The insert under the bum must be removed forward facing, but the insert behind the head can stay in through the life of the seat. If you have a child who appreciates more head support, or a forward facing child with low tone, these may be very beneficial. There is a minimum of 3 day rental on all our items, including car seats. If you are looking for a version of this car seat that meets R129 standards, we encourage you to discover SlimFit R129. The harness buckle and chest clip are average, with no real struggles or standout features to rave about. Pushing in the pongs takes a little more force than the average option.
The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1’s cushions are made with plush fabric that doesn’t scratch delicate skin. It also has a special harness system (no need for rethreading), plus six-position reclining and a 10-position headrest. The harness is easy to use and makes us feel confident that our kids are safely buckled. For the rear-facing install, we think the car’s seat belt is a better choice than the LATCH method because it will save you from making the switch in the not-so-distant future. (And both methods require about the same amount of effort.) The Foonf can only be used rear-facing with LATCH for babies who weigh up to 25 pounds; about half of all babies will reach that weight by 12 months. To begin the process, first you’ll remove the seat cushion and set it aside; it comes off entirely, allowing access to the inner workings of the seat.
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.
And it’s prone to staining—the material was not as easy to casually wipe clean as that of the Britax or the Clek. Also, in our food-and-drink tests, when we smeared peanut butter on the seat, it left a stain that we couldn’t get off with a soapy damp rag. When you switch the Extend2Fit Convertible from rear-facing to forward-facing, you’ll have to take the seat cover off to reroute the LATCH straps; it’s a bit of a nuisance, but hopefully a rare one. As far as the durability and safety of the seat, I feel very confident that the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 is going to last until its 10-year expiration date and that it would protect my child in the event of an accident. With the steel-reinforced frame it feels very sturdy and the seat has been rigorously crash tested to meet or exceed U.S. safety standards.
Unfortunately, the seat doesn’t come with a cupholder—c’mon, Clek—but you can purchase one for about $20. The Boulevard can be used in the rear-facing position for kids up to graco car seat 40 pounds—the size of a typical 4-year-old. From 0-3 months you need to make sure the seat is reclined enough that the level bubble is completely within the light blue line.
The leg panel has multiple settings and can give up to 5″ of extra leg room for a rear-facing child. This is optional and does not have to be used if you have a smaller vehicle or very tall passengers. The SafeWash fabrics can be machine-washed and -dried up to 30 times, whereas the other fabrics must be hand-washed and line-dried. If you’re installing the Boulevard with the LATCH system (and again, we can’t think of a scenario where you would or should), the process is the same, but you use the included LATCH straps in place of the seat belts. Aesthetically, the Extend2Fit Convertible is nothing special. It looks like a totally standard, run-of-the-mill car seat.
The manual states that the panel must be in position 2-4 for a child over 40 pounds. When CSFTL asked Graco if this is absolutely required, since the seat is far more compact without it, they stated that it’s not misuse to keep the panel tucked graco convertible car seat away. There are two cupholders with this seat, and both are required to be assembled when the seat is bought. They click in with ease provided they are in the correct direction. How many recline positions does the SlimFit R44 car seat have?