Question Car seat with 5 point harness up to 65 lbs AND recline

U

Unregistered

Guest

• Jun 18, 2009

• #1

My twins are 4 yrs old and they use Graco Nautilus right now. We really like the seats, they have plenty place to grow, etc. But, when they fall asleep, they heads are slumping. I think it's not only uncomfortable, but very dangerous too. We use head supports, but they didn't work either.

We are thinking about changing the carseats. I'm in big search now for new seats that satisfy all of our needs. Those are the following:

1. 5 point harness up to 65 lbs at least

2. decent reclining angle, not like Nautilus wich is a bad joke...

2. can be used as booster until they need carseats.


Can anyone recommend me a good carseat with these features?

 

2BunniesMommy

Well-known member

• Jun 19, 2009

• #2

I am guessing the second #2 is supposed to be #3 and is supposed to say until they DON'T need car seats.

The only one I am sure fits what you want is the Britax Frontier. It is pretty pricey. MSRP is $279 and goes on sale for $240-250 at times.

The Apex65 does harness to 65lbs and does become a booster. I don't know how the recline is on it though. Also it requires that the vehicle seat or head rest reachs to the level of the child's ears, so if you have low seatbacks, it is not an option.

 

BW1426

Well-known member

• Jun 19, 2009

• #3

Just for clarification, head slump is not dangerous and I've yet to meet a child who finds it uncomfortable. With that said the Nautilus is not so good for head slumpage.

I think my next step would be to try the Frontier if I was in your shoes.

 

natysr

New member

• Jun 19, 2009

• #4

BW1426 said:

Just for clarification, head slump is not dangerous and I've yet to meet a child who finds it uncomfortable. With that said the Nautilus is not so good for head slumpage.

I think my next step would be to try the Frontier if I was in your shoes.

Click to expand...

I agree it is not dangerous, but my child does find it uncomfortable. He had terrible headslump when he was RFing in the old style Boulevard. (Which is why we bought a second marathon).

We recently got a Frontier. He does sleep very comfortably in it. 90% of the time, his head does not slump. Sometimes it does slump though, but he is able to reposition it when he gets uncomfortable and correct the slump himself.

This is how he typically sleeps.

 

firemomof3

New member

• Jun 19, 2009

• #5

I also had the same issues with the Nautilus. Even though its not dangerous for the head to slump forward it does look incredible uncomfortable. So, I bought the Frontier and I like it soo much better! My dd1 sleeps comfortably 100% of the time :thumbsup:

 

Defrost

Moderator - CPSTI Emeritus

• Jun 19, 2009

• #6

Unfortunately, there aren't any car seats currently available that meet your criteria. The Britax Frontier does seem to have fewer issues with head slump, but it's not because of a recline feature (it has only a single setting for harness use), and it's entirely possible that it still won't help, because many times it's the vehicle seat that's the problem, not the car seat.

As others have stated, head slump poses no risk to older children, and unless the child is actually complaining about it, I ignore it. Kids often sit/lay/sleep in positions that adults would find incredibly uncomfortable, but the kids are fine because they are much more flexible than adults.

What kind of vehicle do you have? It's possible we could help you install the GNs a bit differently and get a bit more recline.

 

U

Unregistered

Guest

• Jun 19, 2009

• #7

Thanks for the answers. I still think it may be dangerous, because my son's head fall terribly forward for the smallest braking. We never had any issues like that before. We've relocating from Europe and there we used Römer Kings. (its same as the Britax, just made in Germany). Their heads slumped without the reclined position but not an inch with reclined even when I used the brake.

As for the car, we have a Dodge Caravan and they sit in the 2nd row.

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Jun 19, 2009

• #8

If you drop the booster requirement, I can think of several seats that might meet your criteria.

Boosters are pretty cheap. I'd probably get a harnessed seat I liked, and worry about boosters later, if I were you.

 

safeinthecar

Moderator - CPS Technician

• Jun 19, 2009

• #9

Unregistered said:

As for the car, we have a Dodge Caravan and they sit in the 2nd row.

Click to expand...

In that case try reclining the vehicle seat a little bit and see if that helps.

 

zactayaus

Well-known member

• Jun 19, 2009

• #10

We have both the GN and the Frontier and DS has head slump issues in both.

 

M

Maedze

New member

• Jun 19, 2009

• #11

Just want to reassure you, it is not, in fact, dangerous.

Also, as far as comfort goes, it has been my experience that a horribly uncomfortable child will neither fall asleep nor stay that way.

 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor

Staff member

• Jun 19, 2009

• #12

With no evidence to back this up, I would think it would be safer to have their heads slumped forward. Less forward movement during a stop than if they're upright. And less movement on the initial means less momentum for the rebound and so it would make sense that there's less chance of whiplash. Like I said, I have no idea if science backs that up, but it makes sense to me.

As for comfort, they'll let you know if they're uncomfortable. They're far more flexible than we are. At four years it's possible they can get a crick in their necks, but kids generally don't care for a long long time. We project discomfort upon them.

Wendy

 

mommaon112903

New member

• Jun 19, 2009

• #13

I can honestly say that every seat we have owned for Josef he has head slump in all of them, some worse than others. We travel from N.W. Alabama to Northern W.Va twice/year and he sleeps peacefully in every seat Sure it looks uncomfortable, but like Mazede said if a child was not comfortable, they would not be sleeping.

 

heyruthie

New member

• Jun 19, 2009

• #14

there is no seat that meets all 3 criteria, as far as i know. the closest you'll get is the Frontier--and as PPs have said, that can have head slump, as far as I know.

It is not dangerous.

We have an Apex (which one PP mentioned) and my son can sleep fine in it, but it can also have head slump. He puts his head to the side. but it doesn't make the greatest booster, IMHO.