Graco Grows4Me VS SlimFit Car Seat - Comprehensive Comparison
Table of Contents
What are the Differences Between Graco Grows4Me 4-in-1 and Graco SlimFit 3-in-1?
There are wide differences between the Grows4Me and SlimFit just like between the Graco 4Ever vs Slimfit.
However, the Grows4Me is similar to the 4Ever. You can read the comparison between the Grows4Me vs 4Ever here.
The Grows4Me is a 4-in-1 convertible car seat that can be used in 4 seat modes including as a backless booster seat unlike the Graco SlimFit that has 3 seat modes.
The SlimFit further has 2 series, the SlimFit 3-in-1 and SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1. The latter is slimmer than the former and has more features.
The major difference in both seat, Graco Grows4Me vs SlimFit, is the compatibility with a vehicle. While the SlimFit (has rotatable cups) is designed to fit small cars, the SlimFit3 LX is more compact and will fit 3 across the backseat perfectly in smaller cars.
The Grows4Me on the other hand, is compatible with mid-size vehicles and will hardly fit in a small car.
Other differences include:
- The SlimFit has inRight LATCH system which is easier to install using the LATCH, the Grows4Me has the “J-hook” LATCH system.
- The SlimFit3 LX has the integrated belt lock-off system which is easier to install using the seat belt method, the Grows4Me and SlimFit has the regular seat belt path.
- The SlimFit weighs 19.2lbs/19.47lbs, while the Grows4Me weighs 22.5 lbs.
- The SlimFit has 2 cups, the Grows4Me has 1 cup.
- The SlimFit has 2 newborn inserts (head and body support), the Grows4Me has 1 newborn insert (body support).
- The SlimFit3 LX has RapidRemove cover which makes removing the seat cover very easy and fast, the Grows4Me and SlimFit does not have the feature.
- The SlimFit3 LX has harness holders, Grows4Me and SlimFit does not have the feature.
- The SlimFit has a liquid bubble level indicator which is easier to read, while the Grows4Me has a ball level indicator.
Read on to learn more about the differences and similarities in the Graco Grows4Me vs Graco SlimFit comparison and key decision-making factors based on the following:
- Specifications
- Features
- Ease-of-use rating
- Safety and crash tests
- Pricing and other parents’ feedback assessment
Table: Specification Comparison - Graco Grows4Me VS SlimFit
| Specifications | Grows4Me | SlimFit | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
Product dimension (inches) | 20D X 24H X 21.5W (wider) | Slimfit 3-in-1 - 21.5D x 25.5H x 19.9W Slimfit3 LX 3-in-1 - 20.7D x 24.5H x 16.7W | The Grows4Me is wider, while the SlimFit3 LX will fit 3 across the backseat |
Product weight | 23 lbs. (heavier) | SlimFit 3-in-1 19.47 lbs. SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 19.2 lbs. | The Grows4Me is heavier and bulkier (note this if you'll be switching cars) |
Seat modes | 4-in-1 | 3-in-1 | The backless booster seat mode has an extra 10 lbs. limit |
Recommended weight range | 5 – 110 lbs. | 5 – 100 lbs. | not a marginal difference but significant enough for the backless booster mode |
Recommended height limit | 57 in | 57 in | similar |
Rear-facing weight limit | min. 4 lbs.; max. 40 lbs. | min. 4 lbs.; max. 40 lbs. | similar |
Rear-facing height limit | min. 19 in.; max. 40 in. | min. 19 in.; max. 40 in. | similar |
Forward-facing weight limit | min. 22 lbs.; max. 65 lb. | min. 22 lbs.; max. 65 lb. | similar |
Forward-facing height limit | min. 29 in.; max. 49 in. | min. 29 in.; max. 49 in. | similar |
Highback booster seat weight limit | min. 40 lbs.; max. 100 lbs. | min. 40 lbs.; max. 100 lbs. | similar |
Backless booster seat weight limit | min. 40 lbs.; max. 110 lbs. | ❌ | The SlimFit model has no backless mode |
Booster seat height limit | min. 43 in.; max. 57 in. | min. 43 in.; max. 57 in. | similar |
ParentingWithHumility Rating | 7.0/10 | 8.0/10 | - |
Price | - | ||
Price | - |
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:
- Evaluation of Instructions
- Vehicle Installation Features
- Evaluation of Labels
- 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
| NHTSA | Grows4Me | SlimFit |
|---|---|---|
Rear-facing - overall rating | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Forward-facing - overall rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Booster - overall rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Tables: General Features Comparison – Differences And Similarity Highlight
Safety Features
| Safety features | Grows4Me | SlimFit |
|---|---|---|
Side Impact Protection | ✔ | ✔ |
5-point Harness System | ✔ | ✔ |
Exceeds federal safety standards | ✔ | ✔ |
