We liked how easy it was to adjust once installed, and found most of the installation process to be simple. Scanning a QR code on the car seat leads to a set of simple instructions that are easy to follow, and the whole setup was fairly straightforward. The one thing our tester had trouble with was threading the seat belt through the seat, saying it felt a bit tedious. Fortunately, adjusting the buckle is easy, as is converting the seat from rear- to forward-facing position, and indicators show whether the recline position is safe. Overall, the seat has a really durable feel to it, with our tester noting that even after their daughter has kicked it multiple times, it doesn’t seem to be affected at all.
Although the seat did seem a little on the larger side, we had no issue using it in both an SUV and a smaller car. When installing forward-facing, the original Extend2Fit must be installed on a specific recline setting for a child who weighs less than 40 pounds. This is a problem because this recline requirement makes it impossible to safely install the seat sometimes, usually because the graco convertible car seat bottom of the car seat hangs too far off the vehicle seat. And, in vehicles with non-removable headrests, this awkward recline can make it difficult to raise the headrest high enough for a proper harness fit, too. LATCH storage is arguably less important for convertible seats than infant carriers since they do not impact installation or inhibit connection between the seat and base.
Though it looks puffy, the pillow actually compresses pretty easily so bigger noggins will be comfy with it too. The Graco 4Ever DLX Grad is a fairly compact option front to back when you have it as upright as possible. If you are using it from birth, it will take up more space, though, since it has to be more reclined. Between the versatile size and the rotational feature, we felt the slightly higher price point was well worth it. One of the most straightforward LATCH connection types is the rigid LATCH, like those seen on the forward-facing Clek Foonf. This design is virtually foolproof, with not much to do other than make the connection and slide the seat back.
Explore a large collection of convertible car seats and find the perfect one for you and your little one. The term convertible refers to the fact that this type of car seat can be installed either rear-facing or forward-facing, whereas infant seats are meant to be installed facing the rear only. Although the laws vary, many states require that a kid remain in a car seat with a five-point harness—which all infant seats and convertible seats have—until they’re at least 40 pounds or 4 years old. One of our favorite infant car seats is made by Chicco, so we were eager to try the company’s convertible seat, the Chicco NextFit Zip. For the LATCH install, the NextFit Zip has a so-called SuperCinch system, which allows you to tighten the straps with minimal effort. However, once your rear-facing child reaches 35 pounds, you must switch over to a seat belt install, which isn’t as easy.
Plus, once you get to the high back and backless modes, it would be difficult for the child to buckle themselves in. The seat belt trainer mode, however, does fit very well in most 3-across situations. “Some of the larger SUVs especially end up having smaller seats to accommodate the extra room, but this leaves little space for larger car seats,” Moriarty says. If you need to remove and replace it or move it around, a heavy seat may be difficult for you to work with. We did find this seat to be a little big, and it may be better suited for a larger car.
We’ve tested more than 200 car seats, including 52 convertible seats. If you are not sure which kind of car seat is right for you, check out our Best Car Seats Review to get the skinny. Look at our best booster seat review for the next stage in safety car seats. Installing the Foonf in the forward-facing position is substantially easier. In fact, of all the seats we tested, the Foonf was our favorite to install forward-facing. When we had visitors and I suddenly needed to put a car seat in the third row of our minivan, I opted for the Foonf out of about eight models in our garage at the time to choose from.
(One 2018 tester described the lightweight seat as feeling “like a kid’s toy.”) That makes it a good choice for travel—it’s the convertible pick in our guide to the best travel car seats. But for everyday use, the Scenera Next has some serious drawbacks. It’s doable, but even professionals we consulted noted that this seat is harder than others to install well. And unlike our main picks, which have a forward-facing weight graco turbobooster limit of 65 pounds, the Scenera Next’s weight limit is 40 pounds in both forward- and rear-facing mode, which means you can’t use it for nearly as long. Unlike the Extend2Fit Convertible, the Extend2Fit 3-in-1 converts to a high-back booster seat. In order to switch over to booster mode, your child must be at least 40 pounds and 43 inches tall, and have the emotional maturity to maintain correct posture while in the seat.