Graco Extend2fit vs Milestone – Which One is the Best?
The impact was inevitable… it came head-on… there was a little on in the back…
Frontal impacts are the most devastating ones. The only good part is that you get the most protection out of it.
Let’s face it; we can’t predict when or if we are going to have an accident. In many cases, there’s someone else at fault.
The only thing to do is to be as prepared as possible. You can do this by doing two things. First of all, you need to get the best protective car seat. Secondly, you have to get it installed correctly.
With the first part, I can help you. This is why I’ve created the Graco Extend2fit vs. Milestone comparison. By reading this article to the end, you will know which car seat will be the best fit for you.
Plus, I will share the story from above. You will know what has happened and which car seat was tested. Stick with me for a bit.
Look:
Here’s the bird’s eye view of the Graco Extend2fit. Perfect for infants and up to 6 years old kiddos. It will serve your family for the years to come
Here’s the bird’s eye view of the Graco Milestone. It’s made for extremely long use. It grows with the child from infancy up until they get their driver’s license.
Direct Comparison Graco Extend2fit vs Milestone Convertible Car Seat
| Graco Extend2fit Convertible Car Seat | Graco Milestone Convertible Car Seat | |
| Safety | Steel Frame
Impact Absorbing Base True Shield 5-point harness |
Steel Reinforced Frame
ProtectPlus Engineered 5-point harness |
| Size Limits | Rear Facing 5-50
Front Facing: 22-65 49” |
Rear Facing 5-40
Front Facing: 22-65 Booster: 30-100 57” |
| Installation | InRight Latch | InRight Latch |
| Fabric/Material | Machine Washable | Machine Washable |
| Bonuses and Features | ||
| Cup Holder | 2 Built In | 1 Built In |
| Recline Position | 6 | 4 |
| Headrest Position | 10 | 10 |
| Rethread Harness | No | No |
| Extended Use | Yes | Yes |
Breaking it down
What you have seen above is my checklist. Every time I look at a new car seat, I go through the list. From top ‘til bottom to get the complete picture.
First is safety. Everyone agrees that this is the most important thing about car seats. You will know exactly what is offered by the Graco seats.
Next up is the size limits. You will find out which delivers the most value for the money. Not to mention which one serves you for many years to come.
After the size limits, the installation comes. This is important because there are so many seats installed wrong. With the incorrect mounting, the seat won’t be able to do its job.
The last important part of the list is the fabric. Kids will make a mess and spill things, so you have to clean up after them.
The last category which I will talk about is the secondary features. Sometimes I’ve managed to find some gold nuggets.
Let’s get this Graco Extend2fit vs Milestone comparison started. Just one more thing…
I have something special for you in the end. I have compiled a quick pros/cons list. The things I’ve found are quite interesting, to say the least.
Safety
Protection is the most important thing for parents. So here’s what you need to know. All car seats are safe. If there were issues, the recall would be immediate. It’s good to buy the most protection you can afford.
Graco Extend2fit Convertible Car Seat
This has happened to some friends of mine.
They were coming home from their grandparents. There was an uneventful journey. Their little one was quiet in the back.
All this changed in an instant.
A drunk driver hit them head-on. The impact was vicious. Metal crumpled. The windshield burst into a million glass shards. The airbags exploded.
And it wasn’t over yet.
The drunk driver was speeding, so my friend’s car did a 180.
After everything went quiet, the parents wanted to see what has happened with their little one. They have suffered many cuts and bruises. Their little one was OK. There was not even a scratch on him. He was crying, but he was fine.
The Graco Extend2fit protected the life of a child that day.
This is how important it is to have the safest possible car seat. The Graco Extend2fit has done a great job. Thanks to the steel frame, the little one was safe. The impact-absorbing base did its job. It didn’t let the energy to travel up in the child’s body. The 5-point harness kept everything safe and tight.
Graco Milestone Convertible Car Seat
That’s a hell of a story to live up to. Unfortunately, nobody in my surroundings has tested their Graco Milestone in a real accident.
The Milestone is similar to the Extend2fit. Here are the main differences. The frame is not made out of steel, but it’s steel reinforced.
The ProtectPlus offers protection from every angle. Let it be front, rear, side, or even rollover accidents. Your little one will be safe no matter what.
The Graco Milestone comes with the 5-point harness, which is surely becoming the standard in the market.
