With the Graco TriRide 3-in-1 Car Seat, your baby can use the same affordable seat for all of their car seat years. This means that you don’t need to buy several car seats but instead can use one. While a three-in-one car seat isn’t a new concept, Graco does it right, making this car seat a fantastic option for parents, babies, toddlers, and children.
Graco TriRide 3-in-1 Car Seat Review
Graco is one of the leading brands for baby products, with their car seats selling like hotcakes, and the TriRide Car Seat will be no exception. It provides the comfort that your child needs for a more enjoyable car ride and the safety you need to know your baby will be safe and fit properly.
One exceptional feature of this car seat is it’s slimmer than most car seats at 19 inches across. While this may not allow you to fit three across, the smaller width may make for more comfort in the car for other passengers. As a matter of fact, it’s thinner than the Graco SlimFit car seat, which measures 19.9 inches across. Either way, if you don’t want a massive car seat, this is a good choice as it stays well within the confines of the seat for easy buckling and installation, along with giving other children or adults more space in the back row.
Let’s take a look at the other features that make this car seat worth your while.
Three Modes
The car seat works in three modes. First, it works as a rear-facing harness for infants and babies. Use this for infants, toddlers, and children who weigh 5 to 40 pounds. Keeping children rear-facing longer is the safer option.
In the second mode, use the car seat forward-facing with the harness. In this mode, you can use the seat for toddlers and children from 22 pounds to 65 pounds. Do not use this mode until your baby is at least one year old and preferably wait longer until two years depending on legroom, with four years old being optimal for safety.
Mind you, most children over two may be too tall for rear-facing mode, but it’s recommended to keep them rear-facing as long as possible, which is more possible with a 3-in-1 car seat.
The third mode is the highback booster mode for children who no longer need the harness. Children who weigh between 40 to 100 pounds. At this stage, children just need a seat that lines them up properly with the seatbelt. They can now use the actual seatbelt based on height and weight.
ProtectionPlus and Safety
The car seat completes rigorous crash tests before being placed into a box and shipped to a store. Not only is it tested for front collisions but also side, rear, and even rollover crashes. A steel-reinforced frame is added for durability and strength.
As a 3-in-1 car seat, it comes with a warranty for ten years, and that’s how long it can be used. It’s built to last. But after ten years of use, if you do not want to use this car seat for another child, don’t fret; the price is so nice, you won’t need to worry about saving money and being forced to use the same car seat for twenty years.
While the Graco TriRide 3-in-1 Car Seat already includes a steel frame, it also is designed with EPS energy-absorbing foam. The foam allows for effective impact management in the case of an accident. It also goes through Graco’s RollSafe testing according to European standards too.
The car seat meets or exceeds all criteria for front collisions. However, you need to use the car seat correctly, including making sure the harness is buckled the right way.
Harness
Do you hate rethreading the harness when your child grows taller? No need to worry about that with this car seat. It adjusts the harness and headrest up to 10 positions in one fell swoop.
They call this the Simply Safe Adjust Harness System, and it’s one of the reasons we love technology. Now you can rest assured your child is properly positioned with the five-point harness placed at or below their shoulders for forward-facing or at or above the shoulder for forward-facing.
The harness includes padding on the chest area for comfort. Also, it’s easy to click the buckle into place for parents but hard to remove for children.
Finally, another key feature of this car seat is that it comes with an integrated harness storage compartment. With this, you can store the harness out of the way when your child moves to the car seat belt stage.
Recline
Babies, toddlers, and children love sleeping in the car, and that’s very possible with the Graco TriRide 3-in-1 Car Seat as it has six positions of recline. Furthermore, the recline feature allows for better installation. You can also keep your toddler rear-facing longer too.
Babies want to be comfortable, and parents want their baby properly cradled for a safer neck position. You get all of that with this car seat. Make sure to never use the lap belt without the shoulder belt.
Installation
Installation of the Graco TriRide 3-in-1 Car Seat is a breeze as it comes with guides, stickers, levels, and color coating to ensure the car seat goes into the car correctly. You can use the seatbelt or the LATCH system, which is built-in for extra security.
The sections where the car seat goes for the highback booster are in bright red, making them very easy to spot. Even older children know exactly where to place the belt for complete safety.
Lastly, the cinch pull for the harness is right in the front of the seat and easy for parents to access but not children. No need to worry about your kiddo cinching themselves in too tight.
Comfort
The car seat comes with tons of padding in all the right areas for your child’s comfort. For example, an infant insert comes out whenever your infant outgrows the insert.
Each side of the car seat includes a built-in cupholder for holding snacks, toys, or drinks. The seat is spacious for a cozy car ride. Comfortable padding helps to keep little bottoms content even for long car rides across the country.
Appearance
Right now, the car seat only comes in three colors – black with deep blue, black with gray and bright pink touches, and all black. Why companies are so determined to design car seats in dark colors that can get hot in the sun is beyond us. It’s a major flaw with this car seat, but honestly, the neutral dark colors apply to all car seats.
Maintenance
As for cleaning, you can machine wash and air dry the seat pad. Everything else is surface wash only, such as the harness, buckle, and hard parts of the seat. You can also wash the seat inserts, and the cupholders come off for easy washing too.
What’s Missing
The only thing this 3-in-1 car seat is missing is the option to use the car seat without the back as a booster seat only and also a canopy. Of course, it’s not an infant car seat, so you cannot take it out of the car and attach it to a stroller or carry it from the top handle. Otherwise, it has everything you’ll need especially if you’re on a budget.
Dimensions
Width – 19 inches
Height – 23.25 inches
Depth – 20 inches
Rear-Facing – 5 to 40 pounds head one inch below
Forward-Facing – 22 to 65 pounds and/or ups to 49 inches height
Highback Booster – 40 to 1100 pounds and/or 43-57 inches tall. Do not use before 4 years old.
FAQs about the Graco TriRide 3-in-1 Car Seat
Will the Graco TriRide Car Seat work for a preemie baby?
As the Graco TriRide works for infants 5 pounds and up, it may not work for small four-pound preemies. Don’t worry, Graco does make a car seat capable of holding an infant smaller than five pounds, and many more options exist too. Do not use a car seat for the wrong weight, as it can pose a danger to your infant.
Does the Graco TriRide 3-in-1 Car Seat turn into a backless booster for the last stage?
No. If you want a car seat that transitions from rear-facing to backless booster, then you want the Graco 4Ever Car Seat line as it has four modes instead of three. Also, it works for children from 4 pounds up to 120 pounds, making it a good option for preemies too. The 4Ever Car Seat line offers tons of options like the TriRide but with the extra mode.
When does the Graco TriRide 3-in-1 Car Seat expire?
The Graco TriRide 3-in-1 car seat expires ten years from the date of manufacture. Make sure to check the car seat for the date before using it. If it’s been on the shelf too long, you may not get as much time out of the car seat.
Moreover, the company wants you to throw away the car seat at the ten-year mark.
Final Thoughts About the Graco TriRide 3-in-1 Car Seat
The Graco TriRide 3-in-1 Car Seat is a great new addition to the Graco Family. It offers a convenient long life and all the features you need, if not extras. The most important feature is the steel frame that will help to keep your baby safe as steel does not bend as easily as plastic and many other materials.
Definitely put this car seat on your list of possibilities. It’s a great option for families with multiple younger children as it’s slim and able to allow more comfort for your kiddo and others sitting in the backseat of the car.
