When looking for a good car seat, you may want one that grows with your child. Instead of having to buy a new one every few months, you can protect your kid from infancy to childhood with the Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat.
Graco is known for making some of the best car seats in America, and this product is no different. It is a compact way to protect your kid in the car as they grow up, and it makes for an excellent car seat option.
Graco Slim Fit Car Seat – An Overview
The Graco Slim Fit 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat claims to be the only car seat you will ever need. By changing its orientation, you can convert it between a seat for infants, a toddler-friendly seat, and a booster seat for kids up to age 12.
This versatile seat is one of the most affordable and convenient products available, especially considering its longevity. While it is not the most aesthetically pleasing car seat, it does its job excellently. Your child will remain comfortably secure in the car, and they can enjoy that feeling as they grow up.
While this seat is slimmer than most convertible options, it is still a bit large. If your car is cramped on its own, you may struggle to fit in this car seat. Also, it is on the tall side, so if your car is short, you may not be able to use it.
All in all, if you want a one-and-done car seat and you have a larger vehicle, the Graco Slim Fit Convertible Car Seat is a fitting choice.
Graco SlimFit 3 in 1 Pros and Cons
Let’s begin by weighing the advantages and disadvantages of this car seat.
- Long-lasting from birth to 12 years old
- Extremely comfortable
- Sturdy and secure
- Durable materials
- Readily adjustable
- Easy to clean
- Great value for the price
- Fairly easy to install
- Tall and heavy
- Does not have Isofix
- Not compatible with travel systems
Highlighted Features of the Graco SlimFit 3 in 1
Several features make the Graco SlimFit a high-quality car seat.
Measurements
- Harness height: 7 – 18 inches
- Booster height: up to 18.75 inches
- Internal rear-facing height: 27.5 inches
- Headrest adjustment lever height: 28.5 inches
- Crotch buckle positions: 5, 6.25, and 7.5 inches
- Internal seat width: 12 inches
- External seat width: up to 18.5 inches
- Armrest area width: 17-inch width without cup holders, 19.75 inches with cup holders
- Weight: 19.7 pounds
Size Guide
- Rear-facing weight: 5 – 40 pounds
- Rear-facing height: up until the top of child’s head is 1 inch below adjuster handle
- Forward-facing weight: 22 – 65 pounds
- Forward-facing height: up to 49 inches
- High-back booster weight: 40 – 100 pounds
- High-back booster height: 38 – 57 inches
- High-back booster recommended for ages four and up
Safety
The Graco Slim Fit is a sturdy and secure car seat. The sides have TrueShield Safety Surround Side Impact Protection to protect your child from spilling out, and the wings on the headrest keep your kid’s head in place. The cushioning employs energy-absorbing foam to minimize movement from sudden turns while driving. The seat has been ProtectPlus engineered, meaning it has undergone rigorous crash testing from all directions.
While the seat lacks Isofix, the thick cushioning and special engineering mean it will keep your child secure in all situations. This seat is an excellent option to have a comfortable and safe car ride.
Ease of Installation
The provided instructions are long-winded, but they feature many diagrams to clarify the installation process. You can fix the base with the vehicle seat belt or with the lower anchor. The seat belt is easy to convert between the seat modes.
Rear Facing
The cover has a clip, and you can temporarily remove it to access the lower anchor strap. Then, you pull upward on the webbing while pushing down the seat pan. If your car has a high seat slope, you may need a rolled towel beneath it to maintain a comfortable orientation.
To switch orientations, you pull the lower anchor strap into the seat shell and slide the connectors to the other belt path. After, you feed the connectors out through the belt path.
Forward Facing
The forward orientation is a bit more difficult to install than the rear one because of its high, narrow belt path. You can more easily set up this seat by pushing the seat pan down while pulling the lower anchor webbing or seat belt up.
You have different recline angle options, and the one you select depends on your vehicle. Make sure to use the top tether with this orientation, whether you install it with the anchors or seat belt.
Booster Seat
To convert the seat into booster mode, you tuck the harness into a snap-shut compartment behind the cover. Most other convertible seats require you to remove the harness partially or completely. Comparably, the Graco SlimFit has one of the easiest conversion methods.
Design and Quality
The Graco Slim Fit Car Seat has a high-quality design. The harness has five-points, and it fixes with a slim buckle in the front. You can easily secure and release it with one hand. Some users struggled to close the harness, but for the most part, it presented little issues.
The frame has steel reinforcements, encouraging energy flow management and safety. Its narrow design makes it save space in narrower cars, but its height means it may be too large for sedans. Also, the SlimFit has a wide shoulder in the forward-facing position. The lower part is narrower than other options, but the wider upper portion may make it unsuitable for most small vehicles.
Up to 20% of the base can overhang the seat edge in harness mode. However, booster mode requires the base to be entirely on the seat.
You can store the manual in a compartment on the back of the seat, which also displays the manufacturing and expiration date. The SlimFit is designed to last ten years from the manufacturing date. There is an FAA stamp of approval on top of the seat’s base, meaning you can use this seat on an airplane.
As far as the aesthetics go, it has a bulky appearance. However, the bulky cushioning provides extra comfort and stability. The covers are machine washable, and you can readily remove and attach them.
The cup holder is a nice added feature, and you can fit it on either side of the seat. You do not need to purchase anything else other than what is in the box.
You get the maximum bang for your buck with this seat option. However, compared to pricier options, it doesn’t have a swivel and doesn’t connect with Isofix.
How Does It Compare To Other Seats?
This seat is most comparable to the Graco Milestone 3-in-1. They have practically the same features, but the SlimFit has a narrower base.
The EvenFlo Every Stage is one of the most popular convertible seats, with very similar features. The Evenflo has more recline positions and two mesh storage pockets, but it does not have a cup holder. The Evenflo Every Stage DLX has the same features as the Every Stage, but it has Isofix.
Overall, the Graco SlimFit does not pale compared to its pricier counterparts, but if swivel and Isofix are important to you, you may wish to purchase one of the above options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about this versatile car seat:
These car seats can last for ten years after the Date of Manufacture. You can find this date on the back of the seat.
If your child weighs between 5 and 100 pounds and is below 57 inches in height, they will fit in this car seat. Different orientations have different measurements that will fit your child.
This seat is extremely comfortable and will keep kids of all ages stable during a car ride. Its longevity allows it to grow with your child, and it benefits families with multiple children of different ages.
The car seat is FAA-approved, meaning you can bring it on an airplane. It can fit in most cars, but the height means you may not be able to use it in shorter vehicles.
The slim base improves its functionality in smaller cars, but that does not mean it will work in all. Try to test it out in your car before making the purchase.
Conclusion
If you want a car seat that covers all your needs from infancy to childhood, the Graco SlimFit is an incredible option to consider. You can convert it between three configurations that fit children up to age 12.
It is comfortable, safe, and durable. For the best crash protection, a car seat like this is a worthy investment in your child’s safety and comfort for years to come.
