Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Toddler Car Seat Review

admin | Feb 24, 2010 | Comments 1

graco nautilus car seat review

Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Toddler Car Seat

Weight of Seat: 26lbs

Dimensions: 29H x 20W x 22D”

Baby Weight: 20-65lbs, then converts to booster seat for 30-100lbs

Colors Available: brown, blue, grey, black, red, pink, tan, orange

Safety Features: 5-point harness, EPS, energy absorbing foam, Engineered & Crash Tested to Meet or Exceed US Standard: "U.S. Compliance Standard FMVSS 213" New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) peak Crash Force approximately 2X Car Seat Standard" Extreme Car Interior Temperatures, side-impact tested, steel reinforced frame

Front or Rear Facing: front

Part of stroller system?: no

Extras: 3-position recline for comfort, adjustable headrest, armrests, cup holders, storage pocket, LATCH equipped

Graco Nautilus 3- In -1 Car Seat in Miley
Offer by: MyStrollers.com
Price: USD 189.99

Graco Bravo Nautilus 3-in-1 MultiUse Car Seat
Offer by: Buy.com USA and Buy.com CA
Price: USD 160.60

The biggest appeal of the Graco Nautilus is that the 5-point harness can be used up until 65lbs. Many parents report that they have 5-year-old children who can still use the 5-point harness!

The most common complaint with the Nautilus, however, is from parents who find that the crotch-buckle part of the harness is positioned too close to the back of the seat, making the harness very difficult to do up: others report no issues with this buckle. This issue with the buckle does not seem to have anything to do with the size or weight of the child either; parents of apparently “skinny” children have also found their children are literally sitting on the buckle. Some parents also feel the Nautilus is too narrow, but most feel the width is adequate. These concerns seem to indicate the Nautilus may be a good seat to “try before you buy”…ie. Take your child to the shop and see if it is a good fit for them.

On a positive note, the Nautilus really is designed for comfort, with an adjustable headrest, deep padded side wings, cup/snack holders, beautiful materials. Graco car seats come in a variety of gorgeous patterns, which your child will like, and as children can use this seat for years and years, it is important that they like it! In addition, typical of a Graco, this car seat is easy to install.

Regarding safety, Graco has gone above and beyond in testing this seat, because in addition to the standard tests they have side-impact tested it. The steel frame is also gives a ton of peace of mind to many parents who find the plastic seats just to flimsy. If you are in a collision, you will be grateful for these features.

Most parents seem to compare this with Britax Frontier, the only other seat with a 5-point-haress you can use until 65lbs. The Frontier is more expensive, but has one extra setting on the crotch-strap, which is 1.75 inches further from the back than the Nautilus’ biggest setting. This means the 5-point-harness in the Frontier may be used longer by some children. If the Nautilus fits your child though, it is great value for money (cheaper than the Britax Frontier) and this is probably the last car seat you will have to buy.

Buy Graco Bravo Nautilus 3-in-1 MultiUse Car Seat

$159.99 at Buy.com

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Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Toddler Car Seat Review

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