Graco Milestone Car Seat Review [Ratings & Specs]

I enjoy using Graco products because they make them with my child’s safety in mind. When I was asked to test the Graco Milestone, I was happy to do so. 

The first thing I noticed was how bulky the car seat was. It fits in my car, but I can’t put multiple seats three across. It was easy to install, though. I could hear the latch click when it was properly installed. The plush inserts allowed my child’s head to remain supported while jostled. 

I did like the removable cup holders and seat covers. I could easily remove the seat cover without removing the harness, but not completely from the frame. This could make cleaning the straps difficult. I also found an integrated harness storage compartment inside the car seat. 

My child seemed comfortable while in the seat. It reclines in four positions, so I was able to find the perfect recline for them. Unfortunately, this car seat is so wide, or I would have given it five stars. 

I recommend this car seat since it’s a 3-in-1 and under $200. If your child gets car sick easily, I wouldn’t suggest this since the straps aren’t removable

The Graco Milestone All-in-One Car Seat Gotham – Overview

Graco Milestone 3 in 1 Car Seat, Infant to Toddler Car Seat

4.5

$199.97 $159.00

• 3-in-1 car seat helps to protect your child from rear-facing harness (5 - 40 pounds) to forward-facing harness (22 - 65 pounds), to highback booster (40-100 pounds)
• Graco ProtectPlus is Engineered to help protect your little one in frontal, side, rear, and rollover crashes.
• No-Rethread Harness: Simply safe adjust harness system adjusts the headrest and harness in one motion, to ensure proper fit
• 4-position recline helps ensure a secure installation and helps keep your growing child comfy on your many journeys together
• Graco’s exclusive push-button InRight LATCH provides an easy, one-second attachment with an audible click to help ensure secure installation
• 10 headrest height positions help you to get the safest fit for your child as they grow
• Integrated harness storage compartment keeps the harness safely stored away without removing while in belt-positioning booster mode

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12/04/2023 03:42 am GMT

There are two types of Graco Milestone car seats; the first is the Graco Milestone all-in-one car seat Gotham.

This seat converts from a forward-facing seat to a rear-facing seat belt (or high back) booster.

The standard color, Gotham, combines grays and blacks, perfect for masking stains and wear. The Graco milestone 3 in-1 was designed for safety and child comfort.

The rear-facing weight limit of forty pounds keeps your little one rear-facing longer. The plush infant insert pillows give your baby a safe and snug fit.

Recommended Use:

Rear-Facing Harness: 5 to 40lbs with child’s head at least 1” below handle on the headrest

Forward-Facing Harness: 20-65lbs, 27-49” in height

Seat Belt Booster: 30-100lbs, 38-57” in height

Unique Features

⚙️Removable cup holder

⚙️Four-position recline

Pros

✔️Washable seat cover

✔️Steel reinforced frame

✔️Plush inserts

✔️In-Right LATCH System

Cons

❌Does not convert to a backless booster

❌FAA approved only with 5 point harness, not as a booster

❌Wide and a bit heavy

❌No base, so it is not compatible with strollers

Specifications

Weight: 19lbs

Height: 21”

Depth: 12”

Width: 19”

The Graco Milestone Safety Surround

Graco Milestone 3 in 1 Car Seat, Infant to Toddler Car Seat

4.8

$199.97 $159.00

The Graco Milestone All-In-One Convertible car seat grows with your child from infancy to toddlerhood and beyond, accommodating weights from 5 to 100 pounds. It can be used as a rear-facing infant seat, a forward-facing toddler seat, and a high-back booster.

This car seat has undergone rigorous crash testing to meet or exceed US safety standards and features a 5-point harness system, adjustable headrest and harness heights, and multiple recline positions. The seat pad is removable and machine washable. With the Graco Milestone All-In-One Convertible car seat, your child is both safe and comfortable during car rides.

What We Liked:

• Removable plush inserts for greater infant comfort
• Washable seat cover
• Slender fit for smaller cars

What We Didn't Like:

• Not many special features
• Can be difficult to clean

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12/04/2023 08:48 am GMT

The Graco Milestone all-in-one car seat is also sold with the addition of Safety Surround Side Impact Protection. It is also a convertible car seat transitioning from rear-facing to forward-facing, and finally, a seat belt booster.

The Safety Surround side impact protection is an added layer of protection for safety in side-impact crashes. It meets the US, Graco’s side-impact testing standards, and Europes side impact testing standards.

