If you are looking for a narrow car seat to fit 3 in a row, you have come to the right place. Even if you have a large SUV or minivan, it can be a challenge to fit multiple car seats in the back, so this is why it is helpful to find the best narrow car seat on the market.
Narrow Infant Car Seat
Below are the best narrow infant car seats.
The UPPAbaby MESA car seat, a premium infant car seat, measures about 17 inches wide at its widest point. The MESA infant car seat base only measures 14 inches wide, making it one of the best narrow infant car seat base.
The MESA is one of the top lightweight infant car seat, weighing only less than 10 pounds. It fits babies 4-35 lbs and up to 32 inches tall. it includes an infant insert with a built-in wedge that creates a flatter and safer riding position, perfect for babies 4-8 lbs.
The MESA car seat provides your child the necessary side impact protection with its EPP foam reinforced headrest. The MESA is designed to keep your child’s head stationary in the event of a side impact collision, resulting in up to 4 times higher test scores than other premium infant car seat brands.
What’s great about this UPPAbaby car seat is its ease of installation. You can install the car seat using its SMARTSecure System that features auto-retracting lower anchor LATCH attachments or use their built-in lockoff for seatbelt installations. There is a tightness indicator and dual-sided level indicators to confirm whether the base has been installed correctly.
This UPPAbaby infant car seat has a no-rethread harness with 5-position adjustable headrest. There are 2 crotch straps/buckle positions. The MESA is currently the only flame-retardant-free infant car seat in the United States.
MESA is compatible with both UPPAbaby VISTA and CRUZ strollers to create what they call a “Performance Travel System.”
If you want to purchase one of the best infant car seat with narrow base, you can consider the MESA car seat from UPPAbaby.
Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat
At only 17 inches wide, the Chicco Keyfit car seat is one of the best narrow car seat for infants. It fits infants from 4-30 pounds and up to 30 inches tall. It comes with a removable full body insert for smaller babies 4-11 pounds.
This Chicco baby car seat is lined with energy-absorbing foam for increased safety and comfort. It features a 5-point harness that adjusts with one-pull tightener for easy adjustments and secure fit. There are indicators on either side of the Chicco infant car seat base to determine accurate seat angle.
One of the best things about the Keyfit car seat is that it is one of the easiest car seats to install. You can use either the LATCH system or the vehicle’s safety belts. For cars without LATCH, the Keyfit infant car seat can be installed using a built-in, belt-routing lockoff system. The Keyfit has an adjustable, multi-position canopy.
The Keyfit is also FAA approved for use in an airplane. These car seats are compatible with dozens of Chicco’s strollers, including Chicco Bravo, Cortina, Cortina Together, Neuvo, Activ3, TRE, Liteway Plus, and KeyFit Caddy strollers. For further information, read our Chicco Keyfit 30 review.
For less than $200, the Chicco Keyfit is amongst the best narrow infant car seat on the market.
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35 Infant Car Seat
This Primo Viaggio car seat is a luxury car seat made in Italy and fits babies 4 to 36 pounds and up to 32 inches tall. This premium car seat weighs 9.5 pounds and measures about 17 inches wide, making it one of the best light and narrow infant car seat.
The Peg Perego car seat base comes with an integrated anti-rebound bar for advanced protection in the occurrence of a crash. Its shell is perforated for maximum air circulation and lined with energy absorbing EPS foam for improved protection.
The Peg Perego car seat is easy to install, and can be installed without the base, with color coded belt paths to assist with belt routing if base is not in use.
The side impact protection adjusts to six different positions with no re-threading required to protect your child’s head and shoulders.
You can attach this car seat directly to any Peg Perego stroller without having to use any adapters, except for the Pliko Mini and Skate.
The Cybex Aton 2 is a lightweight carrier that weighs less than 9 pounds and measures about 17 inches wide. It is one of the most narrow infant car seat.
It is a great option for small cars with less legroom as it does not protrude into the front seat as much as other infant car seats. If you are a tall driver or would like more legroom in the front, you may want to try out this car seat.
Part of the reason why the Aton is one of the lightest car seat on the market is its careful design, such as putting the seat release mechanism in the car seat base.
