Between the Graco Contender and Safety 1st Grow and Go, the Safety 1st will be a more worthy purchase. Keep on reading why.
Graco Contender 65*
Vs
Safety 1st Grow And Go*
Ideal Use
| Graco Contender 65 | Safety 1st Grow and Go | |
| Rear-Facing Weight: | 5 to 40 pounds | |
| Rear-Facing Height Limit: | 1″ below adjuster button on headrest when fully extended | 19 to 40 inches |
| Forward-Facing Weight: | 20 to 65 pounds | 22 to 65 pounds |
| Forward-Facing Height Limit: | Up to 49 inches | 29 to 49 inches |
| High Back Booster Weight Limit: | N/A | 40 to 100 pounds |
| High Back Booster Height Limit: | N/A | 42 to 52 inches |
- Rear-Facing
Grow and Go has a specific harness slot for newborns, which can hold the tiny bodies of infants better.
- Forward-Facing and Belt Positioning Booster
The forward-facing of these 2 car seats are the same. Yet, while the end of use for Contender 65 ends when the child is beyond the weight or height limit, Grow and Go may continue to be used for the same child since it has a belt positioning mode. This means that Grow and Go can be of service up to when a child is more than 8 years old. However, the Safety 1st car seat is not as great as other booster seats. Children who have longer torsos could outgrow the high back booster mode before they are all set to switch to a backless booster.
Good All-In-One Car Seats
Will It Fit In My Car?
| Graco Contender 65 | Safety 1st Grow and Go | |
| Width | 20.75 inches | 19 inches |
| Height | 26 inches | 24 inches |
| Depth/Length | 27 inches | 23.75 inches |
- 3-Across
The 3-across car seats are nowadays gaining popularity especially among parents who want to save space inside their vehicles and so more passengers could ride in it. There are child passenger safety products out there that are truly narrow and slim such as the Clek Fllo and Diono Radian 3RXT. These car seats will likely fit 3-across in most mid-sized vehicle, but with Graco Contender 65 and Safety 1st Grow and Go, parents need to use a specific configuration so they could possibly fit either seat along with other car seats in a single row. One Amazon customer, for example, said that she bought the Contender 65 and mounted it alongside another Graco Booster and a Safety 1st booster in their 2003 Toyota Camry.
- Fit In Vehicles
Contender 65 was installed rear-facing in a 2012 Dodge Journey and in a 2006 Toyota Scion. It was also installed with LATCH behind the driver’s seat of a 2010 Toyota RAV4. Another parent said that she was able to install it nice and tight in her Dodge Durango. When mounted in a Honda Accord, a parent claimed she did not need to move the passenger side up. A mother said that they have Contender 65 rear-facing and forward-facing in a 2014 Ford Fusion and her 6’5” husband was still able to have enough legroom in the driver seat.
Grow and Go is said by some to take up some space when it is reclined in rear-facing. For example, one parent said that it was installed rear-facing with position 2 recline in their Kia Soul and Chevrolet Cruze and the front seat of both cars have compromised front passenger/driver legroom. An Amazon customer said that she has a Volkswagen Tiguan where the Grow and Go car seat fit nicely. Thus, she thinks that it will also have a nice fit in a 2016 Honda CRV. Another reviewer explained that she tried it on several cars and found that it fits best and tightens correctly on flat vehicle seats such as in a Toyota Highlander.
Good Two Way Car Seats
Product name Price
Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat, Saturn *
Installation
| Graco Contender 65 | Safety 1st Grow and Go | |
| Do I need to use a pool noodle/rolled towel? | Yes, allowed according to manual | |
| Easy To Install Rear-Facing? | Relatively | |
| Easy To Install Forward-Facing? | Relatively | |
| Easy To Uninstall? | No | Yes |
| Recline Position | 2 | 3 |
| Lower Anchor Weight Limit | 45 pounds | 40 pounds |
- Installation
Many parents approve Safety 1st Grow and Go due to its color-coded installation guide.
