Best car seats for 3-year-olds: Expert-tested picks

The Joie Elevate 2 was awarded Gold for Best Multi Stage Car Seat at the Mother&Baby Awards 2024.

Elevate 2.0 is a car seat that grows with your child, and we like that it is suitable for use with up to 36kg. It converts to a belted booster seat from 15-36kg which means that this is a great option to choose to see you through all your child's stages. Our testers liked the five-point harness, and one mum, Julie, said, "The harness is an absolute must as it's so much safer and more secure than using an adult belt." However, one tester, Gemma, commented, "The seatbelt on this car seat is too easy for an inquisitive toddler to undo. I wouldn't feel comfortable knowing that my son could undo this whilst travelling on the motorway, for example." Reviewers also had difficulty locating the button to adjust the shoulder straps, and Sally, one tester, said, "The main criticism I would have for this seat is that the release button to help loosen the shoulder straps is a bit difficult to locate and press until you get used to it."

This car seat feels secure, and our testers liked the full side impact protection, plus Guard Surround Safety panels that shield a child from head to hips, with mum Verity saying, "It is a good price for a good, solid product, which will last many years. It feels secure, robust and good quality." As well as safety features, comfort has been considered and testers were impressed with the materials and padding, including fully ventilated mesh sides and an integrated cup holder. In fact, one tester, Hannah, loved the cup holder and said, "It has a really handy cup holder, and as my toddler often likes to have snacks or drinks in the car, the cup holder means she can safely store her things in there without me worrying they are going to be dropped which makes a less stressful journey for us all." While another tester, Gemma, added, "The seat is really padded, which would make it feel safer and more robust."

We know car seats can be awkward to carry or move around, especially as your little one gets bigger, but a real plus of this car seat is how lightweight it is, making it very easy to manoeuvre. One reviewer, Verity, noted, "It is lightweight, which is very useful if you need to move it between vehicles." This car seat is not compatible with ISOFIX, which might put off some parents, but it is a very affordable option and one tester said it "has a decent price compared to similar seats available on the market." We love that it offers affordability, a five-point harness and the option to convert to a high-backed booster seat.

Read our full Joie Elevate 2 review.

The Joie i-Spin XL was awarded Silver for Best Multi Stage Car Seat at the Mother&Baby Awards 2024.

The only car seat you’ll ever need! This is a great car seat because it can be used from birth right up until 12 years of age, plus it rotates as well to make getting your growing baby, or wriggly toddler into their car seat even easier. One tester really appreciated this saying, "I can put my little boy in quickly and every little thing that makes life easier is an added bonus."

Testers really liked that this is a secure and sturdy car seat. However, as a result, they did comment that it is really heavy to lift, which isn't great if you are swapping between cars. A mum reviewer said, "The chair is incredibly heavy, but I am on the fence to whether this is a negative or positive (does it demonstrate that it is more sturdier and therefore safer, or is it just a heavy car seat?)," which is a good point.

With a seamless 360º spin and an automatically adjusting harness and headrest, this car seat is really easy to use and extremely convenient. We love that it makes getting your little one into their seat stress-free. Testers agreed that it is a very simple car seat, with one commenting, "It's really easy to install and super easy to use. Being able to do everything with one hand just makes life easier." Plus, it is really comfortable for your little one no matter what age they are, as well as featuring several reclining options, which are very useful when your child has a nap. One mum tester noted, "The material is lovely to clean, and it was super comfy for my son to use."

We like that the car seat is very easy to wipe clean, which, as one reviewer said, "is a huge bonus point with little ones." Reviewers did think it was more expensive than other car seats on the market, however, it is ISOFIX compatible and ECE R129 & i-Size certified, which really gives us peace of mind. Plus, it is suitable for rear-facing, making it suitable for newborns and younger babies. One mum said, "I do feel the car seat is a little expensive, however, I know you can't put a price on child's safety."

Read our full Joie i-Spin XL review.

The John Lewis Swivel i-Size Car Seat was awarded Bronze for Best Multi Stage Car Seat at the Mother&Baby Awards 2024.

