Best Rear Facing Car Seat for Infants | Experts Choice

[dhoni4455]

I am searching for the Best Rear Facing Car Seat for my little one and want something that is safe and comfortable for daily use. I have been reading reviews on different websites like BabyGearLab, What to Expect, The Bump, and Consumer Reports, and I noticed two models keep getting highly recommended:
Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Baby Car Seat
Graco SnugRide Lite LX Infant Car Seat
Both seem excellent in terms of safety ratings, comfort, and long-term use, but I am confused about which one would be the better choice for infants and growing toddlers.
Has anyone here used either of these? Which one would you recommend as the Best Rear Facing Car Seat in 2025? Any personal experiences or tips would be really helpful before I make a decision.
Thanks a lot!

 

[borski]

I am searching for the Best Rear Facing Car Seat for my little one and want something that is safe and comfortable for daily use. I have been reading reviews on different websites like BabyGearLab, What to Expect, The Bump, and Consumer Reports, and I noticed two models keep getting highly recommended:
Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Baby Car Seat
Graco SnugRide Lite LX Infant Car Seat
Both seem excellent in terms of safety ratings, comfort, and long-term use, but I am confused about which one would be the better choice for infants and growing toddlers.
Has anyone here used either of these? Which one would you recommend as the Best Rear Facing Car Seat in 2025? Any personal experiences or tips would be really helpful before I make a decision.
Thanks a lot!

Wirecutter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-infant-car-seat/

 

[Rogue]

Place a towel underneath the car seat to keep it from permanently imprinting the seat. Plus it catches the occasional vomit and crumbs.

 

[Miami_Lucid_Man]

Honestly any of the standard Gracos (3 in 1, 4 in 1 etc) will work great. They are easy to install via the LATCH system and will grow with the child. As the father of a 4 and 2 year old, please do not blow your money on a 500+ car seat. I am telling you it is a waste and as an example in the case of the UppaBaby seat we were gifted for our first child (~500 bucks), a complete pain in the ass to install and heavy to move.

 

[Rogue]

Honestly any of the standard Gracos (3 in 1, 4 in 1 etc) will work great. They are easy to install via the LATCH system and will grow with the child. As the father of a 4 and 2 year old, please do not blow your money on a 500+ car seat. I am telling you it is a waste and as an example in the case of the UppaBaby seat we were gifted for our first child (~500 bucks), a complete pain in the ass to install and heavy to move.

I'll expand on this point. Having had to deconstruct my son's car seat multiple times from vomit, the prices are outrageous for what is ultimately plastic, foam, and cloth.

I'm not an expert of course. However, I am hard pressed to determine the difference between car seats aside from the brand logo on them and "features".

 

[Miami_Lucid_Man]

I'll expand on this point. Having had to deconstruct my son's car seat multiple times from vomit, the prices are outrageous for what is ultimately plastic, foam, and cloth.

I'm not an expert of course. However, I am hard pressed to determine the difference between car seats aside from the brand logo on them and "features".

And to add on again, I’m 41 and was in a Graco as a newborn. They’ve stood the test of time.