should you use the latch and belt together with 3 in 1 car seat

[Kamie]

My son is 4 1/2 and we have the Graco Nautilus 3 in 1 car seat. He is ready for the booster (we weighs 42 pounds and is tall). Do I use both the latch and the belt when I use the high back booster?

[alegna]

At only 4.5 I'd keep him harnessed. What is the hurry to move to the booster?

I don't think the nauti allows latch when being used as a booster.

-Angela

[danalyn]

I agree with Pp above, no hurry to move a 4 y.o to a booster.
Isn't it *ALWAYS WRONG* to use LATCH and a seatbelt together?

[chickabiddy]

The Nautilus *can* be LATCHed in booster mode, but there is no good reason to use it in booster mode for a 42# 4yo.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

The Nautilus *can* be LATCHed in booster mode, but there is no good reason to use it in booster mode for a 42# 4yo.

Thanks! Didn't realize it was one that could be.

-Angela

[an_aurora]

Originally Posted by alegna

Thanks! Didn't realize it was one that could be.

-Angela

I believe Graco allows it with all of their combo seats (so the Cargo, as well).

[leighi123]

A benifit of using a LATCHable booster is that when the child is not in the car, you dont have to worry about it flying around in a crash. With a booster you cant use LATCH on, you have to remember to buckle it in even when the kiddo isnt on board

[leighi123]

OP - check that your ds is ready for a booster before switching it to booster mode:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=38893

Sounds like you still have plenty of time before you will have to.

[Kamie]

Thanks everyone. I think my sons shoulders are higher than where the harness comes out but I will double check. Good to know I can use the latch and belt. I didn't see anything in the manual saying I couldn't so I was hoping. I hate the idea of that heavy seat flopping around in the car when he is not with us. Our latch will only work up to 46 pounds so he will need to switch soon anyway.

[chickabiddy]

There is no vehicle or carseat with a LATCH limit of 46#.

My 51" child still (barely) fits in the Nautilus harness. It is a very rare 4yo who has outgrown it. Check to make sure the headrest is extended all the way up.

[sapphire_chan]

I thought LATCH usually ended at 40# meaning it would never be okay for booster use.

[TheGirls]

When used with a booster, the LATCH straps are only supposed to be holding the weight of the seat itself, since the vehicle belts hold the child. So they can be used regardless of the weight of the child.

[Minxie]

Originally Posted by Kamie

Thanks everyone. I think my sons shoulders are higher than where the harness comes out but I will double check. Good to know I can use the latch and belt. I didn't see anything in the manual saying I couldn't so I was hoping. I hate the idea of that heavy seat flopping around in the car when he is not with us. Our latch will only work up to 46 pounds so he will need to switch soon anyway.

Once he reaches the weight limit, you can use the seatbelt to hold the seat so that he can stay harnessed. I just switched my son's Frontier over from LATCH (48 lbs in my truck) to the belt for my 4.5 year old (54lbs, 47in) and it is rock-solid.

Does the harness have any more room for adjustment? I had to move my son's up to the highest notch but he still has room to grow. I am not sure we will make it to the 85lbs limit because he will probably run out of room due to height.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by TheGirls

When used with a booster, the LATCH straps are only supposed to be holding the weight of the seat itself, since the vehicle belts hold the child. So they can be used regardless of the weight of the child.

Ah, so you'd use LATCH RF, then do a seat belt install FF, then have the option of using LATCH to keep the seat from flying around?

For leashing the booster, does it matter how tight you pull the straps? In another thread it was mentioned that it'd be unsafe to keep the booster from sliding around because of the risk of it breaking in a crash.

[Twinklefae]

Most LATCHable booster are a very loose strap, or the manual will direct you to loosen the strap.

Also, the Nautilus is a FF Harnessed seat, HBB, LBB 3 in 1, it does not go RF'ing.

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

For leashing the booster, does it matter how tight you pull the straps? In another thread it was mentioned that it'd be unsafe to keep the booster from sliding around because of the risk of it breaking in a crash.

LATCHed boosters do not have to be as tightly installed as LATCHed carseats. And boosters that allow LATCH have been tested with LATCH and we can assume that they will not break in a crash.

[Kamie]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

There is no vehicle or carseat with a LATCH limit of 46#.

My 51" child still (barely) fits in the Nautilus harness. It is a very rare 4yo who has outgrown it. Check to make sure the headrest is extended all the way up.

You are right the latch limit is 48 pounds. I will check the head rest.

Anyway it is nice to know I can latch and belt so that when older children ride in our car we can use it as a booster and I don't have to fiddle with the latch.