Now Is a Great Time to Buy a New Car Seat
Target's annual car seat trade-in event begins April 14, 2024.
If your kid has outgrown their car seat (or will soon) or the car seat you have is expired or has been in an accident, now is the time to buy a new one: Target’s twice-annual car seat trade-in event is happening from April 14 to April 27.
Between birth and roughly age 12, most kids transition from an infant car seat to a convertible car seat to a booster seat; many of those, including ones we recommend for their safety features and ease of installation, cost more than a couple hundred bucks each. (Unsure about which type of seat your kid should be in right now? We have advice on how to know when to make the switch.) So no matter what stage your child’s at, we’ve long suggested that the Target trade-in event is worth checking out for a potential good deal—not just on car seats, but on lots of other kid essentials.
How the Target trade-in event works
From April 14 until the 27th, bring an old car seat or car-seat base (even if it’s damaged or past the expiration date) to any Target store and place it in the designated drop-off box near the Guest Services counter. Then, use the Target app to scan the code on the box, which will generate a coupon for 20% off any new kid car seat or car-seat base, including items that are on sale. The 20% off reward can be redeemed twice, and can be combined with other offers and discounts.
Though old car seats will only be accepted through April 29, the coupon can be used in-store or online on two separate purchases through May 13. The coupon isn’t limited to just car seats, either; other kid essentials like strollers and high chairs are also eligible for the 20% off. And if you have a Target RedCard, the store’s credit card, you can save an additional 5% by using it to purchase your new baby gear.
According to Target, all of the used car seats collected during the event will be broken down and recycled through Target’s recycling partners to be remade into things like plastic buckets, pallets, construction materials, and more.
Our car seat and booster picks at the Target trade-in event
A big reason we recommend taking advantage of Target’s car seat trade-in event is that you can get our favorite infant, convertible, and booster picks at a guaranteed discount with the 20% coupon.
Still, Ingela Ratledge Amundson, the editor of our guide to infant car-seats, points out that, even at their regular retail prices, these Graco seats are an excellent value. In particular, the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX infant seat and the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 Convertible seat offer outstanding bang for their buck. “In our testing, we were particularly impressed by how easy these seats were to install and how many thoughtful, premium-feeling features they offered. They out-performed a lot of other seats that were far pricier,” Ingela said.
The Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX is easier to install, adjust, and operate than seats that cost far more. And it has an added safety feature: an anti-rebound base.
Buying Options
We first chose the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX as our infant car-seat top pick in May 2022 after our testing determined that it “provides the total package of user-friendliness, quality, and value.” It’s easy to install and comes with “some bells and whistles usually reserved for pricier models, such as a removable seat pad for quicker cleanup, harness straps that you don’t have to undo and rethread to adjust, and one-handed handle adjustment.” While all car seats, no matter the price, must meet the same federal safety standards, the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX has the added safety feature of an anti-rebound base, which “can help limit the amount the seat rotates (or rebounds) after the initial impact of a crash.”
The Graco Extend2Fit Convertible does a superior job of keeping your child rear-facing longer—and it’s straightforward to install and use.
If your child has outgrown an infant car seat we recommend our top-pick convertible seat, the Graco Extend2Fit. During testing, the Extend2Fit stood out from the pack for its “pretty easy installation, thoughtful features, and great value for the price.”
We’re bullish on starting with an infant car seat before moving on to a convertible seat, and we note in our convertible car-seat guide that “we’ve found that each individual type of seat tends to do a far better job at its dedicated purpose than an all-in-one seat can.” But if you're set on a seat that’s a one-and-done purchase, the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1, a variation on the all-in-one seat we recommend may be worth considering. (The model that we tested and recommend typically costs about $40 more than the standard Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 model because it has an anti-rebound bar, an optional added safety feature, and a rapid-remove seat cover for easier cleaning; other than that, the seats are the same.)
The Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus is easy to use and nice to look at. And it’s a hit with caregivers and kids alike.
Buying Options
For bigger kids who are ready to ride in a booster seat, the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus is the top pick in our booster-seat guide; it converts from a high-back seat to a backless one, comes with two cup holders, and was deemed cushy and comfortable by our kid testers.
This article was edited by Annemarie Conte and Ingela Ratledge Amundson.
Mentioned above
- After extensive research and field testing, we found that the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX is the best infant car seat for most families.The Best Infant Car Seats
- After researching dozens of seats and testing 17, we’ve concluded that the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible is the best convertible car seat for most families.The Best Convertible and All-in-One Car Seats
- After researching over 50 booster car seats and testing 13, we’ve concluded that the convenient Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus is the best overall choice.The Best Booster Car Seats
Further reading
The Best Travel Car Seats
by Christina Szalinski and Rebecca Gale
After testing 17 lightweight, portable car seats, we have five good options for infants, toddlers, and big kids to recommend.
When to Switch Car Seats
by Rebecca Gale
Car seats and booster seats are most effective when they’re used for the correct age, stage, and size of kids. We break down when it’s safe to make the switch.
Are Rotating Car Seats Worth It?
by Christina Szalinski
Rotating car seats are gaining popularity—but for the typical family, they’re not better than simpler options. Here’s what to know before buying one.
Cheap(ish) Things to Cool Down Your Hot, Stuffy Car
by Elissa Sanci
These affordable items can help you survive a hot car summer.
