Choosing the right seat?

[Carter's Mommy]

My 15 month is in a Britax DC. We recently bought a 2007 Honda CR-V and I'd like to buy a 2nd seat so we can have one in my car and my husband's 2004 Toyota Corolla. I though I had made up my mind. First of all, I regret letting the girl at BRU talk me out of the Britax BV with TRUE side impact protection and super east harness adjustment...but I'm still happy with the DC. I wanted to buy the BV for my car and put the DC in DH's car...but can't justify spending that much on a 2nd seat when the Fisher Price Safe Voyage is essentially the same seat. So, I thought I had made up my mind and was looking forward to purchasing the FP Safe Voyage for a great price online with free shipping. My delima is that I'll be nannying for a little girl in a Graco Snugride and may have a 3rd child once a week...meaning I'm thinking about the possibility of fitting 3 across in my Honda CR-V. We plan to have more children ourselves, so planning ahead as much as possible just makes sense for me. For $40 more I could get a Radian 65...but what's the difference between this and the Radian 80? Aside from the obvious difference of weight limit, it appears that the 80 has true SIP and the 65 does not. Is that correct? Although the cost of the seat is a factor, safety is #1 with features, fit in my car and length of use (IE overall value) being much more important than the initial expense. I'm hoping that whatever I buy will be used for years and passed onto baby #2 until it expires. Of course, I'd LOVE to buy a larger vehicle when I get pregnant and gas prices go down!

I'm trying to do as much research as possible. TIA for any help, suggestions, etc. Lastly, is there anywhere that I could try out the Radian in my car? I've only been able to find them online and want to make sure I can get a good fit beforehand so I don't have to pay to ship it back somewhere.

[Patriot201]

Originally Posted by Carter's Mommy

. My delima is that I'll be nannying for a little girl in a Graco Snugride and may have a 3rd child once a week...meaning I'm thinking about the possibility of fitting 3 across in my Honda CR-V.

How old is the third child? How much does he/she weigh?

Knowing this will help us make suggestions to you about which seats will be good to try.

For $40 more I could get a Radian 65...but what's the difference between this and the Radian 80? Aside from the obvious difference of weight limit, it appears that the 80 has true SIP and the 65 does not. Is that correct?

No. It is pretty much the same seat (aside from the weight difference). The Radian 80 does come with infant pillows, but I think those are pretty much useless unless you are using the seat for a very young baby. SKJP (the manufacturer) says there are some structural differences that allow for the heigher weight limit, but I wouldn't waste my money on the Radian80 if I was able to get my hands on a Radian65. The chances that a child will be able to fit in the seat to 80 pounds are slim to none.

Lastly, is there anywhere that I could try out the Radian in my car? I've only been able to find them online and want to make sure I can get a good fit beforehand so I don't have to pay to ship it back somewhere.

Where do you live? BuyBuyBaby will allow you to try it out in your car.


I would try a few different combinations. The Snugride might puzzle in well with two larger convertibles, such as the FPSVD and DC. You never know! It is worth a try!

How often does your son ride in your DH's car? If he rarely rides in that car, I would take a look at the Cosco Scenera. It is cheap ($30-$50), yet offers a high RF weight limit (35 pounds) and is generally a great RF seat because it usually actually does allow RF to 35 pounds. It then FF to 40 pounds.

[Carter's Mommy]

Originally Posted by Patriot20171

How old is the third child? How much does he/she weigh?

Knowing this will help us make suggestions to you about which seats will be good to try.

Thanks for the reply. The possible 3rd child is 11 months...will be 13 by the time I start watching him. I'm not sure about weight.

Originally Posted by Patriot20171

Where do you live? BuyBuyBaby will allow you to try it out in your car.

We live near San Francisco...all the way over in CA. Just realized I lived in PA when I bought my son's Britax and hadn't searched for a Radian in CA. Lullaby Lane is near my house and should have them in stock. Yeah!

Originally Posted by Patriot20171

How often does your son ride in your DH's car? If he rarely rides in that car, I would take a look at the Cosco Scenera. It is cheap ($30-$50), yet offers a high RF weight limit (35 pounds) and is generally a great RF seat because it usually actually does allow RF to 35 pounds. It then FF to 40 pounds.

Currently not at all since we moved his seat into my car. Likely, it would only be occasionally on the weekends. How does the Cosco Scenera rate as far as safety goes? My thinking was that I'd spend the money for a Britax or similar if I needed for safety and quality if it means a better product. Obviously I won't need any fancy features since I'm not using it often...but it has to be a good safe fit regardless (obviously, of course). I was also thinking that the extra seat could be for baby #2 later (hoping to get pregnant soon). I was thinking of putting Britax DC in dh's car and the new (possibly skinnier seat) in my car. I'll look into the Scenera though.