Crash tested | ✔
| ✔
|
IIHS rating for Booster seat mode | ✔✔ Best Bet | ✔✔ Best Bet |
Installation Features
| Installation features | Grows4Me | SlimFit |
|---|---|---|
LATCH/LUAS/ISOFIX system | ✔ - standard J-hook LATCH system | ✔ + InRight™ LATCH attachment – easier installation with LATCH |
Safety seat belt | ✔ - standard method | ✔ |
Ease-of-Use Features
| Ease-of-Use features | Grows4Me | SlimFit |
|---|---|---|
Fits 3 Across Back Seat | ❌ | ✔ |
Harness storage | ✔ | ✔ |
Harness holders | ❌ | Only for the SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 |
Harness adjustment | ✔ Simply Safe Adjust™ Harness System | ✔ Simply Safe Adjust™ Harness System |
No-rethreading of harness | ✔ | ✔ |
Machine washable | ✔ | ✔ |
Car seat cover | ✔ Easy to remove | ✔ Easy to remove ✔✔ the SlimFit3 LX features the Rapid Remove cover (easier) |
Headrest adjustment | 10 positions | 10 positions |
Recline positions | 6 positions | 6 positions |
Recline Level Indicator | Ball | Bubble (easier to read) |
Rear-facing recline position |
|
|
Forward-facing recline position |
|
|
Booster seat recline position |
|
|
Removable cups | 2 | 2 (rotatable) |
Comfortability of a Child
| Comfortability | Grows4Me | SlimFit |
|---|---|---|
Soft plush fabric | ✔ | ✔ |
Removable newborn inserts | 1 (body support) | 2 (head & body support) |
Breathable Mesh AirFlow | ❌ | Available (SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 ONLY) |
Longevity, Suitability and Compatibility
| Longevity & Suitability features | Grow4Me | SlimFit |
|---|---|---|
Expiration | 10 years (from Date of Manufacture) | 10 years (from Date of Manufacture) |
FAA Approved (RF & FF only) | ✔ | ✔ |
Suitable country by law | USA | USA |
Vehicle compatibility | Compatible with mid-size, full-size, vans and SUVs vehicles | Compatible with small, compact, mid-size, full-size, vans and SUVs vehicles |
Miscellaneous features
| Comfortability | Grows4Me | SlimFit |
|---|---|---|
Available colors | 2 | 5 |
Country of Origin | China | China |
Body framework | Steel-reinforced frame | Steel-reinforced frame |
Detailed Analysis of Both Seats – Grows4Me vs SlimFit – Which is The Winner?
From the different tables, you would have seen significant differences and as well similarities in both car seats. This will help you make your buying decision.
However, which is the winner?
Determining this will center more on personal preference and long term need and budget. I’ll go over this analysis in details which will help you further.
The significant differences which should guide your buying decision are:
- Dimension: The SlimFit (SlimFit LX 3-in-1; measures 16.7 inches in width) is 4.8 inches slimmer than the Grows4Me (21.5 inches), which saves you an incredible amount of space, while the SlimFit 3-in-1 (19.9 inches wide) is barely 1.8 inches slimmer, but when the rotatable cups are turned in, a further 1.79 inches (total of 3.59 inches, 10%) is saved. This makes a significant difference if you have a small vehicle and would need to fit three seats in your backseat.
- Seat Modes, Weight, and Height Limits: The SlimFit 3-in-1 features three seat modes; rear-facing, forward-facing, and highback booster seat (40 – 100 lbs.), unlike the Grows4Me 4-in-1, which features an additional backless booster seat mode (40 – 110 lbs.).
This means you will only need a single car seat through your child’s growth till they don’t need a car seat again. The case is slightly different with the Slimfit if you reside in a state that require that your child continue riding in a booster seat long enough before transitioning to the vehicle safety belt.
Other differences are covered in detail below:
Specification Comparison
Every aspect of the product dimension, weight, seat modes and weight & height limit are covered here.
Product Dimension
This has just been covered above. This difference should influence your buying decision if you have a small car, or need a third car seat to fit in the back seat.
The SlimFit wins.
If you have a small car, you should go for the SlimFit3 LX. If you plan to have more children, you should either go for the SlimFit or a mix.
Product Weight
The Graco Grows4Me (22.5 lbs.) weighs considerably more than the SlimFit (19.2lbs./19.47lbs.) which is relatively lightweight with a margin of nearly 4 lbs.
This is another significant difference if you will be switching between cars frequently. You don’t want to be lifting something bulky now and then often.
The SlimFit wins.
Features Comparison
Every aspect of the car seat features including safety, installation, ease of use, comfortability for a child and durability.
