One of the most important investments you will make for your baby is a car seat. This essential item keeps your child safe and secure in your vehicle. It is usually placed in the rear passenger seat and has a harness to hold baby in place in case of a crash. In addition, it has a solid shell and energy-absorbing foam for extra protection. If you’re shopping for one now, surely you will have encountered one of the most popular and reputable brands out there: Graco.
Graco (pronounced “gray-co”) is an American baby products company that started in 1955 with the Swyngomatic, the world’s first automatic baby swing. Since then, they have expanded into other product lines, such as strollers, high chairs, and nursery furniture. They also have a wide selection of car seats with dozens of models to choose from.
Among their top-selling car seats, there are two trademarked terms that you will see over and over— Extend2Fit and 4Ever. Here are some examples:
For many parents, trying to understand Graco’s products and their different features can get confusing. Don’t worry, we are here to enlighten you!
Graco Extend2Fit vs 4Ever: What’s the Difference?
In a nutshell, 4Ever is a category of Graco car seats, while Extend2Fit is a special feature. A Graco 4Ever may or may not have Extend2Fit, and not all Extend2Fit models fall under 4Ever. But, there are two models, the regular and the Platinum version, that are Extend2Fit and 4Ever at the same time.
It’s enough to make you pull out your hair in despair, but we promise it’s simpler than it sounds. First, let’s define the three stages of car seats.
- An infant car seat is for newborns up to one year old. The maximum weight it can carry is usually 30 or 40 pounds. It has a handle for easy carrying and a canopy to provide shade. It can also be attached to a baby stroller frame to make a complete travel system. This type of seat is meant to be rear-facing, which is the safest position recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for very young children.
- A convertible car seat can be set up in both rear-facing and forward-facing positions. It can accommodate children over the age of two until the end of the toddler years. The weight limit is normally 65 pounds. This seat isn’t compatible with a stroller because it is heavier and bulkier. As a matter of fact, it is meant to be permanently installed inside your vehicle.
- The third stage is the booster seat. Designed for older children who weigh up to 100 pounds, it has head and harness height adjustments to accommodate growth. Just like the previous two stages, it has a seatback.
Graco has an additional stage (or mode): the backless booster. This can hold a child who weighs 120 pounds. These four stages—infant, convertible, high-back booster, and backless booster—are what Graco means by 4Ever. It’s a clever pun, actually. It has four stages (ergo, 4-in-1) and it’s a car seat that you can use forever.
Next, what is Extend2Fit? Simply put, it is an extendable tray that gives your child an extra 5 inches of legroom in the rear-facing position. This allows you to keep your child comfortably facing the rear for as long as possible. Only Graco offers this feature, but it is not standard on all their car seats. If you want to take advantage of this extension, make sure that you choose a Graco car seat that specifically has Extend2Fit in its name.
Extend2Fit sounds like a nice and useful feature, but take note that it might not fit into your car’s back seat with the foot tray fully extended.
How Do the Prices and Features Compare?
Now that you know what Extend2Fit and 4Ever mean, let’s see how these aspects affect the price of a Graco convertible car seat. Below is a comparison chart that starts with a basic model that is neither Extend2Fit nor 4Ever, the Sequence 65 Convertible Car Seat. And at the other end of the scale, there is the Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit 4-in-1 which is both.
Without Extend2Fit Feature: No Extra Legroom
| Sequence 65 Convertible | SlimFit All-in-One (aka 3-in-1) | 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Modes | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Mode 1 Limits | 4 to 40 lbs | 5 to 40 lbs | 4 to 40 lbs |
| Mode 2 Limits | 22 to 65 lbs | 22 to 65 lbs | 22 to 65 lbs |
| Mode 3 Limits | 40 to 100 lbs | 40 to 100 lbs | |
| Mode 4 Limits | 40 to 120 lbs | ||
| Product Weight | 19.29 lbs | 19.69 lbs | 22.8 lbs |
| Product Size | 15.05 x 22.69 x 27.34 inches | 26.81 x 19.88 x 22.36 inches | 20 x 21.5 x 24 inches |
| Price | $143.99 (Click here to save up to 10%) | $157.00 (Click here to save up to 21%) | $239.99 (Click here to save up to 20%) |
With Extend2Fit Feature: Has Extra Legroom
| Extend2Fit Convertible | Extend2Fit 3-in-1 | 4Ever Extend2Fit 4-in-1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Modes | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Mode 1 Limits | 4 to 50 lbs | 4 to 50 lbs | 4 to 50 lbs |
| Mode 2 Limits | 22 to 65 lbs | 22 to 65 lbs | 22 to 65 lbs |
| Mode 3 Limits | 30 to 100 lbs | 40 to 100 lbs | |
| Mode 4 Limits | 40 to 120 lbs | ||
| Product Weight | 19.75 lbs | 21.6 lbs | 22.8 lbs |
| Product Size | 22.1 x 19.2 x 25.2 inches | 19.25 x 22.52 x 25.16 inches | 20 x 21.5 x 24 inches |
| Price | $145.66 (Click here to save up to 27%) | $249.70 (Click here to check the latest promotion) | $279.99 (Click here to save up to 20%) |
In general, the Extend2Fit models are more expensive than their counterparts, even though the product weights and dimensions are pretty much the same. So, the question is, are you willing to shell out more bucks for the extendable footrest?
