The Complete Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat Review 2024 

The Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat is an awesome convertible seat that grows with your child from infant to older child. Unlike other convertible seats, it provides an unheard amount of extra legroom.

Aside from its adaptable comfort features, this seat is also exceptionally safe. In this Graco Extend2Fit review we will cover all of this seat’s amazing features and specs, as well as a few FAQs and alternatives.

The Graco Extend2Fit

The Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 convertible car seat transitions from a rear-facing infant car seat, to a forward-facing car seat, and finally to a high back booster. The 2-in-1 version only transitions from rear-facing to forward-facing.

When you are reading Graco Extend2Fit convertible car seat reviews make sure to note which version you are looking at as you could end up reading Graco 4ever Extend2Fit reviews. The Graco 4ever Extend2Fit is an entirely different model that ultimately converts to a backless booster. This review will cover both versions of the Graco Extend2Fit convertible car seat.

Comparable models include the Graco Sequel 65 or the Safety 1st Grow and Go Convertible Car Seat. These may be better for budget-conscious parents, but they lack the extendable leg rest component that makes the Graco Extend2Fit car seat so adjustable for growing children.

Graco is known for being a trusted and reliable producer of products for children and families. This car seat is a great representation of their commitment to making items that are not only safe but easy for parents to use. When you purchase this convertible car seat and attached base, you can count on the fact that both you and your little one will love it!

Commonly Asked Questions Before Buying an Extend2Fit

A convertible car seat can be used from birth. It is an acceptable choice for parents looking for a seat to bring their child home from the hospital in. However, this seat is more commonly purchased when your child outgrows their infant seat. As it is a convertible seat, it can be the only car seat you ever use, and certainly the last one you will need to buy after the infant stage.

However, convertible car seats like the Extend2Fit car seat do have a few disadvantages. As their base is permanently attached, they are not as easy to remove from the car and cannot be carried like an infant seat.

Additionally, they do not attach to any stroller models. If you are looking for a stroller compatible and easily portable seat, you may prefer an infant car seat.

Thinking about your preferences, budget, and how long you plan to use the seat are all valid considerations before deciding to buy the Graco car seat Extend2Fit.

Is Graco Extend2Fit safe?

The Graco Extend2Fit safety rating is very good. It has a steel-reinforced frame, is ProtectPlus engineered to withstand impacts from all sides, and meets or exceeds all National Safety Crash Test ratings.

Does the Graco Extend2Fit turn into a booster?

This depends on which version you purchase. The Graco Extend2Fit 2-in-1 does not convert to a booster. The Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 converts to a highback booster.

How long does a Graco Extend2Fit car seat last?

The Graco Extend2Fit can easily last your child their entire car seat stage. The 2-in-1 version can be used from four pounds to sixty-five pounds and has a 10-year expiration after the date of manufacture.

Graco Extend2Fit Review Features & Benefits

The Graco Extend2Fit has many of the same features as other convertible car seats, however, it does have some unique offerings. We will take a deep dive into each specific feature below, so you can decide if this is the best convertible car seat for your family.

Ease of Installation

The Extend2Fit is a convertible car seat, which means you won’t have to worry about installing a base. Instead, the base is permanently attached to the seat part of the unit.

This car seat has two installment methods. You can either use the LATCH system or install it with a seatbelt. However, it is important to know that the LATCH system of the Extend2Fit can only be used until your child is 45 pounds. This fact is often overlooked in the Graco Extend 2 Fit manual.

The LATCH system features InRight, which is a simple push-button operation. With a single press, you can attach and detach the connectors. The click lets you know it is securely affixed to the anchor. You can then tighten down the strap and check the level indicator. It is pretty painless, which is nice when you have to swap vehicles.

The seat belt installation is a bit trickier and is one of the drawbacks of this seat. There are no locks to hold the seatbelt, unlike other models such as the Britax ClickTight. This can make parents feel less confident about their install.

Instead, there are only belt paths that are a bit small and can be hard to route the seat belt through. If you do it correctly, you can get a really tight installation, but it isn’t as easy to use as others.

Impact Protection & Safety

The Extend2Fit is quite safe. It has a steel-reinforced frame to maintain rigidity in an accident. It also offers ProtectPlus which means it has been put through rigorous crash testing to protect your child from forces from all sides. Of course, it meets or exceeds all safety standards under US Standard FMVSS 213.

