Moving the car seat for every visit or sleepover is a huge pain. Investing in a second car seat that’s not only more convenient, but lightweight and easier for Grandma and Grandpa to use is a much better idea. The best car seats for grandparents are lighter and more simple car seats that keep your little one safe. Keep reading to learn more about our top car seat choices for grandparents.
Best Car Seats for Grandparents
The Britax Boulevard and the Evenflo Triumph car seats are both safety conscious seats that can be used from birth until 65 lbs. However, the Evenflo EveryFit and the Safety 1st Grow and Go seats also offer safety features and can be used from newborn until 100-120 lbs.
Britax Boulevard ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
The Britax Boulevard ClickTight Convertible Car Seat is loaded with safety features that make this perfect if you’re worried about the installation. It can be used rear-facing from 5-40 pounds and forward-facing from 20-65 pounds.
The one downside of this convertible car seat as a choice for grandparents is the weight. This is a heavy, sturdy car seat because of all the added safety features. It has a steel frame, impact-absorbing base, and 2 layers of side impact protection.
You can also trust that it makes it easy for a safe install, as the 14-position quick-adjust harness does not need re-threaded as your little one grows. It also has a Click & Safe Snug Indicator that audibly clicks once the harness has been tightened properly.
Another nice feature for installation is the patented ClickTight system. The car seat padding lifts up and the seat belt slides inside. You buckle the seat belt in after threading it through the indicated areas and tighten. Then, put the seat back down. There is no wiggle room and installation is really as easy as these few steps.
In addition to the adjustable headrest and harness that improves the fit of this best Britax car seat, there are 7 recline positions. This ensures your child is comfortable in the car seat as they grow.
The padding also keeps them comfortable, however, it might not be the best choice if your child is going to be in the seat for hours. In the case of most trips to the grandparents, this should not be an issue.
Pros
- Works from newborn up to 65 pounds
- Safety features including side impact protection, impact-absorbing base, and a sturdy steel frame
- Easy to adjust the harness
- Harness clicks audibly when it’s in the right place
- Very easy to install properly
- Reclines in 7 different positions
Cons
- A little on the heavy side
- Padding may not be comfortable for long rides
Evenflo EveryFit 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
The EveryFit 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat has several modes including rear-facing from 4-40 pounds, forward-facing from 22-65 pounds, a high-back booster from 40-120 pounds, and a no-back booster from 40-120 pounds. The wide range of seating options means this is the only car seat you’ll ever have to buy for their grandparent’s car, from birth up to 10 years of age.
This comes with a SureSafe Installation System that has LATCH guides and easy-to-use connectors so you can be sure the car seat is secured safely every time. According to tests, this doubles the rate of proper installation compared to standard LATCH setups.
Even so, the biggest struggle is unthreading and then rethreading all the car seat belt straps once you are ready to move into forward-facing mode. The transition is very hard and you’ll need to pay close attention to be sure all the straps go back in the right place.
As your child grows, a 12-position headrest makes it easy to adjust the straps without needing to rethread them. This is comfortable and easy to use. There are also three recline positions when your baby is rear-facing, which is important for giving them legroom and making it possible for them to sit comfortably rear-facing longer.
All the fabrics of this can be removed for washing and are machine washable. The fabrics are also designed with an airflow mesh material, which is especially beneficial during the hot summer months. As an added bonus, this comes with a removable snack tray and dual integrated cup holders.
Pros
- Has four different modes, can be used from birth up to 120 pounds
- LATCH install and connectors make this easier to install properly
- 3 recline settings in rear-facing mode
- 12-position headrest to adjust straps without re-threading them
- More legroom in rear-facing
- Fabrics are machine washable
- Fabrics have good aeration to keep your baby cool
- Comes with integrated cup holders and a removable snack tray
Cons
- Very difficult to install once you transition from rear-facing to forward-facing
Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Car Seat
The Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Car Seat is a great choice for parents or grandparents who want to be sure their little one is safe from birth until their toddler years and beyond. It works as a rear-facing car seat from birth to 40 pounds, a forward-facing seat from 22-65 pounds, and as a booster seat from 40-100 pounds.
One of the nice things about this car seat is that you can pay one price and not worry about your child’s safety in their grandparent’s car ever again. It’s also easy to install and adjust to fit your little one. The QuickFit harness lets you adjust the harness and headrest in a single step. It is also compact, so there are more room and fewer adjustments to be made.
