Which RFing seat?

[lanwenyi]

DS is getting close to outgrowing the Truefit by weight (and, if the Endocrinologist and the Gastroenterologist have their way, he'll be gaining weight quickly and SOON!), so we need a new RFing seat for him. We had planned to turn him FFing, but with the test results showing his bone age at only 2yo, he will stay RFing and we will just buy another seat to fit him and our car.

DS is 37" tall and weighs 31.8 lbs without shoes

Here are the requirements:
1. Must fit RFing behind the driver in a VW Jetta Sportwagen
(for reference, a TFP fits, a Radian w/ AA does not)

2. Must have rebound control - prefer ARB over RF tether b/c it is diff to tether in the VW.

3. Must have a reasonably tall shell (DS has outgrown the classic britax seats by torso height; we had a Blvd 65 that he outgrew rfing about 9 mths ago)

Preferences:
-Push on LATCH connectors
-Easy install using LATCH or Seatbelt
-Long-lasting FFing
-Price point that's not totally outrageous

Is anything out there for us? What seat(s) do you recommend?

I admit that I haven't been paying attention to convertibles lately. I thought my next purchase would be a combination seat or a booster ;-)

 

[Lenae]

Convertibles with rebound control (besides ones he'd outgrown like Britax and the Coccoro) I can think of off the top of my head are the Peg and Foonf. I also think I remember reading that the NextFit passed the new, more stringent Canadian standards without any rebound control. All that being said, I love Sassy's Pria, but it doesn't have rebound control.

 

[lanwenyi]

Is the peg any taller than the Britax seats? Does it have an ARB or a RFing tether?

How enormous is a foonf?

I'd be okay without rebound control, but I don't think DH would. He's on here now, so maybe he'll chime in on this thread when he finds it. He's still a newbie though; last I saw he only had 3 posts! If DH is okay without rebound control, I'll keep a Pria in mind, where can those be found?

 

[seb3244]

Sorry I am not sure which seat to recommend but i am wondering why your DH is so adamant about the anti rebound bar? Are they really that much better than top tether when rear facing?
Thx

 

[Lenae]

Is the peg any taller than the Britax seats? Does it have an ARB or a RFing tether?

How enormous is a foonf?

I'd be okay without rebound control, but I don't think DH would. He's on here now, so maybe he'll chime in on this thread when he finds it. He's still a newbie though; last I saw he only had 3 posts! If DH is okay without rebound control, I'll keep a Pria in mind, where can those be found?

I think the Peg was ever so slightly taller than Britax, but not sure exactly how much. The Peg tethers RF. I saw the Foonf in person, but never installed it. I was totally turned off by the size. I was considering Pria, Foonf, and Peg, and ultimately went with the Pria. I never did see the Peg in person though, so I can't really comment on it. But the Pria is ridiculously padded, my kids fight over who gets to ride in it (it's bright pink and my son loves it, even though he's on a hating pink kick right now). I saw it with the TinyFit at Babies R Us, but ordered the version without the TinyFit from AlbeeBaby.com.

 

[lanwenyi]

Sorry I am not sure which seat to recommend but i am wondering why your DH is so adamant about the anti rebound bar? Are they really that much better than top tether when rear facing? Thx

Not my husband, that car Just sucks for rfing tethers. They're hard to get on (your hand is eaten alive) and impede movement of the front seat, so behind the driver we prefer an arb, behind the passenger we've been using a radian with aa (and rf tether) but I need to switch the kids due to school drop off line issues (I need dd on the passenger side), and the radian with aa does not fit behind the driver.
on my phone, please forgive my autocorrect

 

[1mommy]

DS is 37" tall and weighs 31.8 lbs without shoes

Here are the requirements:
1. Must fit RFing behind the driver in a VW Jetta Sportwagen
(for reference, a TFP fits, a Radian w/ AA does not)

2. Must have rebound control - prefer ARB over RF tether b/c it is diff to tether in the VW.

3. Must have a reasonably tall shell (DS has outgrown the classic britax seats by torso height; we had a Blvd 65 that he outgrew rfing about 9 mths ago)

Preferences:
-Push on LATCH connectors
-Easy install using LATCH or Seatbelt
-Long-lasting FFing
-Price point that's not totally outrageous

I was thinking the Evenflo Sureride, but it doesn't have anti-rebound control. It has passed Canadian testing with just an extra Velcro strap around the feet, but I don't know any more details. It also doesn't have push on latch connectors, but is an easy install, tall shell, it has the highest straps of any convertible so its long lasting ffing and is a great price.

