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For a child between 1 and 3, the seat to buy is one that keeps them riding rear-facing for longer: a convertible or all-in-one seat with high rear-facing limits. Transport Canada says children should stay rear-facing as long as possible, because it's the safest position, and that moving from an infant seat to a convertible lets them stay rear-facing longer. The law in BC and Ontario sets a much lower minimum, so it's usually the seat's limits that decide how long your toddler rides rear-facing. Here's how the seats we carry compare.
What the law and Transport Canada say
| Rear-facing | Forward-facing | |
|---|---|---|
| BC law | Until at least age 1 and 9 kg (20 lb) | Until 18 kg (40 lb) |
| Ontario law | Up to 9 kg (20 lb), or longer to the seat's limits | 9 to 18 kg (20 to 40 lb) |
| Transport Canada advice | As long as possible, until your child outgrows the seat's rear-facing limits | Only once rear-facing limits are outgrown, your province allows it, and your child weighs at least 10 kg (22 lb) |
Two common questions have simple answers. Transport Canada says it's okay if your child's legs touch the vehicle seat back. And a birthday doesn't mean it's time to turn the seat. Our guide to when a car seat should face forward walks through the checks in order.
Rear-facing limits of the seats we carry
| Seat | Type | Rear-facing | Forward-facing harness | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clek Fllo | Convertible | 14–50 lb, 25–43 in | 22–65 lb; 1 year minimum, 2+ recommended | From $529.99 |
| Evenflo Revolve360 Slim | Rotating convertible | 4–50 lb, 17–48 in | 30–65 lb; at least 2 years | $749.99 |
| Evenflo Revolve360 Extend | Rotating all-in-one | 4–50 lb, 17–48 in | 30–65 lb; at least 2 years | $499.97 |
| Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible | Convertible | 5–45 lb | 22–65 lb | $539.99 |
| Clek Foonf | Convertible | 14–40 lb, 25–43 in | 22–65 lb; 1 year minimum, 2+ recommended | From $774.99 |
| Romer Veni | Convertible | 5–40 lb, under 49 in | 22–65 lb | $724.99 |
| Nuna RAVA | Convertible | 5–40 lb, up to 49 in | 25–65 lb; at least 2 years | $810 |
| Peg Perego Primo Viaggio All-in-One | All-in-one | 5–40 lb with the vehicle belt (5–35 lb with UAS), up to 47 in | 22–65 lb with the vehicle belt (22–40 lb with UAS) | $649.99 |
| Maxi-Cosi Andi 360 | Rotating all-in-one | 5–40 lb, 19–40 in | 22–65 lb | $749.99 |
| Maxi-Cosi Kani 4-in-1 | All-in-one | 5–40 lb, 19–40 in | 22–65 lb | $599.99 |
| Cybex Callisto G 360 | Rotating all-in-one | 4–40 lb | 26.5–65 lb | $999.95 |
Your child has to be within both the weight and the height limit to ride rear-facing, so look at both. A tall, light toddler gets more time from a higher height limit, like the Revolve360's 48 in or the Veni's and RAVA's 49 in. A heavier toddler gets more time from a higher weight limit, like the 50 lb of the Fllo and both Revolve360 seats. Manuals add their own rules too. Evenflo, for example, says the top of your child's head must stay at least 1 in (2.5 cm) below the top of the headrest or shell when rear-facing. Our guide to extended rear-facing with Clek looks at the trade-offs in more detail.
Four questions before you buy
1. Will it fit your car rear-facing?
A rear-facing toddler seat needs room front to back as well as side to side. Clek lists the Fllo at 32.5 in (82.6 cm) front to back when rear-facing with its anti-rebound bar. Widths range from 16.9 in for the Fllo, Foonf and Revolve360 Slim to 19.5 in for the Callisto G 360. If your back seat is tight, our guide to narrow car seats for small cars compares widths, and our convertible car seat guide builds a shortlist by fit.
2. One seat until booster age, or two?
An all-in-one seat (the Revolve360 Extend, Andi 360, Kani, Callisto G 360 and Primo Viaggio All-in-One) becomes a booster later. A convertible (the Fllo, Foonf, Revolve360 Slim, Veni, RAVA and Primo Viaggio Convertible) stops at the harness, so you'll buy a booster after it. Our guides to all-in-one car seats and booster seats cover both routes.
3. Would a rotating seat help?
A rear-facing toddler seat means lifting a heavier child in over the side of the seat. Rotating seats turn toward the door to make loading and buckling easier: the Revolve360 Slim and Extend, the Andi 360 and the Callisto G 360. Rotation is only for getting your child in and out. Evenflo says to lock the seat into a travel position and check that the indicator is green before you drive.
4. Will you move it between cars?
Seat weight matters if it changes cars often. The Fllo weighs 25 lb, the Primo Viaggio All-in-One 25.65 lb, the RAVA 27.5 lb, the Veni 28 lb, the Revolve360 Slim 28.2 lb and the Callisto G 360 35 lb. The Foonf weighs 38 lb when set up rear-facing.
Already outgrown rear-facing?
If your child has outgrown their seat's rear-facing limits, a forward-facing seat with a harness is the next step. The Nuna ROYL ($840) is forward-facing only: it's for children at least 2 years old and 30–65 lb, and it becomes a high-back booster for children 4 and older. It has no rear-facing mode, so it's not a seat to buy for a 1-year-old. Whatever seat you use forward-facing, Transport Canada says to always attach the top tether and keep the harness straps at or just above your child's shoulders. Keep using the harness until your child outgrows the seat's forward-facing limits, even if your province allows a booster earlier.
Buying second-hand or a second seat?
Before you buy a seat second-hand, check its expiry date. Clek seats expire after 9 years, and Evenflo and Cybex list 10 years, counted from the date of manufacture on the seat, not the date it was bought. Our guide to buying a used car seat lists what to check, and our car seat terms explained guide decodes the labels. If you're still choosing your first seat, see our guide to infant vs convertible car seats.
Get the fit checked
We offer car seat installation and check-ups by appointment at our Richmond and Burnaby stores, free for seats bought from us and $50 for other seats. Here's what happens at a car seat check. Prices were current when we wrote this. If you'd like to see a seat before you buy, call the store ahead of your visit to ask which ones are on display.
Neo W. is a BCAA-certified Child Passenger Safety Educator at baby enRoute (BCAA CPS Educator II Course).
