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Quick List: Best Rear-Facing Toddler Car Seat
Keeping your kid rear-facing for a longer time is safe. So we compile this list of best rear-facing toddler car seats with a higher weight limit up to 50 lbs.
1. Best overall: Evenflo Revolve350 Extend with Quick Clean Cover ($399.99) – 50 lbs rear-facing weight limit, quick clean cover, 360 rotation.
2. Best narrow convertible car seat: Evenflo Revolve360 Slim ($329.99) – 16.75″ width, extended rear-facing (50-lb weight limit), 360 rotation.
3. Easy seat belt installation – Britax One4Life ($399.99) – ClickTight technique, 120-pound weight limit.
4. Safest with SensorSafe: Cybex Sirona S ($549.99) – SensorSafe clip, load leg, 360 rotation.
5. Best budget: Diono Radian 3R ($199.99) – 17″ width, cheap under $200, 50 lb weight limit.
6. Most reviewed: Graco Extend2Fit ($234.99) – 50 lb rear-facing weight limit, and affordable.
See Our Top Picks
Find the best rear-facing toddler car seats
Best By Bonus
See the best rear-facing toddler car seat by bonus (slim, rotate, etc).
Comparison
Compare key performance stats and specs to listed best rear-facing toddler car seats.
Best Rear-Facing Toddler Car Seat
Best Rear Facing Toddler Car Seats by Bonus Features
16-17 Inch:
- Narrowest – Evenflo Revolve360 Slim (16.75″)
- Best budget – Diono Radian 3R (17″)
Best Foldable
- Best budget – Diono Radian 3R (foldable design)
Further Information
Rotating
- Narrowest – Evenflo Revolve360 Slim (360 degrees rotation)
- Safest – Cybex Sirona S (360-degree rotation)
- Best overall – Evenflo Revolve360 Extend with Quick Clean Cover (360-degree rotation)
Further Information
3 across car seats
- Narrowest – Evenflo Revolve360 Slim (16.75″)
- Best budget – Diono Radian 3R (17″)
Further Information
5-point harness car seat up to 120 lbs
- Best overall – Evenflo Revolve360 Extend with Quick Clean Cover (120 pounds)
- Best budget – Diono Radian 3R (120 pounds)
- Easy to install – Britax One4Life (120 pounds)
Further Information
Best Rear-Facing Toddler Car Seats Comparison
| Rank | Price | Car Seat | Rear-facing weight limit | Weight/ Height Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $199.99 | Diono Radian 3R | 50 lbs | 120 lbs/ 57 in. |
| 2 | $234.99 | Graco Extend2Fit | 50 lbs | 65 lbs/ 49 in. |
| 3 | $349.99 | Evenflo Revolve360 Slim with QCC | 50 lbs | 65 lbs/ 49 in. |
| 4 | $399.99 | Evenflo Revolve360 Extend with QCC | 50 lbs | 120 lbs/ 57 in. |
| 5 | $399.99 | Britax One4Life | 50 lbs | 120 lbs/ 63 in. |
| 6 | $549.99 | Cybex Sirona S | 50 lbs | 65 lbs/ 49 in. |
Best Rear-Facing Toddler Car Seats up to 50 lbs
Best Rear-Facing Toddler Car Seat
Evenflo Revolve360 Extend with QCC
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 4-50 (RF): 22-65 (FF); 40-120 (Booster)
- Height limits: 17-48"(RF); 28-49"(FF); 44-57"(Booster)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Suitable: Birth to 8-10 years old
- Rotating: 360 degrees
- Base: Built-in base
The Good
- 50 lb weight limit for extended rear-facing
- Up to 120 lb weight limit for big kids
- 360-degree rotational
- Quick Clean Cover design
- Affordable price
- US car seat
The Bad
- A bit bulky
$399.99
When it comes to rear-facing toddler car seats, the Evenflo Revolve360 Extend All-in-One Car Seat stands out as a top-notch option. With its innovative 360-degree rotational design and extra features, this car seat ensures the utmost safety and comfort for your little one.