 

[MommyShannon]

That's tough. The Pria has a 40" rf limit so that'd likely be your next problem. I've read a lot of mixed things about the height of the Peg. It is magical for some people even though it's similar height on paper to the new Gen Britax seats (your classic was taller yet). My 38" dd has room left in new gen seats so I'm thinking your DS has a tall torso. I'd probably try the Foonf or the Graco MySize70/Size4Me/Headwise. The Graco doesn't have rebound control, but as much as I like rebound control, rf longer without it is much safer than ff sooner. The NextFit is pretty tall too and supposedly passes the Canadian tests.

 

[Lenae]

That's tough. The Pria has a 40" rf limit so that'd likely be your next problem.

She's right. I always forget about the 40" rule for the Pria. I have a shorty short pants daughter, so no worries for me, but I would choose to ignore it personally. I obviously cannot recommend that to anyone else, and no tech would either, so there is that.

 

[lanwenyi]

Yes, DS has a long torso for his height. DH is all torso and has no legs. I'm several inches shorter than my husband, but my legs are longer than his. DH has a SUPER long torso. The kids take after him. I'm only slightly long-torsoed.

OK, so it seems like my choices with rebound control are peg, which my DS *might* have outgrown RFing (b/c I know he's outgrown the new Britax convertibles) and Foonf.

Anyone know how the Foonf compares on front-to-back space in the same car as a Radian and a TFP? (I know a TFP fits in my car and a Radian with AA does not.)

Also, how high are the sides on the Foonf? Will DS bang his head climbing in? We're talking about a car here, not a big SUV or a minivan.

If we give up rebound control, can anyone show me a link about the Nextfit passing the Canadian Rebound standards without any changes. If it did, that might work. How high are its sides?

What about the Headwise/Mysize/Size4Me, are it's sides tall?

Do either of those seats take up the same or less room than the TFP?

I'm not comfy ignoring the 40" rule on the Pria, so I'll have to pass on that one. If the endo gets DS growing, he might hit 40" before his bones hit 4yo, so I need a seat that will still accommodate him RFing until then.

 

[lanwenyi]

Forgot to add, I'll prob be getting an Evenflo Sureride to replace the Avenue in Grandma's car. We were just going to turn him FFing in her car and when flying once he hit 35lbs, but with his bone age only 2yo, we're not comfy with that, so we need a lightweight seat for that occasional use.

However, unless it's vastly diff from the other Evenflo seats I've used, the twisting straps will drive me nuts if I'm using it all the time. I like seats with the heavyweight straps that don't twist.

 

[lanwenyi]

Does anyone know how a foonf compares on front to back space in the same car as a tfp and a radian? (I know a TFP fits in my car behind the driver and a Radian with AA does not.)

Also, how high are the sides on the Foonf? Will DS bang his head climbing in? We're talking about a car here, not a big SUV or a minivan.

If we give up rebound control, can anyone show me a link about the Nextfit passing the Canadian Rebound standards without any changes. If it did, that might work. How high are its sides?

What about the Headwise/Mysize/Size4Me, are it's sides tall?

Do either of those seats take up the same or less room than the TFP?

Anyone?

on my phone, please forgive my autocorrect

 

[1mommy]

Pretty sure the Graco ones don't take up as much room as the True Fit, especially since the headrest goes out progressively, Don't know about its sides, but I haven't heard any complaints like I have the nextfit. The nextfit has not passed Canadian Standards yet (as far as is officially known) its all rumor so far, and on their website they have a little blurb about recent studies show their are very few injuries due to rebound. Sorry I'm not more help. Your best bet may be to just go to the store and look at them in person as much as it sucks I know. Shopping online is just so much more convenient.

