Graco Grows4Me VS 4Ever Car Seat – Comprehensive Comparison

What are the Differences Between Graco Grows4Me and Graco 4Ever?

The Graco Grows4Me and the 4Ever DLX belong to the same family of 4-in-1 convertible car seats. However, their features have significant differences as one carries premium features over the other. On the other hand, they are just about the same in terms of safety which is the primary purpose of a car seat in the first place.

This Graco Grows4Me vs Graco 4Ever comparison aims to look in-depth at the similarities and differences in both seats and to help you decide which you can go for based on;

• Personal preference
• Safety
• Budget
• Specifications & Features
• Ease-of-use rating
• Safety and crash tests
• And overall performance and preference from other parents’ feedback assessment

In summary, the differences between the Graco 4Ever DLX and the Grows4Me are:

• DLX has the inRight LATCH system, which is easier to install using the LATCH; Grows4Me has the “J-hook” LATCH system
• DLX has the integrated belt lock-off system, which is easier to install using the seat belt method; the Grows4Me has the regular seat belt path
• DLX has 2 cups, Grows4Me has 1 cup
• DLX has two newborn inserts (head and body support), and Grows4Me has one newborn insert (body support)
• DLX has RapidRemove cover, which makes taking off the seat cover easier and faster; Grows4Me does not have the feature
• DLX has harness holders which holds back the harness when taking out your child, while the Grows4Me does not have it
• DLX has a liquid ‘bubble’ level indicator which is easier to read, while the Grows4Me has a ball level indicator
• DLX has a weight range of 4-120 lbs. which is more “preemie/newborn” friendly, while the Grows4Me has a weight range of 5-110 lbs.
• DLX has premium fabrics which is ‘more’ comfortable, while the Grows4Me still has quality fabrics that are also comfortable.

The following tables will highlight the similarities and differences between both seats based on their specifications and features.

Specification Comparison: Graco Grows4Me VS 4Ever DLX

NHTSA Ease-of-Use Rating

The National Highway Transport and Safety Agency (NHTSA) provides a simple evaluation of car seats based on how easy it is to use different features in different modes. There is an overall ease-of-use rating for each seat to help you make a quick and informed decision.

This rating is based on four categories:

1. Evaluation of Instructions
2. Vehicle Installation Features
3. Evaluation of Labels
4. Securing the child

Ratings:

• 5 Stars = Excellent features
• 4 Stars = Above-average features
• 3 Stars = Average features
• 2 Stars = Below-average features
• 1 Star = Poor features
• N/A = Does not contain any features that require a rating

General Features Comparison – Differences And Similarity Highlight

Safety Features

Installation Features

Ease-of-Use Features

Comfortability of a Child

Longevity, Suitability, and Compatibility

Miscellaneous features

Detailed Analysis of Both Seats – Grows4Me vs 4Ever – Which is The Winner?

Going through the different tables highlighting features of the car seats, you’ll observe the little details here and there that make the differences in both seats.

Which then is the winner?

Specification Comparison

The specification comparison covers the product dimension/size, product weight, seat modes, and weight & height limits.

Product Dimension & Product Weight

The Grows4Me and 4Ever are similar in dimension and weight. That means either will take up the same space in a car and will be as bulky as they are if you will be switching between cars often.

Based on this, there is no winner. Therefore, this factor may not influence your decision.

Seat Modes, Weight and Height Limits

Both seats are slightly different here, but there is still a significant difference.

Both seats have four seat modes; rear-facing, forward-facing, highback, and backless seat modes.

However, the weight range for the 4Ever DLX is 4-120 lbs. which is more friendly for preemies and newborns than the Grows4Me, which has a 5-110 lbs. weight range.

Many parents complain that Grows4Me is not suitable for newborns. This will be understood as the Grows4Me does not also feature newborn head support like the 4Ever DLX.

The additional 10 lbs. limit for the 4Ever also allows your child to ride longer in the booster seat before transitioning to the vehicle safety belt, but this will also depend on your state’s car seat laws, as some states allow a child to ride in the seat belt quite early unlike others.

The Graco 4Ever wins in this comparison.

Features Comparison

This section covers the following essential car seat features; safety, installation, ease of use, comfortability for a child, and durability.

Safety Features

As you may already know, all car seats are safe. Car seats are made to pass through stringent federal safety standards before they are sold on the market.

On the other hand, many car seat manufacturers aim to exceed these standards and even carry out more rigorous tests to ensure their seats are absolutely safe in different car crash impacts – side, rear, frontal, and rollover (Graco® ProtectPlus Engineered™).

The Graco Grows4Me and Graco 4Ever are both crash-tested at the same level and are equally safe.

Parents who have used either of the seats and were involved in a car crash report their kids were safe and unscathed.