First, it’s one first recommendation of the rotating car seats for its 360-degree rotation. A car seat that swivels is good to get your kid in and out of the car.
One of the key highlights of the Evenflo Revolve360 Extend is its impressive rear-facing weight limit of 50 lbs. This means that you can keep your child in the rear-facing position for an extended period, ensuring maximum safety before they outgrow the car seat’s rear-facing weight limit.
The car seat’s sturdy construction and advanced safety features, such as energy-absorbing foam and a 5-point harness system, provide peace of mind to parents, knowing that their child is well-protected on the road.
In addition to its exceptional safety features, the Evenflo Revolve360 Extend offers unparalleled convenience. The Quick Clean Cover is a game-changer for busy parents, as it can be easily removed and machine-washed, making washing a breeze. It’s strongly recommended to get a car seat with this feature if you want to save more time to play with your kid. The other rear-facing toddler car seat in this list – Evenflo Revolve360 Slim also has this feature.
As an all-in-one car seat, the Evenflo Revolve360 Extend is suitable to grow with your kid from rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster. It has a high weight limit of up to 120 pounds to fit big kids until your kid reaches 57 inches tall.
Narrowest Rear-Facing Toddler Car Seat
Evenflo Revolve360 Slim with QCC
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 4-50 (RF): 22-65 (FF)
- Height limits: 17-48"(RF); 28-49"(FF)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Suitable: Birth to 4-5 years old
- Rotating: 360 degrees
- Base: Built-in base
The Good
- 50 lb weight limit for extended rear-facing
- 360-degree rotational
- Slim design to fit 3 across
- Affordable price
- US car seat
The Bad
- A bit heavy (28.5 pounds)
$349.99
Evenflo Revolve360 Slim Rotational 2-in-1 convertible car seat is the second recommendation of the best rear-facing toddler car seats. Its capacity is also up to 50 pounds for rear-facing riding.
Both the Extend and Slim were launched in 2023 and the manufacturer improved in this aspect because they saw the trending need for extended rear-facing riding. Actually, more and more car seat brands release their own car seats with a 50-lb high rear-facing weight limit. Check the full list of best rear-facing car seats up to 50 lbs.
The Slim was beaten by the Extend because it lacks booster mode. The former is a 2-in-1 convertible car seat while the latter is an all-in-one car seat, which is considered a money saver when choosing a car seat for growing kids. However, the price gap between Extend ($399.99) vs Slim ($349.99) is enough to purchase a good booster.
In addition to its rear-facing capabilities, the Evenflo Revolve360 Slim rotational 2-in-1 convertible car seat is a space-saving marvel. With a streamlined 16.7″ footprint, it maximizes the space in your backseat without compromising on safety, comfort, or style.
For families with multiple kids in car seats or those who value a roomy backseat environment, this slim design ensures that everyone can travel comfortably without sacrificing the essential safety features for their little one. It’s the narrowest convertible car seat on the market and a good 3 across car seat.
Getting your child in and out of the car has never been easier. The Evenflo Revolve360 Slim features a one-hand, 360° rotation, earning it well-deserved recognition as an award-winning innovation. This design allows parents to effortlessly place and retrieve their child from the car, making daily routines smoother and more efficient. The ease of use is a significant advantage for parents who often find themselves managing multiple tasks simultaneously.
This recommended model has a Quick Clean Cover, making it effortless to get the cover off for cleanup. That’s really an appealing feature for busy parents.
There are actually three models of Evenflo Revolve360 Slim. This one comes with a Quick Clean Cover at a price of $349.99, while the basic is priced at $329.99 and the other model with SensorSafe is the most expensive at $379.99.
Safest Rear-Facing Toddler Car Seat
Cybex Sirona S
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 4-50 (RF): 22-65 (FF)
- Height limits: 17-49"(RF); 28-49"(FF)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Suitable: Birth to 5-6 years old
- Rotating: 360 degrees
- Base: Built-in base
The Good
- Built-in sensor notifies you in unsafe situations
- 360-degree rotational
- Lots of added safety features
The Bad
- A bit pricey
- Two hands for rotation
$549.95
Cybex Sirona S is also a good rear-facing toddler car seat that features a 360-degree rotation. It’s considered the safest rear-facing toddler car seat for its included SensorSafe, load leg, and linear side impact protection (L.S.P).