This i-Size car seat rotates 360 degrees and has an extended rearward-facing travel position to 4 years for added head and neck protection. Our testers liked that it’s certified to be suitable from birth up to 105cm, rearward facing from birth to 105cm and forward-facing from 85cm to 105cm. One reviewer, Sasha, said, "The fact you could put the child in a rear-facing position for longer than 15 months provides flexibility to those who want it."

Not only does this car seat offer extended rearward facing, but multiple recline positions for comfort as well, plus the cushions are soft and plush with a quilted effect so it is extremely comfortable for your little one. One tester commented on this, saying, "The design looks comfortable with the quilted cushions, and I imagine this would be a priority for longer car journeys." We also liked the removable covers, which can be hand-washed if needed because we all know how mucky car seats can get.

The most popular feature with reviewers was the 360 spin. Not only did this help make it easier to get little ones into and out of the car seat, but it also helps mums to protect their backs. One tester loved this feature, saying, "After having my son, I get constant sciatic pain which when it presents itself has made getting my son in and out of a car seat quite literally a pain, but thanks to the seat turning so I don't have to try awkwardly get my son into the seat, I haven't had any moments of becoming stuck in a car door while I try to wince through the pain."

This car seat is ISOFIX installation only, with a 5-point safety harness and removable newborn insert with a separate head cushion, which makes it a very secure seat. However, some reviewers did find installation a bit tricky or fiddly. But once in place, parents will be reassured with the lights which confirm the seat is in the right place. Fern, a parent tester, loved this, noting, "This means you can rest assured that your little one is safe and secure. If something is not right, the seat beeps at you once your little one is settled, so you know to look again." She added that this is "an awesome feature if you need to swap the car seat between cars regularly, so you know it's been installed perfectly each time." However, while using the ISOFIX makes installation easier and reassuring, the car seat is heavy and bulky which can make getting it out of the car quite tricky.

Reviewers liked the price of this seat, especially in comparison to other products with similar features. Gabriella commented that she would "easily pay the price of this seat and then more!" We like the convenience and comfort of this seat combined with many safety features and the fact it can be used from birth to approximately four years.

Read our full John Lewis Swivel i-Size Car Seat review.

**Awarded Gold for Best Multi Stage Car Seat at the 2022 Mother&Baby Awards
**
This Silver Cross Motion All Size 360 Car Seat is the first rotating multi-stage car seat to meet the latest i-Size regulations, and it's suitable from birth to 12 years, with extended rear-facing up to four years old which we love. Our testers liked that it has eight headrest positions and three recline positions, too, which makes it extremely comfortable for your little one. Sarah, a mum reviewer, said, "My daughter looks super comfy in this seat – there is plenty of padding, and the bamboo fabric is lovely and soft." Plus, Silver Cross claim that the bamboo fabric is naturally hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial, which is good to know, especially when considering how much time kids can spend in car seats and how messy they can get. Do bear in mind, though, that while testers thought this was very comfortable, they did say it was quite deep, with one reviewer, Sophie, noting, "The depth of the product is very deep, we have a large family car and the passenger seat has to be moved very far forward to accommodate the seat."

Of course, the 360 spin is popular and makes life easier for mums, as one mum tester, Sarah, commented, "Now my daughter has reached the ‘terrible twos’ she soon lets me know when she doesn’t want to do something – like being strapped into a car seat. Our previous car seat didn’t rotate and it was a real battle at times to get her in. Being able to spin this car seat to face me has made it so much easier," while another mum says it is great, "especially during postpartum recovery."

Being a car seat suitable for 0-12 years, it is bulky and heavy, and mums commented that it is hard to manoeuvre, with one tester saying, "It would be awkward if I needed to move it between cars regularly." However, they liked the adaptability of the seat, noting that it is easy to adjust between children. Roxanne, one mum tester, said, "I tried the seat with my baby girl (5 months) and boy (3 years), and it’s super easy to adapt the seat for each child."

