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Graco Milestone Review (2021): Safety + Durability + Easy to Clean

January 7, 2021 by Sam Webster Leave a Comment

Graco Milestone 3 in 1 Convertible Car Seat | Infant to Toddler Car Seat, Gotham

Please click image for more info

If you're looking for a single car seat that can meet all of your child's needs over time, it's more important than ever that the car seat be extremely safe and durable, easy to use and clean, and have a variety of adjustment options to fit a growing child. 

If that's what you're looking for in a convertible car seat, you should check out the Graco Milestone. In this review we take an in-depth look, to help you make an informed buying decision. 

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Quick Navigation
Who is the Graco Milestone Most Suitable For?
Pros and Cons of Graco Milestone
Overview of Graco Milestone
Video Overview of Graco Milestone
Graco Milestone Convertible Car Seat - FAQs
Graco Milestone Specs
Graco Milestone Features
What is included with the Graco Milestone?
Graco Milestone Installation
Graco Milestone Manual
Graco Milestone vs. Graco 4Ever
Diary of the Dad's Graco Milestone Review
Conclusion

Who is the Graco Milestone Most Suitable For?

source

The Graco Milestone is designed for parents who want a high-quality, long-lived convertible car seat that they can use for years to come, without spending a fortune. Graco designed the Milestone as a more affordable alternative to the Graco 4Ever (detailed comparison below), with similar features and longevity, but at a lower price.

For parents who love the proven safety and quality of Graco car seats, and want a single convertible car seat that can comfortably protect a child for up to 10 full years, the Graco Milestone is an excellent option. Even better, among other car seats with this kind of longevity, it isn't as big or heavy, and installation is a snap. The Milestone is a great combination of convenience, safety, and value in a convertible car seat.


Pros and Cons of Graco Milestone

Pros

  • Extra long life, rated for children from 5 – 100 pounds
  • Superior safety including crash testing, side impact testing, and temperature testing
  • Harness adjustment is fast and easy, with no rethreading
  • Seat cushion and seat cover can be easily (and independently) removed for cleaning with no rethreading
  • InRight LATCH system installs quickly, with an audible click so you know it's secure
  • Cup holder can switch sides or be removed when extra space is needed
  • FAA approved

Cons

  • Difficult to convert between installation modes
  • Only two rear-facing recline modes, and only four recline levels overall
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Overview of Graco Milestone

Graco Milestone 3 in 1 Convertible Car Seat | Infant to Toddler Car Seat, Gotham

The Graco Milestone is a convertible car seat with an incredibly long life. It can fit and protect children from 5 – 100 pounds, or up to 57 inches in height, or up to the 10 year life span of the car seat. With that huge longevity, it may be the only car seat you need.

Even better, the Graco Milestone has all the features that both children and parents are looking for. The 5-point harness has 10 positions to correctly fit a growing child over time, but adjustment is so fast and simple it can be done with one hand and no rethreading.

The cover and cushions are easy to remove and clean, machine washable without rethreading the harness. And the installation system is literally a snap, with a fast and easy system that gives you an audible click to know it's installed correctly. It's a high-quality car seat, and a great value for the longevity.  

Safety

What are this model’s NHTSA ratings? All car seats sold in the USA must meet or exceed strict federal safety and crash test standards, so the NHTSA does not rate car seats for safety. Instead, they offer ratings and evaluations for ease of use.


According to the NHTSA, the Graco Milestone has earned (for the rear-facing installation):

  • Labels: 5/5
  • Instructions: 5/5
  • Securing the child: 4/5 stars because the car seat was not set for the smallest possible occupant when it was removed from its packaging, and because the LATCH belt must be rerouted when converting the car seat between seating modes, and conversion is complex and requires using the instruction manual.
  • Installation features: 1/5 stars because there is possible interference between the seat and the padding and the belt routing path, it may be uncomfortable for people with large hands to route the vehicle belt or LATCH belt through the routing path, LATCH storage is not clearly labeled and LATCH attachments have buttons to press for removal, and also because a printed line on the car seat must be leveled to the ground (not the vehicle) and there are fewer than three levels of recline.
  • Overall ease of use: 3/5 stars

The Graco Milestone has earned a 4/5 star NHTSA ease of use rating for the forward-facing installation, and a 5/5 star rating for the booster seat mode.

