child’s legs cramped due to lack of space, but Graco Extend2Fit has addressed that. They have recommended that you should keep your child rear-facing at least until 2 years old.

Why choose Graco Extend2Fit convertible car seat.

Installation

Installation is super easy and fuss-free. Inright latch system allows a 1-second attachment. You can learn step-by-step installation in the following videos. Make sure to follow all steps for safety reasons.

Drawbacks

If you are planning on forward-facing your child, I would recommend Graco Extend2Fit before they reach 35 – 40 lbs. The seat must be at a specific recline position which makes the installation pretty hard.

Overall, Graco Extend2Fit is a super comfy, strong, durable, ultra-safe, and trustworthy cheap convertible car seat that is popular among most parents.

The no-rethread harness system allows us to adjust the headrest and harness in one motion without tangling with the harness. Graco Extend2Fit is a 10/10 when it comes to the rear-facing installation. Not so great for the forward-facing.

So the beauty of Safety 1^st Grow and Go is not only it is great of forward-facing and rear-facing, but you can do the booster with the belt over the front as your child grows.

Easy in and out harness holders keep the harness in an open position, so it is easy to get your child out of the car seat. The rear-facing height is 19 to 40 inches, and the forward-facing height is 29 to 52 inches.

With the help of a quick harness, you can easily adjust both the harness and headrest in one simple step. Take up less space in the back seat for up to 7 inches of the extra room in the front.

Spacious and comfortable

It is very cushiony and comfortable, and there is a lot of foam surrounding the child. Even the shoulder straps are padded. The extra cushion is for long trips.

The cushion is engineered to protect the child from side impacts and impacts of all sorts.

It also includes two integrated cup holders and baby pillows for a comfortable ride. Cup holders are the stars of the show. You can put snacks, water, milk, or whatever your child wants in there and it won’t fall off because the container is deep and wide.

This product is very easy to wash and dry. It is machine washable and has a dryer safe seat pad that features snaps that make it very simple to take off of the seat.

Adjusting the harness is super easy. You just need to move a clip up top and lift it up and down. The headrest will move with the harness in one motion.

One thing I would like to mention is that it is a bit bulky so you won’t be able to carry it around most often. It may or may not fit 3-across depending on the car seat you own.  If you don’t switch car seats back and forth, then Safety 1^st Grow and Go is a good choice for your kid.

I always recommend rear-facing due to safety reasons, but Safety 1^st Grow and Go leaves more space in forward-facing. Rear-facing doesn’t leave much space but you can recline the 3^rd position to create more space.

Disney Baby APT 50 is one of the highest selling baby seats in the world. It comes from a brand that is known for engineering child items including car seats of elite quality.

It is very easy to adjust with your child that fits from the front with the help of a five-point harness.

Disney Baby APT 50 may not look like a very rigid seat, but it is made with impact protection and that’s the beauty of it.

Super comfortable

It is one of the most comfortable convertible car seats ever produced. The cushions are extremely soft and comfy from all sides.

My cousin purchased it for her 2-year-old boy because of the brand only. She knew that the Disney brand holds a high reputation for its products.

I asked her if Kyle comfortable because Kyle has a nasty back injury for some time now, she said that he sleeps like a baby when the drive is more than an hour long.

Main features

This seat comes in five different colors and cute pin details including a Minnie mouse silhouette with a bow-shaped head pillow that makes this fun a must-have for little Disney fans.

The installation is super easy with one-click latch system. The 5-point harness system is designed for growing kids. I like how neat it is. There aren’t many straps or wires to tangle with.

The fabric is machine washable which is great. Kids puke regularly and if the whole fabric isn’t washable then the odor will haunt you for the rest of yourself like BRITAX convertible car seat.

It is also easy to clean the puke from the crevices and little holes, unlike most expensive seats.

Disney Baby APT 50 is a good convertible car seat but I have been hearing complaints about its installation faults. People are saying it doesn’t fit most of the cars.

I didn’t have that issue but one of the neighbors had. I think Disney can improve the engineering sot that it can fit in more than 95% of the cars.

Safety 1st Continuum 3-in-1 Car Seat is a cheaper convertible version of Safety 1st grow and go with similar safety features, comfortability, reliability, and ease of use.

3-in-1 means forward-facing (Max: 50lbs. Min: 22lbs), rear-facing (Max: 40lbs. Min: 5lbs.), and booster mode for growing children supports up to 40 – 80lbs.

It also comes with side impact protection which protects your child in a car crash. It has harness holders that remain in the open position and it is easy to get your child in and out of the car seat.

Comfortability

The seats are well-padded and made of quality fabric and cushion. It also includes growing with a baby pillow for a comfortable ride. I will not complain about its comfortability. Safety 1st Continuum 3-in-1 Car Seat may be one the most comfortable cheap convertible car seats ever made.

Best features of Safety 1st Continuum 3-in-1 Car Seat

This car seat has a Quick fit harness for easy adjustment of both harness and headrest in one simple step. All in one motion, no more tangling, and fighting with the straps.

The design is neat and clean. I have never tried, but I believe you can easily fit three across.

This product comes with 3-recline positions and it is machine washable. It has one removable dishwasher-safe cup holder which takes less space in the back seat. You can wash it on daily basis. No need to mess up the seat.

Overall, Safety 1st Continuum 3-in-1 Car Seat provides great value for the money. It is not only comfortable and safe, but it grows with the child and it is a lot more convenient than most cheap convertible car seats despite having a tiny bit of installation issues.

