Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat, Matrix
by Graco Baby
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List Price: Our Price: $119.95 You Save: $70.04 (37%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Baby Product See more product details |
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Baby Products Reviews of Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat, Matrix
Customer Review: Absolutely wonderful!
Summary: 5 Stars
I absolutely LOVE this carseat. After having this carseat for only 2 weeks, I got to put it through the "taking apart and cleaning" test. Unfortunately our 2 year old came down with the stomach flu while riding in her new carseat. I was extremely disappointed because as a mom ofhree, I know how difficult it can be to get a carseat truly clean. I was absolutely amazed at the ease of cleaning this carseat. The best feature was being able to take the back off of the seat portion, allowing me to clean every possible space. The straps came off with ease, the seat cushions were able to be removed with ease...as noted with every other carseat we have ever owned, getting straps off can be extremely difficult. Believe it or not, our previous carseat didn't even have the option of removing the straps. Talk about gross! Once everything was cleaned and ready to be assembled, it was a couple quick steps and the carseat was back in working order. I truly wasn't ready to put the new carseat through this test, but boy oh boy am I ever so happy that this carseat surpassed my ease of cleaning expectations. Our daughter absolutely loves her carseat. No more crying when placed in her carseat. She sits like a big girl should and looks very comfortable. I am confident that this is the last carseat I will have to buy for our 2 year old since we have so many options, carseat straps upto 65 lbs and then the ability to convert it to a backless booster. This carseat is ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!Customer Review: Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 car seat
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the second Nautilus I have purchased and likely not my last. I have two boys and they each have their own. When my first son grew out of his 40lb. car seat, I researched booster seat options. In watching a side by side crash test on the internet between a regular booster seat and a 5 point harness seat for kids over 40lbs., I am convinced that my child is way safer remaining in a 5 point harness seat (which is now Dr. recommended). I bought a Recaro, and a Nautilus (one for each car), and although they are both great, the Nautilus is really user and kid friendly.
My favorite feature is the lower release button where the metal tabs on the harness "click" into place. It has an indent for the thumb that requires more of a pinching action, making it so simple to press for me and a 4-6 year old can learn to self-release which becomes handy later on. Most other car seats have a flat button that is more difficult to engage for Mom's and kids, and especially for Grandma's with long fingernails.
The headreast is comfortable with protection from side impact. And all that needs to be done to adjust the height of it is press a button at pull!
We also love the built in cup holder, instead of the removable kind or none at all...very convenient for drinks or snacks and the boys think they are so cool.
You can certainly be ahead of the game and make this your first car seat and use it in different stages all the way until your child is 100 pounds.
Customer Review: Great carseat for the money
Summary: 4 Stars
I researched car seats and found that this one had good ratings. I am glad I purchased this one. My daughter loves the way it feels and the "secret" pockets. The cup holder being part of the armrest is wonderful. We haven't had nearly as many drops. The seat is solid and easier to install than our last car seat. I love that it converts to a backed booster and then backless booster. This should be my last car seat I have to purchase. I have the adjustable "wings" headrest that is nice. We have been on 2 trips that have been for over 11 hours each way. She did great and wasn't sore or uncomfortable. It doesn't rub her spine either. Other reviews complained about the weight. If you are traveling by plane this could be a problem. But I knew what it weighed before purchasing. Now for the cons. The crotch buckle is short. I do wish it had another notch to move it forward. It makes it hard to buckle and if a kid is on the higher end of growth curve this could be a problem. Once it goes into the booster the buckle goes away. Another problem is lifting a kid into the seat. The armrests are high and I have banged my daughters head a few times on the ceiling, especially when we are in a hurry. These 2 cons are why I didn't give 5 stars. Every car seat we have owned has a con (last one the cup holder broker immediately and it was hard to release the straps). As long as the con doesn't sacrifice safety & is minor I can live with it. I really am happy with this car seat overall.Customer Review: Comfort, but prepare to unbuckle your child yourself
Summary: 4 Stars
My wife and I have owned 3 Britax Marathon car seats, a Britax booster, several other brand boosters, some 3-in-1 conversions, and now we were shooting for this one as it was rated well for the price. We have 3 car seats shoved together in a Nissan Pathfinder and there simply isn't enough room for the oldest child to insert a seatbelt on his own. We needed a harness system to handle my growing 6-yr old. The other two are almost 3 yrs and a 5 week old.
Overall, the seat quality is just fine. The one struggle we deal with daily is that my 6-yr old struggles to pinch the harness buckle together to release the two metal clips. It's not a problem for me, but it frustrates him to no end because he wants to be able to do it himself (as he does on the Britax models just fine). I have 2 rather independent boys... and the 3rd boy will likely join the ranks. Occasionally he'll also fight with the breast strap, even though I think he's just grasping it wrong. If you're going to have a problem with this carseat, this is the RIGHT problem to have. Better that the carseat hold your child tight and fast than release him/her easily.
Other the harness release issues, the seat has worked out well so far and at least does make it so that we can have the 3 car-seat-bound boys in the car at once. Uhh, that's rather important, I'd say. The search for a minivan is underway -- something I never thought I'd say.
Customer Review: Fits side by side with twins, but tight.
Summary: 5 Stars
I was originally worried at the width of the Graco Nautilus seats that they would not fit in the same way our convertable car seats did. They are a little wider but our Hyundai Tucson was able to handle them. This is great because it will leave room for an adult back there for a short, and slightly squeezed, trip. We went on a long trip with some luggage strapped in beside them (drivers side rear passenger seat is open) and the luggage had no complaints.
The other features are quite nice and it will definitely grow with my twin boys. They are both ~35lbs now, the lower end of the size range and we should get a lot of use out of them. The chest harness til 65lbs was the real selling feature and makes these seats best in class. The adaptability of the seat as they go beyond that is great too (they convert to a high back booster and later to a booster seat).
Technically, anyone could get away with a less expensive solution as your child gets beyond the convertable car seat, but the 5 point harness to 65lbs is too nice to pass up. Then as they grow and it converts it will still be useful. Over the years that they will be using it the cost will be quite low per year.
I definitely recommend this product.
Ed Kaine, OTR, RFT
President of the League of Functional Therapists
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Functional Therapy... the Next Generation of Occupational Therapy!