Question help finding convertible car seat for a Mazda5 and tall drivers

javafreak81

New member
LO is almost 9 months old and about 20lbs and everyone comments on how tall he is. We need to get him a convertible car seat but we're struggling to find something in Canada that won't require us to move the front row seat too far forward. We currently have the Peg Perego 4-35 behind the front passenger seat, but it means my 6'2 husband can't safely sit in front of it. Even at 5'7, I just barely fit in front!

Any suggestions for a convertible car seat in Canada that fits well in the Mazda5?

When we were shopping for the infant carrier, every sales person we talked to said we shouldn't have any issues fitting any infant carrier, and yet the Peg just barely fits.
 
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Pixelated

Moderator - CPST Instructor
That Peg seat is certainly one the larger infant seats front-to-back. Good news is that there absolutely are options that will work for you :)

How tall is your child?

How long do you intend to rear face for?

Do you have a budget in mind?
 

Keeanh

Well-known member
I have a Mazda5. I could try out a Sureride, Radian, or Marathon G4.1 for you if you're looking at any of those.
 

javafreak81

New member
That Peg seat is certainly one the larger infant seats front-to-back. Good news is that there absolutely are options that will work for you :)

How tall is your child?

How long do you intend to rear face for?

Do you have a budget in mind?

Hi Pixelated,

At 8.5 months he's 29 inches. Not sure if that's tall, but the carseat tech at the store commented that he looks tall.

Ideally, we want to go RF as long as possible, but aiming for at least until he's 2.

In terms of budget, given the challenge we're facing, we're willing to spend more for one that's a good fit and safe. The Britax Boulevard Clicktight we tried in store is $500, so ideally not more than that.

Just to put a bit of a wrench in things, my husband drives a Mini Cooper S. While we mainly use the Mazda5 for transporting baby, my husband's had to take him a few times in the Mini. The Peg will fit, but this means the car becomes a 2-seater because there isn't space behind his seat and the Peg only fits with the front seat all the way forward. So while the Mini isn't the car we typically use with the baby, we would need to ensure a car seat can fit in the Mini as well.

If you can at least provide a short list for us to try both cars, that would super be helpful.
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javafreak81

New member
I have a Mazda5. I could try out a Sureride, Radian, or Marathon G4.1 for you if you're looking at any of those.

Thanks for the offer Keeanh, but the issue isn't getting the car seat in the car, it's installing it in a way that leaves enough space for my 6'2 husband to sit in front.

I have to say, while I know RF is safer, I'm definitely looking forward to when LO can sit FF :jive:
 

lgenne

New member
I'm in the US, but I've had a RF Radian with angle adjuster behind the driver's seat. I'm not super tall but I'm all legs. I can put the driver's seat all the way back, no problem. I can't recline it much, but I don't want it reclined anyway.
 

Pixelated

Moderator - CPST Instructor
I suspect the Graco Dimensions would be a good option for you however I don't know for certain how it installs in your vehicles.

Have you considered getting a separate seat for the Mini? For example the Cosco Scenera NEXT for $99 is very compact and lightweight. It's longer lasting rear-facing than forward though, but would leave ample leg room in the Mini.

I do think the Dimensions would likely leave a good amount as well. It's ideal for tall lightweight kids, or tall kids who don't rear-face as long as possible. With the 35lb rear facing weight limit that will be sooner rather than later for the heavier kids.

The Dimensions is sold at Babies R Us and Sears (plus a few others online) and its twin the Contender is sold at Canadian Tire. If you are near one of those stores try checking it out in person and see what you think. Take both vehicles and have a go.

Otherwise the suggestion of a Radian is a good one for the 5 - but no idea how it will translate into the Mini. There are several models of Diono seats and the least expensive one is on sale at Amazon for $255 right now.
 

javafreak81

New member
I suspect the Graco Dimensions would be a good option for you however I don't know for certain how it installs in your vehicles.

Have you considered ...