Safety Features
All car seats are safe. A lot of parents spend time looking through safety ratings for car seats. However, all seats are safe as long as they are on the market. This is because every car seat produced must pass through stringent federal safety standards before been sold on the market.
Rather, the emphasis should be on the ease-of-use, such as installation, harness straps, etc.
On the other hand, car seat manufactures still go overboard to ensure their seats pass more rigorous car crash test. All Graco car seats are made to pass through their Graco® ProtectPlus Engineered™ procedure which rigorously crash test car seats in frontal, rear, side and rollover crash impacts.
As such, the Grows4Me and SlimFit are equally safe.
No winner here.
The common safety features in both seats include:
- Side Impact Protection,
- 5-Point Harness System,
- exceed Federal Safety Standards,
- Rigorously Crash Tested in all crash types (frontal, rear, side, and rollover crashes), and
- The same IIHS Rating for Booster Seat mode – BEST Bet.
Installation Features
For a car seat to be perform optimally in the event of a crash, it must be securely installed in the vehicle (how to install Graco car seats). The installation features included in a car seat determines how easy or difficult it may be to install a seat, but it doesn’t mean a seat is impossible to install tightly.
The SlimFit features the inRight LATCH system which makes installing with the LATCH system very easy. However, the Grows4Me comes with the regular J-hook LATCH connector.
The SlimFit3 LX features the integrated belt lock-off system which makes installing with the seat belt easy. The Grows4Me and SlimFit lack this feature.
The Slimfit wins partially.
Nonetheless, without those features both seats are still easy to install securely in the vehicle.
Ease-of-Use Features
The Grows4Me and SlimFit car seats has some similar ease-of-use features, likewise some differences.
The similarities include;
- No-rethreading of the harness required,
- Easy to adjust the harness and headrest,
- 10 adjustable headrest positions
- Easy to wash the seat covers which are also machine washable
The differences include;
- Harness holder: the SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 features a harness holder that allows you to get your child out of the car seat easily; however, the Grows4Me 4-in-1 and SlimFit 3-in-1 lacks this feature.
- Rapid Remove Cover: the SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 has the Rapid Remove Cover which is a feature that allows you to remove the seat cover easily in under 1 minute without uninstalling the car seat. The Grows4Me 4-in-1 and SlimFit 3-in-1 lacks this feature.
- Recline Positions: reclining a car seat allows the seat to fit well in your car and also offers extra comfort to your child according to the recline position. The Slimfit offers 4 recline positions, while the Grows4Me has 6 recline positions.
- Level Indicator: the Grows4Me features a ‘ball’ level indicator, unlike the SlimFit, which features a liquid ‘bubble’ level indicator that is easier to read. The level indicator is useful when installing the car in different recline positions.
- Removable Cups: the Grows4Me comes with one removable cup while the SlimFit comes with two. There’s an additional feature to the SlimFit cups. The cups on the SlimFit 3-in-1 are rotatable which saves you 10% more space (becomes 17.91 inches; allowing you fit 3 across the backseat) when turned in but becomes unusable, however, the cups on the SlimFit3 LX are fixed (still fits 3 across).
The SlimFit3 LX wins here.
Comfortability of a Child
Both seats are super cozy for a child. Many parents commend either of the seats on their comfortability, hence no winner here. Both seats are well padded, and have soft plush fabric.
However, the SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 has breathable mesh airflow channels that provides improved ventilation for a child. This is a plus during the summer when you need to keep your child cool in the car seat.
Expiration
All Graco car seats are structured with a reinforced steel frame to improve the strength and durability so you can get a valuable life of 10 years.
Both seats will expire after 10 years from the date of manufacture.
No winner here either.
FAA Approved
The Grows4Me and the slim fit 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 key takeaway from this Graco Grows4Me vs Slimfit car seats comparison would be on the significant differences highlighted earlier in this article, which are vehicle compatibility and seat modes, and then other slight differences and the other similarities as well.
If you have a mid-size vehicle and don’t plan on having more kids in the near future, you can go for the Graco Grows4Me car seat.
If you have two or more kids (including car seats) and will be expecting a newborn in the near future, you can have a mix of both seats so that when one child is outgrowing the highback booster seat (slim fit), the next child using the SlimFit can switch to the Grows4Me.
However, if you’ll be switching between vehicles more often, you can choose the SlimFit car seat since it is lightweight.
If you are constrained by budget, then the SlimFit will make the better choice.
On the other hand, if you will consider similar compact car seats for small cars, the Safety 1st Guide 65 (read the review – 2-in-1 car seat; 18.5 inches wide) and the Safety 1st Continuum 3-in-1 (read the review; 19 inches wide).
