When the seat itself needs more cleaning, we take it inside to remove the cushions and wipe down the plastic. We machine-wash the cushions (as instructed by Graco) using regular detergent and let them air-dry overnight. According to the company, the five-point harness and buckles can also be wiped down with mild soap and warm water. Occasionally, we use an old toothbrush to deep clean the buckles to make sure that they’re free of any sticky residue and able to function properly. All in all, the car seat takes no more than 15 minutes to deep clean. Also, if you’re unsure about any aspect of your car seat installation, you can check with your local police or fire departments to get a professional to inspect your installation.
Both the NHTSA and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that a child ride rear-facing until they reach the height and weight limits of the seat—and we wanted those limits to be generous. Keeping a child rear-facing until they’re 4 years old is an ambitious and oft-cited benchmark; that would mean an average of about 35 inches tall and 40 pounds. The Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat grows with graco convertible car seat your child from rear-facing harness (4-50 lbs) to forward-facing harness (22-65 lbs). It features a 4-position extension panel that provides up to 5” of extra rear-facing legroom, allowing your child to safely ride rear-facing longer. Children are safer riding rear-facing and should ride rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the maximum rear-facing height or weight rating for their car seat.
To switch the 4Ever Extend2Fit from high back to backless booster mode, lift the red tabs on the seat pan and slide them towards the middle of the seat. They are attached to pins that hold the frame of the back of the seat into the base. When the pins are moved out of the frame, lift off the back of the seat to reveal a backless booster seat.
The best thing about this Britax seat is how easy it is to install. We found the entire process quick and intuitive, with seven simple steps that we follow without problems. With the brand’s “click-tight” system, you just have to click a button, lift the seat cushions up, and slide the seat buckle through an open belt path. We’ve also heard from other parents that it’s one of the easiest car seats they’ve ever installed and used. Remember, the best car seat is the one that fits your child, vehicle, budget, and lifestyle and has the features important to you. The safest car seat is the one you can install correctly and use properly on every ride!
We tested the Diono Radian 3QXT all-in-one, which is part of Diono’s line of seats specifically designed to fit three across. (In 2018, we tested the similar Diono Radian RXT, which has since been discontinued.) Like our also-great convertible pick, the Clek Foonf, the Radian 3QXT is a slender 17 inches wide. The design of Radian seats may help stave off carsickness, as well, since they have an L shape, rather than a more typical C shape. “For some kids who get queasy, sitting in a C-shaped seat isn’t great because it puts pressure on the stomach,” said CPST Lani Harrison. However, we found the Radian 3QXT more difficult to install than other seats we tested; it requires a lot of physical effort to get a snug install.