Cosco mighty fit 65 DX is one of the best cheap convertible car seats that can even accommodate a 5-pound kid safely which is rare to see in a budget car seat.

You can fit 3 of this car seats in the back of most vehicles, and it gives parents in the front seat more legroom So that your baby can easily spread their leg without having any difficulty.

Safety

This product gives you side impact protection. It has cleared all the crash tests and impact tests. It follows all the federal safety standards.

Despite not having a metal frame that is understandable for the price, the seats are protected from side impact and absorb most of the energy from the impact.

I am not saying it is the safest convertible car seat ever, but it certainly worth the money.

Comfort

Cosco’s mighty fit 65 DX is extremely cushiony and soft. Super comfortable for my niece. It is made of deluxe fabric. It is machine washable which is a lifesaver.

My niece often falls asleep when I take her to the school which is approximately 45 minutes from her home. My brother has many car seats because he is a reviewer of child products, but he mostly uses Cosco mighty fit 65 DX because it is super light and doesn’t take time for installation.

My Opinion

Cosco mighty fit 65 DX is lightweight, compact, and portable, you can easily fit 3-across, the cushions are super soft, installation isn’t that tough in forward facing, and it is easy to carry around which makes it a very good option for traveling and daily life usage.

Cosco mighty fit 65 DX has a latch system and seat belt installation. Once installed, make sure to check if the seat is rigidly placed in its position or not. It shouldn’t move more than an inch from its position.

The lowest harness point is still too high for an infant, I wouldn’t recommend it. The installation is a bit tricky for the rear position. The rea is the best position for your child due to various safety reasons. If you can install it perfectly and there is enough legroom for your child, then I would recommend rear instead of forward-facing.

Overall, for the budget, Cosco mighty fit 65 DX is a must-have option for parents. You can even compare it with the safety 1^st guide 65, both are pretty much the same with different names.

This seat is perfect for your little one because it provides you with the entire feature that you want in your car seat. Especially it fit for smaller cars and helps to protect your child longer in both rears and forward-facing positions.

Rear-facing 5 to 40 pounds and 19 inches and had a multi-position headrest for growing children, forward-facing 22 to 65 pounds and 34 inches to 52 inches.

This car seat has a compact design for small cars, and Anti rebound bolsters seat pad that is hand washable.

It also has five harness heights and three buckle locations for proper fits.

This convertible car seat comes in five different colors, chambers, Caspian, chateau, seaport, and Victorian lace.

It is very comfortable for your little one, and this seat is best for those parents who are very busy with their work because it is very easy to move from one place to another place.

It also comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Cosco MightyFit 65 is roomy, comfortable, safe, easy to install, and reliable convertible car seat that is within budget.

One of my nieces is very tall and thin so thought let’s try MightyFit 65 because I heard so much about this new entry from Cosco from my friends working at the Cosco brand. My niece feels extremely because of the extra room and soft cushion.

Recline position is better in Cosco MightyFit 65

I always recommend the rear-facing position I have as a health and safety officer on the highway. There are a lot fewer chances of damage that way.

This seat offers a 2-recline position in the rear position which is great for tall kids. It leaves so much room that way.

The polyester is machine washable. Unlike most car seats, it is easily removable.

In both the rear and forward-facing modes, build-in side impact protection keeps your little one extra secure from any car crash.

This car seat is perfect for travel; the seat is certified for use on aircraft and gives your child a familiar seat during a flight.

This car seat meets or exceeds federal and ASTM safety standards and includes a one-year limited warranty, so if any problems you can change this car seat.

This company has been leading for more than 70 years on children’s products the brand recognized for its dedication to safety and value.

I will like to mention that a lot of people are complaining about the perfect recline position and installation in the rear-face position. I don’t know about that. We don’t have any complaints. Read reviews before purchasing on the website.

Cosco MightyFit 65 doesn’t have a booster mode, you may need to find another seat when your kid reached 65lbs. weight limit.

Overall, Cosco MightyFit 65 is a convertible that is most suitable for city use. I won’t recommend it for traveling. Considering the price tag, it is a pretty good option.

Why is it important to buy Convertible Car Seats?

First, using a baby car seat is in the U.S law, and secondly, car seats are the greatest tools of protecting your newborns or little kids during the drive.

Not using a car seat is almost out of the question. You have to but before purchasing a seat, make sure it meets or exceeds all the federal motor vehicle safety standard 213.

As your child grows, their car seat needs to be changed as well because every car seat has its own limit if your child exceeds that limit then it is very dangerous to use the same car seat for your growing child.

That is why in our best cheap convertible car seat guide, we have only listed those seats that will grow with your child so that you don’t have to purchase a new one after every year.

Guidelines to buy the best convertible car seats:

The recommendation of Cheap Convertible Car Seats has been changed a lot over the years thanks to the research of the American academy and other agencies.

Car seat rule from your childhood was different, and nowadays, rules are different. Always follow your local rules, then follow the AAP recommendations.

Key Features

Things to know before buying convertible car seats:

Conclusion

Getting the best cheap convertible car seat can be a nightmare because it takes a lot of time to search for the bests. But you have the proper guide you can easily get the best convertible seats.

Convertible seats are hard to get if you don’t know the right methods. In this guide, we have given you the best guide that you can use to get the best seats in no time.

Make sure to check the price as well because the most affordable seats are the best ones. You can comment as well to get proper knowledge about these seats. Also, share this post with others so they can get knowledge about it.