Recommended Use

Rear-Facing Harness: 5 to 40lbs with child’s head at least 1” below handle on the headrest

Forward-Facing Harness: 20-65lbs, 27-49” in height

Seat Belt Booster: 30-100lbs, 38-57” in height

Unique Features

⚙️Safety Surround offers better head protection

Pros

✔️Integrated storage compartment for the harness when in booster mode

✔️Extended rear-facing option (up to 40 pounds)

✔️Easy Adjust Harness adjusts in conjunction with the headrest

✔️10-year lifespan (after the date of manufacture)

✔️Bubble level indicator

Cons

❌Additional side impact protection makes “wings” near the child’s head bulky

❌Does not convert to a backless booster

❌FAA approved only with 5 point harness, not as a booster

❌Wide and a bit heavy

❌No base, so it is not compatible with strollers

Graco Milestone Vs Other Similar Car Seats

Graco Milestone vs 4Ever

The Graco 4Ever is probably Milestone’s biggest contender. The 4Ever is an all-in-one car seat in the truest sense of the word in that it can convert to a backless booster in addition to a highback booster.

The milestone all-in-one Gotham only transitions to a seatbelt (or high back) booster. In addition, the 4Ever offers a six-position recline, unlike the milestone all in one’s 4 positions.

Beyond this, they both feature the InRight LATCH system, a forty-pound rear-facing weight limit, the easy-adjust harness/headrest, and the removable seat pad.

They both offer cupholders, though the 4Ever features dual cup holders while the Milestone only has one. The milestone 3 in 1 is also a bit less costly when compared to the 4Ever, which may influence your decision.

Graco Milestone vs 4ever extend2fit

The Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit includes the versatility of the 4Ever with four different positions (rear-facing, forward-facing, high back booster and backless booster) as well as an extended rear-facing weight limit of fifty pounds and a leg room extension panel.

The base model Extend2Fit includes the leg extension panel that provides up to five additional inches of legroom and a rear-facing weight limit of fifty pounds when used in the rear-facing position.

The Graco Milestone all-in-one has no leg extension panel or an extended rear-facing weight limit. Finally, the 4Eand ver Extend2Fit offers a six-position recline, unlike the Milestones 4 positions.

However, the Graco Milestone 3 in 1 and 4Ever Extend2Fit have some shared features. These include the InRight LATCH System, the easy-adjust harness and headrest, the 10-year lifespan, the steel-reinforced frame, the harness storage compartment, and infant inserts.

The Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit offers two cup holders instead of the Milestones one. However, the 4Ever Extend2Fit cup holders are not removable. Because of the advanced features and upgrades of the Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit, you will see a bigger price tag number than that of the Graco Milestone.

The Graco Milestone vs Slimfit

The Graco Milestone all-in-one car seat Gotham and the Graco Slimfit are very similar. They are both 3-in-1 convertible car seats transitioning from rear-facing to forward to a high back or seat belt booster. Also, they both feature the InRight LATCH system, a no-rethread harness, easy to adjust headrest/harness, and similar weight and height limits.

The differences arise with the seat specifications and cup holders. The Graco slim fit is designed to be space-saving, boasting that they can offer up to an additional 10% of room in the back seat. The Graco Milestone 3 in-1 is 19” wide while the Slimfit is narrower, 17.5” wide.

Another of Slimfit’s sleek design components is the “rotate away” cup holders. The Slimfit has an integrated cup holder on each side (dual) that can be adjusted, while the Milestones single cup holder can be moved from armrest to armrest or taken completely off.

The Graco Milestone Date

The Graco Milestone all-in-one car seat Gotham was first produced in 2014. The following information applies to all car seats manufactured from the first production date (2014) onward.

Thanks to their steel-reinforced frame, the Graco Milestone 3 in 1 car seat and the Graco Milestone safety surround car seats are good for ten years after their date of manufacture.

The Graco Milestone Recall and Solution

Graco issued a recall in 2016 regarding its safety labels. The company found nearly 6000 product labels on Graco Milestone car seats were missing a phrase concerning installation mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This administrative error did not jeopardize the safety of the car seat. Still, the company supplied affected model owners with a new label to affix to their car seat(s).

Affected Models: 1910130 (July 9, 2015 – October 9, 2015), 1923980 (August 4, 2015), 1926538 (September 12, 2015), 1926539 (August 17, 2015)

Solution: Contact Graco to receive a replacement label

Cleaning Graco Milestone Car Seats

Both versions of the Graco Milestone all-in-one car seat have a removable washable seat pad that can be removed without removing the harness. The metal and plastic parts on the car seats can be gently cleaned with a damp cloth, mild soap, and cool water.

