Gypsy Carseat help

[Jmom1010]

So I've looked at the two seats you recommended and I really like them both but can realisticly afford the Graco Nautilis. My husband is having a stroke over the price since he'd rather die than part with a buck which is how we ended up with the Comfort Sport Convertiable which DS is about to outgrow. Anyway can you recommend any other combination seats that are under $140? I've seen other seats but I'm not sure I'd get the same duration from them. Graco has a seat around $99.00 but I don't think that is what I am looking for. I tried to post a pic of it but it was emormous. I plan on buying the Nautilis for the car we take DS in the most but that is a lot of money to spend on two seats especially since DS spends more time in one car than he does the other and sharing one seat is not practical either.

Anyway... DS is currently 34 months, 36 in" and around 30 pounds maybe a bit more. He's about even with the straps on the comfortsport so it is time to think about a new seat.

[_Gypsy_]

The Evenflo Generations would be my next choice - you will probably get 1-2 years from the harness in it - it has 16.5 inch top slots, and a 40 pound harness limit - it makes a fair booster, but I would buy a dedicated booster after the harness is outgrown.

It's $99, a dedicated high back booster down the road will be $50-$150.

For $45 more, you can have a seat that will harness MUCH longer, and you won't need to buy a separate booster later.

Plus, I'd personally never be comfortable with my own child in a booster at 40 pounds.

There is another option, it's the Safety 1st Apex - I usually don't recommend this seat because I hate the headrest requirement - but if *every* car it's going to ever be in has headrests that adjust, it would be a reasonable choice. It has 17.5 inch top slots, a 65 pound harness limit, and it makes a decent booster (which also requires vehicle head support, so make sure that the vehicles you have now (and every car you may ever get) have headrests that adjust VERY tall, it might limits people he can ride with as he gets older - does grandma's car have high headrests, does his best friend's mom's car have them? see what I mean?

Anyways, it's $109 - make sure if you choose this seat you get one with EPP foam in the headrest. http://www.albeebaby.com/sa1stap65bos.html

Oh, and here is the cheapest seat I could recommend http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4366138 it doesn't have EPP or EPS foam in the headrest, which I think every carseat should have - but it's budget friendly.

[jodibug]

you should have him visit the Kyle David Miller Foundation's webpage and see if he might change his mind.

A good car seat is priceless!

http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/

eta: I am about the cheapest person I know. My family all calls me the Coupon Queen.... but I would never skimp on a car seat. and when I watched the YouTube video for Kyle David Miller, it brought tears to my eyes. I will never compromise on a good car seat. My baby will stay rear facing as long as possible, and harnessed as long as possible, then in a booster as long as possible. She may have to take her drivers test in a booster (j/k!)

Have him watch the video on YouTube and see if he doesn't change his mind about the money being well spent.

[_Gypsy_]

you should have him visit the Kyle David Miller Foundation's webpage and see if he might change his mind.

A good car seat is priceless!

http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/

eta: I am about the cheapest person I know. My family all calls me the Coupon Queen.... but I would never skimp on a car seat. and when I watched the YouTube video for Kyle David Miller, it brought tears to my eyes. I will never compromise on a good car seat. My baby will stay rear facing as long as possible, and harnessed as long as possible, then in a booster as long as possible. She may have to take her drivers test in a booster (j/k!)

Have him watch the video on YouTube and see if he doesn't change his mind about the money being well spent.

Yep. Every step "up" in carseats is a step "down" in safety.

[Jmom1010]

I'll check those out. I'm trying to keep him a 5 point harness as long as possible. I may buy the other seat the last one you recommended for the car we do not use much. We'll see.

But if I understand everything about the Nautilis, this will be the last seat we will ever have to buy right?

[jodibug]

Gypsy knows much more about them than I do, but it looks to me like the Nautilus is going to last as long as any other car seat would, given that it harnesses to 65lbs and boosters to 100lbs. The only other factor would be the top height of the harness.... and I'm not sure what that is.

[_Gypsy_]

Gypsy knows much more about them than I do, but it looks to me like the Nautilus is going to last as long as any other car seat would, given that it harnesses to 65lbs and boosters to 100lbs. The only other factor would be the top height of the harness.... and I'm not sure what that is.

18.5 inches :)

[Jmom1010]

But then it can be used with the lap belt right? Also how easy is it to install? I'll have to do it myself. And my car's manuel should tell me where it is OK to install it right? I'm hoping he can still be in the middle.

[_Gypsy_]

Yes, then it can be used with the Lap & Shoulder belt (never a lap belt alone!).

The only car I ever had a problem installing the Nautilus in was a Saturn S class and after a few "tricks of the trade" it was rock solid.

It can be installed anywhere there is a seatbelt OR lower anchors, it can be used as a booster anywhere there is a lap AND shoulder belt.

In booster mode the Nautilus is one of very few boosters that can be LATCHed and Tethered in booster mode.

[Jmom1010]

Ok then the Nautilis it is!!

[_Gypsy_]

You won't be disappointed! :)

[Jmom1010]

I saw the other thread and everyone that has the seat loves it!