Is the Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat really the last baby car seat you’ll ever need?
As your child begins to outgrow her infant car seat, she still needs to be safely secured in a car seat or booster for at least another 5 years.
Why invest in a series of baby car seats, when you can invest in a forward-facing Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 car seat that will accommodate your child’s needs as she grows?
Built with comfort and safety in mind, the Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 car seat is constructed with a steel-reinforced frame which ensures that this car seat will be the only forward facing car seat you will ever need.
Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Features
The following list is a summary of the most popular features customers liked about the Graco Nautilus baby car seat:
- Accommodates older kids, allowing your 4 or 5 year old to still ride safely and comfortable in the car seats 5-point harness.
- The drink holder is built right into the car seat. No matter what position you have the child seat in your baby will always have its ‘Sippie’.
- The hidden storage spaces on the arm rests of the car seat are perfect for discretely tucking away sunglasses or toys for the baby.
- Made of durable fabric and resistant to wear, means that the car seat will new for a long time to come.
- Reclining seat means your child can fall asleep comfortably, without her head leaning forward.
- Strap adjustment is quick and easy. Whenever you child hits a growth spurt, just adjust the straps and you’re good to go.
- Designer fabric matches most contemporary interiors. No crazy flower patterns here.
- Cited to be the last car seat we will buy. The Nautilus is so versatile and significantly cheaper than other high end baby car seats who do not offer this kind of safety and durability.
Installation / Assembly
Harness and belt adjustments are easy to do. Some have found it difficult adjusting the harness through the slots in the car seat because of the plastic rollers which help to keep the belts from twisting and getting stuck over time.
A few customers have reported that the instructions are a little confusing. Here’s what one parent said about installing the Graco Nautilus in their SUV:
“Putting it together was a little weird. It was difficult to pop the arm rests in. It’s supposed to make a click, but it was a very quiet sound … The strap adjuster took some time to get used to. It has a shield over the release so a child can’t loosen the straps. But this also means you can’t see it, so you have to feel around for it.”
Compared to the more expensive baby car seats, such as the Britax Regent, the installation of the Nautilus car seat is a breeze. Customers have found it easier to install with latch and tether strap, allowing for a tighter, more secure fit.
The major applause for the Nautilus car seat came from its smaller size, especially when moving between vehicles. The slimmer design and quick install has made it a crowd favorite among those who own the bulkier baby car seats like the Regent.
Word of Caution
If you are uncertain or have any doubts, we highly recommend having a trained technician examine your install. Many times parents can miss something that might seem minor at the time, but could potentially put your child at unnecessary risk. When in doubt, ask a professional.
The Graco Nautilus is Forward-Facing Only
The Nautilus is not a rear-facing car seat so if your child is under 20 lbs or less than 2 years old then there are a few things to keep in mind. States have different laws, but it’s safe to assume that a child must be rear-facing to at least 1 year and the must weigh 20lbs.
It is legal to use the Nautilus with children heavier than 20 lbs. Depending on the age of your child, research has shown that it is 5 times safer for kids to be rear facing then it is front facing. Toddlers do not have the strength in their spines to support their heads during an accident and could result in the heads literally detaching from their spine.
Read more here: “NY Times - Rear-Facing Car Seats Advised at Least to Age of 2″
