Brigala
CPST Instructor
Let's assume for a minute that money is not an issue. Up to and including a Foonf.
I just found out that Dorel is refunding my Complete Air. They took my CA and THEN realized they didn't have a replacement available. I won't be getting another one because the only color pattern (the one I sent back) is being discontinued. I wish I'd known; I could have sent it back coverless and then they could have sent me one they had in stock... but oh well.
At the moment, DD is fine in her RA55 but she's going to outgrow it eventually. I want to RF as long as possible, and obviously the RA55 is not going to be that seat.
The car is a 2000 Suburban. No LATCH. Seating position is captain's chairs, but bonus if I can squeeze it into the 3rd row center with the lap belt in case we're filling the car up to capacity for a long trip or something.
Daughter's stats:
17 months old
I just weighed her and she is up to 27 lbs!!!! I thought she was 22. Wow, she's growing FAST. I think she was 21 lbs 2 months ago. She's following a strange growth curve; was really slow to grow (like 5th percentile for weight) the first 6 months and has been taking off like a weed since then.
Height: 31"
Seated height: 20"
She's too squirmy to get her torso height right now, but she's *almost* ready to move to the second-to-top slots on the Radian RXT (however, she's using the infant padding and when I take that out she'll lose a little height).
I am currently infatuated with the Onyx/Shadow color schemes, although I'm open to other ideas. Black/silver/grey/pewter colors are a bonus.
So... here are my options:
Radian - I love my Radian. It does require the angle adjuster for the Suburban. It also installs in the 3rd row center with the angle adjuster (without it the belt path geometry makes it hard to get tight). If I get a Radian, which model and which color should I get? I'm not a huge fan of Spring. I'm intrigued by Plum and Cobalt. I don't want Daytona, period. I love Shadow, but I already have one and I'm torn between matching or getting something different. I love plushy things. I'm also torn between the RXT and the R120. Biggest drawback is that it's really hard to install in the pickup because it needs a locking clip and has long belt stalks so coupled with the low belt path it's a PITA. I can do it, but it would be nice if DH could do it without my help.
True Fit Premier - I think it's kind of ugly, but the belt lock-offs are a huge bonus due to the pickup truck issue. Now that I weigh DD, though, I'm thinking the 35 lb RF weight limit is a deal breaker. I had thought maybe she'd outgrow everything by height (she's really long in the torso) by about 35 lbs, but she's packing on the pounds so maybe not.
Maxi-Cosi Pria - Maybe I should go down to BRU this weekend and try this on for size in the Suburban. My impression is that the fabric is really similar to the CA SE (but without the pretty silver swirls). And with the trade-in event the price comes down to about the same as my refund for my CA SE.
I don't want a My Ride. I just don't love that seat.
Foonf - My biggest concern is, strangely, not the price. Rather it's the fact that it sits SO high up off the seat when RF. I'm already having to hoist DD up a long way to get her into the Suburban, and she's getting heavy (another point in favor of the Radian). Other than that, I think it would be awesome. I wonder how it would work in my Civic... probably wouldn't leave much space for my other passengers, though. I need to fill my Civic to full capacity a LOT, and I'm hoping to add another babymunch to the family this year... hmm.
I've heard some stirring about a new Peg Perego convertible? Should I be considering that?
I don't think I want to import a Multi-Tech, but if someone were to convince me that DD wouldn't be able to RF to age 4 (or close) in a US seat I might entertain the idea (but I probably still wouldn't do it).
Did I miss anything?
I just found out that Dorel is refunding my Complete Air. They took my CA and THEN realized they didn't have a replacement available. I won't be getting another one because the only color pattern (the one I sent back) is being discontinued. I wish I'd known; I could have sent it back coverless and then they could have sent me one they had in stock... but oh well.
At the moment, DD is fine in her RA55 but she's going to outgrow it eventually. I want to RF as long as possible, and obviously the RA55 is not going to be that seat.
The car is a 2000 Suburban. No LATCH. Seating position is captain's chairs, but bonus if I can squeeze it into the 3rd row center with the lap belt in case we're filling the car up to capacity for a long trip or something.
Daughter's stats:
17 months old
I just weighed her and she is up to 27 lbs!!!! I thought she was 22. Wow, she's growing FAST. I think she was 21 lbs 2 months ago. She's following a strange growth curve; was really slow to grow (like 5th percentile for weight) the first 6 months and has been taking off like a weed since then.
Height: 31"
Seated height: 20"
She's too squirmy to get her torso height right now, but she's *almost* ready to move to the second-to-top slots on the Radian RXT (however, she's using the infant padding and when I take that out she'll lose a little height).
I am currently infatuated with the Onyx/Shadow color schemes, although I'm open to other ideas. Black/silver/grey/pewter colors are a bonus.
So... here are my options:
Radian - I love my Radian. It does require the angle adjuster for the Suburban. It also installs in the 3rd row center with the angle adjuster (without it the belt path geometry makes it hard to get tight). If I get a Radian, which model and which color should I get? I'm not a huge fan of Spring. I'm intrigued by Plum and Cobalt. I don't want Daytona, period. I love Shadow, but I already have one and I'm torn between matching or getting something different. I love plushy things. I'm also torn between the RXT and the R120. Biggest drawback is that it's really hard to install in the pickup because it needs a locking clip and has long belt stalks so coupled with the low belt path it's a PITA. I can do it, but it would be nice if DH could do it without my help.
True Fit Premier - I think it's kind of ugly, but the belt lock-offs are a huge bonus due to the pickup truck issue. Now that I weigh DD, though, I'm thinking the 35 lb RF weight limit is a deal breaker. I had thought maybe she'd outgrow everything by height (she's really long in the torso) by about 35 lbs, but she's packing on the pounds so maybe not.
Maxi-Cosi Pria - Maybe I should go down to BRU this weekend and try this on for size in the Suburban. My impression is that the fabric is really similar to the CA SE (but without the pretty silver swirls). And with the trade-in event the price comes down to about the same as my refund for my CA SE.
I don't want a My Ride. I just don't love that seat.
Foonf - My biggest concern is, strangely, not the price. Rather it's the fact that it sits SO high up off the seat when RF. I'm already having to hoist DD up a long way to get her into the Suburban, and she's getting heavy (another point in favor of the Radian). Other than that, I think it would be awesome. I wonder how it would work in my Civic... probably wouldn't leave much space for my other passengers, though. I need to fill my Civic to full capacity a LOT, and I'm hoping to add another babymunch to the family this year... hmm.
I've heard some stirring about a new Peg Perego convertible? Should I be considering that?
I don't think I want to import a Multi-Tech, but if someone were to convince me that DD wouldn't be able to RF to age 4 (or close) in a US seat I might entertain the idea (but I probably still wouldn't do it).
Did I miss anything?