Question Super Confused Dad!! Graco Nautilus vs Sunshine Radian XT

[Unregistered]

Super confused dad needs some help....

Need to buy a car seat for my son who is turning 1 next week.... 23lbs - 30 Inches


Stuck between Graco Nautilus vs Sunshine Radian XT

I am not too concerned about the booster seat that is part of the Graco...

My main concern is safety and transfering it from car to car

any other recommendations

 

[wendytthomas]

The Nautilus is forward facing only, so it's not an option for a one year old. A one year old needs to be rear facing for at least another year, if not two or three more.

The Radians are good choices for long lasting seats, but they can be a bear to install. How often do you need to switch from car to car? Generally we recommend after the infant seat getting two seats and putting one in each car. Are both cars going to be used equally, or one only on occasion?

For ease of installation I'd look at the big Britax convertibles. But they won't last as long as others. I'd also look at the True Fit/True Fit Premier. Also the Evenflo Triumph Advance. Then the Graco My Ride and the Safety 1st Complete Air.

I wouldn't look at anything with a booster as that's five to six years off. Nor would I look at anything that only forward faces.

Let us know the answers to the above questions and we can help you out more!

Wendy

 

[Unregistered]

Thanks

I have been speaking with a few people at the specialty stores in Canada...

They said that as per Transport Canada I would be okay with the forward facing

Requirement is 1 yr and at least 22lbs

My main concern is safety.... I would like to have the Side Impact Protection

75% of the time it will be used in 1 car but on occasion we might switch..

Radian XT or the Britax Blvd CS or the Safety first but that only goes to 50lbs

 

[Jan06twinmom]

Welcome! I'm so glad you found this board and that you are asking some questions.

I agree that your baby needs to be in a rear-facing car seat. Of the seats you were considering, that leaves the Radian. I really like the Radian a lot and found that I'm liking it over the long haul. My DS is a big four year - 46in tall and 51lbs. He's built like a future linebacker He's probably got about another in of torso growing room in the Radian while he's at the limit of our Britax Decathlon car seat.

Wendy also gave you some other great options to consider.

I thought you might want to find out more about why we are recommend a rear-facing car seat. You can do a google search about "importance of rear-facing" or "extended rear-facing" to learn more. Here are a couple of my favorite links:
http://www.fortwayne.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/SE/20071210/NEWS/712100332
www.joelsjourney.org

HTH

Melanie

 

[wendytthomas]

Ok, Canada changes some things.

If your main concern is safety, though, then you DEFINITELY want to rear face as it's 500% safer (http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/13/6/398). You won't get anyone here saying forward facing is safe for a one year old. Or at least you can do a lot better. TC says one and 20 is ok, but that's because for the longest time seats didn't go above 20 pounds rear facing, so you went as close to one as possible, and TC hasn't changed their recommendations, apparently. The AAP has been recommending since 2002 that children face the rear to the maximum limits of the convertible seat, which now is 35-45 pounds. TC, while they may say one and 20 is ok, obviously think rear facing longer is better since they've revised their 30 pound maximum rear facing policy and now there are 35 and 40 pound rear facing seats in Canada.

So, I resay what I said before, though I don't know if the My Ride is available up north.

Here are some more links:
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/StayRearFacing.aspx
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;109/3/550
http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/30/4/12-a
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/extract/121/3/619
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8094829.stm

Ok, as for the moving, that's probably ok to switch, but you may want to look at something like the Cosco Scenera to have in the car that's used 25% of the time. Every time you install a seat there's a chance for an error, so you want to minimize that. It may be worth it to pick up a less expensive convertible seat to use in the car that's used less. It's also nice to have a spare seat for travel or in case you're in a collision or your primary seat gets vomit on it and you need to chuck the cover in the wash.

Wendy

 

[Mommy2Marcus]

Hiya! I agree with the others that if safety is your MAIN concern then you deffinatly want to look at keeping her RF. While the law says it is perfectly safe, that does not mean that it is. It is very dangerous to turn a 1 year old FF, regaurdless of what they weigh. I in fact have my 3 year old still RF. You will find that most of the people here will tell you that keeping your DD is safer & that most of us have even our 2-4 year old RF.

Also here is a video that is about 3 1/2-4 minutes long. Take the time to watch it. It tells WHY RF is SO important as well as showing why. You will also see that the safest thing to do for your DD is to leave her RF from this video!
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvyIv9QVRBE"]YouTube - Rear facing is safer[/ame]

 

[canadiangie]

Hello neighbour, welcome to the board. :happy-wavehello:

Transport Canada does in fact advocate rear facing past the minimum of age 1 and 22 pounds. If you go to the Transport Canada website you'll see that they suggest rear facing for as long as possible, AT LEAST until age 1, and not to rush a child into a forward facing seat. :thumbsup:


Be very careful when listening to store employees. If they have any training when it comes to car seats it's typically the basics... sort of like the laws and minimums, nothing at all about best practice, and if you're being told that forward facing is "fine" at age 1 it's an indication that the store employee knows just enough to get by.

Certainly NONE of us will endorse a 1y/o be turned forward facing. I'm in Calgary, and can tell you that this isn't a US versus CDN thing either. Any good technician will advocate rear facing past the bare min of 1 and 22lbs.

So in terms of what seats you should be considering, I'm hoping a mod will come along and drag this thread to the Canadian and International forum, but if not, please navigate your way over and read the sticky thread at the top of the page. You'll get a good run down of seats available in Canada.

