The lightweight Graco Slimfit3 LX 3-in-1 car seat is 2 inches narrower than its predecessor. This makes it one of the leading 3-across car seats when your family reaches that size. Also, as a three-in-one car seat, you can use this one car seat for the entire time your child needs a car seat or booster in the car.
Let’s take a closer look at the newest addition to the Graco family. It’s everything you want from a car seat with forward-thinking and smart innovation.
Experienced Mommy Video Review
Take a look at the video review by Experienced Mommy’s YouTube moms:
Graco Slimfit3 LX 3-in-1 Car Seat Review
From the space-saving design to multiple stages, the Graco Slimfit3 LX 3-in-1 car seat is ready to serve you. It’s smart, too, like a mother designed it with real moms and babies in mind! Let’s go over all the basics and impressive features of this car seat.
Space-Saving Slim Design
The Slimfit3 LX measures a whole 2 inches narrower than the previous model. Families who need to fit three kids across need this affordable car seat. This car seat fits completely inside one seat cushion in the car, measuring just 16.7 inches wide.
Stages
As a 3-in-1 car seat, you can use this car seat in three different ways. First, use it rear-facing from five pounds to 40 pounds for infants and toddlers.
Second, use the car seat forward-facing with the harness for toddlers who weigh 22 to 65 pounds. Once your child is 40 pounds, they can move to a highback booster until they reach 100 pounds.
The only thing this car seat does not do is turn into a backless booster. Otherwise, this is one car seat to replace three, and it grows with your child!
How does it grow with your child? With ten positions of adjustment in the headrest. As your child gets taller, simply push in the top latch and pull up to a new comfortable and correct position for your child.
Recline
It’s easy to adjust the recline of the seat too. With four different positions available, you can get the option you need to keep your child comfortable and let them sleep.
However, when the car is in the rear-facing mode, it will lean heavily into the front seat. So, when in reverse, it’s best to have the car seat behind the passenger seat.
Harness
The harness is genius. Two different elements make the harness exceptional. First, the harness does not need to be rethreaded to adjust it to the correct height of your child.
Graco calls this No-Rethread Simply Safe Adjust. It automatically adjusts with the headrest up to ten positions.
Second, little loops on the side of the car seat hold the buckles attached to the harness out of the way so you can put your baby into the seat without the harness in the way. Getting a baby in our out of the seat has never been easier, thanks to the storage pocket innovation.
Cup Holders
Next, the seat includes two cup holders ready to work with three across the backseat. Instead of the cup holders going to the sides, they go to the front of the car set to reduce space.
Additionally, the car seats are easy to remove and clean up easily as you can remove them for washing. Honestly, you do not even need to use the cup holders or just use one if you prefer.
Installation
Installing the car set into your car is a simple and straightforward process. Whether you use the anchor LATCH system now in all cars or use the built-in seatbelt, you can get this car seat in your car. Find videos to install with the anchor system below, or find videos to install using the seatbelt rear-facing or forward-facing.
When in doubt, use the stickers and color-coding on the car seat to get the seat laid out properly. Graco even uses a smart tether storage system for the latch belts. Also, a bubble level on the side near the bottom lets you know the seat is in the correct position.
Safety Features
Beyond the easy installation, the safety features are fabulous. First, the car seat includes a steel-reinforced frame for strength and durability for a full ten years of use. Second, EPS energy-absorbing foam helps to manage energy effectively in an impact.
Fabric and Padding
Fabrics for car seats have come a long way, and this one comes in gorgeous purple and black, black, or gray. No matter which color you choose, you get easy-to-wash parts and tons of padding.
Here’s a smart feature, the top layer of padding comes off easily, so you can toss it in the wash. Also, the fabric includes breathable mesh airflow channels to let your child breathe even in the padded seat.
Honestly, the car seat looks so comfortable I wish cars came with seats like this one. Kids will love the dual layers of padding as they make sleeping in the car or just riding in the car more comfortable.