Soooooooo, I'm debating between the Fisher Price Safe Voyage, Radian65 (I can just buy the support pillows from amazon for $17, so the 80 seems ridiculous for the price difference) or the Cosco Scenera.

One more thing. DH's car is small and RF means VERY limited leg room in the front. We had him RF behind the passenger seat before so my husband could have enough leg room to drive (he's 6'2" and I'm 5'3" so it was the fairest solution). I'm thinking of putting his "extra" seat in the center of dh's car FF. I know RF is safer the FF and center is safer than side. I'm pretty sure RF beats out center in safety though. My son is 15 1/2 months and 22 pounds (he walks/runs now and hasn't gained much weight lately). Is it a horrible thought to want to put him FF already even if it means he can be in the center? I would add that he'd rarely be in that car...but I'm not one to gamble when it comes to my childs safety...I can live with having my legs cramped if I have to.

I'm open to any and all suggestions. I'd love a comparison of the seats I'm debating too.

Thanks!

[scatterbunny]

bump

[Loves2sing]

Have you tried RF in the center of dh's car? We have this same problem with dh when he's driving, and found that the center is the best place to install in our (now sold) 03 Focus. The seat fit right in between the front seats, and we got the best fit in this position. Just a thought!

As far as saftey goes, the Scenara is a safe seat when used correctly just like any other seat. The limits are just not as high as some seats as far as weight and height goes. It is also not as plush as some other seats, like the Britaxes. But as a part time seat, it should work really well, provided you can get a good install.

As far as the FPSV vs the Radian, I think I would go with the Radian personally. I have never seen the FPSV in person, but I believe the Radian would last longer, and because the base is so narrow it fits better when putting 3 across.

[CDNTech]

Your son is old enough that he does not need to be at a 45 degree angle anymore. Try installing his seat at a more upright angle (up to 30 degrees is perfectly safe). This will give you more leg room and keep him RF and safe(R).

The Scenera seems like a perfect secondary seat for your husband's car. Narrow and great 35lbs RF capability. At only $40 it won't break the bank either. Make sure you get the 5pt version though if you go with this option.

The Radian is very long front to back, I don't think you'd be too impressed with the lack of leg room if you went this route... although if you can install in the middle and the back of the seat can rest between the front seats, this may not be so much of an issue. I know someone on here has had a Radian in her CRV so hopefully she'll chime in and let you know how it fits.

[jheimes]

I have a 96 Toyota Camry. Don't know if that would similiar in size to your car or not.
We have a Radian 65 RF at less of an angle for an older child in the center. It comes between the 2 seats and lets us sit back further than if I had put it behind one or the other. I am 5'4" and can still fit in the driver's seat without being squished. My husband is 5'10" approx and sits in the driver's seat okay, but would prefer more room. It was a bit difficult to install compared to infant seats, but did manage to get a tight install eventually.

[Carter's Mommy]

Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't tried RF in DH's car with less of a recline yet. I did go to the store and try to install a Radian 65 without much luck. My rear seats fold down 40/20/40 instead of the standard 60/40 split so there's some plastic piece in the middle seating area that makes it so I can't use the recline piece necessary for the Radian to be RF. I was told it had to be used in the RF position and unlike the Britax I can't tether the radian RF. I like the slimness of this seat and was REALLY hoping it would work. I tried it in the outboard position both RF and FF and both with the LATCH and with the seat belt...I couldn't seem to get in to secure nearly as snug as my Britax DC. It is a little bit longer than the Britax, as this would effect leg room, but b/c it's so slim I was sure it'd fit in the center w/o effecting the front driver and passenger seats...too bad I can't use it in the center of my car b/c that would be perfect. The way the LATCH systems are in my car (2007 Honda CR-V) I can't put a seat behind the passenger and in the center...I could use both outboard positions or center and behind the driver. Either way, 2 seats in my car will really cramp my husband (he's 6'2" and prefers to do the driving). I think I'm giving up on trying to figure a way to get 3 seats across and will get a new vehicle when the next baby arrives (How ridiculous is that!). For now though, I need to fit 2 seats (my son and the baby I nanny for). Aside from wanting to fit multiple seats in the back I was also looking for one of my two seats to be used in DH's car. I'm still disappointed that I let someone talk me out of the Britax BV. I'm thinking of getting this (for the TRUE SIP and super easy harness adjustment) and if my son doesn't like the "wings" I could put it in DH's car instead...then use it for baby #2 later. Would that be a big waste of money since he's rarely in DH's car? I definitely don't have money to waste, but I don't want to buy a different seat if I'm going to end up getting a Britax BV later anyway.

DS is 31 1/2 inches and 22 1/2 pounds.

Thanks again to everyone!