Two other Graco options in this review earned awards, the already mentioned Graco SlimFit and the Graco 4Ever DLX. The SLimFit is similar to the Extend2Fit in scoring, with a slight edge for installation using LATCH. The 4Ever has the best crash test results in the group and a higher overall score thanks to impressive ease of use and installation using LATCH. Frankly, any of the three Gracos are sure to please, and which is right for you is likely a personal decision based on goals and needs. Tightening the harness on the Extend2Fit was more complicated than the average option. It kept getting caught on something, making it harder to pull for a snug fit.
R44 (legally known as ECE R44/04) car seats are divided into groups based on weight, with some covering multiple groups. Eventually, R44 car seats will no longer be available for purchase, but these seats are still safe to use. The Extend2Fit has a bubble indicator for rear-facing installation. Still, there is no color coding or a lock-off, which is a bummer as it traditionally makes installation easier and more stable. The rear-installation pathway is overshadowed by the forward-facing path with color coding, which feels like a poor design.
That said, for the uninitiated, the ClickTight system may take a few minutes to understand, since the key and seat belt lock-off could be counterintuitive for parents familiar with a LATCH system. For first-timers, we think a video demonstration may offer graco convertible car seat a clearer overview than the diagrams in the seat’s manual. As your tiny baby grows into a big kid, messes are bound to happen, but we’ve made cleaning easy. The seat pad snaps off easily without removing the harness and is machine-washable and dryer-safe.
We’d love to see a slit added to the cover just over the rear facing belt path or to have the cover be easier to remove around the belt path. That would allow easier access to tighten the lower anchors or vehicle seat belt from inside the seat’s shell. If you are expecting a smaller baby and want to start with a convertible seat, this is not the best car seat for graco car seat a newborn on the tiny side. The car seat harness has to be coming from below the shoulders when rear-facing, and it’s unlikely a smaller baby will meet this requirement in this seat as the lowest harness height is about 7 inches high. Remember, the best car seat is the one that fits your child, vehicle, budget, and lifestyle and has the features important to you.
From the headrest, to the harness straps, to the crotch strap, the seat has multiple comfort adjustment options to fit kids from birth to 10 years. Bulky but wonderful I’m thankful that we haven’t gotten into any car accidents so I have been able to keep the same car seat that I bought for them when they were just a few months old. My oldest has always been off the charts in her height for her age, so the extend to fit really helped give her leg room when she still was rear-facing. My oldest is now 7, we are still using it as a high back booster and its been great. I’m not a fan of how big they are in the car, because I have two in the backseat, but have a Honda Pilot so I have enough room to fit.
Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Like the Extend2Fit Convertible, the 3-in-1 has a one-year warranty and a lifespan of 10 years from the date of manufacture. Since it is a relatively new model, the NHTSA has yet to release crash-testing data or an ease-of-use rating for this seat. We spoke to dozens of caregivers about their car seat experiences, scanned hundreds of online reviews, and read articles and recommendations from other media sites like BabyGearLab and Car Seats for the Littles.
There are four different settings on the panel, so it can be extended for a total of 5 inches of additional legroom when rear-facing. (The panel is not intended for forward-facing use.) It’s perfectly fine for a child’s legs to dangle over the side of a seat without a footrest—or to rest on the back of the vehicle seat. But many kids will likely appreciate the extra support this unique feature provides. A. s have cornered the market on mid-priced convertible car seats that include extra safety and convenience features that are typically hallmarks of pricier options. Some models will last until your child graduates from a booster seat, between the ages of 10 and 12, eliminating the need to buy multiple car and booster seats.