https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:43:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645141 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 14:49:24 +0000 catgirl 2645141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: yes, exactly. The Britax combination seats are great for kids who are taller or heavier than average or for kids who need to be harnessed for an extended time. The graco seats have limits that should get the vast majority of kids to a safe booster age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645139 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 14:42:57 +0000 Foodnerd81 2645139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: overkill like the height/ weight limits are more than necessary because most kids move to booster mode before they reach the limits? Assuming my kid stays on the same growth curve we definitely won't have to worry too much about that- she's not tall. I think for us as long as the height limit is reasonable, if not the highest on the market, I care more about ease of installing with latch and with the seatbelt. </p> <p>@Truth Bombs: interesting, thanks. I forgot we have a subscription to CR, I will check that out once I remember our password! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645120 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:54:35 +0000 catgirl 2645120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: For the best shot at fitting another person in the back I would look at the graco tranzitions/wayz or the harmony defender. They are the most narrow combination seats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645116 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:44:01 +0000 looch 2645116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: it wouldn't be possible to have a person in between two seats in my car (Nissan leaf) but it would be fine in my husbands sedan ( Tesla Model s). I used to drive a Venza too and i think it would have been tight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645113 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:34:54 +0000 catgirl 2645113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: Gotcha. Well either way, the britax seats are generally overkill for most kids in harness mode. Graco definitely has some great options! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645111 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:19:11 +0000 Truth Bombs 2645111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Looks like IIHS just gives one overall category. As opposed to actually ranking each seat, and giving an evaluation to different functions of the seat. The Frontier was overall very well rated on CR, but received a "fair" rating for crash protection/belt fit when used as a booster. I agree that it really depends on the child but unfortunately I won't know at the time I buy it what it will look like on my kid when she's a couple years older, since we'll be using it in harnessed mode for now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645110 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:13:09 +0000 gotkimchi 2645110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: ok thanks! My grandpa has a subscription that I use lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645108 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:10:31 +0000 Truth Bombs 2645108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: This was in their online rankings. But you have to have a membership to see it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645107 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:07:02 +0000 catgirl 2645107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: I find that really interesting because the IIHS rates the Britax and Graco seats seats both quite well. So much of it is individual fit to child though, no matter how many reports you view it can still be different for your kid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645102 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 11:33:46 +0000 gotkimchi 2645102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: which month was this in? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645099 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 11:12:41 +0000 Truth Bombs 2645099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Just FYI I'm looking to make this move too. I was really liking to Frontier but consumer reports gave it a very bad review in terms of safety/fit when used as a booster with the seat belt. The Graco seats got the best scores for belt path. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645065 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 08:15:54 +0000 ShootingStar 2645065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Well, personally in our Venza I feel like there's only enough room for our smallish dog, but then I'd never really put anyone in the middle seat before kids. Here's a pic of DS in the booster. This was before DD was born so both seats weren't in yet. But you can see the Frontier is up against where the seatbelt clicks in. </p> [attach=2504/16/ofv3ii.450x600.IMG_5499.JPG] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645063 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 08:05:24 +0000 Foodnerd81 2645063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: have you installed the nautilus with the seatbelt yet? Also are the latch connectors annoying to undo? (Was looking at the lucies list review again). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645062 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 08:03:54 +0000 Foodnerd81 2645062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: @looch: thoughts on having someone else sit in the backseat between your combo seat and a convertible? We already have a nextfit, which is pretty wide. Wondering if we will ever be able to have another passenger sit in our midsize SUV. