Last Updated on December 16, 2020
Having a child is expensive, there’s no two ways about it. There are so many things that you need to purchase that you will never have even considered.
Beyond the constant entertaining they need in the form of toys and activities, as well as the basic survival of food and drinks, plus the droppable utensils for the food and drinks, they also need an unbelievable amount of diapers.
Plus, it’s not enough to just get them one set of clothes and shoes, not just because of how incredibly messy they are, but also because they just keep growing. But that is where Graco are ahead of the curve.
Graco have realized that parents have enough to deal with, without having to also continually upgrade everything as the child grows. That’s why they have created car seats that grow with your child.
Obviously they don’t actually grow (although who knows, maybe that’s what the future of technology has in store for us?!), but these car seats do adapt to fit your child in different stages of their development. We’ll talk you through how they do this in more detail in the article below.
Now if you’re reading this article, then you have decided to do some research about which car seat to get, which is absolutely the right move. You are investing in an item that is designed to keep your child comfortable, and more importantly, safe, for a number of years.
Plus, if you want a good car seat then it’s not going to come cheap. On top of everything else you are having to fork out for, you want to make sure that you are getting the right car seat for you and not just throwing money away. But how do you know which one to go for?
Graco is a leading brand when it comes to strollers and carseats, and the Graco Milestone and Graco 4Ever have a lot of similarities, so it can be hard to tell them apart. Luckily for you, we have done the research so you don’t have to. We’ll take you through their main features and designs, what size of child they are suitable for, how all the straps and settings work, as well as highlighting the differences between the two models.
Contents
We know that as a parent you are going to be super busy, so if you don’t have time to read the whole thing, we have a quick snapshot of the differences here for you.
Although we do recommend that you read the whole article, just so you can be sure that you are making the right decision.
Graco Milestone Advantages:
Graco Milestone Disadvantages:
Graco 4Ever Advantages:
Graco 4Ever Disadvantages:
More expensive
Winner: Don’t want to read the full article? The editor’s choice is the Graco 4Ever.
Before we get into the various features that these two car seats have to offer, let’s take a look at the size and design of them both.
The first thing to remember is that these car seats will have to fit in your car, so it’s really important that you make sure that they can actually fit in your car, especially if you have more than one child and more than one car seat.
The Graco Milestone measures 19,7 x 16.25 x 25.5 inches, and it weighs 19.8 lbs. In contrast, the Graco 4Ever measures 21.5 x 20 x 24 inches, and it weighs 22.8 lbs. So if you are pushed for size, or if you will often have to move it in and out of the car, then the Graco Milestone would probably be a better option for you as it is smaller and lighter.
Both the car seats have frames that are made of reinforced steel, to keep the little ones safe. In fact, these steel frames are designed to provide strength and durability for a full ten years of use.
Don’t worry though, they are then covered with plush, energy-absorbing foam coverings to keep the seat super comfortable. Plus, both car seats come with a drinks holder, just the one for the Graco Milestone, and two cup holders for the Graco 4Ever.
Don’t worry though, the seat pads are machine-washable, so you don’t need to worry about the inevitable stains that will appear.
Verdict:
Both the car seats have really similar designs, but even though the Graco 4Ever has two drinks holders, the Graco Milestone is a little smaller.
We think it is just that bit easier to move around and to fit in your vehicle, so we are going to declare the Graco Milestone the winner of this round.
Without a doubt, the best selling point of these two car seats is that they both work with your child as your child grows. This means that it has different modes that are suitable for your child at different points of their development.
The Graco Milestone offers three settings that will see your child through from infancy. The Graco 4Ever, in contrast, has four settings, so they offer just that extra step before your child is big enough on their own. Let’s take a look at what each setting offers.
The first mode is the rear-facing harness. This is for when your child is a tiny infant and it is safest for them to face backwards. From there they can move up to the forward-facing harness, and after that, they will be able to enjoy the highback, belt-positioning booster.
The highback option means that your child will continue to be supported even when they’re not so small. For the Graco Milestone, those are all of the three settings that it offers.
However, the Graco 4Ever goes one further. Although it is probably hard to believe when they are so tiny, in time they will be big enough to move out of the full-booster. The Graco 4Ever still has you all covered here, as it can even be converted into a backless booster.
This will help to support them while they are still filling out enough to be big enough to use a regular seat belt with no help.
Verdict:
The Graco Milestone is a great option for a car seat that will support your child through the years, but the Graco 4Ever is even better and is our top pick for this round.
