As grandparents, the safety of your grandchildren are paramount, especially when it comes to traveling in a car.
Whether it’s a short trip to the park or a long journey to visit family members, ensuring your little ones are securely and comfortably seated is a top priority.
However, the world of car seats can be overwhelming, with countless options and features to consider.
This guide is designed to simplify the process. I have done the hard work for you and I selected the best car seat options for grandparents.
My best recommendation for a car seat for grandparents is a convertible car seat.
The Evenflo Everyfit 4-in-1 is my best overall choice. It has all the essentials you need in a safe car seat. It is comfortable, easy to install, and goes all the way to a backless booster (isn’t that a good deal?)
I also recommend the Britax Boulevard Clicktight for those whose top priority is the ease of installation.
I’ve also included a budget-friendly option, the Safety 1st Grow and Go.
And for grandparents looking for a lightweight infant car seat, the Graco Snugfit 35 is our first pick.
How We Picked
Simple to install
An easy-to-install car seat provides flexibility and confidence to grandparents who may be unfamiliar with car seats or have limited physical capabilities.
User-friendly
A user-friendly car seat can make the process of transporting grandchildren easier and less stressful for grandparents.
Lightweight
A lightweight car seat is a practical and convenient option for grandparents. It will be easier to install, more portable, and reduce physical strain.
Budget-friendly
We listed a few cost-effective options for grandparents who may only need to use the car seat occasionally or have limited financial means.
Top 3 car seats for Grandparents
Best Infant Car Seat
Super Lightweight
Easy to use and install
Budget-friendly
Insufficient padding
6 Best Car Seats for grandparents in 2024
- Evenflo Everyfit (Best Overall Car Seat for Grandparents)
- Graco Snugfit 35 (Best Lightweight Infant Car Seat for Grandparents)
- Evenflo Revolve 360 (Best 360 rotating car seat for grandparents)
- Chicco Keyfit 30 (Best Comfortable Infant Car Seat for Grandparents)
- Britax Boulevard ClickTight (Best car seat for easy installation for grandparents)
- Safety 1st Grow and Go (Best Budget-friendly car seat for grandparents)
1. Evenflo Everyfit (Best overall car seat for grandparents)
The Evenflo Everyfit is one of the car seats on this list that are super easy to install. With the Evenflo SureSafe Installation System, you won’t need to yank and push to get a safe install.
This all-in-one car seat can be used from a rear-facing seat up until a backless booster seat with weight limits from 4-120 lbs (the weight highest limit you can get on a car seat).
It’s a sleek car seat that will look modern and stylish in the back of your car. The padding is also plush and comfortable for long road trips with a baby or toddler.
Another thing I admire about this car seat is the angled back that helps prevent head slumps during the newborn stage.
This car seat is heavy to move from one car to another, but since the installation and uninstallation are fast and easy, it’s not a big issue.
The Evenflo Everyfit is a deal breaker for older adults for easy installation and comfort.
CSP Tester Testimonial: ” I’ve been using the Evenflo Everyfit as the primary car seat for my 7-year-old in harness mode. He finds it comfortable, but installing it with the seatbelt was a bit tough. We also used it for our 4-year-old with the LATCH system, which was much easier. Overall, I highly recommend it.”
What we love
- Reasonably priced for an all-in-one car seat
- Lasts longer (up to backless booster stage)
- Easy to install with EasyClick LATCH
What can be improved
- Heavy (19 pounds)
- Not the best for small cars
- Hart to install with the seatbelt
2. Graco Snugfit 35 (Best Lightweight Infant Car Seat for Grandparents)
Lightweight, spacious, easy to install, and affordable, Graco Snugfit 35 is a great infant car seat choice to consider as a grandparent.
The Graco Snugfit 35 is also more compact front-to-back compared to other infant seats, so it fits better behind the driver and passenger seats.
This car seat may be small and compact but is surprisingly roomy. It can accommodate bigger kids with no issues and can last longer than other infant carriers.
