What Seat Now?

[TaraisEvansMom]

My 4 year old is very close to outgrowing his Radian 65, I'm not thrilled he's almost out of the seat, we've only had it for 1 year! He's grown so much this last year it's costing us a fortune just to keep him in jeans, lol. So, I was just wondering what the next best seat for him would be?? I'm terrified to put him in a booster, but am realizing sadly that's our next step. Dh is NOT happy we are having to spend more money on yet another seat, and was less than thrilled when I chose to buy the Radian last year, but oh well! I'm not sacrificing saftey for his wallet, lol. Thanks for any insight!!

[canadiangie]

In what way is he outgrowing it? By seated height or by weight?

[TaraisEvansMom]

By height, he's 24inches in a sitting position but only 53lbs. I wish I had gotten more out of that seat, I really liked it!

[TaraisEvansMom]

He's 15.5inches to the shoulder though.

[BW1426]

The Radian can actually be used with shoulders above the top harness slots as long as the child is within the allowable height range and they have shell up to the tip of their ears.

I'm not saying that I would use the seat with a child's shoulders way above the top harness slots, but I wouldn't be so worried about switching them out as soon as they're even. You may have more time than you think.

The little girl I watch has a little more room in her Nautilus than in the Radian.

[Pixels]

By those measurments, he should have some time left in the Radian. The only way to outgrow the Radian is either exceeding the weight limit, or having the midpoint of the head go over the top of the shell.

At this point, you could go with a Regent, which is the tallest harnessed seat currently out (excluding special needs seats) with 20 inch top slots. The Regent does not convert to a booster. Or, you could get a Nautilus or Frontier, which have slightly shorter top slots but convert to boosters.

[QuassEE]

Canadian forum--no Regent in Canada :)

-Nicole.

[canadiangie]

CDN Radians are outgrown when:

1) 65lbs is reached (48lbs if it's an older model with a 48lb limit)

or

2) the child's shoulders are level with the top harness slots

or

3) the tips of the child's ears are level with the top of the seat


Whichever comes first.


From what I've read, Transport Canada does not allow the same "shoulders over the top slots is okay" guideline that appears in US manuals.

Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong.


So OP, is it that your son's shoulders are nearing the 18" top harness slots? You posted that he has a 15.5" bum to shoulder measurement, so I'm thinking he should have some time left. ??

[Pixels]

Canadian forum--no Regent in Canada :)

-Nicole.

Oops :o That's what happens when I search New Posts instead of through the individual forums.

CDN Radians are outgrown when:

1) 65lbs is reached (48lbs if it's an older model with a 48lb limit)

or

2) the child's shoulders are level with the top harness slots

or

3) the tips of the child's ears are level with the top of the seat


Whichever comes first.


From what I've read, Transport Canada does not allow the same "shoulders over the top slots is okay" guideline that appears in US manuals.

Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong.


So OP, is it that your son's shoulders are nearing the 18" top harness slots? You posted that he has a 15.5" bum to shoulder measurement, so I'm thinking he should have some time left. ??
The Canadian RN manual says that the straps must be in the nearest slot at or above the shoulders. It also says that the maximum height for the seat is when the tips of the ears go over the top of the shell, or 51" tall.

[hipmaman]

TaraisEvansMom,

If he only measured bum to shoulder at 15.5", he should still have quite a bit of height in the Radian. The RN top harness slots are at around 17.5".

BUT when you said outgrew by height - does it by any chance the harness is too snug/tight? Was this 1-yr old RN bought from Canadian Tire? I'm trying to see if the issue is that you have the short-strap RN rather than him being too tall in the torso for it.

[TaraisEvansMom]

Hey there, I thought that it was once the top of his head was to the top of his seat, not mid-way. His straps are not too short, I got the seat online from a place in Montreal, so no problems there. He's only 44inches tall, so I guess he does have abit more time, yay!!