And it’s irritating that if you do decide to shell out half a grand on a Foonf, you’d still have to buy a cupholder. The Boulevard can be used in the rear-facing position for kids up to 40 pounds—the size of a typical 4-year-old. Thankfully, the entire seat cover can be removed (video), machine-washed, and drip-dried.
The Extend2Fit 3-in-1 is similar in appearance to the Convertible; it’s not going to win any design awards, but it’s not offensive. The cover is a polyester blend that’s available in dark colors (black and dark gray) with lighter accents. As with that of the Extend2Fit Convertible, the fabric on this seat doesn’t wipe clean as easily as the fabric on our other picks.
And there are two built-in cupholders, which are handy for storing snacks, drinks, or toys on the go. Finally, insert the hook end (right side) of the new indicator in the hole of the seat, and rotate the left end graco turbobooster into the shell. You will need a hand-held Phillips screwdriver and about 60 seconds of your time, possibly less. Replacing the level indicator on the Graco 4Ever is a task that most families won’t have to tackle.
Fret not—the car seat reportedly went through rigorous crash tests to ensure that it held up in frontal, side, rear and rollover accidents, per the brand. Its steel-reinforced frame is also said to be incredibly durable for up to ten years of use, which means you can use it for more than one kid (of course, checking for expiration dates and recalls). To avoid confusing tether anchors with other hardware such as luggage tie-downs, be sure to read your vehicle’s owner manual carefully to find out where they are located in your particular vehicle. The lower anchors are found in a minimum of two rear seating positions in a vehicle. Each lower-anchor-equipped seating position has two small horizontal bars found in the space between the vehicle seat’s back and bottom cushion (the “seat bight”).
Although we acknowledge that it is cost-prohibitive for many families, we have made an effort to include other excellent options in this guide that suit a wide range of budgets, and we’re confident in all of our picks. The Chicco KeyFit 30 is easy to install and to use, and it delivers on its good reputation. Because the seat has numerous recline angles, it can get very upright which lessens the footprint of the seat from front to back.
Should lie across the upper thighs and be snug across the shoulder and chest to restrain your child safely in a crash. On a day-to-day basis, the Extend2Fit Convertible is convenient and pleasant to use. The sides graco car seat of the Extend2Fit Convertible are fairly low (the sides of our runner-up pick, the Britax Boulevard ClickTight, are noticeably higher). So it is slightly easier to maneuver your child in and out of this seat.
The Graco Extend2Fit Convertible does a superior job of keeping your child rear-facing longer—and it’s straightforward to install and use. We actually brought the Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 on a flight, which prevented us from worrying about any damage it might incur as checked baggage. It fit easily into the airplane seat and our son, who was 2 years old at the time, enjoyed a flight strapped into his familiar spot. An important thing to note is that the LATCH system setup can differ from vehicle to vehicle, so you should check your car’s manual to see exactly where you can find the anchors. With those steps complete, the new indicator is installed and ready to keep on indicating your Graco 4Ever’s recline angle. The harness should be positioned at or above the shoulders and the buckle should be in the position nearest to but not under the child.