So Do I Really Need a True Fit?

[shauburg]

I don't know if it's a sign, but 17-month old DS has inched over 30lb the same week that the True Fit hit the Canadian market with a 35lb RF limit. However, we have two perfectly good Radians that will last him FF just as long or longer than the True Fit.

As I see it my options are:
- Turn FF in Radians
- Leave RF to 33 lb (old US limit) in Radians (should get him to age 2 if he stays on his growth curve)
- Leave RF to 35 lb (new US limit) in Radians
- Buy True Fits and RF to 35 lbs

There are no younger siblings on the horizon to justify having two sets of convertibles for. Even if one did come along, it would not be until after DS was for sure FF, so it would then make sense to get DS a higher top harness height FF/booster combo seat and put the little one in the Radians. Of course my need to have a new seat should not play into the decision!

WWYD (as a parent) and why?

[CDNTech]

Speaking as a parent...
If it were my child, I might look the other way until he hit 33lbs *or* 2 yrs old (whichever comes first) in the Radian... I'm not comfortable going beyond that since I've only personally been told that the 33lbs limit and 30lbs limit seats are identical.

Then again, I haven't tried out the TruFit IRL yet. If the adjuster is not an issue for RFing use and the seat is really nice (read super cushy, good head support for sleeping), then I might want to buy a new one just to try it out. ;)

If you fly on a plane, I could not give up my Radian... it is *the* best airplane seat ever!

Speaking as a tech...
If you want to continue to RF him and he is 30lbs, then your best option is to get the TruFit.

[canadiangie]

I'd buy the TrueFit b/c I want one LOL, and technically he's outgrown the rf limit of his current seat, and he's under 2, and it's a pretty reasonably priced seat, and did I mention I want one? :p

[snowbird25ca]

I'd probably get a true fit for your primary vehicle, and then debate about the secondary vehicle seat - whether you're more comfortable using the seat to the US limits, or turning him ff'ing for occasional rides. Switching seats for longer trips is always an option too. (Although do you use both seats about equally now?)

I'm not 100% sure where my comfort level would be about using the radian to the US 33lb rf'ing limits even knowing it's the same seat. But I am admittedly a rule follower for the most part. And while it was easy to say 30lbs is the limit and no choice but to turn ff'ing when all seats were 30lbs, now that there's a 35lb limit seat it seems different.

You could always sell one of your Radians and get a true fit to replace it. They sell really easily on used ed. and kijiji and it would fund a good portion of the true fit. (Sell the CT one with the 48lb weight limit, then you'd have another 65lb limit seat too. :thumbsup: )

That's probably what I'd do - sell the CT Radian and replace it with a True Fit, use the True Fit rf'ing as his primary seat and then turn the radian ff'ing as the occasional seat. (assuming wanting to buy as few seats as possible and not having extra seats around. ;) Knowing me, I'd just buy 2 True Fits if I needed the 35lb rf'ing limit before 2 yrs old. :p )

Too bad you're not still in the invisible land of just under 30lbs. I know what a tough decision you're facing.

[April]

I'd buy the TF, just cause I could use the 35lb limit as and excuse to give DH for buying another carseat, and then sell a Radian (a 48lb one if you have one).

Heck, now that my 21 month old is 34lbs clothed and FF, I almost want to have another baby so I can rearface *it* to 35lbs! Although if that baby was anything like Riley he'd be 35lbs before 2 as well!

[mommycat]

Can I tag my own question in here? Thanks...
made my own thread...

[lemurmommies]

I'm with you. I just had to turn my 17.5 month old around in his Marathon because he hit 30 pounds. I have thought long and hard about the True Fit, and have decided I am not going to get one. We only have one car, so it's not like I can get the True Fit and move him FF in the Marathon in our "secondary" car.

He's already on the top slots of his Marathon, and although I know that he has a lot of growing room in it, I also know that it won't get him to boostered age. So I am going to save my pennies and get him a Frontier when the time comes.

I know RF is best, and if the True Fit had been on the market a year ago, I would have bought it instead of the Marathon. But I'm not going to get one now.

[shauburg]

Thanks for your replies everyone. You definitely brought up some things I had not thought of.

Since I was so focused on RF, it did not click that with one of my Radians having a 48lb FF limit, I actually have another reason (65 lb FF limiit) to get at least one True Fit anyway. If he stays on his current growth curve, he'll hit 48 lbs before he's even four.

However DS does have a longer torso (~14" at 17 months), so maybe top slot height will be more important FF than a 65lb weight limit. Anyone know if the top slot height on the True Fit is significantly lower than on the Radian, especially with a child actually in the seat?

I'd hate to sell one Radian for the True Fit only to have him outgrow the True Fit by height before he'd have outgrown the Radian.

[TechnoGranola]

If you decide you're in the mood to strictly follow the manuals, then the True Fit would get you a double dose of that! One for the RF weight limit and two for NO 32" height restriction like the Radian has.

[shauburg]

Thanks Techno! Even though I got over the 32" height limit long ago (check DS's height in my siggie), you have now given me another good reason to get at least one True Fit.

As you can also see by my siggie, I have not quite gotten over the 30 lb RF weight limit. I didn't think my siggie should advertise what has now become a parental decision since I took DS to the scale earlier this week. I really don't see myself getting 2 True Fits or turning DS FF quite yet (his cute head is just so big and heavy). DS may be 29.99lbs for months to come. ;)

[hipmaman]

My 2 cents...

TF has better SIP than the Radian, 35 lbs rf and 1" between top of head to top of carseat, 65 lbs ff to 50". It does not hurt to get a TF and keep the 65lbs RN.

The top harness slots on the Radian measure slightly lower for me (0.25") but I think because the seat cushion on the Radian didn't compress much with just my hand pushing down while the padding on the TF compressed more. I have a few pictures comparing with my older kids in the RN and TF here http://picasaweb.google.com/hipmaman/Carseats2008

Obviously, they no longer fit the TF but it shows the height and size of it compare to the RN. Btw, pictures in the RN was taken in Feb 2007 and the TF was today.

[shauburg]

Well, Tam's comments pushed me over the edge and convinced me to get one True Fit to replace our 48lb Radian. I picked it up Saturday, then did some test installations in both vehicles that night and tried DS in it on Sunday morning before deciding to keep it.

DH needed a lot less convincing then I thought he would - as long as I sell the unneeded Radian that is (no car seat collections for me!). He likes the True Fit better than the Radian for his Jeep because it does not touch the back of the front seats when RF.

I think we're going have the True Fit in the Jeep because even though DS is in the Jeep less frequently, it's used for all his long trips on higher speed roads with busy intersections. The Radian will stay in my car (RF for a little while yet). DS goes in my car daily, but it's only for two 5 block trips on residential streets to daycare.

I'm going to post my other comments/questions on the True Fit on the main car seat boards to get broader input.

Thanks again everyone!