I'm in search for a 3 in 1 convertible car seat. I have a 1 year old and a 4 year old. I need to move my 1 year old out of the carrier and into a regular car seat. My plan was to give my 1 year old the Britax marathon that my 4 year old is in and by him a new seat since I will need a booster seat soon. I've been researching the Britax Frontier and the Graco Nautilus. They both have great reviews but I'm not sure which one to go with. I love my Marthon and I feel that the kids are very safe in them so I'm swaying towards the Frontier. If you have had any experience with either car seats good and bad please pass it on. I'm going to try and get to Babies r us tomorrow to buy one before the coupon expires. I did read the request from a few days ago and everyone likes the Graco but I also wanted to hear back from Britax owners.
I have britax roundabout for my 2 year old. It was the best one as per baby bargains and consumer reports. Ove it. Comfortable, practical and safe !
I know I am late, but I have almost the same age span and ended up buying 4 new carseats-I didn't want to hand down my 4 year olds car seats (evenflow triumph dlx-loved them), so I bought him a Nautilus, then panicked and bough a TruFit too. Before I installed either, I was in an accident with his old carset and the base for the infant seat-no kids in the car at the time. In order for my insurance to pay for them, I had to have receipts, so I went an bought two more (one of each). My 4 year old has tried out both and loves them both. The TruFit are now going to be my 10month olds (rear facing for a few more months or so, then forward until 50lbs) and my 4.5 year old uses just the Nautilus (only forward facing, harness to 65lb, high back booster, then booster to 100lbs). I figure that by the time my 10 month outgrows his TruFit, I will probably only be in the market for a regular booster or maybe the timing will work and the nautilus will be available.
One of my 4.5 year olds Evenflo's will go in grandma's car since it is still a very good seat and the other I guess we will keep as an emergency back up.
Read the Q from 2 days ago that I posted...car seat for 3.5 yr old..I got a lot of responses, mostly all about Nautilus..good luck
Just an FYI- The Graco Airbooster has been discontinued. I really wanted that seat but couldn't find it anywhere, called Graco and they told me it was discontinued :(
Hi C.,
I have the Britax Frontier and I LOVE IT! I have 2 girls (who are now 3 1/2 and 14 months) and I had to make this exact decision a few months ago. I gave my 1 year old the old Britax, and purchased the Frontier for my older daughter. It is working out great! Something I noticed about the Frontier is that when my 3 year old falls asleep in the car, her head drops to the side now instead of flopping forward like it used to in her old Britax. (much more comfortable!) And the Frontier is also wider, which is nice for her. Hope that helps. Good luck!
S.
I got the Nautilus for a bit and thought it was an amazing seat, I read some amazing reviews on it as well!!
At 4 years old they are right on the cusp of needed or being able to use a high back booster depending on their size in which case i'd recommend the Graco AirBooster while at first i was a diehard Britax mom, Airbooster is the best of both worlds.. it has side impact protection (and comfort for them to rest their heads) the seat is hard netting so it is springy for shock absorption and won't hurt their legs or jar their little bodies over bumps. And while it took a bit of getting use to -- the seatbelt instead of a harness it made life that much easier.. and seatbelts do work..so it is safe now I wouldn't trade it. Half the battle as they get older is them liking their carseat, and my son cries if his carseat leaves without him.. lol..too cute.. but he is safe, it fits the car and him properly, and he feels like such a big boy now cause he can get in/out....we made a big deal of it..so he knew if he didn't listen and stay in his seat that he would get the 'baby seat'..
Good Luck
We have the Britax Frontier for our son and we love it. He is 7 now and still loves to sit in it. Especially on long trips because it has a nice head rest that really holds his head in place when he naps.
We got the Britax Frontier for our almost 4 year old early this year and I am very happy about it. In some reviews people complain about the straps getting tangled but I think that it's a small trade-off for the highest safety of your child. I think the higher price of the Britax is worth it. It is very sturdy once you install it properly, including the strap that goes behind the seat into a hook located either in the back of your car's seat or in the floor of the car. Hope this helps.
I love my Graco Nautilus. My 4 year old has been in it for over a year now, and it kept him safe when my van was totaled a year ago. (I went right out and bought a new one the next day.) I like the five point harness - my 4 year old is the one who would be attempting to get out if we didn't have that.
HTH
L.
Graceo Nautilus is fantasatic. There was a thread yesterday in which everyone was raving about it. I have two for my toddlers and they're fantastic seats!