Thanks Pixelated. At $100 for the Cosco, maybe we get that plus, once I go back to work in July, hubby might need to do pick up some days. Thanks for the recos!
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javafreak81

New member
I'll probably go with Pixelated's suggestion . 2 car seats. We also tested out the Radian and it fit well in my Mazda5 with the Angle adjuster. Just need to see how the baby likes sitting in the more upright angle. I'm just concerned his head will roll forward if he fall asleep (which is almost guaranteed in any car ride longer than 20 minutes).

I noticed on the BRU website that there is a Radian 100, 120, and RXT. I'll need to research the differences.
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javafreak81

New member
So, I found a great article online comparing various car seats strictly on the front-to-back size. Seems the Maxi Cost Jool (I believe th Pria is the US equivalent with some minor changes, if any) is the smallest. I haven't found much information about the carseat online. Has anyone had any experience with it? Or can point me towards a review?
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dogmelissa

New member
I'll probably go with Pixelated's suggestion . 2 car seats. We also tested out the Radian and it fit well in my Mazda5 with the Angle adjuster. Just need to see how the baby likes sitting in the more upright angle. I'm just concerned his head will roll forward if he fall asleep (which is almost guaranteed in any car ride longer than 20 minutes).

I noticed on the BRU website that there is a Radian 100, 120, and RXT. I'll need to research the differences.
Posted via Mobile Device

My daughter moved into the 2010 version of the Radian Premier when she was 4 months old; we added the angle adjusted at about a year (it wasn't available before that) and didn't have any problems with head slump when sleeping. It's not outrageous.
Did you find the Canadian site for the Radian, because the names you have listed aren't what we have in Canada. You can read about the different models here: http://ca.diono.com/en/car-seats

Your son is sitting right now on about the 90% for height, so yes, he's tall. My daughter has ridden the 85% for height since birth so I know what you're dealing with. From personal experience, in the Radian, while a great seat, your son is going to make changes (to FF and then out of harness to booster) by height, not weight. That being said, my tall daughter made it RF until past her 4th birthday and just now, a month past her 6th birthday, is outgrown the harness forward facing. She was within about 5# of the weight limit for rear facing but is 15 below the limit for FF. The 2010 version did not convert to booster (we are moving her to the Harmony Defender to extend harnessed time even though she could go in a booster). Just putting that out there for your comparison. If I had a baby now, I would not hesitate to buy a Radian again!!!!

I don't know the other seat you mentioned in your next post so won't comment on that.

Hope that helps,
Melissa
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Pixelated

Moderator - CPST Instructor
I noticed on the BRU website that there is a Radian 100, 120, and RXT. I'll need to research the differences.
Posted via Mobile Device
Comparison chart available here: http://ca.diono.com/en/comparison-chart


So, I found a great article online comparing various car seats strictly on the front-to-back size. Seems the Maxi Cost Jool (I believe th Pria is the US equivalent with some minor changes, if any) is the smallest. I haven't found much information about the carseat online. Has anyone had any experience with it? Or can point me towards a review?
Posted via Mobile Device

The Jool in Canada is an absolute monster. It's ENORMOUS rear-facing. I can't imagine how it came out anywhere as most compact. I've only seen photos and it's not common. I can't imagine it will wind up being very popular as most people don't drive tanks (my interpretation of the vehicle size needed to accommodate it). Never mind that it's $400.
 

javafreak81

New member
Thought I'd provide an update. We ended up getting a Diono Rainier. It was on sale at a great price ($300) at Snugglebugz. They also had the Clek Fllo on sale and while that fit quite well, the larger side walls (a safety feature of the seat) left very little room between the open sliding door and the seat to actually slide the baby through.

A friend's husband is a certified car seat technician so I'm waiting for when he's available to look over the install before installing it. We did put it in place at the store and it fit very well with the Angle adjuster.
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javafreak81

New member
So I just opened the car seat to take it out of the box in prep for getting it installed on Friday ...and one of the plastic corners is cracked in a couple places. Talk about disappointing! Also makes me question how safe it really is (despite passing the tests).

Now I need to spend tomorrow dragging it and LO back to the store. I just hope they'll exchange it despite the fact that carseats are final sale.
 

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