The Graco brand is popular among loyal customers. With so many options of car seats available and the intense competition that forces you to check a variety of reviews, we make it simple by offering all available information in our Graco Slim Fit car seat review (although if you check Graco’s website you will find the Slim Fit car seat is highly favored by many families).
The space-saving features of the Graco Slim Fit Car Seat, according to the parents who gave rave reviews, include the ability to install the car seat in the rear center or side. Below is a comprehensive Graco Slim Fit Car Seat review that includes specifications, safety features, comparisons against other brands, and pricing/availability, as well as pros and cons. If you are on a more limited budget, the Graco Slim Fit is a highly valued option.
Specs and Measurements
The Graco Slim Fit 3-in-one car seat adapts to the growth of your child. A child that weighs 5 pounds or 100 pounds can sit comfortably in this versatile, convertible car seat. Another delightful aspect that we noticed in the Graco Slim Fit Car Seat is the delight in the easy installation process. It’s a simple, three-step process with the in-right LATCH system.
We have listed the specifications and measurements of the Graco Slim Fit convertible car seat below:
- Soft Machine-Washable Fabric
- Integrated Compartment for harness storage
- Rear-Facing – 5 – 40 lbs. 12 – 27 in.
- Front-Facing – 22 – 65 lbs. 27 – 49 in.
- Car-Seat Depth – 16.25 in.
- Steel-Reinforced Frame
- Car-Seat Weight with Base – 19.5 lbs.
- Car-Seat Width Outside – 19.88 in.
- Car-Seat Height – 25.5 in.
- Car-Seat Width Inside – 19.75 in.
- Car-Seat Width Inside – 19.75 in.
- 4 Position Recline Adjusts
- Removable plush supporters
- A built-in 5-point harness system
Styles, Pricing, and Availability
Our Graco Slim Fit All-in-One Car Seat review includes the three available styles offered by different websites and stores. The first is the Annabelle style which includes dark gray and black with white outlining. The second is the Darcie version which is light gray and black with white outlining. Both can be found at Kohls, Amazon, and Walmart. There is also the [amazon link=”B08C7DDMZ4″ title=”Redmond “] style, which is a sleek looking combination of red, gray, and black.
The Slim Fit Platinum 3-in-One Car Seat has one style called the Hurley. The coloring includes black, light and dark gray, with light gray outlining. The great thing about the Platinum style is its RapidRemove™ cover that allows you to remove it in under a minute without having to take the seat out.
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Safety Features
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), crash-related injury risk is reduced by 71–82 percent when children use car seats. After making your final purchase decision, you can register your car seat at the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) site. Registering will provide you with important updates, alerts, and safety recalls about your exact car seat.
Graco Slim Fit Car Seat reviews wouldn’t be complete without a safety analysis. This car seat was side-impact tested for holding and securing your child in place at all times, even during a crash. It has a 5-point, simply safe adjust harness system which allows you to adapt the car seat to the desired comfort of your little one’s needs.
For new parents looking for Graco Slim Fit Car seat reviews, this harness system has 5 straps that are securely attached to the frame of the car. An article by verywellfamily.com gives instructions for new moms and dads on how to properly implement a 5-point car seat harness.
Car Seat Comparisons
According to safety.com, the Graco Slim Fit 3-in-one convertible car seat was chosen as No. 4 in the top 10 lineup for best car seats. It has a sleeker design and is lower in price compared to some of the other Graco models. Let’s take a look at other Graco examples along with additional brands and models.
Graco Milestone All-in-One
The Graco Slim Fit and Milestone all-in-one car seats are so similar; we would be hard-pressed to find any distinctiveness between the two. The Milestone is lower in height (18.88 in.), but the depth is 24 in. whereas the Slim Fit measured at 16.25 in. The Milestone is slimmer than the Slim Fit with a width of 17 inches. The Slim Fit measures in at 19.88 inches. According to a comparison article at firsttimeparentguide.com, when you rotate the cups inward, it becomes almost as slim as the Milestone.
The positive attributes of the Slim fit include an easier installation process compared to the Milestone, and a well-ventilated, comfortable, airy fabric, along with more secure straps and clips that cannot be loosened by the baby or child. Our Graco Slim Fit car seat review is relieved that there is no clanking sound as there is with the Milestone. While attempting to drive peacefully, having to hear a rattling noise can create a stressful environment.
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Chicco NextFit Convertible Car Seat
If you are loyal to the Graco brand, you may not even consider switching to Chicco. After reading more about the NextFit line, you might give it a second or even third thought. The Nextfit Convertible car seat has three styles to choose from: The Sport, The Zip, and the Zip Air.
