Convertible car seat for 1998 VW Jetta

KaitlynSarah · May 17, 2012

My son just turned 5 months and is about 19 lbs give or take. We have the Chicco Keyfit 22, so it's time to start looking for a new car seat.
Here's the problem. We drive a 1998 VW Jetta and my husband is 6'2 and I am 5'6 which means his seat needs to be pretty far back.
Since I seem to produce big babies, I need a car seat that has a high RF weight limit.
Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

KaitlynSarah · May 18, 2012

Please help a confused Mom out.

tam_shops · May 18, 2012

It isn't just about the rear facing weight limit, the Britax seats (for example) have a great high 40# RF limit, but the shell of that seat, is not tall enough to support a typical 40# child. Meaning, my 6yo is almost 4# but my 3yo has been too tall for that seat for over a year now.

So, that explained, you are going to need a compact seat and you are going to need to try a few.

Personally, I'd try one of the Britax seats and the Truefit. I know the TF only has a 35# RF weight limit, but it has a taller shell than hte Britax seats so if your child is tall/thin, he'll actually last longer in the TF than the Britax seat.

My other suggestion would be looking at and trying the Radian. You'll have to check your car manual and see if VW lets you brace or lean the Radian against your VW seats (I don't know off the top of my head). If that is aloud, then you may get away w/ making it work for the next 6 months, then get an angle adjuster to make the Radian more upright and you more comfortable.

tam

dragonfly8 · May 18, 2012

Yes to everything Tam said, but I'd also like to add in the Complete Air. It has a nice tall shell, 40lb rear facing limit, 65lb FF limit, and seems to fit compactly enough.

What province are you in? Perhaps someone might have a seat for you to pop in your car to see what will fit?

Nimommyof2 · May 18, 2012

Another option is the Graco MR not a bad price Rf to 40lbs and usually fits nice front to back room wise

skylinphoto · May 18, 2012

I had a rfing radian in my 99 passat. Behind the driver braced. If I recall (don't have the vehicle anymore), you couldn't brace against the passenger seat.

KaitlynSarah · May 18, 2012

Thank you for all the feedback so far.
So far at 5 months, my son is both heavy and tall.
I'm in BC and the babies R us here let's you try it out in your car. Same with Baby's World I think.
I keep hearing about the Radian... the only thing that puts me off is the price. But it's looking like that may be the best fit.

canadiangie · May 19, 2012

KaitlynSarah said:
Thank you for all the feedback so far.
So far at 5 months, my son is both heavy and tall.
I'm in BC and the babies R us here let's you try it out in your car. Same with Baby's World I think.
I keep hearing about the Radian... the only thing that puts me off is the price. But it's looking like that may be the best fit.

No, a Radian is probably last on the list for a small car unless baby is old enough that an Angle Adjuster can be used. The Radian takes up an incredible amount of front to back space when rear facing. Now it might puzzle between the front seats if you install it in the middle, but that assumes you get a good install. The Radian can be tough to install with a seatbelt.

I'd be looking at the TrueFit because it has seatbelt lock-offs and tends to fit great in small spaces. Ive put one in a Golf and it was great. I know it only has a 35lb rf limit, but that gets most kids to age 3+. I guess it comes down to how long you want to rear face for, but I'm just not convinced that the TF's 35lb rf limit is a deal breaker.

tam_shops · May 19, 2012

The Truefit has been seen at Zellers for ~$100.

TRU/BRU has the others
Radian and Britax seats--both way more money

MyRide
Complete air

I've seen the CA at Walmart for less $$, but remember it has something like a 36" height restriction on it.

If he's tall and heavy and you want to RF past 3yo, then I'd first try the Radian AND see if it fits between the seats (as Angie explained), if it does not, then you're going to have to try something else.

Do *not* buy a seat from somewhere you can not return it w/ out trying it in your car first, our d/c lady has a Jetta and it's a really tight back seat and getting even a Scenera in there is almost impossible w/ the seats the way she has them-back so she can drive and b/c she puts a child passenger in the front sometimes.

tam

Convertible car seat for 1998 VW Jetta

KaitlynSarah

New member

KaitlynSarah

New member

tam_shops

New member

dragonfly8

New member

Nimommyof2

New member

skylinphoto

New member

KaitlynSarah

New member

canadiangie

New member

tam_shops

New member

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Sponsors

Forum statistics