Update on the Graco Nautilus 1-2-3

I have been using this car seat since the beginning of July and to sum it up.

It is a really nice car seat and I have had no problems with it, it cleans easily, is easy to put together and take apart and changing it to the older age groups is straightforward. There is one downside which is the recline, there is not much movement and when my daughter falls asleep her head does slump forward and I rectify this with a neck cushion.

The cup holder is a really good idea, it holds a dummy, sweets and her drinks bottle but not all at the same time, she has yet to discover the 2 side small storage areas under the arm rests. This is a good place to put small toys or even hold a packet of food.

My daughter will be able to use this car seat until she no longer needs one when she is about 12 years old.

Please can you take my poll to the right of the page, this will help with feedback for my review.

Giveaway quiz

Win New York Color Long-Wearing Nail Enamel in Plaza Plumberry and The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub 50ml

1) Join my group on facebook Graco Nautilus 1-2-3 car seat Review

2) Follow my blog

3) Leave a comment answering this question 'What age range is the Graco
Nautilus 1-2-3 car seat suitable for?'

Winner will be announced on facebook on Saturday 31st July at 9.00pm

Comment from a follower on Facebook with reply from Graco

Rachel said - I bought this seat, had it correctly fitted by Halfords staff. Whilst driving on a main road my 2 1/2 year old son unclipped the harness which was tight as it should be and was crawling around on the back seat o my car. Not a great product.


Here is the Reply from Graco:

We have not had any reports of this happening on Nautilus, but speaking to our consumer services team it is a common thing amongst all brands. Though Graco make it hard for children to do this, sometimes it is inevitable that they will find a way!!!!

Due to this ROSPA have dedicated advice on how to deal with this for parents - see below.


http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing/children_undoing_belts.htm

If Your Child Keeps Trying to Undo Their Seatbelt

Some children go through a phase of constantly slipping out of the child seat harness or seat belt, or releasing the buckle, during journeys. This is extremely worrying for parents and very frustrating - once a child has learnt how to do this, it is very difficult to stop them. The good news is that it usually seems to be a phase which they grow out of.

Although it is possible to buy 'anti-tampering' devices to stop children undoing their seat belts, RoSPA does not recommend any device, which affects the working either of a seat belt, or of the fastening mechanism. It may reduce the effectiveness of the seat belt in an accident (causing more injuries to the child), and could also be difficult to undo in an emergency.

The following points may help to stop your child undoing their seat belt:

• Ensure the child knows WHY they are required to wear a seat belt, i.e. it keeps them safe from harm

• Depending on the age of the child, make 'doing up the belt' into a chant or song, which the child will enjoy participating in

• Show the child that you have to wear a seat belt also - perhaps you can both sing or chant as you are doing up your own belt too

• Do not start the engine until you are sure that the child is wearing a seat belt correctly AND that your belt is correctly fastened (perhaps this could form part of a game also - ask the child if everyone in the car is belted up and whether it's OK to drive off)

• If possible (e.g. on a leisure trip, or a trip to friends), tell the child that you cannot take them if their belt is not done up - as you don't want any harm to come to them

• If the child undoes the belt during the journey, pull over as soon as it is safe to do so and repeat that the belt must be done up to save them from being hurt

• If the child repeatedly unfastens the seat belt because they are restless and bored, distract them by 'I-Spy' games through the windows, songs, which they are able to join in with, toys and games that they are able to play with in the car.

Please remember though that it is most important for the driver NOT to be distracted by these activities

The most important thing to remember is to be CONSISTENT. ALWAYS insist that your child is wearing a seat belt. DO NOT give in by letting the child travel without a seat belt being fastened safely around them - not only are you legally required to do this (you can be prosecuted if you do not), but you will be placing your child at risk of serious injury or death if your vehicle is involved in an accident. It will also be more difficult to insist that the child wears their seatbelt next time they are in the car.

Facebook Group/ Going out for the first time

Since my last update I have started a group on facebook trying to raise awareness of my Car Seat review. I have 92 members at the moment but of course would love more so if you are on facebook please look for Graco Nautilus 1-2-3 Car Seat Review group and click join.

After a bit of discussion with my 2 1/2 year old she decided to let her 16 month old sister have the car seat, which was great as they argue over enough things at the moment.

She likes it....................

I was looking to use the recline on the chair whilst it was fitted but discovered this can only be done when the car seat is not installed. Not a big a problem as the Graco Nautilus 1-2-3 car seat is easy to take out and fit back with the seat belt, although it would have been better if it could be reclined whilst daughter is asleep so as not to wake her up. She is happy staying on the furthest recline at the moment so I am not needing to adjust it.

Coming home on this first trip out in the new car seat my daughter's nappy leaked poo all over it. I thought it would be a nightmare taking the seat covers off but it wasn't. The body support comes off really easily and the bottom cover is separate from the back/ top seat cover which also comes off really easily. They both went in the washing machine at 30 degrees and have washed really well. The covers dried on the line within a few hours and went back on the seat with no effort or frustration.

The Graco Nautilus 1-2-3 Car Seat has a beaker/ cup holder and my daughter loves it, she also uses it as a dummy storage. Below the arm rests there are small toy storage areas which she hasn't discovered yet, I can't think what I will find when she does though.

Mini quiz giveaway

To win a New York Color Volumising Mascara Show Time in Black

1) Join my group on facebook Graco Nautilus 1-2-3 car seat Review

2) Follow my blog

3) Leave a comment on this entry as to why you should win it

Winner will be announced on facebook on Monday 19th July at 9.00pm

Fitted Graco Nautilus in car

I have just fitted the Graco Nautilus 1-2-3 to my car, went in really easy. It fits really securely which I am really pleased about. I have headrests on the rear seats and needed to adjust the headrest a little bit higher.

I like how easy it went in as I would not find it a chore if I wanted to take it out to put into another car.

Graco Nautilus 1-2-3 Car Seat: Setting up

Graco Nautilus 1-2-3 Car Seat: Setting up: "My 2 year old was so excited to get the car seat box open. When I had taken it out and lay in on the floor ready for assembling both my girl..."

Setting up

My 2 year old was so excited to get the car seat box open. When I had taken it out and laid it on the floor ready for assembling both my girls thought it would be a good idea to climb all over it.

When the seat was delivered it had the back folded backwards, my first task was to follow the instructions, as a busy Mum I like to look at what is in the box and see if I can figure how it works before reading the instructions. So when I saw the 'body support' I quickly wanted to know if this needed to be used with my 2 year old.

I would have liked to have been able to find body support in an index so I could see at an instant if it was to be used. Instead I needed to read through the instructions and when I found the right part I discovered that the 'body support' wasn't needed for a child if the shoulder straps were not on the lowest setting.

Car Seat arrived

How wonderful to have a car seat that can be used from the age of 9 months to 12 years.

The new Graco Nautilus 3 in 1 Car Seat.