Winner
The point goes to Graco Extend2fit Convertible Car Seat.
Size Limits
We all know that these car seats don’t come cheap. So you can save some money without compromising security. The way you do this is by getting a car seat that serves you for the years to come.
Graco Milestone Convertible Car Seat
The Graco Milestone offers a 3 in 1 solution. This means that this car seat will serve you from infancy until the day your child won’t need a car seat anymore.
The Milestone has three modes rear, forward, and booster mode. The lower limit for this car seat is set to 5 pounds. So you will be able to take your newborn home from the hospital with this car seat.
The upper limit of this seat is 100 pounds or 57”. From cradle to the time they get their driver’s license. This car is here to serve.
For a convertible car seat, it’s quite light. It only weighs 20 pounds.
Graco Extend2fit Convertible Car Seat
The Graco Extend2fit is at a disadvantage with the Milestone. It has only two functions. You can mount it in rear-facing mode and forward-facing mode. The most you can use this car seat is around the 6-year mark.
There’s some upside with the Graco Extend2fit. Parents who want to do extended rear-facing can do it for many years. The upper limit surpasses the Milestone by 10 pounds. If you want to extend rear-facing, you can do it until your little one reaches 50 pounds. Plus, it has a pull-out leg rest that adds additional comfort.
As for the forward-facing mode, the maximum is the same 65 pounds.
The Graco Extend2fit isn’t too light but OK in weight. It weighs 23.3 pounds.
Winner
The point goes to the Graco Milestone Convertible Car Seat.
Installation
The two seats are quite the same as the install. They both allow the latch and seat belt install. My issue with the latch system was that its first generation. So many years have passed, and they haven’t upgraded it.
I wish I could say that it’s an easy install. But it will take a lot of effort to get it tight.
With the Graco Extend2fit, you feed the latch or the seat belt through the guides. Now to get the tightest fit, you will have to remove the cover from the cup holders. Pull the strap through the opening. If you don’t pull from the inside, you might not get it sufficiently tight.
Of course, it’s a good idea to push down the seat while you’re tightening things up.
The Graco Milestone works similarly. The only differences between the two are the belt pathways are located differently. For example, you have to remove the back cover so you can guide the belt.
Pushing down with your knees is a good way to get it tight.
It’s not too hard, but it still needs some effort to get it right.
Winner
It’s a tie.
Fabric/Material
The material is super important with car seats. Since they both cater to a younger generation, you can expect spills and diaper blowouts regularly. This is why the fabric has to be easy to remove and washable. Let’s see how they compare.
I’ve managed to find a single difference between the two. With the Graco Extend2fit, you will have a much easier time removing it than the Milestone. They are built differently.
Even if the Milestone caters to infants, they still made it more difficult to remove. Odd choice if you ask me.
The fabric is easy to wash because it’s washing machine friendly. The best advice is to use cold water and a gentle cycle.
For drying, they recommend letting it simply air dry.
Winner
It’s a tie.
Bonuses and Features
It’s been a long time since two car seats have been so neck and neck. They are from the same brand, so no wonder. Now let’s check out the secondary features and see which one will be the winner.
Both car seats cater to the older demographic. So cup holders are a must. The Graco Milestone has only one while the Graco Extend2fit has two. My preferred number is two. One can be used for drinks and the second one for toys.
To get the most comfort, you need to have adequate recline. Now the Graco Extend2fit has 6 options to choose from, and the Milestone only offers four.
The headrest can be easily adjusted, and there are 10 options to choose from whichever car seat you choose. Here’s an important thing. There is no manual rethreading of the harness. This is such great news. I used that option before, and I could never get it right.
Winner
The point goes to Graco Extend2fit Convertible Car Seat
Graco Milestone Convertible Car Seat
Pros:
Easy to get baby in and out and it’s easy to move between cars
Great dark colors so dirt isn’t visible
It’s so safe it has probably designed by a mom
Cons:
There’s no good harness holder you will waste time strapping in
If you have large hands, it will be difficult to loosen the straps
Graco Extend2fit Convertible Car Seat
Pros:
It’s one of the easiest to install can be done in less than 5 minutes
There’s no manual rethreading of the straps ever
The fabric is easy to wash even after a vomiting incident
Cons:
The release button is hidden, and if you have big hands it’s hard to reach
You need to watch videos to put the fabric back into place
Final Recount
Graco Milestone Convertible Car Seat won with two points (2/5)
Graco Extend2fit Convertible Car Seat lost by one point (1/5)
The other categories were a draw.