While it is very safe, there are other safer seats on the market. These seats take extra precautions when it comes to protection like crumple zone padding, all-steel frames, and force control tethers. However, the Extend2Fit still has impressive scores on all crash tests.

Seat Weight

The Extend2Fit 2-in-1 weighs 19 pounds. The Extend2Fit 3-in-1 weighs 21.6pounds. This is average for a convertible car seat.

It certainly isn’t a seat you want to be swapping vehicles with all the time, and it isn’t ideal for travel, but as far as convertible car seats go the weight is mid-range. The Graco Extend2Fit dimensions are 19.2 x 25.2 x 22.1 inches for the 2-in-1 and 19.25 x 22.52 x 25.16 inches for the 3-in-1.

Seat Usage Limit

The Extend2Fit 2-in-1 can be used with children weighing 4-65lbs. In the rear-facing position, it accommodates a child weighing 4-50lbs and/or until the child’s head is one inch below the top of the headrest. It can be used forward-facing from 22lbs to 65lbs and until they are 49 inches tall.

The 3-in-1 has a minimum weight limit of 4lbs and a maximum weight limit of 100lbs. Rear-facing extends from 4-50lbs, forward-facing from 22-65lbs, and as a high back booster from 30-100lbs.

It can be used rear-facing until your child’s head is 1 inch below the top of the headrest, forward-facing until they are 49 inches tall, and as a high back booster when your child is 43-57 inches tall. To be used as a high back booster your child should also be at least four years old.

These usage limits are helped by the car seats’ many comfort and adjustability features. The Extend2Fit has a high rear-facing weight limit of 50 pounds. This is excellent as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that children should stay rear-facing as long as possible.

While most children end up having to cross their legs for lack of space, the Extend2Fit has a special leg panel, which we will cover shortly. This assists its usage limits as parents may end up choosing to keep their kids rear-facing longer seeing as the child will still be comfortable.

Seat Comfort

Speaking of comfort, the Extend2Fit will keep your child nice and cozy. It has soft fabrics and a fair amount of plush padding. The honeycomb design of the fabrics provides for ventilation, keeping occupants cool. The seat also comes with a newborn body support pillow and head support pillow. Even without the pillows, the seat is plenty comfortable.

It has six recline options. This allows you to get a better install and keeps your child safe as well as comfortable. Adjusting the recline is very simple with a pull lever on the bottom of the seat between your child’s legs. The seat base features a color-coded clearly marked recline guide. This way you can easily choose the safest recline for your child based on their weight.

The ten-position headrest adjusts in conjunction with the harness. This means that you can reposition both heights to better suit your child in an instant. All you have to do is pull up on the lever on the top of the seat and both components slide as one.

Not only is this excellent for tailoring the seat to your child, but also make adjustments should a sibling need to use the seat in a pinch.

One disadvantage is that the Extend2Fit 2-in-1 does not include harness covers and the straps can sometimes irritate your child’s neck. My youngest has complained more than once about this. The 3-in-1 model does include harness covers.

Ease of Cleaning

The Extend2Fit is relatively easy to clean. It has a machine-washable seat cover that can just be popped into your washing machine and then line dried. Unfortunately, it is tricky to reinstall, meaning you won’t want to take it off and wash it unless you have to. The harness covers and support pillows are also machine washable.

The straps are not to be submersed and are spot clean only, which is standard. The buckle can be cleaned, and doing so is as easy as soaking it in warm, soapy water.

The cup holders are not removable and cleaning them can be a big job. This is one of my top complaints; I can’t tell you how many gross things I have found stuck in the bottom of my cupholders.

Travel Friendliness

The Extend2Fit is FAA-approved. Though due to its bulk and weight it might not be the easiest seat to travel with.

Extra Features

The most notable extra feature is the extendable leg room panel. This panel can only be used in rear-facing mode and is designed to give your child more space and comfort while rear-facing.

It easily pulls out from the bottom of the seat, above the base. It can be extended up to five inches. This allows your child to be moved further away from the vehicle’s seatback while rear-facing, ultimately giving them more legroom.