Maintenance
The seat pad can go straight into the washing machine in cold water with gentle soap. Do not put the pad in the dryer, and do not use bleach.
Next, the buckle cannot go in the washing machine, but you can spot clean without soaps. Use mild soap and a damp cloth to wash the harness and the frame.
Specifications
- Weight limits of 5 to 100 pounds
- Rear-facing from 5 to 40 pounds
- Front-facing with harness 22 to 65 pounds
- Highback booster from 40 to 100 pounds
- Car seat weights 19.2 pounds
Pros
- No rethreading harness
- 10 position harness
- 2 cupholders and go forward instead of sideways to save space
- Removable and washable cupholders
- Fits 3 across
- Replaces multiple car seats
- Only 16.7 inches wide
- 4 Recline positions
- Breathable mesh fabric
- Extra padding
- Buckle holders
- Easy to clean
- Easy to clean
- Built-in LATCH system
- Rapid remove seat covers
- InRight LATCH system
- Safety measures and tested
Cons
- No padding on the buckle
- Does not turn into a backless booster
Graco Slimfit3 LX vs. Competitors
Slimfit3 LX vs. Britax Emblem
Like the Slimfit 3 LX, the Britax Emblem works for three modes but the Emblem is a little more affordable. However, the Emblem only works for up to 65 pounds. This is a great option if you want a car seat and then want a dedicated booster as the Emblem does not act as a booster, either highback or low back.
Of course, with the Slimfit 3, you get an extra 35 pounds of use which ends up saving you more money in the long run. The Graco car seat comes with more extras, too, like the buckle pockets and more recline positions. Overall, the Slimfit 3 offers more value as it’s also much narrower too.
Slimfit3 LX vs. Radian 3RXT
Both the Slimfit3 LX versus the Diono Radian 3RXT car seats can fit three across. Diono’s car seat costs quite a bit more but is often on sale. However, the Radian 3RXT works from 5 pounds up to 120 pounds give you an extra twenty pounds over the Slimfit3 LX.
Also, the Radian works longer in rear-facing as it can go up to 50 pounds instead of 40 like the Slimfit3. You get more color options, too, all though the options are very bold. You even get 12 headrest positions from the Diono option instead of 10, with Graco’s making this a great option for taller children.
Another reason we love the Radian 3RXT is it folds up for travel! While we love the Slimfit3, no other car seat folds up for travel to make your life easier and less awkward.
A harness cover also helps to make this more comfortable, but the Radion does not have buckle pockets like the Slimfit3. The Radian’s cupholders go out to the side, which isn’t the best feature like with the Slimfit3. Moreover, the Radian 3RXT weighs 30.6 pounds which is significantly more than the 19.2 pounds of the Slimfit3.
Slimfit3 LX vs. Chicco FIT4
The Chicco Fit4 works like the Graco Slimfit3 but with a dedicated infant stage and position. Both are designed to fit three across, but the Fit4 measures 19 inches across instead of 17.6, making it wider and potentially more difficult to buckle three kids across.
Next, the Fit4 offers a whopping 9 recline positions compared to the Slimfit3 LX, but you will pay a much higher price for this feature. Also, the Fit4 weighs more than the Slimfit3 LX at 25 pounds instead of 19.2 pounds. What you do get is an extra pound as the Fit4 can work from 4 pounds up to 100 pounds instead of 5 pounds up to 100 pounds.
Final Thoughts About the Graco Slimfit3 LX 3-in-1 Car Seat
The Slimfit3 LX 3-in-1 car seat fixes a few different problems with convertible car seats. First, it fits three kids across the back seat. Second, it’s by far the lightest all-in-one car seat on the market.
Furthermore, the car seat includes innovative buckle pockets and forward-facing cupholders. It’s the one car seat you need for your child from birth until they are ready to leave the car seat. Mind you, it does not turn into a backless booster, but otherwise, it’s affordable and highly functional.
