My son will be 4 in a month and a half. He weighs 37.5 lbs without shoes, so probably 38.5 with shoes. I don't know if he'll gain more weight soon or not (he was 36 lbs for a LOOOONG time and just gained weight this past week!), but in case he does, I need to reevaluate what seat I want to get him. I asked a while back, as he was getting close to the height limit on his seat, but he hasn't grown in torso height recently that I can tell. His overall height is 41.5", and his torso appears to be right around 15.5". He's currently in a Triumph and has about an inch above his shoulders, although he may not be sitting as far back as he should sometimes. I try to scoot him back, but sometimes it doesn't work well.
Anyway... I had previously thought about the Triumph Advance, but now I see the Graco Nautilus is out, and I like the sounds of it... harnessing to 65 lbs *and* converting to a booster after that. My biggest question is... how well does the cover come off it for cleaning? I never thought about covers until my son potty trained. LOL. I've had to wash the cover of the Triumph 3 times now, and I HATE IT. I have to undo 6 screws from the back to get the cover off! Ridiculous! Now I looked at the Triumph Advance in the store, and it looks like the cover will come off without having to unscrew anything now, right? So that's a big plus. But what about the Nautilus?
And are there any other seats in a similar price range that have come out recently that I should look at? I intend to harness him as long as possible. I also have another son that will get the handmedown seats (although at 18 months, he's already on the top slots of the Roundabout he's in... long torso). I intend to pass the Triumph on to baby brother, as that seat seems to last much longer than the Roundabout, even though they supposedly have the same strap height. My older son outgrew the Roundabout straps at 2.5 years old, and has been fine in the Triumph this whole time. I doubt younger son will even make it to 2.5 years in the Roundabout. I had to forward face him in it at 16 months (head was above the back). Might be able to turn him back around a bit longer in the Triumph. I haven't sat him in it yet. He is 34" and all torso.
We have a Radian 65 as well, but that stays in DH's truck. I've put it in the van before (2000 Montana), and it just doesn't install well in the van. I couldn't get a tight fit, and I'm usually really good at getting carseats TIGHT. I don't have that problem in the truck. So the Radian is out for the van.
Thanks!
Anyway... I had previously thought about the Triumph Advance, but now I see the Graco Nautilus is out, and I like the sounds of it... harnessing to 65 lbs *and* converting to a booster after that. My biggest question is... how well does the cover come off it for cleaning? I never thought about covers until my son potty trained. LOL. I've had to wash the cover of the Triumph 3 times now, and I HATE IT. I have to undo 6 screws from the back to get the cover off! Ridiculous! Now I looked at the Triumph Advance in the store, and it looks like the cover will come off without having to unscrew anything now, right? So that's a big plus. But what about the Nautilus?
And are there any other seats in a similar price range that have come out recently that I should look at? I intend to harness him as long as possible. I also have another son that will get the handmedown seats (although at 18 months, he's already on the top slots of the Roundabout he's in... long torso). I intend to pass the Triumph on to baby brother, as that seat seems to last much longer than the Roundabout, even though they supposedly have the same strap height. My older son outgrew the Roundabout straps at 2.5 years old, and has been fine in the Triumph this whole time. I doubt younger son will even make it to 2.5 years in the Roundabout. I had to forward face him in it at 16 months (head was above the back). Might be able to turn him back around a bit longer in the Triumph. I haven't sat him in it yet. He is 34" and all torso.
We have a Radian 65 as well, but that stays in DH's truck. I've put it in the van before (2000 Montana), and it just doesn't install well in the van. I couldn't get a tight fit, and I'm usually really good at getting carseats TIGHT. I don't have that problem in the truck. So the Radian is out for the van.
Thanks!