We love how easy it is to install using ISOFIX and that it has indicators which change from red to green to confirm it has been installed correctly. Plus, it is R129 (I size) approved, which really ensures it is safe and secure, along with a five-point harness and side protection system. However, while the five-point harness is great, one reviewer, Maria, was frustrated, saying, "The cushioned pad surrounding the buckle between LOs legs pops right off."

Again, this is costly, but it saves you having to buy multiple seats as your child grows. We liked the quality fabric and the appearance of the seat and testers were reassured by the safety features as well as enjoying the convenience of the 360 rotation.  

Read our full Silver Cross Motion All Size 360 Car Seat review.

Our Silver winner for Best Multi Stage Car Seat in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards, the Joie Bold Group 1/2/3 Car Seat provides three seats in one to see your little one from nine months all the way through to 12 years old. However, it is only forward facing, which disappoints some testers, especially considering the recommendation to forward face as long as possible, ideally until four years old. That said, it is a sturdy car seat with side impact protection and Guard Surround Safety, which provides protection for the whole body. Our mum tester, Victoria, was impressed with how it converts to a high-backed booster seat, saying, "As a high-back booster, it is much more solid than other options and having the reassurance that it is secured by the ISOFIX fittings and the anchor belt give great reassurance as often high back boosters move around when your child gets in and out."

And for your child's comfort, there's ventilation on the sides of the shell, plus a cup holder that attaches to the side for a drink on the move, so they should have no complaints about the convenience and comfort of this seat, even on long journeys. Mum, Anna, really liked the cup holder, adding, "The cupholder is a small but welcome feature- having to turn round and pass a child their water bottle from the passenger seat isn’t easy- and if you’re driving, then there’s no way to get their drink to them, so having them be able to grab it themselves is brilliant! "

This car seat offers a five-point harness up until 25kg, which is great and very reassuring for safety; as our reviewer, Sophie, said, it's "something I’m really impressed with so my children can stay securely in the seat for longer." This seat is heavy because it is secured by ISOFIX, but testers did note that it is not as heavy as others, which is great considering it will last until 12 years old too. That said, Arianne, a mum tester, thinks the fact that it is only forward-facing is off-putting. She suggests, "The only thing I would really change is the lower age range. I think nine months is far too young to be front-facing."

Despite it not being suitable from birth, our testers still thought this seat provided great value for money because it will see your child through until they no longer need a car seat or booster seat, but you will need to purchase a car seat to use from birth. Overall, parent testers thought this was an easy-to-use car seat, with one reviewer stating, "I would recommend it because it is good value for money, easy to use, and my child seemed very comfortable in it."

Commercial Content Writer for MotherandBaby.com, Laura, used the Joie Bold seat for both her seven-year-old and four-year-old and found it to be a great seat. "I can use the five-point harness with my four-year-old because she doesn't seem secure enough with a seatbelt, but my seven-year-old is perfectly comfortable and safe with the seatbelt. This is an easy-to-install seat using ISOFIX and top tether for added security, and both my girls are comfortable in it. Plus, the covers wash really well."

Read our full Joie Bold Group 1/2/3 car seat review.

The long-lasting Maxi-Cosi Titan Plus Car Seat has an extra padded inlay, seat and headrest to ensure your little one is comfortable even on long journeys, which we love; plus it has lots of room to grow as one mum described: "Louie was so comfortable in the seat, it’s really wide and spacious so he has lots of room to grow." It also uses special Maxi-Cosi ClimaFlow technology to keep your child at the right temperature while in the car, which we think is a great idea, especially if you will be in the car for a while.

With five recline positions, this car seat does make for a comfortable journey and is suitable for both younger children from nine months up to 12 years old. Plus, there is a GrowSafe headrest, which we liked, that offers an impressive locking mechanism that will notify you when it requires adjusting, and it can be extended by up to 5cm. When your little one is ready to move from using the five-point harness to just the car's seat belt, the harness and clasp store neatly away behind the seat padding in special notches underneath. M&B tester and Contributor Sophie Knight said: "This seat is comfy for my daughter and easy to fit, with a smooth transition from harness to seat belt. There wasn't much fuss getting the harness to tuck away under the padding. It was easy to install in the car thanks to the ISOFIX fittings, which were simple to use. It's great that this car seat reclines too, as many car seats don't do that for the older stages."