Graco Extend2fit vs Milestone Convertible Car Seat Verdict
This was a close match. Eventually, the Graco Extend2fit won. When it comes to safety, they are both top-notch; the big difference was that the Extend2fit was tested in a real crash and protected the life of a child.
In the size and limits categories, the Graco Milestone won because it has a longer use than the Graco Extend2fit. In the secondary features, the Graco Extend2fit won a point again because it has more options than the Milestone.
Even though the Graco Extend2fit has a shorter usage has still won. The main reason that you can do extended rear-facing the most and it has the best secondary features.
We have reached the end of the Graco Extend2fit vs Milestone article. I hope this article helped you find the perfect car seat for you. Now it’s time to get it. Last time I checked, the stocks were running low. So get it soon.
I would love to hear from you share your experience below.
Catch you next time!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What’s the difference between the Graco extend2fit and 4ever?
There are many differences between Graco Extend2fit and 4Ever. The Graco Extend2fit is a convertible car seat that caters to infants and all the way up to kids weighing 65 pounds. The Graco 4Ever is an All-in-One car seat that caters to infants all the way up to young adults weighing 120 pounds
Is the Graco extend to fit worth it?
The Graco extend to fit is worth it if you value extended rear facing. As you know you can do extended rear facing with this Graco seat up to 50 pounds in weight limit. It’s recommended to keep your little one in rear facing mode until their second birthday. With the Graco you can do it until the age of four. So it’s money well invested.
How much does the Graco milestone weigh?
The Graco Milestone seat weight is 19.8 pounds.
What is the weight limit for these convertible car seats?
For these convertible car seats the rear-facing weight limit for the Extend2Fit is 50 pounds and for the Milestone the rear-facing weight limit is just 40 pounds (40 lbs). The 40 lbs doesn’t seem much but it’s plenty if you want to do extended rear facing. The forward facing harness weight limit for the Graco Extend2fit is 65 pounds. The forward-facing harness weight limit for the Graco Milestone is the same 65 pounds. The Graco Milestone forward facing belt-positioning booster mode taps out at 100 pounds. The Graco Milestone offers more functionality since it’s a 3 in 1 seat. It has the booster mode and booster seat option. With the booster seat this car seat would be the last one you have to ever buy.
What is the extension panel?
The Graco extend2fit convertible car seat comes with a leg extension panel. This means that your little one will get extra comfort from this extension panel. Depending on the age of your child you can slide it out as much as you need to that’s why they added this leg extension panel. This comes handy when you’re aiming for using it in rear-facing car seat mode. Your little one will be comfy with the leg extension panel. Plus the recline positions offer extra comfort and no more floppy heads.
Graco Milestone Vs Extend2fit which offers the best extended rear facing?
The Graco Milestone taps out at 40 pounds while the Extend2fit is the winner with 50 pounds. What about leg room? No matter which car seat you choose there will be enough leg room.
Graco Nautilus or Tranzitions which one should I get?
It really depends on what you are looking for.
What is the extend2fit graco milestone safe adjust harness system?
The safe adjust harness system helps you get your child snug in these convertible car seats. It’s easy to install and safe adjust.
Extend2fit vs Graco Milestone which one has the best safety standards?
Well these convertible car seats are quite similar. They have a steel reinforced frame, side impact protection and a 5 point harness. To get the most protection use the recline positions to the fullest. These car seats are easy to install thanks to the inright latch system. For being an infant car seat they provide great protection for little ones. Make sure that the chest clip is below your child’s armpit.
Extend 2 fit vs Graco Milestone how do you install them?
Before you get to the install part you have to check the bubble level indicator or the ball indicator. When the seat is leveled you can continue. The car seats can be installed in rear-facing mode and front facing mode as well with the inright latch system. To get the latch attachment you have to remove them from the storage compartment. After you have connected them pull on the latch belt. To make sure that the seat pads are aligned properly push down. The seat cover can be removed for a tighter fix. The seat cover is easy to remove. The harness straps won’t twist. Also you might have to remove the cup holders if you remove the seat cover from the seat pad.
Which is the better car seat choice Graco or Britax?
The majority prefers Britax car seats because the install is a lot easier.
Last Updated on November 7, 2023 by Brian Beasley
