The location is open and easy to access and works well with a basic design that is only average. On a day-to-day basis, the Extend2Fit Convertible is convenient and pleasant to use. The sides of the Extend2Fit Convertible are fairly low (the sides of our runner-up pick, the Britax Boulevard ClickTight, are noticeably higher). So it is slightly easier to maneuver your child in and out of this seat. And there are two built-in cupholders, which are handy for storing snacks, drinks, or toys on the go. Using the above criteria, we narrowed down our original list of over 90 convertible and all-in-one seats to 12 that we field tested in late 2021 and early 2022.
Forward-facing installation is also straightforward, with simple recline adjustments and velcro attachment on the padding. Threading was no problem, but we did have to stick a knee in the seat to get leverage for tightening. Pulling the strap didn’t take much effort in the second car, but the knee was still helpful.
There are many resources online that can provide both general installation tips and specific advice for your particular seat; we like The Car Seat Lady and Car Seats for the Littles. Safe Kids Worldwide provides information on how you can find a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) in your area, so you can get your seat installed correctly, and learn how to do it yourself the next time. The Safe Kids Worldwide website also provides schedules of free car seat check events and locations of inspection stations. Depending on where you live, you may also be able to get a free car seat install or check by your local fire or police department (often by appointment only). Or you could consider hiring an expert to come to your home to do an installation and training on one or more seats; just be sure that the person you choose is a trained CPST. As previously described, the Foonf’s rear-facing install takes more effort than the rear-facing install of our other picks.
Buckling in all of the dolls and my daughter was very easy, as expected. The straps did not easily twist, even moving them around as much as I did for all of these sizes. The headrest adjusted easily through all 10 positions, though the flap that graco car seat lifts as the headrest goes up did get caught under the cover every time I moved it back down. This was quite annoying for me, but most caregivers will not be adjusting the headrest 20+ times a day, so I don’t see it being a large problem at all.
I’d be wary to recommend using it without the insert for newborns, however, as they will often slouch a little as the ride goes on, and so his shoulders may end up under the bottom harness height. Engineered for families who want to spend more time adventuring, SlimFit R44 is an all-in-one car seat for young riders from birth to approx. This combination car seat provides all the flexibly your family needs with top safety features like energy-absorbing EPS foam that works hard to evenly distribute impact forces in the event of a collision. Adjusting the Extend2Fit harness height is better than most with non-rethread adjustment on ten levels with two different buckle strap possibilities.
Adjusting the recline moves smoother than some of the competition, but it is low on the seat, so you need to adjust before pressing the seat against the back of the vehicle seat. The seat material can get in the way, so it’s up to the installer to handle this. To install the Foonf forward-facing with the seat belt alone, you route the lap portion of the belt through the forward-facing belt path and the shoulder portion of the belt through the forward-facing belt lock-off, and then buckle it in. To get it extra-snug, you pull on the belt while pressing down on the center of the seat, removing any extra slack.