The chest clip pinch is on the left side of the clip and not the center, which is odd in this group, but it wasn’t hard to use and didn’t seem to impact operation during our testing. The 4Ever Extend2Fit offered more legroom than graco car seat her current seat even without the panel extended. When the extension panel was not being used, she was happy to put her feet up on the vehicle seat. His mom likes the seat but prefers the regular Extend2Fit for its compactness.
The Marathon was previously the top pick in this guide, and we still think it’s a solid choice. But ultimately we opted for the Boulevard because we thought the headrest’s cushiness would be more conducive to naps. The seat has a no-rethread harness, so making height adjustments to the harness straps as your child grows is a quick and easy process—no dismantling and rethreading required. The harness and headrest height automatically adjust together in one smooth motion—you just squeeze the lever at the top of the seat and pull up or push down—so they always remain in the correct proportion to each other.
In booster mode, the entire base must be in contact with the vehicle seat. The harness, buckle strap and chest clip are all standard-issue Graco hardware. Buckling in all of the dolls and my daughter was very easy, as expected. The straps did not easily twist, even moving them around as much as I did for all of these sizes. The headrest adjusted easily through all 10 positions, though the flap that lifts as the headrest goes up did get caught under the cover every time I moved it back down. This was quite annoying for me, but most caregivers will not be adjusting the headrest 20+ times a day, so I don’t see it being a large problem at all.
Installation with the panel out and lower anchors requires some of our reviewers to stand behind the seat and pull the lower anchors directly up in order to get the install secure. The inserts that came with the seat are thick and easy to use at the head and under the bum. The insert under the bum must be removed forward facing, but the insert behind the head can stay in through the life of the seat. If you have a child who appreciates more head support, or a forward facing child with low tone, these may be very beneficial.
Jessica Booth is a freelance writer who covers parenting, shopping, wellness, entertainment, and wedding content. She has been freelance writing since 2017 and before that, worked as an editor at an online publication for seven years. She has written for sites such as Brides, People, Insider, Bustle, Romper, Refinery 29, Cosmopolitan, Delish, The Daily Beast, Reviewed, She Knows, Scary Mommy, The Knot, and What to Expect. She also has two young daughters and has already been through a few convertible car seats at this point. For those who want to maximize space in their backseat or need to put two or three car seats in their car, this Graco seat is a good choice. In fact, we found that even with this car seat and two adults in the back seat, everyone still fit comfortably and didn’t feel too snug.
The head and back support can only be used until the child is 20 pounds. The lumbar support can be used anytime rear-facing but must be used forward-facing until the child is over 25 pounds, at which point it must be removed. This car seat offers multiple recline positions, which are easy to adjust.
This means that if you use it from birth and your child does not fit properly in the seat belt when it expires, you will need to buy a backless booster. She’s got so very graco turbobooster much room to grow in this seat and it fits her well. Graco Extend2Fit The optional rear facing strap covers were removed to show the newborn strap fit in this seat.