The Graco Snugfit 35 is also super lightweight. It weighs only 8.5 pounds. Grandparents can easily use it as a child carrier or snap it into a stroller. (It works with all Graco Click Connect strollers)
The Snugfit 35 comes padded with an infant insert and shoulder pads. The only downside about it is the quality of the padding. I find it not so comfortable for babies.
After all, this is not a high-end car seat and we won’t expect it to be perfect. Highly recommended as an extra seat for grandparents and in-laws
If you are looking for an infant car seat with better quality fabrics and padding check out the next infant car seat, Chicco Keyfit 30.
What we love
- Super lightweight
- Compact
- Easy to install with or without the base
- Affordable
- Anti-rebound base
What can be improved
- Insufficient padding
- Too spacious for newborns (preemies)
- Average quality
3. Evenflo Revolve 360 (Best 360 rotating car seat for grandparents)
- Rear-facing Limits: 4-40 lb
- Forward–facing Limits: 22-65 lb
- Booster Limits: 40-120 lb
- Seat Weight: 29.6 lb
The Evenflo Revolve is one of the most popular and trusted rotating car seats on the market today.
Rotating car seats, also known as swivel car seats, can make it easier for grandparents to put the child in and out of the car seat.
A rotating car seat can swivel to face the car door, allowing grandparents to easily access the little one without having to lean over, bend awkwardly, or strain themselves.
Rotating car seats is just as safe as a traditional car seat, but it can be much safer by making it easier for caregivers to properly secure the child in the seat.
Since the Evenflo is a 360-rotating (there are 180 rotating car seats) convertible car seat, you will only need to install it once. No refitting is needed when switching from rear-facing to forward-facing.
The Evenflo Gold Revolve provides a full range of uses from infancy to early adolescence. The seat can be used rear-facing for up to 40 pounds and up to 65 pounds forward-facing.
Once the child is all grown up and ready to switch to a booster, the Evenflo Gold Revolve has also a built-in booster that can accommodate children up to 120 pounds.
Plus, the installation is pretty easy with both the LATCH and seatbelt. It’s also a cozy ride with the padding being plush and comfy.
CSP Expert Tester Testimonial: ” I’ve used the Evenflo Revolve for 5 months and really love it! It fits into our car much better than the Graco Extend-2-it. Also, I noticed that the rotating feature makes it easy for my mom to place the baby in the car seat and buckle him up.”
What we love
- The 360 rotation
- Easy installation
- Long-lasting (up to 120 lb)
- Reasonably priced compared to other swivel seats
What can be improved
- The harness straps are tough to adjust
- Heavy and bulky
4. Chicco Keyfit 30 (Best Comfortable Infant Car Seat for Grandparents)
The KeyFit 30 is easy to install. The base can be installed with the LATCH system or seat belt. Both are simple, though the seat belt option may require some pushing.
The Chicco Keyfit 30 is a tad heavier than the Graco Snugfit 35 at 9.5 pounds which is also lightweight enough to carry around.
This crowd-pleaser car seat has a good reputation for being safe and easy to use. The car seat is easy to click in and out of the base and compatible with strollers.
The padding is also very soft and comfy. You can also consider the Chicco Keyfit 30 ClearTex which uses chemical-free fabric instead of the standard polyester fabric.
The only downside of this car seat is the lower height and weight limits, so you may wanna choose our top pick Graco Snugfit 35 for larger-than-average babies.
What we love
- Easy to install & use
- Pretty lightweight
- Easy to get in and out of the base
- Good quality materials
What can be improved
- It is very warm in summer
- Low weight capacity (30 lbs)
- Small for larger babies
5. Britax Boulevard ClickTight (Best car seat for easy installation for Grandparents)
The Britax Boulevard is a convertible car seat that offers guaranteed protection, ease of use, and effortless installation. And these are the main features you want in any car seat you buy.
However, this frame is made of steel and weighs about 27 pounds. But the weight shouldn’t be a concern if you are not planning to travel with it or use it in different cars.
It’s not a seat I would recommend if you need to transition between cars frequently. It can be back-breaking.