We like the quality of this car seat and how comfortable it is for little ones, and we also like how easy the seat inserts are to remove and wash. Mum tester Nikki commented on this, saying: "The seat inserts are very easy to remove and add back in, making it quick and simple to wash them after we head home after a messy play session." She also added that the harness is really easy to adjust and the button to release the strap is really handy because: "it made it really quick and easy to lift Louie out, especially when he fell asleep in the car seat."

Despite lasting until 12 years old, our testers thought it was still quite lightweight, which they appreciated when moving it between cars. Overall, they were also reassured by the brand, with Nikki saying: "I really like Maxi Cosi as a brand as their car seats are so well made, really sturdy and long-lasting."

Testers were disappointed that there is no spin function and one reviewer said adding a spin function would be the only thing she would change because she found it difficult to lift her son in and out of the seat. However, she did say this would become easier once he is able to climb into the seat himself.

Read our full Maxi-Cosi Titan Plus review.

Unlike other car seats, the Cybex Silver Solution is available in six different colourways to match your car interiors, which we really like as a change from grey or black. However, this seat is serious about safety, too. One user said that following an impact, her children walked away without a mark, and the police said the only reason was the quality of the car seats. It has ISOFIX connectors, as well as in-built side protection to keep your little one safe. Testers commented on the sturdy, high-quality of this seat.

While it is certainly a secure seat which can installed with ISOFIX and the seatbelt, do bear in mind that it does not come with a harness, which must be purchased separately. This was frustrating for some users who found their little one still needed a harness. Another point is that it is only recommended for children three years, or 15kg plus, so you must ensure they are the right weight to use this seat. However, it is suitable up until 12 years, so it will see you through from three years old until your child no longer needs a car seat or booster seat.

Once you are happy this seat is suitable for your child, then you can be reassured by the level of comfort. One tester, Claire, said, "Shortly after fitting the seat into the car, I took my daughter out for a short journey to see how she found it. She absolutely loves it! She has said that it's very comfy and she appears to be safe in it." It also has an adjustable backrest and headrest to ensure ideal positioning for your little one which we loved.

Users were also impressed by the space, commenting that there is "so much more leg room for someone to sit in the front of our car," compared to other car seats. Another user, Sophie, liked that it was "highly rated by ADAC for safety at a good price." Overall, testers were impressed with this car seat for older children and would recommend it, with one reviewer saying, "this one is so great, colourful, comfy and can adjust nicely for accommodating a sleeping or awake child as necessary." Plus, we also liked the removable cover, which made it easy to keep clean.

The stand-out feature of the Cosatto Zoom are the fun designs. We particularly like the fun fox print in navy and orange, but you can also choose llamas, flamingos, unicorns and dragons. They really do make a change from the standard black or grey car seats to brighten up the back of your car. One tester, Sophie, said, "The design is absolutely beautiful and something that will suit a growing boy from a young age until he doesn't need a car seat any more."

More practically, this is also a safe and secure car seat and one feature which testers were really impressed by was the anti-escape system on the five-point harness. There is nothing worse than your little one undoing their straps while driving down the motorway and with this harness you won't need to worry. Plus it also features side impact protection and reviewers said that it "feels very secure and safe."

Unfortunately, this car seat is incompatible with ISOFIX and needs to be secured using the seat belt. Reviewers said that it is still easy to install, though, with one customer noting it's a "brilliant seat, easy fitting in under five minutes." However, another reviewer said, "It was a little tricky to install." It is also important to bear in mind that this seat is only suitable from 9kg and can only offer a forward-facing option, which is not ideal for younger children. Testers liked that it can last up to four years old, although that does mean you will need another seat, or high-back booster as your child grows.