- Recline
Graco Contender 65 only has 2 options for recline, one for rear-facing and one for forward-facing. A bubble level indicator can be found at the side.
There are 3 recline positions available in Grow and Go. For infants who still have no neck and head control, make sure that the red level line on the sticker decal is parallel to the ground. Still in rear-facing, recline positions 2 and/or 3 can be used for older infants and toddlers. Forward-facing, the seat should be set at the most upright position.
- Lower Anchor Weight Limit
The lower anchor weight limit of Contender 65 is higher than that of Grow and Go so parents will have longer time to wait until they need to change the installation to vehicle seatbelt.
Safety
| Graco Contender 65 | Safety 1st Grow and Go | |
| Country Of Origin: | China | USA |
| Steel Frame: | No | |
| Five-Point Harness? | Yes | |
| Side Impact Tested: | Yes | |
| Approved For Airplane Use: | Yes | |
| Easy To Buckle And Unbuckle? | No | Yes |
- Country of Origin
For those who pay much attention to where a product was made will be more inclined to purchase the Safety 1st Grow and Go since it is made in the US. Yet, even though Graco Contender 65 is made in China, it still passes safety tests and standards.
- Safety Testimonials
An Amazon customer said that Contender 65 is her son’s lifesaver. A semi-truck cut them off on the freeway, which caused their vehicle to spin and turn over. Despite the car getting totaled and ending up in an upside down position, the son remained harnessed in his car seat and walked away with no scratch.
A mother shared that she and her daughter had been in a side impact collision, but her daughter remained safe in her Grow and Go car seat.
The Seat
| Graco Contender 65 | Safety 1st Grow and Go | |
| Is The Material Breathable? | Yes | |
| Seat Weight: | 15.2 pounds | 15.4 pounds |
| Machine Washable Cover? | Yes | |
| Roomy? | Yes | |
| No-Rethread Harness? | Yes | Yes (excluding newborn harness) |
| Comes With An Infant Body Support? | Yes | |
| Easy To Remove Cover? | No | Yes |
| Expiration | 7 Years | 10 Years |
| Comes With A Cup Holder? | Yes, 1 | Yes, 2 |
| Shoulder Harness Has Pads? | No | Yes |
| # Of Crotch Strap Positions: | 2 | 3 |
- Harness System
Grow and Go could offer a more snug fit to newborn passengers with its separate newborn harness. This is separate from the no-rethread harness system of Grow and Go. The booster fit of Grow and Go has IIHS good bet rating.
- Cup Holders
Contender only has one fixed cup holder while Grow and Go has 2.
- Maintenance
Grow and Go could be easier to maintain since its cover is easy to remove.
- Expiration
Grow and Go has a longer lifespan, naturally since it also offers belt positioning booster.
Check Out The Graco Contender Colors*
Check Out The Safety 1st Grow And Go Colors*
Compare The Price
Graco Contender 65 |
Safety 1st Grow And Go |
Check The Latest Price* |
Check The Latest Price* |
Conclusion
There is an approximately USD 20 price difference between the Graco Contender and Safety 1st Grow and Go. The Contender 65 is cheaper.
Contender 65 has at least a couple of good points to offer, which are also found in the Safety 1st Grow and Go. Its only advantage over the competition is its higher lower anchor weight limit and cheaper price tag.
Safety 1st Grow and Go will be a more preferable option than Graco Contender 65 due to the following reasons:
- It has a booster mode.
- It is more “compact.”
- It has more recline positions.
- It is made in the USA.
- It’s 5-point harness is easier to buckle and unbuckle.
- It has a separate newborn harness system.
- Its cover can be easily removed for washing.
- It has a longer expiration date.
- It has an extra cup holder.
- It has shoulder harness pads.
- It has an additional crotch strap position.
Do You Need More Help To Decide Between
The Graco Contender Or Safety 1st Grow and Go?
Read My Graco Contender 65 Review
See My Safety 1st Grow And Go Review
What do you think?
I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Cheers!
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