The one downside of this is the installation process. It can be tricky to get this installed with the LATCH system, especially the first time. Fortunately, there are several tutorials that can be referenced. Additionally, as this doesn’t need to be removed from the car with every use, the difficult install isn’t as much of an issue.
Once installed, there are plenty of safety features in this car seat. Side-impact protection, LATCH installation, and a five-point harness keep your little one safe.
Additionally, the seat has harness holders to keep them out of the way for easier in and out of the vehicle. This is especially nice for grandparents, as some may struggle with moving a baby in and out of the car seat. Removable pillows and 2 cup holders are also included.
When you have a car seat that is going to last like this one, you also want to be sure it’s easy to clean. This seat lives up to that standard, having snaps that make it easy to remove (and put back) on the shell of the seat. The padding is machine washable and dryer safe.
Pros
- Works from birth all the way up to 100 pounds as a booster seat
- Headrest and harness are easy to adjust
- Comes with removable pillows and dual cup holders
- Harness holders to hold the straps out of the way when putting your baby in and out of the car
- Machine washable and dryer safe
- Cover is easy to remove and put back on
- Safety features include LATCH installation, five-point harness, and side-impact protection
Cons
- Difficult to install, especially the first time
Evenflo Triumph LX Convertible Car Seat
The Evenflo Triumph LX Convertible Car Seat is a great choice for grandparents, is loaded with safety features and weighing less than 20 pounds. It can be used in rear-facing mode from 5-40 pounds and in forward-facing mode from 22-65 pounds.
This Evenflo car seat is packed with several safety features and still costs less than many other leading brands on the market. Some of its benefits include proprietary e3 side impact protection, which has 3 layers of expanded zone protection, and a 5-point infinite slide harness, which is easy to accurately adjust every time.
Additionally, you do not have to rethread the harness to adjust it.
Another benefit of this car seat is the easy installation process. It uses a Quick Connector Latch System and is simple to move from vehicle to vehicle. With this and the lightweight of the car seat, this is a good choice for grandparents that will need to remove the seat from the vehicle frequently.
Some other features that add to the comfort for your baby include dual cup holders and a multi-position recline when the car seat is forward-facing. There is also an adjustable headrest with a removable pillow for your child’s head. Finally, the seat has a machine-washable pad that makes this easier to clean.
Something to note is that this seat can be hard to clean if your baby spits up in it or has a big spill. The seat pad is washable, however, there are parts of the fabric that cannot be reached. You also can’t submerge this in water and you can only wipe the straps clean, so it can be hard to maintain.
Pros
- E3 side impact protection
- 5-point no-rethread harness
- Quick Connector LATCH system is easy to use
- Dual cup holders
- Multi-position recline
- Lightweight and easy to move from car to car
- Adjustable headrest and detachable pillow
Cons
- Hard to clean all parts of the car seat
Car Seats for Grandparents Compared
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed.
The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with
the product compared to others in the table.Evenflo EveryFit 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat 9.9 9.2 209.99 Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Car Seat 9.9 - 199.99 Britax Boulevard ClickTight Convertible Car Seat 9.5 9.6 - Evenflo Triumph LX Convertible Car Seat 3.9 9.4 -
How We Selected Car Seats For Grandparents
Age Range
One thing that can save money when buying a secondary car seat for grandparents is considering how long you’ll be able to use the car seat.
Convertible car seats are designed to go from rear-facing to forward-facing as your child grows, which stops you from buying two separate seats. Some are also 3-in-1 car seats because they have a booster mode as well, like the Safety 1st model mentioned above.
Choosing the right car seat for your child’s age and weight is critical for keeping them safe. Additionally, be sure the car seat is installed rear-facing until your child outgrows the height or weight recommendations. Many experts recommend waiting until at least two years of age for this.
You’ll also want to consider how easy it is to adjust the car seat as your child grows. Many car seats today use a no-rethread harness. This is a nice feature so you don’t have to struggle with feeding the seat belt through the seat as your child grows. Usually, it works by adjusting the headrest or turning a knob to tighten or loosen the seat belt.
Safety Features
Keeping your little one safe in the car is the primary goal when buying a car seat for grandparents.