We love the design and the padded seat with adjustable headrest and reversible seat liner, too, and one customer, Susan, said, "It was very comfortable for my Granddaughter." Plus, even better, the seat liner and covers are removable and machine washable, so it is easy to keep clean.

Testers were pleased with the price and thought it was a secure and sturdy seat that is "beautiful and serves its purpose well."

The Nuna Pruu car seat is an ISOFIX-compatible i-Size car seat suitable from birth to 19kg (about four years old); in the rear-facing-position it’s suitable to 105cm, then transitioning to forward-facing it’s suitable from 76-105cm. This car seat is another with the game-changing 360 degree seat rotation, making it much easier to get your little one in and out of the seat. M&B tester and contributor Sophie Knight said: “The rotation on this car seat is so smooth, one of the easiest ones I’ve tested. It’s intuitive to use, with side handles to click and swivel the seat around, and the movement glides with ease. There’s a button to slide when you want to swap from rear- to forward-facing.”

There are also small innovations to help make your life a little easier, with magnetic buckle holders to keep the harness straps out of the way while you’re getting your child in and out. Sophie said: “It’s the small things that make the difference, and while you might not notice if your car seat doesn’t have these innovations when you get a car seat with magnets to keep the harness out of the way, you really notice it. It might not be a ‘must-have’ when you’re shopping for a car seat, but it does make a lot of sense."

This car seat is full of safety tech, with side-impact protection pods that are easily slotted into place, there are coloured indicators to make sure the seat is installed correctly, it’s ISOFIX compatible, the base is integrated so there’s no need to buy it separately, and there’s a sturdy leg with more coloured indicators.

With five recline positions and six headrest heights that are easily adjustable with one hand, there’s plenty of room to make your little one comfy. Sophie continued: “The fabric is super soft against my daughter’s skin, and the padding is very snug and comfy. This car seat is great, and the only downside I could think of is how heavy it is when you’re installing it, but that’s because the base is integrated, and it’s not an issue as this isn’t really the sort of car seat I’d swap between cars.”

It is important to note that unlike some car seats, this one is only suitable up until four years old, so you would need to purchase another seat when your child reaches this age. This disappointed some parents who prefer to have a car seat that can transition to a high-backed booster seat for older children.

We really liked the safety features on this car seat, in particular the side impact protection pod, which can be fixed to the side of the seat to create an additional safety zone. Surprisingly, testers didn't think this impacted the space in the car and were impressed by this feature. We also liked that it is compatible with ISOFIX and offers rear-facing travel until four years of age.

The Graco Energi is suitable from about 15 months to 12 years (76-150cm tall). It's an affordable high-back booster seat with two options for forward-facing positions. When your child is about 15 months to four years old, use the seat with the harness for added safety and security. Then, when they've grown and until they're about 12 years old, you can use the seat with your car's seat belt. The harness can be stored and tucked away behind the seat padding.

This Graco booster seat features ISOFIX fittings to install the car seat with even more safety; M&B tester and Contributor Sophie Knight commented: "The ISOFIX installation was one of the easiest to use, with simple click buttons to get the seat installed safely and by myself. Having ISOFIX when your child is older and using the booster with the seat belt, not the harness, gives extra peace of mind. There is also a top tether available to fix behind the main car seat, although my car wasn't compatible with this."

There are green indicators to show whether the seat has been installed correctly, and the green fittings to slide the seat belt through are easy to use. The harness connector button can be a little fiddly, however. Sophie continued: "I did find the harness clasp tricky, as the two side sections didn't stay together very easily. It's a small thing but can make it more troublesome when you've got a wriggly child and you want everything to work quickly. But it just takes a bit of perseverance!"

The high-back headrest has 15 positions—more than most booster seats—and the handle for altering the height is easy to use. The seat weighs 7.2kg, meaning it's easy to take out and swap between cars if you need to; Sophie said: "It's lightweight, meaning it's a breeze to move it from my car to my husband's, and it was easy to re-fit."

Graco has made the seat from memory foam, so it's comfy and soft on car journeys. Plus, the covers are removable and machine washable for those inevitable spillages.