Angie, you're right, I am concerned about side to side movement. Baby brain strikes again
I can picture the physics of how a RF tether would help stabilize a seat sideways, but just can't figure out how the plastic ARB of the TFP would achieve the same thing?
Does the RF tether do more in terms of absorbing crash forces and spreading them throughout the car seat shell (specifically, the back of the restraint) than the ARB, since it's just at the base of the seat?
We do have a TFP and I love love love the seat. BUT, if the RF tether on a Britax convertible would make it even one part of one percent safer, I can give up the features of the TFP that make it so attractive to me. My kids are peanuts- we've never come close to the RF weight or height limits on a seat before- heck, my oldest is only 54lbs at 9.5, next DD will be 7 in Jan and is only 35lbs. DS is 4.5yo and 35lbs, as well. Both 6yo DD and 4yo DS could still fit RF in their Radians by weight and by height. So for us, the extra room RF of the TFP really isn't an issue (well, watch this little girl be a chunka munka and super tall now that I've said that, LOL!!!!) and a MA or BV would technically fit her for as long as I need it to. As much as I like the Radian (we have 2 XTs), I really don't care for it for an infant, so that's out.