Need help choosing new seat

[sruss13]

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I'm getting ready to move DS2 (7 months) to a convertible seat, and need help choosing one.

I have a 2010 Mazda CX-9. It has a third row of seats, and I would ideally like to leave the rear passenger seat open so that the third row can easily be accessed. With two outboard seats in the second row, the third row can only be accessed from the rear hatch, meaning only one of the two seats is usable.

DS1 is 3. About 36 lbs, 37 inches tall. He's in a Britax Diplomat right now, ff. We bought the Diplomat when we had a Forester because it's a small seat and the Forester has a tiny backseat. We have a lot more room now.

I was leaning toward a Radian, thinking that I could install that in the center, either ff for DS1 or rf for DS2. I'm concerned, however, that 1) it may not install easily there and 2) whoever rides in that seat may not be comfortable being so close to the high-profile Britax. Is this an issue with one high seat and one low seat or am I making something out of nothing? I like the idea of putting the Radian outboard so DS1 can climb in himself, but would he be able to see out the window? He loves looking for trains and trucks.

I also don't know if it would make more sense to get a new seat for DS1 that converts to a booster later on and put DS2 in the Diplomat.

Both kids tend to fall asleep in the car, so I don't want a seat where their heads will flop forward. We use a Cosco Scenera as a travel seat and I hate it for this reason.

I would appreciate and welcome any suggestions you have. Cost isn't a huge issue, but a Radian is probably the very top of my budget. Thanks!

[LuvMy4Monkeys]

I would put the britax outboard passenger side second row, and a radian RFing for the baby in the middle of the second row.