The First Years True Fit Premier

The First Years True Fit Premier improves upon The First Years True Fit (*Est. $130), which already gets excellent expert and owner reviews. The Premier is easier to install, reclines in either the forward- or rear-facing position and is the only convertible seat on the U.S. market with an anti-rebound bar to keep the rear-facing seat from flipping forward in a crash. Britax and Sunshine Kids seats -- such as the top-rated Britax Roundabout 50 Classic (*Est. $180) and Sunshine Kids Radian65SL (*Est. $230) -- use a rear-facing tether for that purpose, but one expert says the anti-rebound bar is more convenient.

Otherwise, the True Fit Premier shares the same safety and convenience features as the regular True Fit, which gets very good crash ratings and owner feedback. The True Fit seats are the only ones with removable headrests to make them easier to fit rear-facing in the back of a small car. Owners note that this only works until the baby hits about 22 pounds, though. After that, you'll have to put the headrest back on, and then the seat doesn't fit any better rear-facing than any other convertible car seat -- in fact, some owners say it seems even bigger than others with the headrest on. The True Fit Premier has high height and weight limits: 50 inches, 5 to 35 pounds rear-facing and 65 pounds forward-facing.

CarSeatBlog.com tests The First Years True Fit Premier's fit and installation, and the reviewer -- a professional child safety technician/instructor -- also gives her opinion of the seat's safety features. "Baby Bargains" experts mention the True Fit Premier briefly in their longer review of the regular True Fit. Babble.com deems the True Fit Premier the best infant-to-preschool car seat in its review of car seats. Experts at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration test the True Fit Premier's ease of use. Owners post their opinions at Amazon.com.