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.
Just like how seatbelt is for adults, our kids need their car seat for the basic safety system. Depending on their age and height, the seats we must use are varying as well but there are also models made for a wider age range such as the Graco Extend2Fit Vs SlimFit that are ideal from a very young age below one year until they are tall enough to face forward. If you want to save some on the car seat, do check what they can offer here.
In this article, we are going to give you information about:
- Which Car Seat to Choose
- What are Graco Extend2Fit and SlimFit
- How are Graco Extend2Fit and SlimFit Look Like
- How are the Installation of Graco Extend2Fit and SlimFit
- How are the Fit of Graco Extend2Fit and SlimFit
- What else Graco Extend2Fit and SlimFit can offer
- Graco Extend2Fit Vs SlimFit
Safety Car Seat
As a parent we are always worried about our kid’s safety and also when choosing their safety seat because not all of them are the same. Car safety seats are probably among our first shopping list when preparing to welcome a new addition to the family because they will still need to use them to certain age or until the seat belt can fit properly. Just like when shopping for anything, it is wise to consider the option first before deciding the product.
When it comes to safety gear such as helmets or safety seats, the first thing you may want to check is their standardization or safety label first because we don’t want to use a product that is not tested or fulfilling the safety standard yet. For car seats, the example is FAA if you will be using the car seat for traveling with the kid as it means the five-harness system has been approved to restrain children from 22 to 44 pounds.
Graco Extend2Fit | Graco SlimFit | |
---|---|---|
Product Dimensions | 22.52 x 21.89 x 25.16 inches | 21.5 x 19.9 x 25.5 inches |
Shipping Weight | 4 pounds | 5 pounds |
Best offer | Check price | Check price |
Second is the type of seat to choose because the issue is fit so we need to get the one that is suitable for the age and height. In general it is probably easier to separate them into three categories from infant car seat, car seat, and booster. The infant car seat can often be found in a travel system set of strollers such as the Evenflo Pivot Modular travel system Vs Urbini travel system. Infant car seats or baby car seats fit a newborn to around 12 months depending on their height.
They are installed facing the rear area and in some models the compartment or seat itself can be removed from the base for convenient transporting process. The next car seat is usually a hybrid of rear and forward facing system that can fit children from one year old until the maximum weight or height of the seat. In this seating position they will still need the five-harness mode. The last is high-back booster mode in which they change into seatbelt style harnesses until around 12 years old or about 130 cm tall.
After the security part, we will also need to consider their convenience since not all seats are made with the same installation system. Most car seats can be secured with the lower anchor or using seatbelt and in some cases we may need to add a towel or support as well in order to prevent the seat from moving too much which is highly depending on the type of vehicle we have.
About Graco Extend2Fit and SlimFit
Now when you already have an image or know what to expect from the car seat, it is time to see what the market has to offer because there are so many of them out there and it can be confusing as well. However, we recommend looking from named brands or the popular options that seem to fit other parents as well hence we can save time and still have the best option. If you have owned a car seat before, sticking with the brand is also a good option thus, we can be sure the installation won’t be very different.
Safety car seats are mandatory in many developed countries as they can protect our kid’s life and prevent more serious injuries so chances are there are an abundant of brands out there with their own products. One of the most popular and reliable options is Graco and if you have used their strollers as well, we are sure you will also like the car seat. They are not only convenient but also carry a huge variety of options from infant until youth to match with the kid’s age and height.
Many customers are satisfied with their car seats and you will probably like them as well. For parents whose vehicle seat is smaller or a growing family who need to fit more seats or people in the vehicle, the Graco Extend2Fit and SlimFit are two ideal options to consider. Both of them are designed for this application and you can already guess from the naming alone that these seats will be more compact than many of its similar models.
However, while they have the same name, it doesn’t mean that they are exactly identical because these seats are slightly different on the design and while they are indeed similar, we do think some parents will benefit more from the SlimFit. Since the Extend2Fit is available in two variants, make sure to choose the 3 in 1 model if you want to use the car seat for a prolonged time and for this comparison, we will be using this variant as well.
Graco Extend2Fit and SlimFit Design
While it is probably not what most people are looking for first when buying a car seat, we notice that Extend2Fit comes with so many different colors or shades, making it more pleasant to the eyes. The seat design is also a bit different because as you can see, this model is more padded compared to SlimFit. They are 3 in 1 as the name suggests so there is a base at the bottom to provide some level of reclining position.
The fabric is soft to touch and plush as well, especially the Extend2Fit and you will get a set of inserts too in order to give a better fit. The shoulder or back flare of this seat is also slightly wider and has a different stitching pattern than its brother. However, the Slimfit is actually slimmer here because the widest point of the seat is only 18.5 compared to 19.6 inches located at the shoulder width.
Graco Extend2Fit and SlimFit Installation
Moving further, let’s see what else Graco Extend2Fit and SlimFit can offer and one of our favorites here is their ease of installation because the instruction is pretty easy to understand. Starting from younger children, we need to install the seat in rear facing mode. It is very easy using the low anchor as the strap is guided and secured the seat properly. Some people may have to add extra steps such as pulling the cover aside first but nonetheless the two are very straightforward.
When the kid is getting older and taller or heavier, we will need to move into the forward facing. The anchor is actually easier to use in this mode than rear mode but make sure the kid is not heavier than its weight limit of 45 pounds for both car seats. Using tether is recommended to keep the seat secured and there is no issue with the seat belt installation as well when they are heavier than the weight limit. There are several reclining positions on these seats or 6 and 4 positions to be exact in order to help finding the secured installation.
Graco Extend2Fit and SlimFit Fit
Now let’s move to the fit because they are also very similar here. For example the seats maximum capacity is 100 pounds which is going to go for the high back booster mode and this is also suitable until the kid is about 57 inches tall or 65 pounds in front facing with a strap. In practice they can be used from toddler until youth or older than 5 or 6 years old depending on the kid’s height. When fitted with a newborn baby, while it also depends on their height, the lowest straps are fitting snugly below their shoulders.
Tested with children at around 4 years old and 41 inch tall, these seats surprisingly provide an ample of leg room in rear-facing mode but they will need to move into front-facing next year or soon after bumping the weight limit. In general we do think they will be ideal from a very young age until several years later.
Graco Extend2Fit and SlimFit Features
The last part we want to talk about is their additional features and as you can guess, we already have a lot to consider from Graco Extend2Fit and SlimFit. They provide a good amount of recline both on rear facing for newborn and in front facing for installation. They are also coming with cup holders but the one in SlimFit can be rotated to save space. In addition, the Extend2Fit has an extension panel in which can be unfolded to provide extra leg room for your kid’s growing body.
Graco Extend2Fit Vs SlimFit
Both of them are good options for parents who need a car seat that can be used in a longer period of time. In comparison they are pretty much the same to each other especially between Graco Extend2Fit 3 in 1 and SlimFit both on the ease of installation as well as comfort and type of fit range. The highback booster can be used until 100 pounds before our kid needs a backless booster. The prominent difference is on the additional feature and the design or size of the seats.
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.
All in all you can go amazing with any of them because they are reliable but between the two, we will recommend SlimFit because it is more affordable and slimmer to save space as well as still comfortable while long lasting in usage.