The Nautilus is fine, right?

Wife&MomX3 · Aug 17, 2010

DD1 needs a HWH-to-booster seat. Im used to Britax seats, but cant afford a Frontier. It seems like the Nautilus is a REALLY popular seat, but I want to make sure it's not popular just because it's so cheap compared to other HWH seats. Is it really a great seat that ppl love anyway, and the lower price is just a bonus?
My oldest is still harnessed in a Regent @ 5.5 yrs old, so I have no booster experience yet. We have an Apex 65 as the spare seat in our other vehicle, but have never tried it in booster mode. Will the Nautilus and Apex 65 be similar to use as boosters?

Pixels · Aug 17, 2010

The Apex requires support by the vehicle at least to the top of the child's ears. The Nautilus does not require vehicle support.

The Apex is a wide seat, and that can cause problems with lap belt fit, especially for younger booster riders.

If I was buying a new seat for my daughter to forward face in, I'd buy the Nautilus. There are cheaper HWH seats, and there are more expensive seats that will last longer, but I really like the Nautilus.

firemomof3 · Aug 17, 2010

The Nautilus is a great seat :thumbsup: It performed very well in crash tests, fits most kids/vehicles easily, is easy to install and once the harness is outgrown it fits most kids very well in booster mode. From what I have heard the Apex does not fit very well in booster mode.
The only downside to the GN is that you may find your child's head slumps forward when sleeping. But this is not a safety concern

monstah · Aug 17, 2010

:yeahthat: The Nautilus is a great seat. :thumbsup:

arly1983 · Aug 17, 2010

firemomof3 said:
The Nautilus is a great seat :thumbsup: It performed very well in crash tests, fits most kids/vehicles easily, is easy to install and once the harness is outgrown it fits most kids very well in booster mode. From what I have heard the Apex does not fit very well in booster mode.
The only downside to the GN is that you may find your child's head slumps forward when sleeping. But this is not a safety concern

:yeahthat:

We will probably have a GN for DD some day soon I am sure and I sorely miss mine for DS.

glockchick · Aug 17, 2010

firemomof3 said:
The only downside to the GN is that you may find your child's head slumps forward when sleeping. But this is not a safety concern

Don't mean to hi-jack, but why is it not a safety concern? If their head is forward against their chest it will not be protected by the EPS foam in the wings in the event of a side impact.

Not trying to contradict, honestly curious.

This is my dd in it. I'm scared we'll get in a wreck and it will push her neck out farther. Why is this not a concern?

monstah · Aug 17, 2010

Someone please correct me if I am wrong but this is my understanding.

It is highly unlikely you will be at a complete stop when someone hits you from the side. Side impacts are going to happen when someone tries to run through a yellow light or tried to beat oncoming traffic while pulling out for a left turn and other similar scenarios. When the car is impacted, the child's head will move forward, likely out of the head wings confines anyway & sideways. You might even argue that a head-slumped kid is at less of a risk since the weight of their head isn't snapped forward.
I wish more side impact crash tests we see on you tube, etc showed real world forward momentum.
But then it wouldn't sell their seats.

glockchick · Aug 17, 2010

monstah said:
Someone please correct me if I am wrong but this is my understanding.

It is highly unlikely you will be at a complete stop when someone hits you from the side. Side impacts are going to happen when someone tries to run through a yellow light or tried to beat oncoming traffic while pulling out for a left turn and other similar scenarios. When the car is impacted, the child's head will move forward, likely out of the head wings confines anyway & sideways. You might even argue that a head-slumped kid is at less of a risk since the weight of their head isn't snapped forward.
I wish more side impact crash tests we see on you tube, etc showed real world forward momentum.
But then it wouldn't sell their seats.

So what's the point of all that SIP then?

monstah · Aug 17, 2010

ShannaLeah said:
So what's the point of all that SIP then?

$$$ - The claim sells seats and it is not regulated. You can buy a no back booster labeled "Side Impact Tested!" Really. Someone posted a picture of it here once. A 5 point harness provides plenty of SIP and I bet deep side wings have benefits in certain situations but I happily use a Radian 65.

arly1983 · Aug 17, 2010

A 5 point harness provides alot of side impact protection and even the scenera (with no esp foam, epp foam, or headwings) has side impact protection according to the packaging.

arly1983 · Aug 17, 2010

Two good replies to the SIP question by CSPTs:

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=77444&highlight=explain+side+impact+protection

glockchick · Aug 17, 2010

Thanks. I think I'd still prefer headwings because all of my car seat kids have other non-car seat kids sitting next to them and I'd prefer their heads not bang together in a wreck.

And Abi's really close to a door/window with no airbags. I'd love to get Gabriel back in a HBB, but the backless was pushing it for him.

He still fits in the PW.

arly1983 · Aug 17, 2010

ShannaLeah said:
Thanks. I think I'd still prefer headwings because all of my car seat kids have other non-car seat kids sitting next to them and I'd prefer their heads not bang together in a wreck.

And Abi's really close to a door/window with no airbags. I'd love to get Gabriel back in a HBB, but the backless was pushing it for him. He still fits in the PW.

In a crash everyone's head (and everything else) will be moving in the same direction and everyone should be restrained.

glockchick · Aug 17, 2010

They're restrained, but I don't see a shoulder belt holding them in sideways.

Head going the same way is a good point.

Wife&MomX3 · Aug 17, 2010

Thanx 4 the replies.
Anybody now the top slot ht. on the Nauti off hand?

katiesmommy · Aug 17, 2010

If I remember correctly it's either 18 or 19.

We sparkly heart love our nauti, it's hands down been my favorite seat. I just wish DD could figure out how to unbuckle the crotch strap. She can do the Britax's, but not the Graco's yet.

jess71903 · Aug 17, 2010

I sometimes wish I had an excuse to turn DS FF just so I could get a Nautius for him. I love it. Top slot height is 18.5"

Patriot201 · Aug 17, 2010

Just adding my Nautilus love.

I really do love that seat. The *only* thing I don't like about it is the cover availability.

Wife&MomX3 · Aug 17, 2010

Thanx everyone. Does the Nauti install as easily as most Britax seats?

Mommy2Marcus · Aug 17, 2010

Add me to the Nautilus loving group. I have been super happy with mine. I have also had no problems installing it in any of the cars I have used it in. It does require you to have 100% of the base of car seat on the seat. But it would have to be a very short seat for it not to fit!

The Nautilus is fine, right?

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