Graco Extend2Fit vs. Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1: Which is Better? (2024)

Hi there! We're here to help you decide between the Graco Extend2Fit and the Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1.

Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to feel confident that you're choosing the optimal car seat for your family's needs and budget. Let us know if you have any other questions!

At A Glance

Our Thoughts

When deciding between car seats, safety, comfort, and ease of use are key factors that parents consider. The Graco Extend2Fit and the Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1 both offer unique features that might appeal to different families.

The Graco Extend2Fit is a premium-quality car seat designed for extended use. It transitions from a rear-facing seat for infants to a forward-facing seat and then to a high-back booster seat, catering to your child's comfort as they grow. One standout feature of the Extend2Fit is its 4-position adjustable extension panel that provides up to 5 inches of additional legroom. This allows your child to stay in the safer, rear-facing position for longer. While this seat offers exceptional safety and durability with its reinforced steel frame and high weight limits, some parents have reported difficulty in tightening the harness. Furthermore, the seat cover can be challenging to remove for cleaning and the seat is bulkier than some of its counterparts.

On the other hand, the Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1 is a convertible car seat that covers the period from when your child is ready for a forward-facing seat through their growth into a booster seat. The forward-facing harness accommodates children from 30-65 pounds and it easily transitions to a belt-positioning booster accommodating 40-120 pounds. The Grand 2-in-1 is designed for families who need to fit multiple seats across in the car's rear seat. Its lightweight design makes it an ideal choice for portability, especially for larger families. However, some parents might find the lack of added padding and short shoulder straps less comfortable for their children.

Comparing these two seats, the Graco Extend2Fit offers a significantly higher rear-facing weight limit (50 lbs vs unavailable for the Grand 2-in-1), making it a better choice if you wish to keep your child in the rear-facing configuration for longer. However, the Grand 2-in-1 does offer a higher booster weight limit (120 lbs vs 100 lbs of the Extend2Fit) allowing for longer use in the booster mode. Another significant difference is that the Extend2Fit is approved for both rear and forward-facing configurations during air travel, providing more versatility for travel.

In conclusion, if safety and extended rear-facing are your top priorities, and you don't mind a bit of a challenge when it comes to cleaning, the Graco Extend2Fit could be the right option for your family. However, if you need a budget-friendly seat that provides a longer lifespan, is easier to clean, and is designed to fit three seats in most cars, then the Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1 could be a better choice. In the end, the optimal car seat will depend on your family's unique needs and circumstances.