The first version of this seat debuted in 2006, and Chicco (pronounced “KEY-co”) has made very few changes to the core design since then; this is a model that caregivers and friends recommend and pass along to each other. The KeyFit 30 was previously our top pick in this guide, and Wirecutter staffers who’ve now used the seat for many years, over multiple babies, continue to vouch for its quality. In the past, we have made it known that the 4Ever seats are not SITS favorites due to the bulky backless booster mode. But now, with their 4Ever DLX Grad, Graco has added a 5th mode, with a seat belt trainer that’s very similar to the Graco Right Guide. This version also features SnugLock, which makes the installation in the rear and forward-facing harness modes very simple. Every car seat needs to be installed using either the lower anchors or a seat belt to secure it in place, never both.
These infant car seats are also easy to wash and maintain, compact, and portable. We hope our list of the best Graco car seats can help you find the right one to make your car journeys with your baby comfortable, enjoyable, and safe. The Graco four-in-one car seat is versatile and effortlessly transforms into different modes, from rear-facing to forward-facing harness seat, high-back belt-positioning, and backless belt-positioning booster.
The remaining end of the seat pad tucks behind the seat when it’s in use. Graco permits use of lower anchors and top tether when using the seat in booster mode. As always, if you choose not to use this feature, be sure to buckle the booster in when not occupied, graco car seat to prevent it from moving unhindered through the cabin in an accident. Recline position 3 is the most upright of the rear facing recline positions. The insert must be used if the baby’s shoulders do not reach the harness position in the lowest headrest position.
However, the Fit2’s bucket seat without the base weighs 11 pounds (nearly 2 pounds more than the KeyFit 30 seat), which may limit its use as a portable seat as your baby gets bigger. It’s also about 0.5 inch wider and 1.5 inches longer than the KeyFit 30, so it may not fit as well in smaller vehicles. The NHTSA gives the Fit2 four out of five stars for its ease-of-use rating. If it weren’t for the price of the Clek Liing, we’d tell everybody to get one—it’s an exceptionally well-designed, well-executed car seat. We’ve never come across another infant seat that is quite this easy to install; it is so cleverly engineered that installing it with the base (using either the LATCH system or the seat-belt method) requires minimal effort. Part of what makes the Liing so simple to install and operate is that Clek has incorporated color-coded indicators throughout the seat (green means you’re good, red means something is amiss), which takes the guesswork out of using it correctly.
This strap wraps around the Foonf and hooks to the top tether anchor; its purpose is to help further absorb the forces in a crash, without transferring them to your child. Let your little one tag along everywhere you go, with the perfect car seat to keep them safe and snug in the back seat. At Target, you can pick from great brands like Britax, Chicco & Maxi-Cosi to find graco convertible car seat just the infant car seat you need. From all-in-one variants to convertible car seats, the collection has it all. Keep your kiddo comfy with the one you think works best, be it a forward-facing or rear-facing booster seat. Picking an infant car seat that’s the right fit for your car seat is an easy task when you have adjustable variants that are super-easy to install.
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. So, parents of little littles, unless you plan to rear-face your child until they reach 40+ pounds (which may be when they are 5, 6 or even 7) then this is not the best seat for you. You’ll run into the weird recline rule which could make the seat awkward at best, and impossible to install safely at worst.
But the great thing about the Graco 4Ever DLX Grad is that it has a built-in seat belt lock-off! This means you don’t need to worry about using a locking clip when traveling internationally. For over 65 years, the Graco team has thoughtfully designed car seats, strollers, playards, highchairs, and other baby gear, always with parents and babies in mind. Each Graco product undergoes extensive research and testing to ensure parents have the trusted, quality products they need with the comfort and convenience features they want.