The common safety features in both seats are:

• Side Impact Protection,
• 5-Point Harness System,
• Exceed Federal Safety Standards,
• Rigorously crash tested (side, rear, frontal and rollover impacts)
• Similar IIHS Rating for Booster seat mode – BEST Bet.

Based on this, there is no winner. Therefore, this factor may not influence your decision.

Installation Features

There is a significant difference in this feature.

While many parents complain of difficulty in installing the Grows4Me car seat, it will be understandable because of the basic installation features that come with it.

The Grows4Me comes with the J-hook LATCH system and the seat belt), unlike 4Ever DLX, which features the inRight LATCH system and integrated belt lock-off system.

The Graco 4Ever wins in this feature.

Nonetheless, it is not ‘impossible’ to install the Grows4Me securely and tightly. You just need extra patience and effort to get it right.

Ease-of-Use Features

The price of the Graco 4Ever beats off the Grows4Me pretty well and is worth every penny when you look into the ease of using either of the seats.

Going with the similarities of both seats; they both feature no-rethreading of the harness, easy to adjust the harness and headrest, easy to wash the seat covers, which are also machine washable and then, has ten adjustable headrest positions and six recline positions.

The following are where the differences lie;

Harness holder: the Graco 4Ever has a harness holder that allows you to easily get your child out of the seat. While this can be overlooked as a first-time parent, experienced parents with car seats may find this fascinating.

Rapid Remove Cover: this feature allows you to remove the seat cover easily and quickly in under 1 minute without uninstalling the car seat, unlike the Grows4Me. Nevertheless, the Grows4Me is still fairly easy to take off and reinstall but requires uninstalling the car seat.

Level Indicator: the Grows4Me features a ‘ball’ level indicator, unlike the 4Ever, which features a liquid ‘bubble’ level indicator that is easier to read. This makes a significant difference when installing either of the seats; the bubble indicator is easier to read.

Removable Cups: the Grows4Me comes with a single removable cup, while the 4Ever DLX comes with two. While this may be a negligible difference, it adds to the seat’s aesthetics and allows multi-option of food for your child (snack in one, water in the other).

The Graco 4Ever wins in this comparison.

As much as these differences are worth the value of one seat over the other, it doesn’t mean you can’t do without them if you are within a budget. At the same time, it is worth saving the money and using it for something else for the family.

Comfortability of a Child

Comfort is relative, as they say. However, neither of these seats is ‘uncomfortable’ for a child.

It is noteworthy to mention that parents who have used either of the seats give appraisals that they are comfortable for their kids despite the Graco 4Ever featuring more premium fabrics over the Grows4Me.

On the other hand, many parents complained that the Grows4Me was unsuitable for their newborns. This may be attributed to the fact that the Grows4Me lacks the newborn head support and only has the body support, unlike the 4Ever that comes with both and also have a lower weight limit of 4 lbs. while the Grows4Me is just 5 lbs.

Based on this, the Graco 4Ever wins once again.

You may consider using the Grows4Me when your baby is six months old. But if you need a car seat from the get-go, the 4Ever is a better option.

Expiration

All Graco car seats are structured with a reinforced steel frame to improve the strength and durability so you can get a valuable, useful life of 10 years.

The Grows4Me and 4Ever both expire after 10 years from the date of manufacture.

No winner here.

You must stop using a car seat once it expires or when involved in a car crash.

Learn more about why car seats have expiry dates here.

FAA Approved

The Grows4Me and the 4Ever DLX are approved for use on an aircraft as long as they are used on forward-facing aircraft seats and in rear-facing or forward-facing mode. Both seats are not approved for use as booster seats as aircraft do not have shoulder belts.

Final Thoughts: Why and When you Should buy Either of the Car Seats?

The Graco 4Ever

Suppose you are buying your first car seat and can’t tell what the weight of your newborn (obviously) will be and would want a car seat that will accommodate any eventualities and also give you that convenience and ease of use as a first-timer car seat owner and you have an excess amount to dole out (you can make a little sacrifice though) for the extra ‘premium’ features. In that case, I’ll recommend the Graco 4Ever DLX.

The Graco Grows4Me

If you are a regular car seat owner, already familiar with using car seats, and you are just having your second or another newborn, and need another car seat to upgrade to or rotate among your children (the newborn can start with the more suitable seat), I’ll recommend the Graco Grows4Me.

The Graco Grows4Me offers you just as much safety, comfort, and regular ease of use as the Graco 4Ever DLX while saving you extra bucks on the go.

You don’t need to have all the fanciful car seats at the same time at the expense of your growing family when you can channel the extra funds, however little, into other expenses for the family.

Other Grows4Me comparisons – Grows4Me vs SlimFit; Grows4Me vs Extend2Fit.