The Aton 2 Base has a unique belt tensioning system, which makes the car seat easy to install using LATCH or the vehicle belts.
The Aton 2 infant car sat offers superior side impact protection with its energy absorbing shell and singular L.S.P. system, which transfers initial side impact forces to the seat’s shell. The shell absorbs the forces away from your baby, thereby increasing safety by 40%.
There is also a height-adjustable load leg, a standard in Europe, that absorbs and distributes energy to your car’s floor. This reduces forces to the child in the occurrence of a crash. It also keeps your child perfectly positioned and prevents the seat from rotating forward.
You can attach the Cybex Aton to any of the Cybex strollers, as well as other popular strollers, to create your own baby travel system.
It is FAA approved for air travel, making it one of the best narrow infant car seat for travel.
The Nuna Pipa is 17.4 inches wide and weighs only 7.9 pounds. It is one of the best narrow car seats for infants. It fits infants from 4-32 pounds and up to 32 inches tall. What’s great about this car seat is that it is one of the easiest infant car seat to install, taking only about 5 seconds! It is also one of the best infant car seats for taxi, as it can be installed using only the car’s seat belt and without the base.
Its heavy duty shell is made from super resilient, high end plastics. This Nuna infant car seat has a 5-point harness and comes with an infant insert to keep your baby safe and comfortable.
This stylish infant car seat features premium fabrics that keep your baby cool during summer and warm during winter. There is also an integrated drape that you can use to protect your baby. The canopy has a mesh window, which provides air flow for your baby while allowing you to check on your baby.
The Pipa car seat works with Nuna and Maxi-Cosi adapters, allowing you to create a baby travel system with over 20 strollers. It is aircraft certified, making it one of the best car seats for travel.
Narrow Convertible Car Seat
Below are the best narrow convertible car seats.
Diono Radian 3RXT All-in-One Convertible Car Seat
Diono Radian RXT is one of the best narrow all-in-one car seat, measuring about 17 inches wide. What’s great about all in one car seats is that they can be converted from a rear-facing infant seat to a forward-facing seat, and then to a booster car seat.
The Radian RXT car seat fits infants in extended rear-facing position from 5-45 lbs, forward-facing from 20-65 lbs in a 5-point harness, and booster up to 120 lbs. It is one of the few car seats that allows your child to sit rear-facing until 45 lbs.
This Diono convertible car seat is one of the safest car seats on the market with its full steel frame and aluminum reinforced sides. There is energy absorbing EPS foam, Safe Stop harness system, and infant body support cushion for enhanced safety and comfort.
This all-in-one convertible car seat is lightweight and folds flat, making it great for travel. Its compact design allows you to fit 3 car seats across in most vehicles and is one of the best convertible car seats for compact cars.
Clek Foonf Convertible Car Seat
The Clek Foonf is one of the best narrow convertible car seats, measuring about 17 inches at its widest point. This high end car seat, as indicated by its expensive price, fits children in the rear-facing position from 14-50 pounds and in the forward-facing position from 20 to 65 pounds. It has a height limit of 49 inches, making it one of the best convertible car seats for tall babies.
The Foonf car seat has a steel anti-rebound and advanced side impact protection for improved safety. Its aluminum honeycomb technology absorbs the energy from a crash, reducing forces transmitted to the child. Its REACT safety system also provides the same rear-facing safety in a forward-facing seat.
The Clek convertible car seat has an adjustable headrest with deep side wings and energy absorbing foam layers. Its premium GREENGUARD Select Certified Crypton Super Fabrics provide protection against stains, moisture and bacteria.
If you have triplets or need to fit 3-across convertible car seats, this gorgeous car seat may be just want you are looking for. It is one of the best narrow forward facing car seat.
The newest Clek is the Clek Fllo, which has the same weight and height limits as the Foonf, but it is more than 10 pounds lighter. Like the Foonf, the Fllo also comes with an anti-rebound bar and is 17 inches wide, making it perfect for small cars.
Combi Coccoro Convertible Car Seat
The Combi Coccoro car seat is one of the most narrow convertible car seats, measuring about 15.5 inches wide. This compact car seat allows you to fit 3 car seats in a row in many vehicles. It fits children rear facing from 3-33 pounds and forward facing from 20-40 pounds.