  • Does this model have:
  • Side impact protection? Yes
  • Energy-absorbing base? Energy absorbing foam
  • Metal frame? Plastic body, steel reinforced frame

Longevity

  • What is this model’s child height limit? Rear-facing: top of head 1 inch below top handle, forward-facing: 49 inches, high-backed booster: 57 inches
  • What is this model’s child weight limit? Rear-facing: 5 – 40 pounds, forward-facing: 22 – 65 pounds, high-backed booster: 30 – 100 pounds

Ease of Use

  • Does this model have the LATCH system? Yes
  • Seat belt installation? Yes
  • Non-rethread harness system? Yes

Ease of Installation

  • What is this model’s weight? 20 pounds
  • What is this model’s width? 17.5 inches
  • What type of harness adjustment system does this model have? Simply Safe Adjust harness
  • Is the seat cover machine-washable? Yes

Comfort and Quality

  • What is the quality of padding (overall)? N/A
  • What is the quality of padding in the head area? N/A
  • Is the seat fabric breathable? N/A
  • Does this model include an infant insert pillow? Yes

Video Overview of Graco Milestone

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Graco Milestone Convertible Car Seat - FAQs

What year did the Graco Milestone come out?

Graco Milestone came out in 2014.

Graco Milestone can be used for what age of kids?

Milestone can be used for children from 0 to 12 years old.

How long do Graco Milestone car seats last before they expire?

Graco states on their website that “Expiration dates can range anywhere from six to ten years or more depending on the car seat, so it’s important to check yours.”


Also note that Graco stamps an expiration date into the bottom of each car seat, so it’s important to check the bottom of your seat to see when it expires.

How wide is the Graco Milestone?

Graco Milestone is 17.5 inches wide.

How much does Graco Milestone car seat weigh?

Graco Milestone car seat weighs 20 pounds.

What is the height limit on the Graco Milestone carseat?

The Graco Extend2Fit carseat height with headrest is 28.5 inches. But it has different height limit in different positions. They are:

  • Rear-facing: Top of head is 1″ below red adjuster handle
  • Forward-facing (with harness): 49″ or less
  • High-back booster: 38-57″
Will Graco Milestone fit in any size car?

Graco Milestone will fit in any size car but the rear-facing mode in a compact car could be a tight fit, leaving less legroom for front seat passengers. 

Can the Graco 4Ever in one recline?

Graco Milestone 3 across can fit in the following cars:

  • Vehicle models that work best with three car seats in the rear seat are: Minivans; full-size and midsize SUVs; and full-size cars.
  • Vehicles where it’s a tight squeeze to fit three car seats: Compact SUVs; compact and midsize sedans; pickup trucks, and CRVs.
  • Vehicles that won’t work with three car seats: Four passenger vehicles; sports cars or performance cars; two-door vehicles; and subcompacts.
Can Graco Milestone carseat go on airplane?

The Graco Milestone is FAA approved only with the 5-point harness and not in booster mode since airplanes have no shoulder straps.


Graco Milestone Specs

FEATURE

DESCRIPTION

Rear-facing weight limit

 5 -40 pounds

Rear-facing height limit

top of the child's head must be at least 1 inch below the handle

Forward-facing weight limit

20 – 65 pounds

Forward-facing height limit

27 – 49 inches

High-backed booster weight limit

30 – 100 pounds

High-backed booster height limit

38 – 57 inches

Car seat weight

20 pounds

Car seat dimensions

21 x 17.5 x 21 inches

Car seat expiration

10 years from date of manufacture


Graco Milestone Features

FEATURE

DESCRIPTION

Safety features

  • SafeSeat engineered to meet or exceed federal crash test standards
  • Side impact tested
  • Steel-reinforced frame for strength and durability
  • EPS energy-absorbing foam
  • Tested for extreme car interior temperatures

Ease of use

  • Simply Safe Adjust harness system adjusts with one hand, moving the harness and headrest at once
  • InRight LATCH system for fast and easy LATCH installations
  • Seat cover is easy to remove and doesn't require rethreading the harness
  • Integrated storage compartment holds harness straps when not in use
  • Seat cushion is machine washable
  • Cup holder can be removed when extra space is needed
  • Seat cushion can be removed for washing without removing the whole cover

Longevity features

  • Three-in-one car seat fits children from 5 – 100 pounds
  • Ten-position headrest and harness to fit comfortably over time

Quality and comfort features

  • Four-position recline provides comfort and safety in rear and forward-facing modes
  • Removable plush inserts keep a child comfortable and ensure correct fit over time
  • Removable cupholder keeps drinks and snacks close at hand

What is included with the Graco Milestone?

The Graco Milestone comes with a removable support cushion for infants, and a detachable cup holder.


