Posted by When it comes to choosing a car seat for your precious passenger, the choices can be overwhelming. Sometimes the best place to start is just with a brand you’re familiar with that is synonymous with baby products. And who is more well established in the baby industry than the Graco brand? With 60 years of trusted and innovative baby products, it’s no surprise that Graco car seats come highly rated.
Why are Graco car seats top-rated?
One of the first things you might think about when looking to purchase a car seat is safety ratings. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), all Graco car seats are rigorously tested, meeting and often exceeding US safety standards so you can feel confident when traveling with little ones.
Safety isn’t the only thing you’ll want to consider though when choosing a car seat. Size, ease of use, durability and comfort are also high on the list. Here are some top-of-the-line features you can expect from Graco car seats:
- Size is important when selecting a car seat as proper fit makes all the difference in keeping your child safe on the road. Graco makes car seats for infants, toddlers and big kids alike giving you multiple options for the best fit. Their innovative designs also include all-in-one convertible car seats providing a longer length of use and giving you more bang for your buck.
- To keep that perfect fit, Graco car seats adjust easily to your growing child with their Simply Safe Adjust Harness System. This system allows both the harness and headrest to adjust together so you never have to worry about rethreading the straps.
- While all Graco car seats are extensively tested to meet safety standards, some are “Safe Seat Engineered”, which includes additional side impact testing, EPS energy absorbing foam to effectively manage impact energy and the ability to withstand extreme interior car temperatures.
- Graco car seats offer easy installation securing with either your vehicle’s LATCH or seat belt system.
5 Best Graco Car Seats
To help you narrow down your search, below are the 5 best Graco car seats based on both consumer and safety ratings by the NHTSA. They’ve been further broken down by child’s size as well as pros and cons to consider. Each of these Graco car seats is available for immediate delivery through Amazon (with Free Shipping).
Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat
Child Size: Infant to Big Kid
Rear-Facing: 4-50 lbs. | Forward Facing: 22-65 lbs. | Child Height: 49” or less
Convertible car seats have become an increasingly popular choice since they eliminate the need to purchase multiple car seats to accommodate growing children. As such, one of the best-selling Graco car seats is the Graco Extend2Fit – a convertible car seat that transitions from infant to big kid.
Like the name suggests, the Graco Extend2Fit has a 5-inch extension panel, which creates extra leg room allowing small children to ride rear-facing for longer. Riding rear-facing until the age of 2 is highly recommended by both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the NHTSA.
Once your child has reached the limits for rear-facing, the Graco Extend2Fit can then be positioned forward-facing for toddlers to big kids up to 65 lbs. or 49” in standing height.
Pros:
- 5-inch extension keeps kids rear-facing longer
- 6-position recline for comfort
- 10-position headrest adjusts with harness straps for growing child
- Cup holders
- Fuss free harness storage keeps buckles out of way when taking baby in and out
- 1-second InRight LATCH system with level indicator for easy installation
- Steel reinforced frame
- Removable, machine washable seat cushion
- Good for 10 years from date of manufacture
Cons:
- Cup holders are square shaped and may only fit certain cups
- No detachable base for infant hand-carrying or use with stroller (car seat stays in car)
- Heavy design makes switching cars often difficult
Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
Child Size: Infant to Big Kid
Rear-Facing: 4-40 lbs. | Forward Facing: 20-65 lbs. | High Back Booster: 30-100 lbs. | Backless Booster: 40-120 lbs.
The Graco 4Ever all in one car seat is the only convertible car seat on the market that truly transitions from baby to booster giving you 10 years of use.
The 4 in 1 design easily converts from rear-facing to forward-facing to a high back booster and finally to a backless booster seat. This innovative design makes the Graco 4Ever our number one choice of all the Graco car seats available.
It conveniently allows parents to purchase just one car seat for the entirety of their child’s growth journey to fitting properly in the car on their own.
Pros:
- 4-in-1 convertible design provides 10 years of use from infant (4 lbs.) to big kid (120 lbs.)
- 6-position recline for comfort
- 10-position headrest adjusts with harness straps for growing child
- Simply Safe Adjust Harness System (no rethreading of straps)
- Safe Seat Engineered (EPS foam, extreme interior temperatures, side impact tested, steel reinforced frame)
- Accredited by IIHS as “Best Bet” Booster
- Cup holders
- 1-second InRight LATCH system with level indicator for easy installation
- Removable, machine washable seat cushion
- Good for 10 years from date of manufacture
Cons:
- No detachable base for infant hand-carrying or use with stroller (car seat stays in car)
- Heavy design makes switching cars often difficult
Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite Infant Car Seat
Child Size: Infant
Rear-Facing: 4-35 lbs. | Child Height: Up to 32”
The Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 is a rear-facing car seat for infants and babies that can be conveniently hand-carried or used in combination with Graco Click Connect Strollers for travel in and between car rides.
The base that comes with it stays in the car after you’ve installed it once with the hassle-free LATCH system. The car seat easily locks onto and is lifted out of the secured base with SnugLock technology making getting in and out of the car a breeze.
Your baby will also experience exceptional comfort when he or she rides in the Graco Snugride SnugLock 35. It has a removable infant headrest and body cushion that offers more support for newborns as well as a 4-position recline for the perfect angle. A rotating canopy also provides shade and protects your baby from the sun’s harmful rays.