Some basic safety features you’ll want to look for include a five-point harness, a tether or LATCH connectors, and side-impact protection. Some car seats take this farther, having a shock-absorbing base and other benefits as well.
While you may pay a little more for features like these, they are a good choice if you want to ensure your baby is safe in their grandparent’s back seat.
Ease of Installation
Car seats only work if they are installed properly and your child’s seat belt is positioned correctly. As you consider the best car seats for grandparents, be sure to choose something that can easily be installed.
One nice feature that some car seats have is indicators that let you know it has been installed correctly. This might include an audible click when the harness is tightened or a visible window that turns green when the base is level on the seat.
Features like these can add to a parent’s and grandparent’s peace of mind.
Weight
The overall weight of a car seat is important for grandparents that might struggle with heavier seats.
This is especially true when your baby is younger. It can be helpful to have the option to take an infant car seat out of the vehicle for trips into the store, when your baby falls asleep, or to attach to a stroller as part of a travel system. Of course, if the car seat is primarily for the car, then it may not need to be as light. .
Some grandparents may prefer a heavier seat, especially if it is heavier because of added safety features. It might be a good idea to discuss with your parents or your in-laws before you decide which car seat will work best.
Other Considerations
Once you’ve considered all the basics, there are a few more things you’ll want to consider.
If you’re choosing a car seat that is going to last, chances are it will get dirty over time. You may want to choose one that has a washable cover that is easy to remove and put back. This prevents frustration, as well as scrubbing every time that your baby or toddler makes a mess in their car seat.
You’ll also want to consider how comfortable your baby is going to be in their seat. Something that has a recline function is nice for nap time and ensuring your child has enough room for their legs in the back seat. Cup holders are also a good extra, especially for long car rides.
Finally, consider the material of the padding. If it’s not breathable or the seat is too hard, it can make it uncomfortable for your little one.
FAQs – Car Seats For Grandparents
Do grandparents need their own car seats?
Your baby needs to be secured in a car seat regardless of who they are with. What you’ll need to decide is if you want to buy a second car seat for your grandparent’s vehicle or transfer your daily car seat back and forth.
Something to keep in mind is that many daily car seats are designed with tons of safety features that can make the car seat heavy or bulky. If your car seat is on the heavier side or difficult to move between vehicles, it’s probably best to buy a second seat for their grandparent’s car.
Additionally, if you don’t have to constantly install and uninstall the base, there’s a lower risk of it being secured incorrectly.
What is the best inexpensive car seat for grandparents?
The best inexpensive car seat for grandparents is the Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 car seat.
While it is not the cheapest model out there, it is the only car seat your child will need in their grandparent’s vehicle. It works rear-facing, forward-facing, and then as a booster seat so it works from birth up to 100 pounds.
Additionally, it has all the necessary safety features you need to feel confident your child is safe in their grandparent’s backseat. The adjustable harness and headrest also make it easy to adjust the straps without being too complicated.
Unless your baby’s grandparents have to travel for hours to get them, there’s no need to splurge on all the comfort features that come with more expensive car seats. What is going to matter most is choosing a car seat that’s safe and lightweight enough for grandparents to handle.
Of course, this is a secondary seat so you may not need to spend as much as you would on your daily car seat. It also will not be used as often, so there’s a lower chance of wear and tear.
What should baby sleep in at their grandparents?
When you’re choosing something for your baby to sleep in, there are several options. One thing to consider is how often your little one will be over there.
For example, when grandparents have an extra room and the baby spends a lot of time there, a crib or bassinet might be appropriate.
One of the best options, in our opinion, is a play yard. Since play yards are easy to put up and take back down again, they’re a great temporary option for sleep. Several designed for babies also have extras, which might include a bassinet area to sleep in.
What do grandparents need at their house for babies?
The things your baby’s grandparents should keep at their house depending on how often they’ll be keeping them. If they visit frequently, it might be best to buy things for them to keep at their house.
For example, something like a lightweight stroller can make it easier to walk with baby. Things like baby bottles and dishes, somewhere for them to sleep, a high chair or booster seat, and a bathtub are some good basics to start with.
They should also have plenty of things to keep baby entertained, including books, toys, and a playmat.
Finally, you’ll want to be sure they have the other essentials you’d send like extra diapers and wipes, clothes, pajamas, and anything else they may need.
You may also want to send along any medicines they may need (like Tylenol if they are teething).
