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CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
Price on Amazon.com as of 2026-11-02 00:52 UTC, and subject to change.
A convertible car seat with 2 modes: rear-facing harness 5 to 40 lb, 19 to 40 in; forward-facing harness 30 to 65 lb, 34.4 to 49 in.
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CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
The Safety 1st Ellaris (CC396) is a convertible seat with two harness modes in the manual: rear-facing 5 to 40 lb and 19 to 40 in., and forward-facing 30 to 65 lb and 34.4 to 49 in. It has no booster mode, is certified for aircraft use with the harness and expires 10 years after manufacture.
It suits a family that wants a harness-only convertible with hook-style LATCH, for the car and for flights. The main trade-off is that it ends at the forward-facing harness, so a separate booster comes later, and the manual lists no numbered recline positions. The closest sibling, the Smooth Ride, lists a lower forward-facing range of 30 to 50 lb and 34.4 to 44 in.
A research summary of Safety 1st’s published specifications and manual, read . Not a hands-on test or a crash-safety rating.
This seat covers 2 stages, and a child has to meet every limit of the stage they are in. Safety 1st gives it a 10-year life from the date of manufacture, so check the date label before using a hand-me-down.
| Mode | Child weight | Child height | Minimum age | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing harness | 5 to 40 lb | 19 to 40 in | Not published | Manual level-line guidance splits 5-30 lb/19-34.3 in and 30-40 lb/34.4-40 in |
| Forward-facing harness | 30 to 65 lb | 34.4 to 49 in | Not published | — |
A child must meet every limit for the mode they use. The labels on your seat and its manual are the final word.
Every install is a fit between one seat and one vehicle. Read both manuals, and use a free inspection station if anything is unclear.
Safety 1st does not publish a width for this seat, so measure your back seat and compare it with the seat in a store before buying.
Smokey Haze, Peacock Blue, London Blue.
Rear-facing installs with the vehicle belt (lap/shoulder or lap only) or the LATCH lower anchor belt, never both, and the tether stays stored. For a child 5 to 30 lb and 19 to 34.3 in., the bottom level line must be parallel with the ground. For 30 to 40 lb and 34.4 to 40 in., and only if the child can sit up unassisted, the top level line applies. The manual says to rotate the seat up or down until the right line is level. The seat should not move more than 1 in. at the belt path. With an emergency locking retractor and a sliding latch plate, the manual says you must use a locking clip.
Forward-facing covers 30 to 65 lb and 34.4 to 49 in. The manual lists three methods: lap/shoulder belt plus tether, or lap belt plus tether, for children up to 65 lb, and the lower anchor belt plus tether, which must not be used for a child over 55 lb (24.9 kg). The tether must be attached and tightened whenever the vehicle has an anchor. The top of the child's ears must be below the top of the headrest, and the buckle can be used in any slot forward-facing.
To move the headrest, fully loosen the harness, squeeze the adjustment handle, slide the headrest, release it and check from behind that the bar is locked. Rear-facing, the child's head must be at least 1 in. below the top of the headrest, and the harness must be at or slightly below the shoulders. For a smaller infant, the straps can be rethreaded into the lower shoulder harness slots, and the headrest must then be in its lowest position. The buckle goes in the slot closest to the child, and the third slot is not used rear-facing.
The seat pad lifts off from the sides by the cup holders and then from the top. Machine wash it separately in cold water on a gentle cycle and do not use bleach. Tumble dry it separately for 10 to 12 minutes on low heat and remove it right away. Check the harness straps often for wear, and spot clean them and the buckle with warm sudsy water and a damp cloth. If the buckle or harness release lever sticks, the manual says not to lubricate it; clean out food or dirt instead.
No campaign in the current NHTSA child-restraint data names this model family, and I have not run a separate review for it. Check your seat’s model number and date of manufacture before use.
The manual lists rear-facing 5 to 40 lb and 19 to 40 in., and forward-facing 30 to 65 lb and 34.4 to 49 in. Each mode ends when the child outgrows any one limit or the fit requirements.
Ellaris Convertible Car Seat manual (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
The page splits rear-facing into Rear-Facing Infant (5 to 30 lb) and Rear-Facing Toddler (30 to 40 lb), then Forward-Facing (30 to 65 lb). The manual treats the split as two level lines in one rear-facing mode.
Safety 1st Ellaris Convertible Car Seat product page (opens in a new tab)
Yes, with the internal harness. The manual says to install it in a window seat using the vehicle belt steps, only on forward-facing aircraft seats, with the lower anchor belt and tether stored.
Ellaris Convertible Car Seat manual (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
The manual says not to use it more than 10 years after the date of manufacture shown on its label. It also lists the conditions under which a seat in a minor crash may not need replacing.
Ellaris Convertible Car Seat manual (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
The Disney Baby Ellaris page lists the same Rear-Facing Infant (5 to 30 lb), Rear-Facing Toddler (30 to 40 lb) and Forward-Facing (30 to 65 lb) modes, a 5-position headrest and hook-style LATCH, and adds a claim that it fits 3 across most vehicles.
Safety 1st Disney Baby Ellaris Convertible Car Seat product page (opens in a new tab)
The Smooth Ride page lists rear-facing 5 to 40 lb and 19 to 40 in., and forward-facing 30 to 50 lb and 34.4 to 44 in., with 5 harness heights and 3 buckle locations.
Safety 1st Smooth Ride Convertible Car Seat product page (opens in a new tab)
Answers refer to the model and manual version on this page. Check the instructions supplied with your seat.
Other convertible seats whose published weight and height limits overlap the Ellaris Convertible Car Seat.
| Mode | Weight | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing harness | 5–40 lb | 19–40 in |
| Forward-facing harness | 30–65 lb | 34.4–49 in |
$129.98Minnie Charm · Amazon price as of 2026-11-02 00:52 UTC, subject to change
| Mode | Weight | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing harness | 5–40 lb | 19–40 in |
| Forward-facing harnessfrom 12 months | 22–65 lb | 29–49 in |
$129.99Price on safety1st.com as of 2026-10-07 05:49 UTC, subject to change
| Mode | Weight | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing harness | 5–40 lb | 19–40 in |
| Forward-facing harness | 30–50 lb | 34.4–44 in |
$89.99Price on safety1st.com as of 2026-10-07 05:49 UTC, subject to change
| Mode | Weight | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing harness | 5–40 lb | 19–40 in |
| Forward-facing harness | 30–50 lb | 34.4–44 in |
$94.99Price on safety1st.com as of 2026-10-07 05:49 UTC, subject to change