 

[lanwenyi]

Pretty sure the Graco ones don't take up as much room as the True Fit, especially since the headrest goes out progressively, Don't know about its sides, but I haven't heard any complaints like I have the nextfit. The nextfit has not passed Canadian Standards yet (as far as is officially known) its all rumor so far, and on their website they have a little blurb about recent studies show their are very few injuries due to rebound. Sorry I'm not more help. Your best bet may be to just go to the store and look at them in person as much as it sucks I know. Shopping online is just so much more convenient.

I'd love to check them out locally, but can't find them.

My bru has spots for them, but no seats. No local stores have foonfs and my local target's selection is a joke. I'd have to drive 1.5 hrs to boutiques in Orange County to even try to find them and there's no guarantee.

So, before I start ordering and returning, I'm trying to make my best guess on one that'll work.

Thanks for any and all help!

on my phone, please forgive my autocorrect

 

[MommyShannon]

I can't find it now, but the blog recently compared front to back space of lots of seats. Maybe somebody can link it or you may be able to find it.

 

[lanwenyi]

I can't find it now, but the blog recently compared front to back space of lots of seats. Maybe somebody can link it or you may be able to find it.

I spent some time on the blog and found it here, thanks for the heads up!

No foonf comparison though :-(

I took my DS to his GI appt yesterday (40 min away) and stopped at another Target/BRU while over there.

Target had
a Headwise, which DS liked,
a "Sureride", which DS had outgrown and I said "WHAT!?!" until I saw a sticker on the side that said FF 22-50lbs and realized that they'd zip-tied a Sureride info pamphlet to a Titan or something like that
and the box for a Nextfit but no demo seat

BRU had
a MySize, that DS did not like (it wasn't red)
a Nextfit, that DS LOVED ("it's softer by my head and under my butt, mommy!")

Still no Foonfs anywhere around here and I don't know anyone with one.

I didn't have time to try any of them in the car, but based on looks both would fit, so for DS's prefs we'd try the Nextfit first. Now just to decide if we want to try a Foonf before going with a nextfit. . . .decisions, decisions. I have to make it soon. GI wants him to gain a lb within the next month which puts him at 33 lbs at his lightest part of the day and 34+ at the heaviest part of the day+clothes and shoes. He's going to hit the weight limit of the TFP soon.

I'm also starting to worry about whether 40lbs RFing will be enough. DS has 2yo bones. I have no idea how quickly his bones will age once he finally starts growing. If he starts gaining, but his bones don't age quickly will I regret not getting a seat with a higher RFing weight limit?

If I do get a higher RFing weight limit, doesn't that only leave me with the Foonf b/c he's (likely) outgrown the Peg rfing and the Radian w/ AA doesn't fit in the spot I need him to ride?

 

[lanwenyi]

Ok, I was reading reviews on Amazon, (I know, I know, not the best place, but no one here was responding about the foonf and I couldn't find a review on carseatblog), everyone keeps saying how enormous it is front-to-back (even in the positive reviews) and how it takes up even more room than the radian, add that to all the complaints about no padding in the butt area and I think it's out.

I'll have to go with the Nextfit and PRAY that DS's bones age faster than he gains weight.

Anyone know if the Pulse cover is a BRU exclusive or if I can get it somewhere else?

Is the Studio color a decent red?

I can't tell online. DS loved the Pulse color at BRU, but it's more expensive there than anywhere else and I haven't gotten any BRU coupons lately!

 

[Nedra]

Pulse is a BRU exclusive. I don't know about whether the studio is a "decent" red (not sure what's considered decent). It's definitely a darker, less bright red than the Pulse.

Not sure if this is always true, but I have read that BRU accepts BBB 20% off coupons -- if you have any of those.

 

[lanwenyi]

Pulse is a BRU exclusive. I don't know about whether the studio is a "decent" red (not sure what's considered decent). It's definitely a darker, less bright red than the Pulse.

Not sure if this is always true, but I have read that BRU accepts BBB 20% off coupons -- if you have any of those.

I wanted to be sure it was red and not some other color. It's hard to tell online.

I have several BBB 20% off coupons, but I've never heard of BRU accepting them.

DS loved the Pulse color, but he might take a darker red. How much darker is it? Pulse has a tan with the red. Is the other color with studio a dark grey or a black? (I live in SoCal and generally try to avoid black)