NOTE : Product prices, availability, ratings and save money information are accurate as of the date/time indicated on post time (as seen right bellow the tittle) and are subject to change. Any price, ratings, availability and save money information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Graco has some of the most popular safety car seats in the market and they are also very affordable for many parents to have. Depending on the models however, not every seat will be suitable for your preference such as Graco Extend2Fit Vs Platinum that are ideal for those who want to keep the seats for prolonged use. Before deciding the option however, let’s see what they can offer and pick the one that fits you the most.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- Why Installing a Safety Car Seat
- What are Graco Extend2Fit and Platinum
- How are the Seat of Graco Extend2Fit and Platinum
- How are the Installation of Graco Extend2Fit and Platinum
- How are the Fitting of Graco Extend2Fit and Platinum
- What else Graco Extend2Fit and Platinum can offer
- Graco Extend2Fit Vs Platinum
Safety Car Seat Importance
Being a parent we have to think about lots of things and our children are the priorities as they are our responsibilities. Not only by providing everything they need, we also need to consider their safety when out there such as when transported with the vehicle. Just like how it is carrying some risks for adults, the road and vehicles are also high risk for young people and children, especially when the car’s safety system is not designed for smaller builds.
We all know that motor vehicle injuries are a very common cause of death and sadly it is for children as well. Thankfully we see a positive decrease in fatalities since 2002 at least here in the United States. While it is hard to believe, the data from 2011 said that there are 274 toddlers and infants passed away in which one of the three are unrestrained. Even with restraints, parents still need to pay attention to the age-appropriate safety restraints.
Just like with so many safety issues, it can be prevented with the proper equipment and proper installation. The first step is choosing the seat made for the child’s age and body because there are several seats available and all of them are meant to protect the passenger when an impact happens to the vehicle. The most common will be convertible car seats such as Graco Extend2Fit Vs Extend2Fit 3 in 1 that are designed to be used from birth to around 40-50 pounds.
The reason why they are called convertible is because the seat can be installed rear facing and forward facing. Rear facing will be used first from birth until the kid is old enough for the front facing method and this is because the rear facing allows for a reduced impact and side effect from the energy applied to the vehicle. Older kids can use a convertible seat in front facing mode or booster seat when they are taller or the 5-points harness can no longer secure their body.
Even with a proper car seat, parents have to make sure the seat is properly installed or restrained in the car. One of the main functions of a car seat is to restrain it so it is effective when the unit doesn’t move around or wobble once installed. Usually they come with a LATCH connector to be secured with your car’s lower anchor. Parents can use the car’s seat belt too with a tether when in front facing mode. In some cases when the installation angle is tricky, parents may use a support below the seat, especially for rear facing.
| Graco Extend2Fit | Graco Extend2Fit Platinum | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 19.2 x 25.2 x 22.1 inches | 20 x 21.5 x 24 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 19 pounds | 22.8 pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About Graco Extend2Fit and Platinum
There are so many good options and while it is easy to choose one based on which seems the most popular out there, it is also important to consider whether it matches your preference or lifestyle or not. Installation can be quite tricky sometimes because not every seat has the same method and those with the simplest system are usually on the expensive side. If you don’t mind putting in the effort, almost any standardized safety car seat will be an ideal choice.
For parents who consider the budget too, Graco can be a great alternative to check out. This company carries a wide range of car seats and also favorite strollers for parents who love to spend some time outdoors. The seats are pretty similar across collections and depending on which seems to fit in your lifestyle, the choice may vary. The Graco seats are usually 10 years in life meaning they should last for a very long time until the weight is exceeded.
The Graco Extend2Fit and Platinum models for example are some favorite choices from the catalog. Like some manufacturers, Graco offers similar models to consider and Extend2Fit is available in a few different variants that are kind of similar but different as well. The basic model is a convertible car seat only which is useful from birth until 65 pounds and this should last for years too depending on how fast you kid grows. Platinum is similar or can be installed rear and front facing.
The main difference is because Extend2Fit Platinum also converts into booster seats, creating a 4 in 1 system. Why 4 in 1? It is because in addition to high back booster the seat can be converted into backless booster too or the back itself can be detached from the main body, leaving only the seat to increase the height of the passenger when they are secured or restrained with the seatbelt. With a 10 years of expiry date, the Platinum will last for a longer time.
Graco Extend2Fit and Platinum Design
As you can see, most car seats are pretty much similar to each other when it comes to the design but, since Platinum can be converted into a backless booster the back of the seat is not built connected with the main seat like the original Extend2Fit. Side by side the padding and dimension of the seat is also slightly different with Platinum being bulkier. The padding does look thicker on this seat compared to the basic Extend2Fit and it is also heavier.
The fabric seems to be the same however since they are equally soft to touch so the passenger should be comfortable when sitting and secured with the harness. The two come with infant insert and five-point harness which can be adjusted too according to the height of the passenger. The backrest is also adjustable and the base can be reclined to allow for better installation position or comfort. The padding material is easier to take off on the Platinum, in case parents need to wash it.
Graco Extend2Fit and Platinum Installation
Now for the most important part, let’s see what the Graco Extend2Fit and Platinum can offer starting from the installation system. In comparison to many other safety car seats, the two are not going to be the most straightforward with either lower anchor or seatbelt but the Platinum comes with this EZ tight latch instead of the InRight like on the basic model. In performance both are easy to use but EZ seems to be more convenient to tighten as it is improved in this area.
Parents can install these seats with seatbelt too and in both rear and front facing there are 6 total reclining positions to adjust the angle and comfort; do note that at least 80% of the car seat’s base must be on the seat for safety.
Graco Extend2Fit and Platinum Fitting
Next on the fitting part, the Graco Extend2Fit and Platinum are pretty much the same as a convertible safety car seat starting from newborn until they are 50 pounds or when the head is at least one inch below the head rest. The seat then can be installed facing forward when they exceed the weight or height but the front facing mode itself can be used from 22 to 65 pounds when utilizing the harness. What’s different is when your kid is getting older and taller.
The Extend2Fit Platinum can be converted into a high back booster from 40 pounds to 100 pounds and the kid can start using a seatbelt around 7 years or even faster depending on how fast their body grows. Even longer when they are growing taller, parents can detach the backrest of the seat to make a backless booster so the backrest won’t get in the way of the seatbelt. As for the maximum weight limit, Platinum will last until your kid is 120 pounds.
Graco Extend2Fit and Platinum Features
Last but not least, we want to talk about the features that come with Graco Extend2Fit and Platinum. They are quite basic however with Platinum carry some of the new features such as the EZ latch we mentioned above. The seats both come with two cup holders and an additional panel for the passenger’s feet when in rear facing mode. The Platinum does have an easy removable cover however for cleaning purposes which is very useful since high chances we will need to wash it from time to time.
Graco Extend2Fit Vs Platinum
There are so many good car seats to consider and these two are some of the most promising options to consider. The price gap gives you an additional year to use Extend2Fit Platinum because this seat can be converted into a highback or backless booster and with a maximum weight limit to 120 pounds instead of 65 pounds on the original model. The other additional features and ease of installation are pretty much similar however.
Conclusion
NOTE : Product prices, availability, ratings and save money information are accurate as of the date/time indicated on post time (as seen right bellow the tittle) and are subject to change. Any price, ratings, availability and save money information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The decision is all yours because the two are equally good options and you can go with any model. We do recommend getting the Platinum however if parents want to keep the seat for long or don’t plan on buying another car seat soon.