Radian vs boulevard for newborn

I am looking to get a convertible car seat for my newborn and I am stuck between the diono radian rxt and britax boulevard. I have a 2012 ford focus. I want to be rear facing as long as possible. I know that the boulevard fits in my car but haven't been able to try the radian. What concerns me about the radian is its lack of side protection especially for a newborn. Most of my family has been chubby and short so height is not a top concern for me but I do live in a very hot climate year round and am worried the boulevard will be too hot. Anybody had both? Is the boulevard hot? How do they compare in front to back length? Thanks

I don't think you would get anywhere near the recline needed for a newborn with a Radian in that vehicle. With most seats you're able to increase the natural recline (which is dependent on the slope of the vehicle seat) by putting a tightly rolled towel or a pool noodle at the seat bight, but Radians don't allow that. Since it's imperative that you protect the airway of a newborn, and an overly upright seat will cause the baby's head to flop forward, you're more or less stuck with what you get with a Radian. Either it works or it won't and if it doesn't there's nothing you can do about it except wait for your baby to get older so s/he can tolerate the more upright angle.

Here is a Radian in a 12 Focus, but this is installed with the angle adjuster to make it more upright for a 3 year old. It's as upright as I would ever want it, and without the angle adjuster it's still quite upright. Even at that upright angle I almost can't sit in the front seat and I'm 5'8. Without the angle adjuster the front seat would be completely unusable. I have not tried it in the middle but I doubt it would be better there. Note that it's not touching the front seat, although it looks like it is.



If your seats are not leather it might make a difference, so if you have access to a Radian it's worth a try without the adjuster to see. You're aiming for about a 45* angle where the baby's head would be.

There are other convertibles that would work from birth and I'll let a US tech chime in on your options.

What about a nextfit?

I would look at the Chicco NextFit or the Maxi Cosi Pria with TinyFit. Both fit newborns wonderfully and take up very little space front to back.

I had both with my son when we transitioned him from an infant carrier at 6 months. I much preferred the Radian and regretted buying the Boulevard. I preferred it so much that I ended up buying another Radian and gave my parents the Britax for when they took my son on short trips. My son is now three and still loves his Radian.

I think this is good advice. I wish I had just gone ahead and bought something like the Pria from the beginning. It will last you for a very long time. They might seem expensive, but much cheaper than having to buy multiple seats!

aporthole said:

I would look at the Chicco NextFit or the Maxi Cosi Pria with TinyFit. Both fit newborns wonderfully and take up very little space front to back.

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