Pros:
- Stay-in-car base with hassle-free LATCH installation
- SnugLock technology and bubble level indicator provides assurance car seat is installed properly
- 4-position recline
- Adjust headrest height and harness together (no rethreading of straps)
- Hand-carry between car rides
- Compatible with all Graco Click Connect Strollers
- Removable head and body cushions
- Rotating canopy provides shade
- Takes up little space in car
- Machine washable seat cushion and canopy
Cons:
- Your baby will quickly grow out of it likely reaching the height maximum before the weight
Graco My Ride 65 Convertible Car Seat
Child Size: Infant to Big Kid
Rear-Facing: 4-40 lbs. | Forward Facing: 20-65 lbs. | Child Height: 49” or less
The Graco My Ride 65 is designed to safely transport infants and toddlers from 4-40 lbs. in the rear-facing position and converts to the forward-facing position for growing children weighing 20-65 lbs. The smart design keeps toddlers in the rear-facing position to age 2 or longer as recommended by the NHTSA and the AAP.
As far as convertible car seats go, this is one of the more lightweight ones that you’ll find. It weighs 15.8 lbs. You’ll have an easier time switching cars or lugging the Graco My Ride 65 through the airport than most other convertible car seats that typically weigh upwards of 25 lbs.
It is also one of the best-priced Graco car seats on the market, offering high-quality at an affordable price that will last through the years.
Pros:
- Lightweight design
- EPS energy absorbing foam for effective impact management
- Side impact tested
- Install with vehicle seat belt or LATCH system
- Level indicator ensures proper installation in rear-facing position
- Removable head and body support
- Dual cup holders
- Machine washable seat cushion
- FAA approved for airport travel
Cons:
- No detachable base for infant hand-carrying or use with stroller (car seat stays in car)
Graco Affix Youth Booster Seat with Latch System
Child Size: Big Kid
High Back Booster Seat Mode: 30-100 lbs., Child Height: 38”-57” | Backless Mode: 40-100 lbs., Child Height 40”-57”
The AAP recommends that children 4’ 9” and under use a belt-positioning booster seat when riding in the car, so when your toddler turns into a big kid, the Graco Affix is extremely affordable and makes the transition easy.
This seat converts from a high back booster to a backless booster seat using your vehicles own seat belt system giving big kids the independence to “do it themselves”.
The Graco Affix highback booster is lightweight and has a quick front adjust Latch system so switching cars with grandparents, nannies or school carpools is a breeze.
Pros:
- Highback booster seat converts to backless
- Uses vehicle seat belt system
- One-hand front adjust Latch system
- EPS energy absorbing foam for effective impact management
- Side impact tested
- Accredited by IIHS as “Best Bet” Booster
- Adjustable headrest provides comfort and security
- Cup holder and toy/snack drawer
- Machine-washable seat padding
- Lightweight design
- Good for 10 years from date of manufacture
Cons:
- No 5-point harness system
Graco Backless TurboBooster Car Seat
Child Size: Big Kid
Backless Booster Seat: 40-100 lbs. | Child Height: 40”- 57” | Ages: 4-10 years
When your child is ready to graduate from their forward-facing car seat to a booster seat, the Graco Backless TurboBooster makes the transition to big kid easy, affordable and fun. This backless booster seat boosts your child up to a proper fitting position so that he or she can safely buckle themselves in using the car’s own seat belt system.
As far as booster seats go, the Graco TurboBooster is one of the easiest children’s booster seats to install, use and transport due to its simplistic and lightweight design. Switching cars much? Or need an extra car seat for your carpool? There’s zero hassle with this one.
With the high safety ratings Graco car seats boast and an ingenious design, it’s no surprise that the Graco Backless TurboBooster is top rated in leading consumer publications and magazines.
Pros:
- Uses vehicles own seat belt system
- Accredited by IIHS as “Best Bet” Booster
- Dual cup holders open and close
- Padded seat and armrests
- Armrests adjust up and down
- Lightweight design
- Machine washable seat pad
Cons:
- No 5-point harness system
Conclusion
Whether you have an infant, toddler or big kid, Graco car seats offer the best of safety, comfort and affordability for your family. Deciding which car seat is right for you and your child though really depends on your child’s size and how you plan to use it.
If you have an infant, ask yourself:
“Do I want a car seat that I can hand-carry and use with a stroller?”
If this is the case, the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 is the best choice for you.
Transitioning from baby to toddler?
Consider whether or not you will be switching cars a lot with a spouse, grandparents or carpools and want something that is lightweight and easy to transport like the Graco My Ride 65. If your car seat will stay in your car for the most part, then go for the Graco 4Ever which gives you the longest use converting from baby to toddler to a big kid booster seat.
Already have a big kid?
Decide whether you’d like a convertible car seat that allows them to stay in a 5-point harness for longer or if a booster seat that uses your vehicle’s own seat belt system is the way to go. If your big kid is ready to “do it themselves” choose from the Graco Affix or Graco TurboBooster.
If you still have questions about what style of car seat you should be looking for, read our Car Seats Buying Guide or watch this video.
Want to see some other top car seats? Check out the best of these popular brands: