Advice please! Should my 5 year old use a booster?

[Si & Ash's Mom]

So I know this has been asked a million times but I would love some feedback for our particular situation. My oldest boy turned 5 last month and is in a Graco Nautilus. He is a tall kid with a really long torso and is at the top harness slot (though he has a little room to grow in it still...). He's just under 50 lbs. My middle boy turned 3 a few weeks ago and is forward facing in a Graco MyRide 65. He's not nearly as tall as my oldest but is already at the top harness slots on the my ride. He's 36 lbs. Now, I really am not liking the My Ride at all. I find that it's really hard for him to get in the seat as it's kind of slanted back and the crotch strap seems to sit way too far away from his body. I don't know if this is a safety issue or not but it doesn't seem like it's ideal. I told my hubby that I thought another seat for our 3 year old would be best and asked if it was in the budget. He thinks that we should just buy a booster for our oldest and give the nautilus to our 3 year old. I've been hesitant to do this because I've always thought that a harness was safer. That being said, our oldest really wants a booster seat. His friend rides in a booster - enough said . He's a pretty responsible and mature 5 year old so I don't doubt that he would sit properly in a booster... what are your thoughts? Booster for my oldest or a new seat for my 3 year old? Or should I try to find the love for the My Ride? Thanks for your advice and insight

 

[snowbird25ca]

It sounds like it's reasonable to try a booster for your 5yr old based on his height and weight. If things don't go well, then you can always stick them back in their old seats for a few months and then try the booster again.

I would be sure to go with a high back booster for your oldest - they typically work better for transition and give the younger kids a place to rest their head if they ever sleep in the car still.

Peer pressure is something he's going to have to deal with repeatedly so I don't think that I'd make the decision based on that - not at his age anyways. But it based on his age, weight, and height, he meets the minimums for a booster - and if you're thinking he's mature enough, the only way to find out is to try. :thumbsup:

 

[Si & Ash's Mom]

Thanks so much! I think we're going to go try a monteray booster today . And just out of curiosity, do you know if you can buy Nautilus covers somewhere? Ours is the galaxy print and the mesh on the seat is absolutely trashed! Thanks for the advice

 

[snowbird25ca]

Thanks so much! I think we're going to go try a monteray booster today . And just out of curiosity, do you know if you can buy Nautilus covers somewhere? Ours is the galaxy print and the mesh on the seat is absolutely trashed! Thanks for the advice

I believe you can get replacement covers from Graco. I don't know if they're still making the Galaxy cover or not, but they should be able to send you something else. West Coast Kids on 170st carries the Monterey.

 

[tam_shops]

If you phone Graco and complain about your cover, they may send you a new one (for free). If not, for some reason I *thought* it was $40 +s/h for a new cover, but that might be the American price (I always compare the two and buy the cheapest! LOL). Make sure you if you are buying a new cover, that you buy *all* the pieces. I think there are 3?? Or one that matches what you have. Either way, you can get that from Graco.

I was happy that I got a GN with out mesh on the cover for that very reason, mine is Reese, not sure they still make that though.

If you do a search on swap you may find one there also, never hurts to try...

tam

 

[snowbird25ca]

If you phone Graco and complain about your cover, they may send you a new one (for free). If not, for some reason I *thought* it was $40 +s/h for a new cover, but that might be the American price (I always compare the two and buy the cheapest! LOL). Make sure you if you are buying a new cover, that you buy *all* the pieces. I think there are 3?? Or one that matches what you have. Either way, you can get that from Graco.

I was happy that I got a GN with out mesh on the cover for that very reason, mine is Reese, not sure they still make that though.

If you do a search on swap you may find one there also, never hurts to try...

tam

I wouldn't worry about that extra padding at the bottom - it's really useless, especially for a 3yr old. But it's useless even with a younger kid - most kids big enough to use the Nautilus are going to be over the bottom harness slots when that bottom padding is in. :thumbsup:

However - I suspect that a cover set is a cover set.

 

[tam_shops]

Pretty sure you have to order each piece of the cover set individually. That's how the baby buckets work. Cover, insert, canopy.

Think there are 3 pieces to the GN seat (head, back, butt) and then a 4th infant insert. If you need me to go check, LMK.

Plus, harness/belly pads.

tam

 

[mam521]

Think there are 3 pieces to the GN seat (head, back, butt) and then a 4th infant insert. If you need me to go check, LMK.

Plus, harness/belly pads.

tam

Yup, 3 for the main seat, 4 if you count the infant insert. As much of a PITA as that is, its kinda handy if you have to wash just the LBB seat pad and not the rest