This SensorSafe is designed to alert parents to potential safety concerns in real-time, including if the child has unbuckled themselves, if the temperature within the car is too extreme, or if the child has been in the seat for an extended period. This extra layer of awareness provides invaluable peace of mind for parents, ensuring they stay informed about their child’s safety throughout the ride.
Every car seat with a 5-point harness provides side impact protection. More than that, the Cybex Sirona S incorporates advanced Linear Side-Impact Protection (L.S.P.) technology, bolstering its safety credentials. The L.S.P. system on both sides helps absorb and reduce forces away from the child in the event of a side crash. This is a crucial feature, as side-impact collisions can pose significant risks.
Another key safety component is the integrated load leg, a feature unique to Cybex car seats. The load leg is a stabilizing bar that extends from the base of the car seat to the vehicle floor, reducing rotational forces in the event of a crash. This added support minimizes the impact on the child, particularly in rear-end collisions.
Plus, the separate base was designed with an anti-rebound bar, which is helpful in reducing the movement of the car seat and finally the crash force. The Evenflo Revolve360 Slim and Extend features an anti-rebound bar as well, but not as many safety features as the Sirona S.
Most Popular Rear-facing Toddler Car Seat
Graco Extend2Fit
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 4-50 (RF): 22-65 (FF)
- Height limits: ~49” (RF&FF)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd
- Lifespan: 10 years
The Good
- 50 lbs high rear-facing limit
- Extension panel for more leg room
- Budget friendly
- 10 years of lifespan
The Bad
- A bit heavy
- Too wide to fit for small cars
- The mediocre appearance
$234.99
The high weight limit and extendable length make the Graco Extend2Fit one of the best rear-facing car seats for toddlers over 1 year or even 2 years old. It is capable of fitting a toddler between up to 50 pounds with the rear-facing harness. That’s the average weight of most kids aged between 4-6 years, perfect for big toddlers.
But the height limit does not allow the Extend2Fit to ride an infant rear-facing to that age. It supports infants only 32-inch tall or below to stay in the rear-facing mode, from the data provided by the manufacturer.
Luckily, it features a unique extension panel, which is a 4-position adjustable to provide 5-inch of extra rear-facing legroom. In this way, your little one can stay rear-facing for a longer period of time.
However, using the extension panel needs more room and results in less room for the drive or front passenger seat, especially in small cars. That’s a problem a few customers on Amazon complain about.
If your family has a compact vehicle, you should consider twice to use this car seat if you prefer to ride your toddler rear-facing.
More than a long-time rear-facing ride, the Graco Extend2Fit comes with a few amazing features.
This car seat is Graco ProtectPlus Engineered to help protect in frontal, side, rear, and rollover crashes, with passing all the most rigorous test standards required by the US and European governments and manufacturers.
Actually, all the car seats sold on the US market are required to meet or exceed the child restraint criteria for a frontal crash test under the US FMVSS 213. But it seems the Graco’s car seats do more to ensure your toddler has the safest ride.
It also features the company’s special InRight LATCH system for a one-second easy installation. To ensure the parents install the car seat correctly, the car seat has a level indicator on the top right side to reduce installation guesswork.
The 6-position recline -with three positions for rear-facing and three positions for forward-facing– also helps for accurate installation and comfortable fit.
This child restraint is certified for use in aircraft. It’s only used on forward-facing aircraft seats, but can be installed in both rear- and forward-facing, just follow the instructions for vehicle installation in the user manual.
Remember to contact the airline for their specific policies before onboarding.
