Graco Extend2Fit 3-In-1 Car Seat Review

About the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 car seat

Graco has a long, trusted track record for its baby products with many fans who swear by its car seats. The Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 car seat can be used from the day the baby comes home from the hospital until they’re in elementary school. It is an all-in-one seat that can be used rear-facing, forward-facing and as a highback booster. Another version of this seat with almost the exact same name, the Graco Extend2Fit, cannot be used as a highback booster.

• Rear-facing from 4-50 lbs.

• Front-facing from 22-65 lbs. and up to 49 inches

• Highback booster from 40-100 lbs. and between 43-57 inches

• Six recline positions

• Ten headrest positions

The seat includes a removable cover, headrest and newborn insert. While it took me more than the 60 seconds advertised to unhook all the straps to wash the cover, it’s simple to take apart and wash, when needed.

What we like about the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1

There are some outstanding safety features

Age two is no longer the guideline for when children’s car seats are supposed to face front. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend maxing out height and/or weight limits before facing your child forward. For smaller children, that could mean until age four.

The Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 includes a plate that slides out to provide more legroom to children as they grow, so they can stay rear-facing for longer. While my daughter hasn’t had to use it quite yet, other parents report that it does help children stay comfortable as those little legs get longer.

In June 2022, the NHTSA announced it would require car seats to undergo side impact crash testing. The tests ensure car seats can withstand the force of a T-bone crash. The Extend2Fit 3-in-1 already has side impact testing. This gives me peace of mind that it will be as safe as car seats that come on the market in the next few years.

Installation is easy

The Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 comes with the belt already routed through the seat. To install, all I have to do is insert the buckles into the LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children) system and tighten them.

As new parents, I felt it was important to double-check our work when my husband installed the seat for the first time. A Child Passenger Safety Technician from my local fire department informed me the belt was not quite tight enough. Now that I know this can be a problem, it’s a big focus any time we take the seat out for cleaning, and we reinstall it.

I was surprised to find a few small redesigns when I unboxed my son’s seat, bought exactly one year after my daughter’s seat. One of them is that a bubble indicating the seat’s recline has been moved from the middle left plastic backing of the seat to the upper left side. This makes it even easier to see if the seat is properly reclined for an infant under three months of age.

Another fantastic redesign is that a latch that inclines the seat can be found on the bottom on both the front and back of the seat, so it is accessible no matter which way the seat is facing.

The straps are easy to adjust

Infants and toddlers grow at NASCAR level speed sometimes, even outgrowing outfits and shoes from one day to the next. The Extend2Fit 3-in-1’s no rethread harness makes adjusting the car seat straps a breeze. My daughter rarely fusses if we need to adjust the straps for a light coat when she’s already in this seat.

All I have to do is push a button in the back of the headrest to move it up or down, which adjusts the length of the straps. There are ten total headrest positions. A strap at the bottom of the seat provides extra tightness so that the straps are snug, and the chest clip is at the appropriate height.

The car seat is comfortable

I took an informal social media survey of friends and family who use this car seat, especially targeting those whose children are older and younger than mine. From newborn to older toddler, the biggest takeaway from parents is that the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 is comfortable.

Anyone who’s been in the car for under five minutes with an uncomfortable infant or toddler knows this is key. My daughter, who rarely naps in the car, has quietly closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep on busier days. In fact, when we moved her from the Doona, she was much happier to spend time in the car.

It’s easy to get children in and out of the seat

It’s rare that caregivers look graceful pulling their child in and out of the car seat, but the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 certainly makes the process easier. A nifty feature some car seats have is a storage pocket on either side to keep the buckles out of the way while putting babies and toddlers into the seat.

The pockets have moved further back into the arms of the seat, as part of Graco’s redesign. I’m thrilled about this change, since I found that the buckles often did not stay in the pockets when trying to wrestle my toddler into the seat. When my son moves into his all-in-one car seat, there will be no buckles digging into his back and the process of getting him secured will be much faster.

The Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 is affordable

The idea of spending more than $300 for a beautifully crafted car seat makes me only slightly less nauseated than what I’ve encountered at times in my backseat. From bodily fluids to spoiled snacks, an all-in-one car seat is bound to take years of abuse. The Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 car seat is a palatable $249.99. For those planning ahead, it is often on sale during major retail holidays. For all of the safety features, ease-of-use and comfort level, it has all the bells and whistles of a luxury seat without the price tag.

What we don’t like about the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1

The cup holders are square

At the time of this article, my daughter is still under two. Imagine a young toddler trying to fit a round peg in a square hole when there are snacks and water cups involved. Her water cups have a round base, and at times, have gotten stuck in the cup holders. She yells, eventually yanks them out, and we have a spill.

My daughter’s round snack catcher cups are also too big for the square cup holders. Since she is still so young, we do not feel safe giving her a plastic bag for her snacks in the car to remedy this problem. Parents of older children who use this seat say the cup holders are a non-issue for them. In fact, they love that there are two cup holders—one for snacks, one for a drink.

It can be too wide to fit three across

New parents, including my husband and I, are shocked to find out how long kids are in car seats now. Gone are the days of elementary schoolers all sliding into the backseat without a booster. For families expecting a third child or hoping to add another car seat for carpool, the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 can be a bit too wide. The company does make another all-in-one seat to remedy this problem: The Graco Slimfit 3-in-1.

It is clunky for use as a travel seat

I’m planning to fly with a convertible car seat for the first time this spring. The first thought I had while unboxing my son’s Extend2Fit 3-in-1 was: “No way.” This is a bulky car seat for travel, even if it is Federal Aviation Administration certified. It’s heavy and it’s large, even if it does fit nicely into the second row of my SUV. Since my children are too small for our favorite travel seat, the WayB Pico, I’m going to have to find a different option.

Should you buy the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 car seat?

Yes, this car seat has it all and the drawbacks are minor and even temporary.

From newborn to elementary school, this seat can accommodate tiny babies and tall toddlers, while keeping them rear-facing for longer. There are top safety features, fuss-free strap adjustments and two cup holders to keep kiddos happy. For parents moving from infant car seats to convertible car seats, the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 is an outstanding choice.