Evenflo Advanced Transitions 3-in-1 combination booster car seat

I was excited to receive my Evenflo Advanced Transitions 3-in-1 car seat. This car seat is perfect for those ever-growing toddlers. Its three stages can accommodate your child until they are ready to lose the car seat altogether. Not only does it have great features, but it’s also very affordable.

The seat comes assembled as a forward facing car seat with a five-point harness, which accommodates children 22 to 65 pounds. The owner’s manual is one of the most clearly written and illustrated I’ve seen. It includes detailed instructions on installation and height/weight restrictions for each stage. Stage one installs using the LATCH system, which attach to the lower anchors in a car’s backseat and the top anchor behind the seat. It can be installed in a matter of minutes.

The straps adjust incredibly easily. I put my toddler in, and she said she was very comfortable. It has two cup holders, which she was very excited about. (I was, too—we could use one for a drink and one for a snack container!) There are even little buckle pockets, so you never have to dig around for a lost buckle or worry about one burning your tot, which is a concern during hot summer months. The seats come in two colors: black and black/pink. The handles on both seats are red.

The manual includes a detailed checklist describing when a child is ready to transition to the booster seat options. Converting the seat from stage one, with the five-point harness, to stage two, booster seat with backrest, involved a number of steps. The manual made it easy, but I did have to take the whole seat out of the car, pull it apart and put it back together. This second stage is designed for children who weigh more than 50 pounds but are not big enough to go without the backrest. It uses the seat belt of your car rather than the five-point harness.

The final stage is a booster without a backrest. The bottom of the seat slides away from the backrest easily, and a strap is included to adjust the shoulder strap of your seatbelt for your child’s comfort. Even the headrest is adjustable with seven different positions. Over the weekend, we spent some time with my daughter’s cousin, and she had a great time riding in the booster seat. I was able to quickly convert the seat to a booster, and we were off in no time at all.

The seat is built with three layers of comfort and support to reduce pressure in case of impact and protect little ones—so every car ride is comfy and safe. And if your tot has a spill, just take the car seat pad off and throw it in the washing machine. Easy!

Overall, I think this is a great seat for your child to use as he or she grows. It would also be ideal for a grandparent or babysitter who might be carting around children of different ages and sizes.

Weight limits: Forward-facing, 22-65 pounds; booster, 40-110 pounds
Price: $150
Where to buy: walmart.com