Actually, the biggest advantage of a Graco car seat with Extend2Fit is the whopping 50-pound weight limit in rear-facing mode. The usual ceiling of other car seat manufacturers is only 40 pounds. Very few brands have that additional 10 pounds and Graco is probably the cheapest.
Coupled with the extra 5 inches of legroom, your baby can remain rear-facing for a longer period. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), rear-facing until at least age 2 is ideal. However, they acknowledge that different car seat manufacturers set their own top height and weight limits. With Graco Extend2Fit, it is possible that your child won’t outgrow the rear-facing mode until they are 3 or 4 years old. And that’s a great benefit.
Bonus Review: Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit 4-in-1 Car Seat
At $279.99, the 4Ever Extend2Fit is at the higher end of Graco’s broad selection of products. They say that it will give you 10 years of usage, so it could easily end up being a bargain at that price. To find out if it is truly a worthy investment for you, here is a rundown of its features, pros and cons.
Key Features
- 10-position headrest
- InRight LATCH and integrated belt lock-off for installation
- Washable seat cover
- Steel-reinforced frame
- Harness storage compartment
- Dual cup holders
- Removable head and body inserts
- Easy-to-read level indicator
Pros
We already mentioned the obvious advantages of the Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit car seat, such as the 4 modes that allow it to be used from the day your baby is born until they are 10 years old, as well as the additional legroom. Now let’s take a closer look at the other characteristics that make this car seat a good buy.
1. Easy to Install
The 4Ever Extend2Fit is unproblematic to install in all four of its modes. It has Graco’s exclusive InRight LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system with a simple push-button mechanism to install and remove. The clear color-coded labels on the seat base to show you how much of a recline is acceptable. When using the car’s seatbelt to install, there is a clip-style lock-off to tighten the belt for a secure hold.
2. Easy to Adjust
Graco’s Simply Safe Adjust Harness system lets you adjust the headrest and harness together in a single motion. Once you have set it up, you won’t have to rethread it. When not in use, you can keep the harness out of the way in its special compartment. This makes it easier for your child to get in and out of the seat.
3. Outstanding Safety
Since Graco has their own crash test facility, you can be assured that this car seat is rigorously crash tested multiple times to meet or exceed US Safety standard guidelines (FMVSS 213). The frame is made of reinforced steel with EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam to absorb energy during a crash.
Cons
Although the Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit has many excellent features, there are a couple of things that don’t make it the perfect car seat. These are:
1. Huge Size
At 19 inches wide, this model makes it very challenging to fit three seats across or two seats plus one adult in forward-facing mode. When it’s rear-facing, the Extend2Fit footrest limits the space for front-seat passengers, if it fits into the space at all.
The bigger size comes with more weight, too. The 4Ever Extend2Fit is FAA-approved for harness use on aircraft—good to know if your family is planning to go on plane trips. Nevertheless, the bulk and heaviness might make you think twice and just get a more lightweight car seat.
2. Might Not Last for 10 Years
Although the expiration date of this product is set at 10 years, a decade is a long time especially with a healthy and active child. Yes, it’s straightforward enough to clean with the removable machine-washable seat pad and the dishwasher-safe cup holders. Moreover, the harness and buckle can be wiped down with a soapy washcloth. Nonetheless, years of dirt could accumulate and make the seat look worse eventually. On top of that, changing safety standards and more advanced technology could cause it to be outdated before it expires.
Final Thoughts
When picking a car seat for your family, you can’t go wrong with Graco. With dozens of models to choose from, you’re sure to find one that meets your budget and needs. In particular, the 4Ever Extend2Fit 4-in-1 is an all-inclusive option that marries functionality and style.
Be that as it may, it has its drawbacks such as the higher price and extra heft. If the extendable footrest and 50-pound child weight limit are not that important to you, then you can save a few dollars with the 4Ever DLX 4-in-1. Likewise, if you feel that the backless booster mode is not essential, then you can get the Extend2Fit 3-in-1 instead.