The Extend2Fit also has two cup holders. These cup holders are great for keeping all your child’s necessities. They fit most water bottles but maybe a bit too narrow for some. Unfortunately, they don’t rotate nor are they removable, so they make the seat somewhat wide.

Ease of Use

This seat is very simple to use. The headrest and harness adjust as one, which is great for last-minute fixes. The InRight LATCH is effortless, and the color-coded recline guide and bubble level indicator helps you to get a secure install.

However, it could improve in a few areas. The seatbelt install is noticeably more difficult than the LATCH install, as we mentioned. The cover, though machine washable, is difficult to reinstall after cleaning.

Also, it can be a challenge to get the harness tight. I feel like I am always tugging at odd angles to try and get the straps just a bit more snug.

Graco Extend2Fit Review Summary

Alternatives To The Extend2Fit

It can be great to have options when shopping for car seats. A few mentionable alternatives are listed below.

Nuna RAVA Convertible Car Seat

The Nuna RAVA Convertible Car Seat is similar to the Extend2Fit. It also converts to forward-facing from the rear-facing position. It has a laidback legroom extender as well.

However, the legroom is only increased up to 2 inches and unlike the Extend2Fit it can be used in the forward-facing mode. Both seats have a no-rethread harness and a ten-position headrest.

The Nuna has one less recline position but includes the body support and head support pillows like the Extend2Fit.

Similarities & Differences:

• Both can convert from rear-facing to forward
• Both have a legroom extender
• Both have a no-rethread harness that adjusts with the headrest
• The Nuna legroom only increases by up to 2 inches
• The Nuna does not have any cup holders
• The Nuna energy-absorbing foam and side-impact pods

The Nuna is ideal for those who want the legroom panel without having to give up precious car space as the Nuna adds at most 2 inches of legroom.

Britax Boulevard ARB ClickTight Car Seat

The Britax Boulevard ARB ClickTight Car Seat is another wonderful convertible. It can convert from rear-facing to forward-facing. However, its rear-facing weight limit is lower at only 40 pounds.

Both seats have comfortable fabrics, color-coded recline and level indicators, and multiple recline positions. The Britax though has ClickTight seatbelt installation, which makes getting a secure seatbelt install completely effortless.

In addition, the Britax includes an anti-rebound bar, SafeCell impact protection, a steel frame, and a V-shaped safety tether.

Similarities & Differences:

• Both seats convert from rear-facing to forward-facing
• Both seats have colored recline guides
• Both seats have colored bubble level indicators
• The Britax has more safety measures
• The Britax has a lower rear-facing max weight (40lbs)
• The Britax does not have cupholders

The Britax is excellent for parents who prioritize safety above all else.

Chicco NextFit Sport Convertible Seat

Finally, we have the Chicco NextFit Sport Convertible Seat. The Chicco converts from rear-facing to forward-facing. It doesn’t have a legroom extender, a nine-position headrest that adjusts with the harness. It also has nine recline options.

Like the Extend2Fit it has a cupholder. Even though it only has one, this cupholder is removable and dishwasher safe. Both seats have a steel-reinforced frame, but the Chicco has a deep rigid shell and energy-absorbing foam.

Both of its installation methods have fail-safes in the form of the SuperCinch LATCH Tightener and the LockSure seat belt-tightening system.

Similarities and Differences:

• Both seats have a cupholder (the Extend2Fit has 2)
• Both seats have a steel-reinforced frame
• Both seats have a no-rethread harness
• The Chicco has a removable and washable cup holder
• The Chicco has very simple install methods with fail-safes
• The Chicco can only rear face up to 40 pounds

The Chicco would appeal to parents who want an effortless and very secure install. You can read our Chicco NextFit review to learn more about this car seat.

Is the Extend2Fit Right For You?

The Extend2Fit is a great convertible car seat at a relatively affordable price. Depending on which version you choose, the seat can convert from rear-facing to forward-facing and even to a backless booster.

While it doesn’t have over-the-top safety measures, it still meets or exceeds all tests and regulations. Its attention to child comfort, especially while rear-facing is what sets it apart.

The legroom extension panel, multiple headrest and recline positions, and dual cup holders are designed to keep children happy and parents pleased that their little one can comfortably rear face for longer.

What are your thoughts about this car seat? Would you buy it? Share with us in the comments below!

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Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API