Cheapest Rear-facing Toddler Car Seat
Diono Radian 3R
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 5-40 (RF): 22-65 (FF); 40-100 (Booster)
- Height limits: ~49" (RF&FF); ~57” (Booster)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
- Lifespan: 10 years
The Good
- Slim design to fit 3 across
- Cheaper price tag
- Going through three car seat stages
- FAA approved foldable seat with great portability
- Extended warranty up to 36 months
The Bad
- Lacking head and body insert
- Less reclines
- Not fit well in small car seats in rear facing
$199.99
The Diono Radian 3R was designed to accommodate a child from 5 pounds to 50 pounds in rear-facing, making it one of the best rear-facing toddler car seats.
Even toddlers at 4 years old can stay rear-facing in this car seat. It’s very useful to follow the guidelines of riding rear-facing as long as possible.
To install the car seat rear-facing, the Radian 3R features ashore to adjust the reclines. But this is not as convenient as those rear-facing toddler car seats with a base for recline adjustment, for example, the Graco 4Ever DLX.
But this does not affect it to be a safe car seat for toddlers, no matter rear-facing or front-facing. Featuring a strong reinforced steel core and frame, along with thick energy-absorbing foam, the Diono Radian 3R performs well in crash tests and provides ultimate protection to the little one.
The car seat boasts of its SuperLATCH for easy and secure installation. Most car seats that come with a LATCH system can achieve this, but you may love the audible click reminder that helps confirm the connectors are locked tightly and safely.
Featuring a slim design, the Diono Radian 3R is able to fit 3 across in the back seat and takes less space, making it a good choice for families with small cars or having at least two kids.
As an all-in-one convertible, the Radian 3R fits a child from birth to youth, from 5 pounds to 120 pounds. The car seat has a one-piece design without headrest adjustment. This means the height of the car seat is not adjustable. But this will result in a problem when riding in rear-facing – taking up the space from the frontal driver or passenger. You may need to pay attention to this point.
Easy to Install Rear-Facing Toddler Car Seat
Britax One4Life
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 5-50 (RF): 20-65 (FF); 40-120 (Booster)
- Height limits: ~49"(RF&FF); 63"(Booster)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Suitable: Birth to 7-8 years old
The Good
- Up to 120 lb weight limit for big kids
- Up to 63 in. height limit for tween
- ClickTight for easy installation
- CoolFlow high performance fabric
- Easy take-off cover for cleaning
The Bad
- Very pricey
- Heavy and bulky
$399.99
The Britax One4Life is an all-in-one car seat that holds up the whole car seat journey for your child from day 1 to 10 years old. It is capable of fitting a child from 5 lbs to 50 lbs in rear-facing, with a height limit of up to 49 inches which is the same as the forward-facing harness.
The high weight and height limit makes it one of the best rear-facing toddler car seats to allow your child to stay rear-facing for a longer time period.
We always love a car seat with a better height and weight performance in the rear-facing, which is the best mode that is suggested for infants and small toddlers under 2 years old.
In a lot of US states, the local laws on child restraint safety seats require that toddlers should be put rear-facing until their second birthday.
And it’s recommended to ride your littles in rear-facing as long as possible before they outgrow their car seats’ requirements, whichever – weight or height, comes first.
Safety is always the priority for a car seat. The One4Life inherits the excellent features that you can find on other Britax car seats for security and comfort.
It comes with 2 layers of side impact protection with a steel-reinforced shell and energy-absorbing foam surrounding the head, neck, and torso that provide the best level of protection all-sided.
It also features the manufacturer’s unique SafeCell technology that delivers a crumple zone to absorb crash energy. The ClickTight technique makes the installation easy in three steps for adding extra safety points to the Britax One4Life.
Plus, the company’s exclusive patented V-shaped tether performs better than the one-line tether in slowing and reducing forward and backward movement in case of crashes.
Moving to the comfort part, this car seat allows for a 15-position headrest and harness adjustments. Along with the 9-position reclines, the One4Life all-in-one car seat empowers the best-fit position for your little one’s growth.
Made of cooling air mesh fabrics, it’s comfortable for children in heated cities to stay in the thick pad and foam, which is made of machine-washable materials for easy cleaning. You don’t need to worry much about the messed kids.