The Combi car seat has a 5-point harness with a color indicator that ensures the harness is securely buckled. There are 4 harness heights, front harness adjuster, built-in lock offs and premium push-button LATCH connectors. There are also removable and washable cover, harness pads, and infant insert pillow.
There is superior side impact protection and a tether connector strap that allows for rear-face tethering, stabilizing the car seat during a crash.
The Coccoro is one of the best convertible car seats for taxis. You can install it with your child in the seat. One of the best things about it is that it is one of the only convertible car seats that can fit onto strollers, such as the Baby Trend Snap N Go EX carrier. This is a big advantage if you are traveling because once you get out of your taxi, you can put your car seat on a stroller instead of having to walk around carrying it.
Narrow Booster Car Seat
There are narrow high back booster seats and narrow backless booster seats.
Narrow High Back Booster Seat
Maxi-Cosi RodiFix Booster Car Seat
This MaxiCosi booster seat is one of the best slim booster seat, measuring 12 inches wide at its base and 19.5 inches at its widest point
As one of the best narrowest booster seats on the market, they allow you tofit 3 across in the back of your vehicle.
The RodiFix booster seat fits children from 40-120 pounds. It features Air Protect for superior side impact protection around your kid’s head.
It does not have any arm rests, which make it easier to get your child buckled in, and it fits well next to wider seats. Its belt routing system is easy enough that children can buckle themselves in.
RodiFix has LATCH connectors that hold the seat in place when the seat is not in use. This prevents the seat from turning into a projectile in the event of a crash.
The seat features front-access recline system, which allows seat and seatback to recline for comfort and better fit to vehicle. This belt-positioning booster also has a multi-height headrest and expanding side wings that grow with your child.
The stylish, premium fabrics are plush, comfortable, and self-wicking to help deodorize and draw liquids away from the skin.
Compared to many other boosters, the RodiFix is more expensive but its premium features may be worth the price!
Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat
Made in USA with American and imported parts, this Cosco Finale car seat is one of the best narrow car seats on the market. Measuring 18 inches wide, it is designed to fit three across in most vehicles, perfect for growing families and car pools.
This slim high back booster seat with harness has extended use in both modes, fitting your child up to 65 pounds in its forward-facing with harness position and up to 100 pounds in the belt-positioning booster position.
The Cosco Finale DX booster car seat is lightweight and easy to move from car to car, which is great for families on the go.
It features deluxe fabric that is easy to clean and keeps your child comfortable. You can also remove the seat pad, which is machine-washable and dryer-safe. The seat features a reversible cupholder, meaning you can detach and install the cupholder on either side of the seat.
Not only is this one of the best narrow seat for 3 across, it is also very affordable.
Narrow Backless Booster Seat
BubbleBum Inflatable Booster Seat
The Bubblebum booster seat is one of the slimmest car seat on the market. This inflatable booster seat is only 13 inches wide so you can easily fit three car seats across the back seat.
It fits children from 40 to 100 pounds. This blow-up booster transforms from a small pouch to a booster seat for kids in less than a minute!
The Bubblebum car seat is foldable and portable, making it great for travel, car rentals, taxis, carpools, and caregivers. When it is deflated, it easily fits into a handbag or backpack. Bubblebum booster seat can fit in the center seat of your 3-across installation even when nothing else seems to fit.
mifold grab-and-go car booster seat
The mifold booster seat is the most compact and portable booster seat on the market. You can fold it so small that it can even fit into a child’s backpack or your car’s glove box.
It is designed for kids 4 years and up, 40 to 100 lbs, and 40 to 57 inches tall. It fits 3 in a row, even in the smallest cars.
The mifold is great for vacation and travel. You will need this car seat for taxis and car rentals. Not only is it cleaner and cheaper than renting a booster seat, but you get to keep it!
Even though the mifold seat is 10x smaller than a regular booster, it js just as safe! Just because it is small doesn’t mean it is less safe than other seats. The mifold has been safety tested and meets or exceeds NHTSA standard FMVSS 213 in the USA. It protects your child by adjusting the adult’s seatbelt to fit properly.
Check here for more best narrow booster car seats.