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645021 Sat, 29 Oct 2016 21:15:59 +0000 Foodnerd81 2645021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: ok, that all makes sense, thanks! This juggle of two kids and car seats and who needs what is so much more complicated than I expected. I'm hoping I can choose what we want then maybe get a Black Friday deal. Or at least trade in since the infant seat expires the same month the baby turns ones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645011 Sat, 29 Oct 2016 20:44:50 +0000 ShootingStar 2645011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Yes, we have two cars. In my car we have the Frontier and in DH's car we have the Nextfit. I used to have the Pria 70 in my car but there wasn't enough legroom once DS had to sit behind me to make room for DD. Plus I hated that seat so we decided to move DS up to a harnessed booster. I really love how much easier it is to tighten. I'm really not looking forward to breaking out the Pria again. But I can't justify buying DD a different convertible and then having to buy two more boosters. So I have to decide if I love the Frontier enough to use the Pria for as long as she's rear facing and then get them for her, or if I hate the Pria enough to replace it with the Graco 4ever and skip the Frontier for her. </p> <p>BTW DH says the Frontier and the Nautilus seemed to weigh about the same. And DS still manages to fall asleep in the seat without a problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2645001 Sat, 29 Oct 2016 20:22:18 +0000 Foodnerd81 2645001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: so you have two cars and a seat in each? The install is what has me thinking the britax might be worth it, since we do switch between cars sometimes. I moved the nextfit and the graco snugride base so dh could take my car and the difference in install was big. But I worried that the frontier is too heavy (per reviews online). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2644999 Sat, 29 Oct 2016 20:16:41 +0000 Kemma 2644999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You might like to check what kind of recline, if any, a combo seat has, some are very upright so not that comfy for a child to sleep in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2644982 Sat, 29 Oct 2016 18:58:04 +0000 ShootingStar 2644982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We looked at both the Nautilus and the Frontier and ended up with the Frontier. I love it and I dread having to break out the old convertible for the baby when she grows out of the bucket.</p> <p>What we were looking for was a seat that had a low profile so we'd have more leg room, be easy to tighten/loosen and easy to install. The two seats were pretty comparable when we tested them except the install on the Frontier blew away the Nautilus. </p> <p>In a few months when we switch DD out of the bucket I either need to get DS another Frontier or get her a forever seat. I want to check out the Graco 4ever and see if I like it. Then we can eventually use that as a booster for her and it's one less seat to buy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2644967 Sat, 29 Oct 2016 16:39:23 +0000 looch 2644967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have two Britax Frontiers and one Graco Nautilus. The Graco is in my car because the seat is rather thick and high, while in my husband's car we have less headroom, so we had to use the Frontier because the seat is lower.</p> <p>I personally like the Britax best because of the ease of install with the seat belt, but the Graco is just as good of a seat IMO. I would have bought a second Graco if we would have had the headroom in my husband's car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2644955 Sat, 29 Oct 2016 15:17:43 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2644955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: it was super easy! We bought it at target, brought to the car and installed on the spot. The straps aren't as "smooth" as my recaro and takes a bit More elbow grease to tighten and loosen straps than the recaro, but it's not actually difficult.<br /> My son likes that it sits lower than the recaro, so he can reach better (like to roll down the window lol!!).<br /> We plan to keep him in forward facing harness as long as possible and it goes up to 65 lbs FF! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2644939 Sat, 29 Oct 2016 13:32:17 +0000 Foodnerd81 2644939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: I've seen a few sales on the nautilus and was wondering about it. It's easy to install? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2644902 Sat, 29 Oct 2016 10:36:16 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2644902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maximum forward facing harness height and weight. I saw some that maximum weight was 40 lbs forward facing! My four year old is just about to hit 40 lbs and nowhere near ready to be in a booster.<br /> I also like the kind that have some kind of head rest/support since my son sleeps in the car a lot. </p> <p>We have recaro convertible and grace nautilus and love them both! </p> [attach=1597/16/oftfcg.300x300.IMG_8513.JPG] [attach=1597/16/oftfch.337x600.IMG_8515.PNG] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2644894 Sat, 29 Oct 2016 10:00:39 +0000 catgirl 2644894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would look at the maximum harness height. Most forward facing seats are outgrown by seated height before the limits are hit - the straps must always come from above the shoulder when forward facing so the maximum harness height is just as important as the overall height limit. </p> <p>You'll also want to research how the booster mode typically fits kids - not all belt guides are placed well.</p> <p>Latch install won't really matter as you'd hit the weight limit for that and have to install with a seat belt at some point anyway. </p> <p>I am a big fan of Car Seats for the Littles - here are there recommended combinations seats: <a href="http://csftl.org/recommended-seats/#combination" rel="nofollow">http://csftl.org/recommended-seats/#combination</a></p> <p>And this page lets you compare them: <a href="http://csftl.org/recommended-seats/compare-combination-seats/" rel="nofollow">http://csftl.org/recommended-seats/compare-combination-seats/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-in-combination-seat#post-2644891 Sat, 29 Oct 2016 09:44:33 +0000 Foodnerd81 2644891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What did you look for in a combination (harness to high back booster to no back booster) seat? Starting to look at them so I know what I want before the baby outgrows her infant seat (she will get the nextfit and the toddler will get the combo seat). </p> <p>I know I want a high height and weight limit on the harness, but since both my girls are just under average size, I'm not terribly worried about that. Ease of installation, with latch and seatbelt? No rethread adjusting? Lightweight or narrow? </p> <p>We currently have two cars but they are in my car 90% of the time so we only have one set of car seats. We do switch them occasionally on the weekends so something easy to install is important. Do I care if it's heavy? Just wondering what people have found to be the most important features. </p> <p>Also specific recommendations are great. I know people love the britax frontier but it's expensive and heavy. Since we only need one I am ok if it costs a little more to be exactly what I want, but if there is a cheaper one we will like just as much all the better. </p>