The high-strength steel frame not only ensures steady and stable rides but also offers great durability. The Britax One4Life was designed with a long lifespan of up to 10 years. You can make full use of it for riding a child from day 1 until they are ready to use the vehicle’s seat belt.
Your Attention Please: the 10-year usage started from the date of manufacture, not the day you purchased the car seat. You can find the label on the car seat and should not use it for riding a child after its expiration.
After your child exceeds its weight limit of 50 pounds or height limit of 49 inches, whichever comes first, you should change this toddler car seat from rear-facing to front-facing into the next stage – a forward-facing 5-point harness.
Then transition from harness to booster at the time your child outgrows the harness height or weight limit.
This car seat is also FAA-certified for aircraft use in the rear-facing harness and forward-facing harness. But it’s even heavier than the Chicco Fit4 4-in-1 car seat, up to 30 pounds, making it a bit difficult to carry it to the airport.
You should always follow the user manual and the airline’s support to install the car seat correctly on the airplane if you insist on taking it for air travel.
FAQs on Best Rear-Facing Toddler Car Seats
What car seat should i get my rear facing toddler
To keep your toddler rear-facing, you’d better get a car seat with a higher rear-facing weight limit. For example, the six options listed above are all rear-facing car seats up to 50 lbs.
Also, they have their own capabilities to stand out from others:
Evenflo Revovle360 Extend Rotation all-in-one car seat: 360 rotation, a car seat with a 5-point harness for up to 120 pounds, and Quick Clean Cover.
Evenflo Revolve360 Slim Rotational 2-in-1 convertible car seat: 360 rotation, slim design at 16.75″, and Quick Clean Cover.
Cybex Sirona S: 360 rotation, SensorSafe, load leg, and linear side impact protection.
Graco Extend2Fit: Most popular on Amazon, and load leg extension panel.
Diono Radian 3R: budget price under $200, 17″ for 3 across fit, and 5-point harness up to 120 pounds.
Britax One4Life: ClickTight for easy installation, SafeCell for enhanced safety, and 5-point harness up to 120 pounds.
How long should a toddler stay in a rear facing car seat
As a good parent, you should keep your toddler in rear-facing car seat for as long as possible until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the car seat.
If you want to extend the rear-facing riding, getting a car seat that with a high rear-facing weight limit and height limit is a good idea.
There are many car seats, mostly convertible and all-in-one car seats, featuring a high weight limit up to 50 lbs. The top-rated rear-facing toddler car seats in this article are among them.
The 50-lb rear-facing weight limit makes it possible to ride your toddler in rear-facing around 3-4 years old. That’s enough to meet the car seat laws in the United States.
When is toddler too big for rear facing car seat
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a toddler should stay in a rear-facing car seat until he reaches the maximum weight or height limit given by the manufacturers.
That means if you’re using an infant car seat, the upper weight limit would be 35 pounds while the upper height limit might be 30 inches (Chicco KeyFit), or 32 inches (most cases), and 35 inches (Chicco Fit2).
The 2-in-1 convertible car seats and all-in-one car seats have higher rear-facing weight and height limits. And you can always use them to extend the rear-facing riding time, which is strongly recommended if the toddler does not outgrow the size.
Strictly following the manufacturers’ guidelines to use the car seat is a good habit to keep your toddler safe in the car seat.
Remember that it’s not solely about age but primarily about meeting the height and weight requirements of the car seat. Always prioritize safety and follow the guidelines provided by both the car seat manufacturer and relevant safety authorities in your country or region. If you have specific questions or concerns, consider consulting with a certified child passenger safety technician for personalized advice.
How long does a toddler need to be in a rear facing car seat in Minnesota
The Minnesota car seat laws don’t have clear requirements on rear-facing riding. It only says to use a child restraint system for a kid below 8 years old or under 57 inches tall.
That means you should follow the guidelines from the manufacturers to use the car seat.
The advanced tip is to use a car seat with 50-lb rear-facing weight limit, which makes it possible to extend the rear-facing riding time for longer.