Longest rearfacing carseat?

kidnurse · Jan 25, 2010

I am sure the answer is here already somewhere, but my computer is very slow, and my eyes are crossing from information overload. My son is bigger than most kids his age, and I am interested in keeping him rearfacing for as long as possible. Which carseats have the highest weight limit for rearfacing? I am considering a Radian 80 for this reason, but I did not see it listed in the "recommended carseats" section, I am wondering why not? There was another carseat from SSK there but not the Radian.

Thanks in advance for any info.

carseatcoach · Jan 25, 2010

Radian80SL and RadianXTSL both RF to 45#, and that's the highest in the US.

ketchupqueen · Jan 25, 2010

The highest weight limit is the Radian 80SL or XTSL, 45 lbs.

All other Radians (manufactured after 9/08), the Safety 1st Complete Air, and the Graco My
Ride go to 40.

Radians have install difficulties in some cars, and tend to want to recline a lot in many cars as well when rear-facing. If you tell us what car you drive, we can let you know if there are known issues.

The Complete Air will last taller skinnier kids the longest of the 40 lb. rear-facing seats, because it gives about 3-4 more inches of growth room when installed at the same angle as the Radian and will get pretty much any kid I can think of to 40 by height. However if your son is stockier/chunkier, the XTSL or 80SL would be the longest-lasting choice, for the extra 5 lbs.

armywife12 · Jan 25, 2010

The True Fit, Complete Air and all of the Radian seats (65SL, 80SL and XTSL) are pretty much the 3 that RF the longest. The True Fit only RF to 35lbs though so it is usually better for the tall and skinny ones. The Complete Air and Radian 65SL both RF to 40lbs and the Radian 80SL and XTSL both RF to 45lbs. As far as shell height, they could all RF most children close to 4 yrs old but the 35lb RF limit on the True Fit really holds the seat back for heavier tots

Qarin · Jan 25, 2010

kidnurse said:
I am considering a Radian 80 for this reason, but I did not see it listed in the "recommended carseats" section, I am wondering why not? There was another carseat from SSK there but not the Radian.

Do you mean this page?

http://carseatblog.com/?page_id=401

It looks like that was written a bit over a year ago- there have been quite a few changes and several new seats since then... in particular, when it was written there were no seats which rear faced higher than 35lbs in the United States, and now there are several!

kidnurse · Jan 26, 2010

Well, as far as my car goes.......lol, I drive a Dodge Caliber. Tiny, but I am a single mom (SMBC), so my son and I are the only ones in it on a regular basis. So I can move the passenger front seat up as far as it will go, as well as set the seatback itself as upright as it can go. I did order the Radian 80 yesterday with that deal thru diaper.com, and price matching thru baby catalog. I didn't want to miss the chance at that deal, it brought the car seat price to under $200, and if it does not fit, I can always ship it back for a refund.

Longest rearfacing carseat?

kidnurse

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carseatcoach

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ketchupqueen

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Qarin

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