Although the two car seats have pretty similar settings, they actually have very slightly different fits for children.
The Graco Milestone car seat is appropriate for children from 5 lb to 100 lb. They can be in the rear-facing harness while they weigh from 5 lb to 40 lb.
The forward facing harness is for children that weigh 22 lb to 65 lb. While the belt-positioning booster is suitable for children from 40 lb to 100 lb.
The Graco 4Ever car seat is suitable for even more children than its predecessor, and is appropriate for children from 4 lb to 120 lb. They have made the rear-facing harness suitable for infants from a teeny 4 lb through to 40 lb.
The forward-facing harness is then the same 22 lb to 65 lb, while the highback booster can be used from 30 lb through to 100 lb. Then the Graco 4Ever has the additional, backless booster, which is suitable for children from 40 lb to 120 lb.
However, it is worth noting that Graco do not recommend that you move your child up to the bigger one when they reach the minimum weight allowed.
But rather, they highlight that it is safest to keep the child in each phase for as long as possible. This is particularly true of the rear-facing harness, which is the safest option while your child still fits in it.
Verdict:
The Graco 4Ever again is the better option, as it works for children from a slightly lower weight, through to being 20 lb bigger with the backless booster.
Both the car seats have adjustable positions and straps that go beyond the different seat settings. Firstly, they both have an easy-to-read level indicator. This means that when you are installing the car seat, you can quickly find the right position so that you can install it accurately and ensure optimum safety.
It is possible to install the car seats using either the vehicle seat belt, or the InRight LATCH system. This LATCH system simply requires the push of a button for an easy, one-second attachment, that you can check by listening out for the audible click when properly installed.
Using either the LATCH system or the vehicle’s seat belt are both equally safe to use, so you can just choose whichever system works best for you and the vehicle.
In terms of the car seat itself, both are able to recline at different angles, to provide optimal comfort. The Graco Milestone has four different reclining angles, while the Graco 4Ever has six different angles.
So you can really make sure that your child is as comfortable as possible (which might make it more likely that they fall asleep so you can get some peace and quiet).
Not only does the car seat move to different articles, but the head rest also moves, so that it can support your child at ten different heights.
Don’t worry, the Simply Safe Adjust Harness System means that the harness adapts with the headrest, so that your child is always properly secured.
Verdict:
Both the car seats have the easy-to-read level indicator and the option of the InRight LATCH system, which makes installing the car seat super easy. Plus, both have ten different positions for the headrest, with which the harness system adapts.
However, the Graco 4Ever is our pick for this round, as it can recline into six positions rather than four, but they are both pretty similar here.
When you are purchasing a new car seat, undoubtedly one of your main concerns is that it is going to keep your child safe in the event of an accident. Both of these car seats have been very rigorously tested and bear the seal of the Graco ProtectPlus Engineered.
Both the Graco Milestone and the Graco 4Ever meet or exceed the child restraint criteria for a frontal crash test, plus they have been side-impact tested for occupant retention.
They have also been rear-impact tested based on the European Rear-Impact Crash Pulse, and have been tested to Graco’s RollSafe testing standard.
Verdict:
Both of these car seats adhere to the highest standards when it comes to safety.
Okay so we’ve taken you through all the different features, but at the end of the day, the deciding factor may well come down to price. As you might expect, the Graco 4Ever is more expensive than the Graco Milestone.
However, the price difference is around $40-$80 (depending on where you purchase from). Given that the Graco 4Ever includes the backless booster seat, which would probably cost more than that price difference on its own, the Graco 4Ever seems pretty reasonably priced.
Verdict:
Although the Graco 4Ever has a few more tricks up its sleeve, and includes the backless booster option, the Graco Milestone is the cheaper option, so it is the winner when it comes to price.
Now that we’ve been through all the details, let’s do a quick recap. Both the car seats can adapt for children as they develop and grow, although the Graco 4Ever has the extra, backless booster seat option, so that your child won’t need another seat until they are ready for a plain old seat belt.
The Graco Milestone is a little smaller and lighter, with just one, removable cup holder, and it is also a cheaper option. Both have steel-reinforced frames and machine washable seat pads, and both can recline for additional comfort, although the Graco 4Ever has six positions rather than the four that the Graco Milestone offers.
They have both been safety tested to the highest levels, and both make excellent car seats. We think that the Graco 4Ever offers just that bit more, which makes it more than worth the extra few bucks, but which one sounds like the best choice for you?
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