Graco Milestone Installation

The Graco YouTube channel doesn't include installation instructions for this car seat, but YouTuber Kiddicare has made a great video showing installation in all three different modes, which you can see here:

Converting between installation modes in the Milestone can be difficult, and requires removing the cover. YouTuber TheNorthernLights has produced a video that specifically covers how to convert the car seat, which you can see here: 


Graco Milestone Manual

The Graco Milestone manual can be found here:

Click to download Graco Milestone manual here. 


Graco Milestone vs. Graco 4Ever

Graco Milestone

VS

Graco4Ever

Many parents are torn between choosing the Graco Milestone or the Graco 4Ever. Both car seats are long-lived convertibles, both built and backed by the quality and safety of Graco. Both have a steel-reinforced frame, and have been subjected to rigorous crash and impact tests, so they are equally safe. Let's take a detailed look at both models.

Header

Graco Extend2Fit

Graco 4Ever

Rear-facing height limits

Head must be at least 1 inch below the red handle

Head must be at least 1 inch below the red handle

Rear-facing weight limits

5 – 40 pounds

4 – 40 pounds

Forward-facing height limits

27 to 49 inches

27 – 49 inches

Forward-facing weight limits

20 – 65 pounds

20 – 65 pounds

High-backed booster height limits

38 – 57 inches

38 – 57 inches

High-backed booster weight limits

30 – 100 pounds

30 – 100 pounds

Booster seat height limits

N/A

40 - 57 inches

Booster seat weight limits

N/A

40 – 120 pounds

Car seat weight

20 pounds

22.75 pounds

Car seat dimensions

22.1" high x 17.5" wide x 21" deep

24" high x 21.5" wide x 20" deep

Car seat lifespan

10 years

10 years

LATCH Installation system

InRight LATCH system

InRight LATCH system

Harness adjust system

Simply Safe Adjust harness system

Simply Safe Adjust harness system

Recline levels

2 in rear-facing, 4 overall

3 in rear-facing, 6 overall

Harness positions

10 harness+headrest positions

10 harness+headrest positions

Cupholders

1 removable

2 integrated

Cushions and covers

Removable, washable, no rethread

Removable, washable, no rethread

As you can see, the primary difference between the Graco Milestone and the Graco 4Ever is that the Graco 4Ever:

  • Converts into a backless booster that holds children up to 120 pounds
  • Has integrated cup holders
  • Has more recline levels

It is also significantly more expensive than the Graco Milestone. It is important to know that the stage at which a child no longer needs a booster seat is contingent on their height, not their weight.

Children need a booster seat until they are 4'9” or 57 inches tall, and about 10 years of age. This means that a child who stays in a high-backed booster until they are 57 inches tall may not need a backless booster at all. Since both the Milestone and the 4Ever are rated for children up to a maximum of 57 inches and/or 10 years, they are both capable of protecting a child until they are ready to transition to an adult seat belt.

Despite these similar limitations, the Graco 4Ever might be a better choice for a heavier child who exceeds the 100 pound weight limit of the Milestone. However, many parents feel that they can still save money by purchasing the Milestone for the early years, and later purchasing a separate backless booster for a heavier child if necessary.

The Graco 4Ever is definitely a nicer car seat. The integrated cup holders don't get in the way when maneuvering around the car seat. The extra recline angle provides greater comfort in rear-facing installations. But is it worth the additional expense? Many parents don't think so, given the similarities between the two models.


Diary of the Dad's Graco Milestone Review


Conclusion

The Graco Milestone is an excellent convertible car seat. It has great safety ratings, is easy to use and install, and has a long useful life that can transport children in safety and comfort for up to 10 years. It's also a great value, with great longevity and comfort at a reasonable price for the quality.

While it is difficult to convert between seating modes, in many families they will only be converting once every few years, so it's a reasonable tradeoff for all the other positive qualities in this car seat. 

Graco Milestone 3 in 1 Convertible Car Seat | Infant to Toddler Car Seat, Gotham

Graco Milestone (click image for more info)

For many children, the Graco Milestone may be the only car seat they will ever need, and it's a great investment in their comfort and protection for the next decade.

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Sam Webster

With two kids of my own, I’m passionate about child safety! I’m a research nerd who’s on a mission to make the world a safer place for kids – starting with car seats!

To contact me directly please click here.

Filed Under: Graco

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Hey! I’m Sam, mom of Sadie and Xavier.

When I started searching for a convertible car seat I was overwhelmed by the choices out there.

But being a research nerd, I relished the challenge of finding the best seat for my needs. And in the process, I gathered a ton of info!

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