Best car seat for 4 year old 2018

Evenflo Big Kid Booster – Best Budget Car Seat For 4-Year Old

The Evenflo Big Kid booster is the least expensive unit on our list. It is fit for kids between 30 and 110 pounds, and you can buy it in seven different color combinations.

As the name suggests, the Evenflo Big Kid is perfect for bigger kids, and it is quite tall. If you own a low vehicle, make sure that you can fit this seat in your car (more on that in our buyer’s guide.) This seat is fit for kids that are four years or older. It has been tested for side impacts, and it does meet all the US regulations regarding car safety.

It features energy-absorbing foams on both sides to mitigate the damage of potential impacts. It has decent padding around head and body but lacks padding around the shoulder area. Note that we are talking about stuffing concerning comfort, not concerning security; when it comes to safety, this seat won’t fail you.

Aside from being the least expensive item on our list, the Evenflo Big Kid Booster is also the most popular item on our list. Many people praised it for its low price, medium comfort, and high-safety level. The Evenflo Big Kid Booster is also the lightest item on our list, so, yeah; it has a lot of superlatives!

This seat doesn’t have cup holders, which might be problematic for some parents. We loved the one-hand adjusting system, and pretty unique design (all things considered.) If you are looking for the least expensive but the high-safety seat for your 4-year old, buy it without hesitation!

Pros

• The least expensive unit
• Attaches easily to your seat
• Unique design
• Protection for head and body

Cons

• Lacks cup holders
• Could use a bit more padding

Best Car Seat for 4 Year Olds Buyer’s Guide

Now that you’ve taken a look at our list, it is time we discuss theory. Don’t worry; we won’t bore you with number and statistics! Instead, we’ll talk with reason and simplicity in mind, ensuring that you hear only the things you absolutely need to understand! Specifically, we will go through the factors that will help you choose the best car seat for your 4-year-old.

Minding The Size

If you are searching for the best car seat for a 4-year-old, first check the size.

If you read our product reviews, you’ve noticed that we didn’t include seat dimensions. Why? It is because it would take too much of your time to go through all the numbers and dimensions. So, we decided to write a subheading that deals with this problem specifically, and the solution is; if you are searching for the best car seat for a 4-year-old, first check the size.

The most important thing (for most people) is the length of the seat. If the seat is too long for your vehicle, you will then have to move the front seat, which may cause inconvenience for people that are sitting in that seat. Also, the length of the seat is essential for your child. If your child is tall, you’ll need to ensure that the seat is long enough to make their trip comfortable.

Height and width are also important. After all, you won’t be able to use the car seat if it doesn’t fit your vehicle or blocks your rearview mirror. Width is less critical but might be crucial if you need to install several seats in your car.

You can approach this problem this way: just measure your car’s backseat dimensions, and then try to buy a seat that is within those dimensions. Please, do not disregard the seat’s dimensions, and don’t try to force a seat into a vehicle if it doesn’t fit!

Minding The Weight (And Weight Limits)

Each seat on our list weighs between 8 and 27 pounds. And as you can see, there is a big difference between 8 and 27 pounds! For some people, weight won’t be a problem. If you plan on installing the seat for 4-year-old in your car and use it over a long period, then you shouldn’t care about the weight that much.

But, if you need to switch vehicles and transport the seat from one car to another continually, then weight might be an issue for you. After all, there is a huge difference between moving around a 10-pound and 25-pound seat on a day to day basis!

Furthermore, each seat has its minimum and maximum weight capacity. Now, in our comparison table, you can see the min and max values, but that’s not the whole story. Some seats can be used in several modes, like the Graco 4Ever Convertible Car Seat.

In rear-facing mode (which is a mode for infants), ideal weight is 4 to 40 lbs. And when an infant grows to a toddler, it will start using forward facing mode. In the case of Graco 4Ever, the ideal weight is 22 to 65 lbs. Lastly, you have the booster mode, with a perfect weight of 30-100 for back belt-positioning and 40-120 for a backless mode.

Of course, not all seats have four modes like the Graco. And of course, if you are buying a seat for a 4-year-old only, then you won’t even use rear-facing or forward facing modes. Heck, you won’t even need the harness, but it is good to know these things, especially if you have or plan to have more kids!

On Types And Modes

All the seats on our list are boosters, which means that, if you have a 4-year-old, you can use any of these seats. Some can also be used as a rear or front facing car seats (like the previously mentioned Greco 4Ever.)

You can also use some in backless mode; the back support detaches from the base, and your child only sits on a base. Instead of relying on the seat’s back support, it will use the vehicle’s seat for back support. The idea behind it is that your child is safely positioned to an optimal height for the vehicles belt system.

Alas, most seats feature a harness system, but not all kids can use it. It mostly depends on their weight and height, which is often the result of their genetic predispositions and early development. To confirm whether or not your 4-year-old can use the built-in harness system, check the height and weight limitations.

Other Things To Consider

Once you figure out the ideal size, weight and weight limitations for your car seat, then move on to determining other factors:

Safety

Yes, your child’s safety should be your number 1 priority. The good news is that we’ve already selected the safest seats for you! Some seats on our list have slightly more security (side implants), but the difference isn’t substantial. And don’t think that the price reflects the seat’s protection; price mostly reflects multi-purpose usability, comfort, and other bells and whistles.

Comfort

Comfort is important; there’s no denying it. Some products on our list are less comfortable than others, but all are fit for short-distance trips.

If you need a seat for long-distance trips, it is always better to go for the seat that has more padding on both base, body, shoulder and head areas.

Installation And Buckling

Some seats are more convenient to install than others. If you need a seat for your 4-year-old that attaches and detaches with ease, go for those that have a one-click built-in connect system. Then again, if you plan to keep the seat in place for an extended period, you shouldn’t care about installation.

Sure, you might experience some inconveniencies the first time you install it, but your troubles will be over from that point on. Straps, harness and seatbelt tuning are a story of their own. Obviously, it is always better to go for the products that feature smooth buckling systems, and the ones that work well with your car’s seatbelts.

Adjustability

Children grow rapidly, which is why you need a seatbelt that can keep up with their growth. Try to find a product that keeps the same level of security even as your child grows ( that the seatbelt system works as it should, that the height of the seat is adjustable, that the built-in harness points are sufficient, and so forth).

Another thing to think about is the headrest/armrest adjustability. Most seats feature adjustable headrests so that they can protect your child’s head and neck as they grow.

Final Words

This article showed us that selecting a car seat for your 4-year-old is not a joke! There are so many things you need to consider, but don’t let that discourage you. If anything, make sure that you determine the critical points (size, weight, and weight capacity). Other things are important too (especially safety), so be sure to include them in your selection process.

Also, consider the things we didn’t discuss in our buyer’s guide (like the color options, cup holders, etc.) if these things are important to you. And seeing that this topic is quite extensive, think about the factors that are critical to you but haven’t been included in our article. If you do that, there’s no doubt that you’ll find the best car seat for 4-year-old!