Safety 1st and Graco are two of the most popular car seat brands on the market today, and in this review we look at two of their most popular models: the Safety 1st Grow & Go and the Graco 4Ever 4-in-1.
Both of these models are all-in-one car seats that are built to grow with your child and provide enhanced protection until they outgrow the need for a car seat.
When comparing two of the same type of car seat, it can be hard to sift through their similarities and differences to find a car seat that's right for you. In this article, I'll be doing that for you, and I'll also provide a detailed breakdown of their features and what sets them apart. That way, it'll be easier for you to come to a conclusion about which car seat you think would be best for you and your little one.
Safety 1st Grow & Go vs Grace 4Ever Specifications Compared
Header | Safety 1st | Graco 4Ever |
|---|---|---|
Cell | 
| 
|
NHTSA Overall Ease of Use Rating (RF): | 2 stars | 4 stars |
NHTSA Overall Ease of Use Rating (FF): | 4 stars | 4 stars |
NHTSA Overall Ease of Use Rating (B): | 3 stars | 3 stars |
Side Impact Protection: | Side Impact protection | for occupant retention w/ a 5-point harness |
Steel-Reinforced Frame: | Cell | provide strength and durability |
Weight: | 18.6 pounds | 22.75 pounds |
Width: | 19 inches | 21.5 inches |
Harness: | w/ harness holders | Simply Safe Adjust No-Rethread Harness and 10-Position Headrest: w/ integrated harness storage compartment |
Machine-Washable and Dryer-Safe Seat Pad: | can be removed without uninstalling the seat | Machine-Washable Seat Cushion |
Child Height Limit (RF): | 19 to 40 inches | at least 1-inch below handle |
Child Height Limit (FF): | 29 to 49 inches | 27 to 49 inches |
Child Height Limit (B): | 43 to 52 inches | 38 to 57 inches |
Child Weight Limit (RF): | 5 to 40 pounds | 4 to 40 pounds |
Child Weight Limit (FF): | 22 to 65 pounds | 20 to 65 pounds |
Child Weight Limit (B): | 40 to 100 pounds | 30 to 120 pounds |
LATCH System: | Compatible w/ LATCH Installation | InRight LATCH System: w/ one-second attachment |
Compatible w/ Seatbelt Installation | Yes | Yes |
Grow-With-Baby Pillows | Grow-With-Baby Pillows | Plush Inserts: to keep your child comfortable |
Cell |
Major Similarities Between Safety 1st Grow & Go vs Graco 4Ever
The only notable similarity between the Grow & Go and the 4Ever 4-in-1 is that they’re both all-in-one car seats that can be used from birth until your child outgrows the need for a car seat. They can accommodate children in the rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster positions, and they’re both equipped with a harness that can be easily adjusted without rethreading it.
Major Differences Between Safety 1st Grow & Go vs Graco 4Ever
There are many notable differences between the Grow & Go and 4Ever 4-in-1. For starters, the 4Ever 4-in-1 costs about $150 more than the Grow & Go. That price difference may seem a little steep, considering these are both very popular all-in-one car seats from widely known car seat brands, but I believe their other differences explain why the 4Ever 4-in-1 is so much more expensive.
Another difference between the Grow & Go and 4Ever 4-in-1 is how they were engineered. The Grow & Go is manufactured with a polypropylene plastic shell that’s made with Air Protect technology, providing the ultimate side-impact protection your child’s neck and head. Conversely, the 4Ever 4-in-1 creates the safest side-impact protection formed by an easy-to-adjust harness and plush infant inserts that are backed by a sturdy steel-reinforced frame. Combined, these features offer the perfect combination of comfort, strength, safety, and durability.
The next difference I’d like to point out is their harness systems. The Grow & Go is equipped with a QuickFit harness that can be easily adjusted in one step. You also don’t need to rethread the harness in order to adjust it. The QuickFit is a 5-point harness that has 4 harness heights and needs to be rethreaded to use the separate shoulder slots that are specifically for infants and small babies. On top of that, the QuickFit harness comes with convenient harness holders that secure it out of the way when you get you’re getting your little one in and out of their car seat.
Dissimilarly, the 4Ever 4-in-1 is engineered with a Simply Safe Adjust Harness System that also doesn’t need the be rethread to adjust it. This harness comes with a 10-position headrest that’s designed to be so easy to adjust, that you could do so with one hand. Additionally, it also comes with integrated harness storage compartments that can be used to hold your harness straps when your baby transitions to a belt-positioning booster.
Moving on, another difference between the Grow & Go and 4Ever 4-in-1 is their LATCH system. While the Grow & Go is merely compatible with LATCH installation, the 4Ever 4-in-1 features the InRight LATCH System that comes with a one-second attachment process to make installation quick and easy
Lastly, the 4Ever 4-in-1 is 20 pounds heavier than the Grow & Go, meaning your child can ride in the car seat longer.
The Grow & Go is a 3-in-1 car seat that’s built to grow with your child and provide them the ultimate protection every time they ride in the car. This car seat can be used from infancy until your child outgrows the need for a car seat. The Grow & Go features plush side-impact protection that’s backed by Air Protect Technology to guard your child’s neck and head from the impact force of a collision. It’s equipped with a QuickFit harness that can be easily adjusted in one simple step, and it doesn’t need to be rethreaded to adjust it.
Also, there are convenient harness holders in place to secure the harness out of the way when you’re getting your child in and out of the car. In addition to that, the Grow & Go is built to take up less room in the backseat and add up to 7 inches of legroom for front-seat passengers.
Other features include:
Pros
Cons
The Bottom Line
The Grow & Go is a decently priced all-in-one car seat that’s designed to last from the moment you leave the hospital to the moment your child no longer needs a car seat. What’s special about this car seat is for one, the pricing, which is reasonably low for an all-in-one car seat. However, I will say that its low price could be attributed to its lack of safety and comfort features.
Also, it’s engineered to take up less space in the backseat so that front-seat passengers have up to 7 inches of extra legroom. This is especially nice since most car seat brands work to free up more space for just the baby, but the Grow & Go frees up room for both.
The 4Ever 4-in-1 is designed to provide 10 years of safety and security for your little one every time they ride in the car. With a maximum weight limit of 120 pounds, it can be used from infancy until it’s time for your child to transition to using a vehicle seatbelt. The 4Ever 4-in-1 is equipped with a 5-point Simply Safe Adjust Harness System that comes with a 10-position headrest that’s so easy to adjust that you can do so with one hand.
It’s also been rigorously side-impact tested to ensure that the car seat is safe to use with a 5-point harness. The 4Ever 4-in-1 also features an InRight LATCH System with a one-second attachment to make installation easier and quicker.
Other features include:
Pros
Cons
The Bottom Line
The 4Ever 4-in-1 is a top-rated car seat that’s mean to keep your child safe until they grow the need for a car seat. What sets this car seat apart is the long list of crash tests its undergone to ensure its safety. Also, minimum and maximum weight limits guarantee that this is the only car seat you’ll ever need.
Conclusion
The Grow & Go and 4Ever 4-in-1 are both excellent car seats that are designed to grow with your child. While they have many things that set them apart, they're both high-quality and equipped with enhanced features to provide safety, comfort, and support. Out of the two, I would recommend the 4Ever 4-in-1. Yes, it's more expensive than the Grow & Go, but its safety, enhanced installation features, and sturdy design make it well worth the price. However, if you're on a budget, I would highly recommend the Grow & Go.
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!
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