Side Impact Protection is a buzz word these days, but please keep in mind that ANY rear facing seat is going to provide enhanced side impact protection when compared to ANY forward facing seat. A rear facing seat keeps the child's head *in* the shell of the seat. A forward facing seat -- even one with head wings -- cannot contain a child's head nearly as well (as a rear facing seat). For this reason we advocate rear facing in a convertible seat (read: not the Graco Nautilus), that has a tall shell, and a rear facing limit past 30 pounds. If you want SIP headwings that's fine, but it shouldn't be a deal breaker.


Are you at all open to rear facing past age 1 and 22lbs? Are you more inclined to read information on it, or would seeing some helpful/informative videos work best? (some people are visual learners, some aren't).

Post back with what you drive and your budget for a seat...

 

[Maedze]

What everyone else said :thumbsup:

Safety is your priority and that is great :thumbsup: We know now that 'safety' means keeping babies and toddlers rear facing for as long as possible. The Sunshine Kids Radian seats are GREAT and will keep your child rear facing to three and four years, which is what you want :thumbsup:

 

[ForeverSkye]

What everyone else said :thumbsup:

Safety is your priority and that is great :thumbsup: We know now that 'safety' means keeping babies and toddlers rear facing for as long as possible. The Sunshine Kids Radian seats are GREAT and will keep your child rear facing to three and four years, which is what you want :thumbsup:

I totally agree, as a new member to the forum rear facing is the way to go!
We have two Radian XT's and love them.

 

[Unregistered]

Thanks for your help....

I think I will forget about the Graco... Rear Facing is safer for the child

Now that changes alot of things. Side Impact Protection is important to me

Here is the options i have for rear facing... Which one would you advise

1. Britax Blvd

2. Sunshine Radian XT

3. Safety 1st Complete


Whats the verdict

 

[babygund]

Hi
Sorry if it has been raised already but what about the True Fit? I am in Canada too and got mine at Zellers for $149. Also if you buy it and it goes on sale within a couple weeks they will price adjust it for you. It is the easiest seat I have ever had to install in a car both rear facing and forward facing. The strap adjuster can be tricky depending on the vehicle you are using but there is a ton of room in it and my kids are really tall. My 15 month old has a lot of room rear-facing and for some reason my really tall 5 year old still fits in it with more room to spare than in the radian.
Good luck!

 

[wendytthomas]

Of the three you listed I'd probably look at the XT first (though the wings can't be used for the bottom two slots), then the CA, then the Blvd. I'd also look at the True Fit. No wings but a deep shell.

Remember also that there are no standards for side impact testing, wings may do nothing, and manufacturers are allowed to label the seat as they wish. Also, any five point harness offers side impact protection, as does rear facing.

Glad you're sticking with rear facing!

Wendy

 

[abacus2]

Thanks for your help....

I think I will forget about the Graco... Rear Facing is safer for the child

Now that changes alot of things. Side Impact Protection is important to me

Here is the options i have for rear facing... Which one would you advise

1. Britax Blvd

2. Sunshine Radian XT

3. Safety 1st Complete


Whats the verdict

These are all good seats. I personally prefer the Radian. I recommend trying to find these seats at a store where you can try out your child in them, practice installing them in your car, and see which you like best.

 

[Maedze]

I would remove the Boulevard from your list, play with the Radian and Complete Air and see which you like better. If you can get a good install in your car, the Radian is probably your best bet

 

[Calleiah]

Also, we have a listing for Certified techs. Hooking up with a tech would be a great way to learn some great install techniques if you are thinking of the Radian. They can be a tricky install, but it's an excellent seat for RF. My 3 1/2 year old is still RF in her Radian 80 and we love it.

To find a tech near you take a look at this thread:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=59135

Good job dad!

 

[Unregistered]

That leaves me with two..... 50 - 50


1. Radian XT

2. Safety 1st Air Complete



I have a Honda Civic... Not Sure if it will fit properly for the rear facing...

Safety 1st

Pro's Easy to move/install
Con's Forward-facing for children 22-50lbs

Installation extra
Radian

Pro's - Forward-facing for children 22-50lbs Rear-facing 5 - 45 lbs
Con's Difficult to install

Free Installation

Help a confused dad

 

[Unregistered]

So I have finally made my decision


Its going to be the Radian XT


The issue I am having is the weight....

2009 model is on sale at many stores for $250- $270 which only goes to 30lbs or 35lbs - Rear Facing

I do see that their is a 2010 model which is $40 more but goes upto 45lbs- Rear Facing

My mind say pay the $40 and keep him longer rear facing

 

[hipmaman]

Try installing and fitting both Complete Air and Radian XT in your Civic before making the final decision. Proper fit/correct installation is key to safety

Having said that, factoring the extra $40 over the lifetime of the XT, it's not a bad investment to have the 45 lbs rf limit vs. the current 35 lbs, especially when it is not an easy thing to guess how big or how fast your little one will grow.

Welcome to c-s.org btw

 

[Unregistered]

Thank you


If I were to buy the Safety 1st from Toys R Us I would have to arrange for installation myself or pay out of pocket... Thats about $30

If I buy the Radian Installation is included.

Does anyone know when the new Radian XT will be available


Thanks

 

[wendytthomas]

In the US (not 100% sure about Canada, but pretty sure), the 9/08 and later models are retroactively 40 pounds, even though the stickers may say 35. So a 2009 model *should* be 40 pounds rear facing. You can give Sunshine Kids a call to confirm about Canadian models.

The Radians have an eight year lifespan, versus the six of the Complete Air, so even at $40 more you're getting a deal. And you're getting a ton more time rear facing, unless he's super long and skinny.

Wendy