The reason why I think that the Britax is a great car seat for grandparents is its ease of installation and use.
With the Britax Clicktight system, I could install the Britax in literally a few seconds with no effort or help involved.
Another downside of this car seat is the size. The Britax Boulevard is bulky and huge, so if you are a grandparent with a small car, I recommend you look for a more compact car seat.
Why would I choose Britax Boulevard convertible car seat as a grandparent? Because of the super easy installation, comfort, and rock-solid safety features.
What we love
- Dead-simple installation
- Extra safety features (solid steel frame, side impact protection)
- Premium quality and soft fabric
What can be improved
- Heavy & bulky (29.4 pounds)
- Rear faces up to 40 lbs only
- Not much legroom in rear-facing mode
6. Safety 1st Grow and Go (Best Budget-friendly car seat for grandparents)
If you don’t want to spend much on a seat that won’t be used often. In this case we recommend, the Safety 1st Grow and Go.
This car seat has all it takes to keep your precious cargo safe. It features side impact protection, a rear-facing anti-rebound bar, and EPP safety foam.
The Safty 1st Grow and Go is probably the only car seat you will ever need. It’s built to grow with your child from infancy to toddlerhood and beyond.
You can rear-face in the Safety 1st Grow and Go until your child is 40 pounds
The Safety 1st also features a harness holder making it easier to get your child in and out of the seat, three different recline positions, and a QuickFit for optimal harness adjustments.
We noticed that the majority of our testers had a challenging time with getting the car seat installed correctly.
It may not be the best car seat when it comes to setting up but it’s worth the price for the many useful features it provides.
CSP Tester Testimonial: “”We got this seat as a part of the CSP testing program. I have been using it for my 3 years old grandchild and she is so comfortable in it. The installation was hard the first time but I don’t think I will be reversing it forward anytime soon””
What we love
- Budget-friendly
- Side impact protection
- Removable cup holders
- No-rethreaded harness
What can be improved
- Heavy (18.66 lbs)
- Time-consuming installation
- Not for small cars
- Straps get easily twisted
How to choose the right car seat as a grandparent?
A car seat that’s easy to set up, budget-friendly, and not too heavy to carry makes a good car seat option for grandparents. But there are other factors to consider as well.
A good car seat needs to provide a good level of safety and comfort to the child.
All car seats on the market are required to meet certain safety standards, but not all car seats are created equal in terms of comfort and ease of use.
A properly chosen and installed car seat is safe but an improperly used car seat can be unsafe. It’s as simple as that.
Make sure to choose a car seat that you are confident you will install and use correctly.
You may spend a little bit more on a high-quality car seat, but it will be worth the investment if it provides your little ones with the necessary safety and comfort during car rides.
It’s also important to choose a car seat that is appropriate for your child’s age, weight, and height.
When it comes to car seat safety you should also consider the fabric and materials the car seat is made of.
Some car seats contain chemicals such as flame retardants or plasticizers that can be harmful to your child’s health.
Look for car seats that are certified as free of toxic chemicals. These are examples of chemical-free car seats you can consider:
- Clek Foonf Convertible Car Seat: Uses 100% merino wool cover that is e Oeko-Tex certified and is free of PFAs (or any treatment).
- Britax Advocate Clicktight Convertible Car Seat, SafeWash: The SafeWash cover is synthetic and is free of PFAs.
FAQs
What grandparents need for a new baby?
The first essential item grandparents need for a new baby is a backup car seat for their vehicle. It’s best to choose one that is easy to use and lightweight.
Should grandparents buy car seat?
Yes, it’s a good idea for grandparents to have a spare car seat for when the baby visits or spends the weekend. Moving your car seat to their car might not be the best option, as some car seats can be difficult to install.
What is the easiest car seat to install for grandparents?
The Britax Boulevard is an excellent choice for grandparents looking for a car seat that’s easy to install. In our tests with several grandparents, who were initially unsure about installing car seats, we found that the Britax Boulevard was surprisingly easy for them to set up.