All NextFit styles include the SuperCinch tightener for the LATCH system, the LockSure belt system, and converts between the front-facing and rear-facing modes. The Sport style has a detachable cup holder and a 9-position head support system. The width of the Sport style = 17 in. and the depth = 19 in.
The NextFit Zip has a washable seat pad that you unzip to put in the washer and has a special mode for newborns that helps you to properly and safely position the newborn’s sensitive head. The NextFit Zip Air has all the above along with special padding on the harness for extra comfort (which all versions really should have), and a breathable backrest with mesh for airflow. Both the Zip and the Zip Air have foldable cup holders to create extra space.
According to consumerreports.com, the negative aspects of the Chicco NextFit include lower rear-facing weight, a reduced amount of cushioning that does not provide enough shock-absorbency during an accident, and not enough overall support and security with the seatbelt; although thankfully, the children are nonetheless “safe” according to the CR review.
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Graco 4-Ever
Unfortunately, according to the car seat blog, the Graco 4-Ever all-in-one car seat only has one latch strap between the front and rear-facing modes. You would have to change the belt path when changing modes. Also, the integrated cup holder does not rotate in like the Slim Fit. It has a backless positioning booster but does not have as sleek of a design as the Slim Fit.
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Diono Radian 3RXT All-in-One Convertible
The Diono Radian 3RXT All-in-One Convertible sounds like a car tire at first glance. This brand and model are worth a look as its tagline reads: “The Original 3 Across Car Seat”. It offers a variety of colors including blue, red, black, plum, yellow, and dark/light gray.
The memory foam seat support absorbs extra energy from the environment to provide an extra level of comfort and safety. Although it adds more weight overall, the reinforced steel aluminum frame offers your child many levels of protection. According to Diono.com, installation is simple with the SuperLATCH system. It also converts to booster mode and can hold a child up to 120 pounds.
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Evenflo EveryStage LX All-in-One
Evenflo used to be well-known for its bottles, but they have diversified nicely. The Evenflo EveryStage LX All-in-One car seat grows with the baby as the infant seat changes into a convertible seat, and then ultimately into a booster seat for older children. The EveryStage LX All-in-One can be used for babies and children between 4 and 120 pounds, or until age 10.
The child’s head will stay properly positioned and able to breathe freely with the intuitive design of the Evenflo EveryStage. If you need help with installation, you can schedule a video installation support here. The EveryStage LX was the Winner of the 2018 JPMA Innovation Award and the JPMA’s Parent’s Pick Winner. It is rollover and side-impact tested to check if it meets safety standards. It doesn’t just meet them; it exceeds the federal safety criteria for car seats.
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Graco Slim Fit Pros and Cons
PROS
- Easy to install
- Fits nicely in the center seat
- It’s secure and comfortable
- No Re-Thread Harness
- A range of seat settings
- Rotating cup holders for extra space
- Can easily sit next to another car seat
- FAA Approval for flying
CONS
- The cupholders are plastic and easily bendable. These could eventually wear away.
- Not the slimmest car seat in Graco’s line-up but has other needful qualities
- If your car is too small, it might be a tight squeeze.
- Some people say the cover is difficult to remove in order to clean it, but others say that it’s a 2-minute intuitive process
Conclusion
According to an article titled How to Select the Safest Car Seat for Your Infant by Juliet Spurrier, M.D. at babygearlab.com, parents of newborns should not purchase a “convertible” car seat as we have described in our Graco Slim Fit Car Seat Review.
Even though the rear-facing mode can accommodate babies as small as 5 pounds (most babies are born somewhat heavier than this unless they are preemies), Dr. Spurrier recommends buying an infant car seat and then switching over when the baby has grown out of it. However, according to reviews at Graco.com, parents have stated that there is no need for another car seat. It really depends on the overall weight and size of your newborn.
She also talks about the difficulty of having to re-thread each time the baby increases in height if the car seat you’ve purchased requires it. Thankfully, the Graco Slim Fit Car Seat does not require re-threading when height adjustments are needed.
Our Graco SlimFit Car Seat review provides an honest review of this convertible car seat. Most parents must decide if a car seat must be in the corner or middle rear seat before purchasing since many will not fit in the middle. Reviewers have also mentioned that this car seat can fit nicely in a truck’s extended cab. If seating arrangements are an issue, the SlimFit by Graco is a fantastic option, especially when considering the safety, comfort, and growth of your child.