The Extend2Fit Convertible addresses that problem by adding an extension panel to the seat that pulls out to provide 5 inches of extra legroom in rear-facing mode. Kids can remain rear-facing in the Extend2Fit Convertible until they reach 50 pounds, the highest capacity of the seats we tested. The Extend2Fit Convertible’s LATCH install system can be used for children who weigh up to 45 pounds, the highest LATCH weight limit of any of the seats we tested. Also, the seat is lightweight graco convertible car seat and has a no-rethread harness, so as your kid grows, you don’t have to take the seat apart to adjust the straps. Even though the fabric isn’t as stain resistant as we’d like (consider going with a dark color), the cover is machine washable. Another issue we faced as we were finalizing our short list of infant seats was trying to sort through the often-confounding differences among the models and model names, many of which sound like they’ve been chosen for journeys into space.
For help on how to install a car seat with a locking clip, check out our video here. Even without the extension panel that the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible has, a rear-facing Foonf gives even a larger child plenty of legroom. Plus, the Foonf’s lower sides make it easy to get a rear-facing child into the seat and buckled.
For example, a manufacturer may make two seats that are nearly identical, except they have different infant height and weight limits. The term convertible refers to the fact that this type of car seat can be installed either rear-facing or forward-facing, whereas infant seats are meant to be installed facing the rear only. Although the laws vary, many states require that a kid remain in a car seat with a five-point harness—which all infant graco car seat seats and convertible seats have—until they’re at least 40 pounds or 4 years old. It is similar in look and feel to our upgrade pick, the Clek Liing, but since the Liingo omits a base, it also lacks a load leg, the added safety feature on the Liing. If you’re choosing between the two for your primary infant seat, however, we believe that the Liing—and its base, which provides a better and more secure install—is worth spending more on.
US car seat manufacturers are required to self-certify each model’s safety. European authorities rely on different—arguably more stringent—standards, including requiring car seat manufacturers to pass certification standards before putting a model on sale and requiring a side-impact standard in addition to front-impact standards. Though this is not necessarily a flaw, note that the KeyFit 30 is a bit no-frills. It lacks some of the bells and whistles that we’d put into the “nice but not necessary” category, such as a no-rethread harness or an added safety feature like an anti-rebound base or a load leg.
Another distinguishing feature of the KeyFit 35 is that, like our upgrade pick, the Clek Liing, it has a European belt path. The belt path comes into play when you’re installing the seat without its base and using the vehicle seat belt only—usually for taxi rides or other travel situations where you aren’t lugging the base around with you. Most infant car seats sold in the US use an American belt path, which routes the seat belt over the top of the seat only; in our tests, we’ve found it nearly impossible to install a seat securely with an American belt path. We opted to test the SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX because it’s the company’s best-selling model, according to a Graco spokesperson. It’s also among the most widely available—I found that it’s the one carried at my local Target.
For all forward facing installations, the 4Ever’s base must be flat on the vehicle seat. That sometimes means there will be a gap between the back of the car seat and the vehicle seat back (especially in recline position 4!). This is completely fine as long as the 4Ever moves less than 1 inch at the belt path. To move them to the forward facing belt path, loosen the harness and extend the headrest all the way.
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. The main selling point of an all-in-one is, of course, that you’ll have to buy only one seat—or at least that’s the hope. It would certainly be more environmentally friendly if you could actually manage to purchase a single seat rather than multiples.