Need new carseats...suggestions

My girls are just about at the 40lb mark, which means new carseats. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on what to get. There are so many choices, I haven't got a clue. I know I want cup holders, and I don't want to have to buy anymore for a while. Thanks for the suggestions!! Oh, and where did you get yours...I think that's it.

 

If I were to need new carseats, I'd definitely buy the Graco Nautilus.

 

Graco Nautilus - I posted this right after the twins birthday...they really are terrific seats and they come in Pink!

 

We're using the Nautilus here too. The boys love them and I'm thrilled to keep them in 5-point for a while longer (and the conversion to a booster later is nice!)

 

Another vote for the Nautilus!!! Not only do I love them to death, but everywhere I go people are poking their heads in my car and asking about them. I think I have become their official spokesperson! I only wish they had them when my kids hit the 20lb mark - would have saved me a ton of money that I spent on the convertible seats that only went up to 40lbs!!

 

Yep, another two thumbs up :good: :good: for the Nautilus. With BRU coupons and their twin discount, we paid $134 per seat. I found out that they have a steel frame, which was a big selling point for me when comparing them to others. I have had to take them in and out of the van a couple of times already for adjustments and they are super simple to use.

I also love and have heard rave reviews about the Britax Frontier, but I just couldn't come up with an extra $125 per seat.

 

QUOTE(MichelleL @ Jun 30 2009, 06:20 AM) [snapback]1375081[/snapback]
With BRU coupons and their twin discount, we paid $134 per seat.


We don't have a BRU here, just a TRU, do they have the multiple discount as well?

 

I bought mine from Amazon and paid $129.98 with free shipping and no tax. It looks like they want $143 now but still, pretty good considering the no tax bit.

 

Another vote for Nautilus here - Ditto PP, I wish I would've found them at 20 lbs!

 

Thanks everyone. TRU has a 15% coupon on all car seats right now, and I called the local one here to see if they offered the multiples discount and they do...yipee. So, I'm going today to get the Graco's. You've been really helpful; we shouldn't have to buy anymore ever...hopefully Thanks so much.

 

Well, I bought the Graco Nautilus..Mariposa style. I really like them and the girls love them. They have never had cupholders, so they think they are really big stuff now. I love the way the seat wraps around their heads..I think this will give them extra protection should the curtain air bags ever go off, something I have always been leary of. Thanks again for the suggestions, I got an excellent price on them after the discounts, and so far I am very happy with my purchase!!

 

Glad to know you got what you wanted and the girls seem happy. :good:

 

Glad you are happy with them! The Mariposa is a cute pattern too, we have that one. My only complaint was that they didn't have a cute pattern for DS, I had to just get him the gray/black one.

 

We got the Nautilus a couple of weeks ago and my girls were so excited. :wub: Glad you are happy with your purchase!

 

The Nautilus came out after I had all my seats. The twins are still in Marathons and my 5yo is still in a Radian 65 which I can highly recommend as well. She's still harnassed and probably will be for another year. One thing I wanted to say ... don't put your children in the booster mode until age 4 at the very earliest, and the later the better!

Safe travels!

 

Good choice! :good: I'm glad you like them!!

My girls went nuts over the cupholders too. Funny how it's the little things sometimes that just give them so much joy. :wub:

 

It sounds like the Nautilus was a great choice for you. It should allow you to harness your girls until they are a good booster age (5 or 6 or beyond -- no need to rush to a booster if they still fit in the harness) and be the last seat you have to buy.

The only thing I want to point out is that, since your girls are now 40 pounds, you may need to install their car seats with the seat belt and top tether, rather than the lower latch anchors and the top tether. Cars' lower latch anchors have weight limits on them (the weight limit is the weight of the child, not the seat plus the child). Off hand, I know that the lower latches in Hondas and Acuras have a 40 pound limit and Toyota's have 48 pound limits. If you are driving a different kind of car, you should check your car's manual to see what the limit is, or you can ask the knowlegeable people at car-seat.org and they can probably tell you.

 

Thanks for that tip. I actually used the lower tethers and the top tether, so I will have to check my manual and see if there is a weight limit. I never realized there might be a weight limit on anchors. I've learned something new...thanks!

 

There is a weight limit given for the anchor points in your car and it varies by manufacturer, though that doesn't actually mean the tethers in some vehicles are stronger than others. The auto manufacturer has to estimate the weight of your carseat (since they vary) to come up with their upper limit and some car companies guess more conservatively than others (though they all include a margin for safety). The carseat manufacturer knows the weight of their seat so their number (it's on the tag on the side of the seat) is likely to be more accurate BUT they still defer to the auto manufacturer to cover their behinds. In return, many car manuals defer to the carseat company. How's that for confusing?

 

I love how solidly the car seat installs with LATCH, so what I've done is use both LATCH *and* the seatbelt to install Nadia's seat. She's about 44 pounds now, but I have a Honda Odyssey. I figure if LATCH fails in an accident, then the seat is still secure with the seatbelt.

She's still harnessed, and I'm on the fence about moving to booster mode when she starts kindergarten in the fall. On one hand, she's a big kid and definitely mature enough to sit properly. Plus, she needs to be able to unbuckle herself in car line quickly in the mornings. But, now I'm thinking that might actually be easier in the harness, which she has finally mastered (sometimes the chest clip is a little cumbersome to undo, as ours sticks).

 

We will be moving to the Nautilus soon as well.