You should take care not to get any of the straps soaking wet, as it could jeopardize their integrity. If necessary, the harness straps can be spot cleaned but not immersed. The buckle should be cleaned with a damp cloth. You will want to occasionally check the buckles and crotch strap for build-up, as debris may impair is functionality.

Graco Milestone Installation

The Graco Milestone can be installed rear-facing or forward-facing using the vehicle seat belt or LATCH system.

For rear-facing installation, place the car seat in a back-facing position and thread the seat belt or LATCH strap through the correct belt path marked “rear-facing” on the car seat. Ensure the car seat is installed at the proper recline angle for an infant.

For forward-facing installation, place the car seat in a front-facing position and thread the seat belt or LATCH strap through the correct belt path marked “forward-facing” on the car seat. The tether strap should also be attached to an approved tether anchor in the vehicle. Ensure the car seat is upright and installed at the proper angle for a toddler. Installation may vary in vehicles, so always refer to the full instruction manual for guidance.

Forward-Facing Use: The Graco Milestone can accommodate children 22-65 lbs and 27-49 inches tall in forward-facing mode. The 5-point harness has multiple height positions to adjust as your child grows.

Weight limits: The Graco Milestone has a maximum forward-facing weight limit of 65 lbs. Once your child exceeds this weight, they must use a belt-positioning booster seat.

Harness heights: 9 harness height positions accommodate children in the correct forward-facing range. Adjust the harness slightly above your child’s shoulders when properly buckled.

Harness tightness: The harness should be snug enough not to be pinched at the shoulder. Follow the “pinch test” in the manual to ensure the harness is properly tightened.

Head support: The headrest has multiple positions to grow with your child’s height. Adjust it to support the crown of your child’s head.

Seat angle: The Graco Milestone should be installed upright and near-vertical when forward-facing. Check that the level on the car seat reads within the allowable range shown in the manual.

Customer Reviews

Many parents seemed happy with the Graco Milestone 3 in 1 car seat’s ease of installation, safety features, and attention to detail. The removable cup holder scored high marks, especially from parents trying to secure more than one car seat in their vehicle.

In addition, they liked how simple it was to adjust the harness and headrest in one movement and modify the recline. One common complaint was that the FAA sticker could not be found on all Graco Milestones in one car seat. This doesn’t hamper seat safety and is not a problem for daily use, but it could become an issue when attempting to fly.

Another issue for some was that the Graco Milestone all in one seemed too big for some infants. The seat is rated for babies five pounds and up, so this is a matter of personal preference.

However, a few parents mentioned that even with the infant inserts, they did not feel that the car seat provided the security they were looking at at the infant stage.

Is It Easy to Install The Graco Milestone?

Graco’s InRight LATCH system makes installation easy and quick. It even has an audio click cue so you can be sure that your little one’s seat is secure. The car seat is also clearly marked in-color so you can identify belt paths and easily transition from rear-facing to forward-facing. Finally, the colorized bubble level indicator is simple to read and nearly foolproof.

Graco has become a household name for many parents and for a good reason. They pride themselves on their company foundation of safety, durability, and recognize the best intentions of parents and caregivers.

Their seats are designed and tested to surpass crash test and safety standards. According to Graco, their car seat safety standards include the following:

• Frontal-Impact Tested
• Side-Impact Tested
• Rear-Impact Tested
• Roll tested using Graco’s own RollSafe™ standard
• Tested for safety in peak crash forces double the crash test standard
• Tested for heat

Graco Milestone 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat, Kline

$149.99

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Graco Milestone 3 in 1 Convertible Car Seat | Infant to Toddler Car Seat, Gotham

$159.00

$199.97

in stock

5 new from $159.00

as of December 3, 2023 11:46 pm

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Graco Milestone All-in-1 Car Seat - Ayla, Black

$220.99

out of stock

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The All-In-One Advantage 

The Graco Milestone all-in-one car seat Gotham is a great convertible car seat, especially the Safety Surround model with premium side impact protection.

It cannot be considered as much an all-in-one seat as the Graco 4Ever as it does not convert to a backless booster, only a seat belt booster. However, its available transitions and four-position recline make it a seat that can be used for many years.

The Graco Milestone 3 in 1 car seat has many of Graco’s great features, such as the InRight LATCH system, no-rethread harness, easy-adjust headrest/harness, and removable seat pads. The Graco milestone all-in-one Gotham is a budget-friendly seat that does not skimp on any comfort or safety features.