Graco Nautilus - I got some info for you guys

Okay... I called Graco and got a GOOD CSR who didn't know what it was, so she put me on hold and went to her supervisor who helped her so she could pull up the info on it.

Here it is - the good, the bad, and the ugly

Good - will retail for 150, should be in all walmarts by end of January
the booster should go as tall as the turbobooster

Bad - Latch is only to 48lbs... you can't use latch with it in booster mode.
For those of us looking forward to the SK Monterey having latch, I think we'll still be preferring that.

Ugly - when I asked about the lifespan, she said that, unless they were to change it to FIVE years, it would stay the same. It does NOT have steel reinforcements.



So this leaves me with a big debate in my head... hopefully you guys can help me.

Right now, I have the laptop for Ruthie in my dh's car, but it's expiring.

Also, Jeffrey is outgrowing the back on his Fisher Price booster and on the highback turbos.

so... here are my options.

1. get the Monterey for Jeffrey and put Ruthie in a booster in dh's car starting in August, when the laptop expires.

She will be 4.5yrs old in August and is alreay 42lbs and 40"

2. Get the Monterey for Jeffrey and get a ride safer vest for Ruhie for dh's car - possibly my favorite option, but the vest is not easy to use all the time, so I worry on that score.

Also, I'd be spending over 200 dollars to do this and we do have a snug budget these days

3. get a ride safer vest for Ruthie and let Jeffrey go backless when he outgrows the height of the back on the fisher price booster - this is my LEAST favorite option, of course

4.**the new option** get the Graco Nautilus for Ruthie for MY car, put the radian in DH's car, and let Jeffrey go backless when he outgrows the back on the fisher price booster

right now I've pretty much ruled out option 1 because I don't think Ruthie will be ready for using a booster AT ALL in August.

So... options 2-4 are my best bet... but out of all of them, what would you guys do? Keep in mind that right now, coming up with the 200 is going to be tricky unless we can sell the 300 dollar stroller I've been trying to sell since I bought the Rad thinking that this one would have been sold by now.

DH is still kind of upset about that situation.

Very helpful! Thanks for the update :thumbsup:

Sorry I can't help with your dilemma, as I have one myself that I can't figure out, but wanted to say thanks for the info. I wonder if Walmart is the only store that will carry this seat, or if they will have other cover options?

Kimberly

I just called Graco and the CSR I spoke with said that there will be other cover options, but the stores will order which ones they want to carry, so there very well may be covers that are available only at Walmart, and BRU, Target, etc. But there will definately be more than 1 option as long as the retailers order them from Graco.

I'm hoping they will have a more deluxe model with extra cushion or padding, with the graco pedic foam or something!

Whoo hoo thanks!! I'm really praying there will be a deluxe version with more padding. Girly would be nice, but comfort is most important, besides safety of course. That's the gripe I have with dd's old TB, there isn't any padding. There is quite a variance of padding in the new ones however. I found a discontinued and sold out one at BRU that was really soft and plush- even had extra removeable padding in the headwings!! Then I saw one at Walmart (when searching for the Nautilus yesterday) that not only seemed unpadded, but the fabric felt horribly cheap and scratchy.

Kimberly

Hee hee, we cross posted. Yes, the Graco Pedic foam, that's what it was! Love that.

Oh, I hope they make a version w/Graco Pedic foam!

I'm really excited about this seat, hopefully Graco will change their minds and put it on the market here.

Bad - Latch is only to 48lbs... you can't use latch with it in booster mode.

Click to expand...

This doesn't really make sense to me since when used as a booster Latch only has to hold the weight of the seat, not the child

I'm going to wait to get excited until real people have tried it in real cars, with real manuals.

I've learned to not get too excited until seats are actually USED by people.

well, I'm saving up so that I can make the final decision.
I definitely have to (due to finances and no refund this coming year) decide between putting Ruthie in a booster as a spare in August and getting Jeffrey the Monterey or getting this seat for Ruthie.

I'm hoping for girly patterns and a version with the gracopedic foam, too, but we'll see what all is out by that time (say in 2mo to be safe)