Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat Review

Car seats can be a tricky thing to buy. You’ll need one that’s safe, reliable, and all-around awesome. One that I am always first to recommend is the Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat. Simply put – I love this thing!

When I was shopping around for the first convertible car seat that I was planning on purchasing, I felt somewhat overwhelmed on the choices I had. There’s literally hundreds of different car seat models and brands and to choose from. So many of them seemed to offer it all, but the top 5 things I was mainly looking for were:

1. Safety Features – Assurance that it’s been crash tested to meet or exceed US safety standards.
2. Convertible – So it could adapt as my baby turned toddler.
3. Affordable – Must fit my small budget of under $150.
4. New – I didn’t want a used one.
5. Comfort – So my child didn’t get fussy.

With these 5 traits in mind, I began my research. After several hours of in depth analysis I kept hearing so many good things about the Graco Nautilus and I was assured that it would be an excellent choice. By taking a look at some of the features, I fell in love.

Features of the Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat

• Convertible – Suitable for those between 20 to 100 lbs and 27-57 inches tall, it converts to fit the exact size of your child.
• Quality Construction – EPS energy absorbing foam with a steel reinforced frame means it can withstand high impacts and incredible amounts of force.
• Comfortable – Can be set to 3 different positions for an ideal fit. It’s generously padded without any areas that cause discomfort.
• Crash Tested – Meets or Exceeds US Safety Standards. It’s side-impact tested to assure your child stays in the seat at all times, even in the event of a crash.
• Very Safe – Graco uses a 5 point safety harness in the Nautilus – the safest kind of safety harness currently available.
• Versatile – Functions as a standard car seat for those between 20-65 lbs, a belt-position booster seat from 30 to 100 lbs, and can be transformed into a backless booster if your child weighs between 40 to 100 lbs.
• Variety of Styles – You can purchase it in 3 color schemes. Select from Matrix, Valerie, or Garnet.
• Affordable – Priced well. I found it for under $150 on Amazon.com with Free Shipping & Free Returns in case I didn’t like it when it arrived.

Pros

• Excellent choice for tall kids – the back goes up very high.
• Incredibly cozy. My children love to sit in it.
• A cup holder and hidden storage is integrated into the design.
• Uses the LATCH system so I know it’s always safe to go when I place it in my vehicle.
• Not heavy. In fact, it seems pretty lightweight!
• Easily adjustable with a unique loop design that tightens or loosens the fit.
• Very safe!

Video Review

Below is a video review of the Graco Nautilus that helps you get a closer look at what it has to offer.

Cons

Finding something bad about a product that I love so much is hard to do. One thing I must say that I don’t like about the Graco Nautilus is the buckles. Sometimes they can be difficult to snap into position. My child has had a few times where he had to have me assist him with buckling in.

Final Thoughts

The Graco Nautilus Car Seat is credited as America’s #1 Best Selling Harnessed Booster Seat and is obviously VERY popular since it boasts nearly 1,500 consumer reviews on Amazon.com with over half of those being 5 out of 5 stars. Amazon is a great place to get much more insight on this or any car/booster seat that you may be interested in. Take a closer look by scrolling through the consumer reviews to see what actual parents thought about it.