Most legroom?

Which RF seat has more legroom? My friends youngest foster baby has mild CP and holds his legs rigid. He has some trunk weakness also. He just turned 1 last month and is over 20 pounds. We are trying to keep him RF, but he is having major issues with his legs. He pushes so hard on the seatback, that he is crying and very uncomfortable. She has tried to teach him to bend his legs, but he just won't. He even walks stiff legged on his tippy toes.

Right now he is in a RF FPSE and she has a Scenera and a CS available. I have a MA that I currently use for my little guy, but I might be able to switch seats as a last resort. She does not have funds right now to go out and buy a new seat, but I might be able to help her a little if there is anything with a lot more leg room.

So, between the FPSE, the Scenera, CS, and the MA, which has more legroom? We are going to try this weekend and see which he fits in, but insight from those with experience might save us time. Any tips besides more recline to get a little more room?

Personally, I think my MA gives my little man less leg room. It almost appears to have a shallow seat depth. My opinion.
What about the EFTA? The Radian has low sides, so would he be able to put them off to the side? :shrug-shoulders:

Here's a picture of my wildman at 15months in his Touriva. He was about 28lbs, 34" in this pic.



Here he is in his new Scenera. It is installed a bit more upright.

The comfort sport gives the most legroom. My 2 year old barely has to bend his legs in a rearfacing comfortsport.

Out of all the convertibles I've owned, I think the triumph advance is the roomiest, but that's just my experience so far.

If possible financially, I would get him a Radian. I was a little more than shocked to see how much room Jenna had in that seat RF compared to the Marathon.


She was about 18 months in this picture, and unfortunatley, I don't have any good pics showing her legroom in the Marathon, but it was quite a big difference. If that is not an option, then I would probably go with the Comfortsport.

daycaremom2002 said:

Which RF seat has more legroom? My friends youngest foster baby has mild CP and holds his legs rigid. He has some trunk weakness also. He just turned 1 last month and is over 20 pounds. We are trying to keep him RF, but he is having major issues with his legs. He pushes so hard on the seatback, that he is crying and very uncomfortable. She has tried to teach him to bend his legs, but he just won't. He even walks stiff legged on his tippy toes.

Right now he is in a RF FPSE and she has a Scenera and a CS available. I have a MA that I currently use for my little guy, but I might be able to switch seats as a last resort. She does not have funds right now to go out and buy a new seat, but I might be able to help her a little if there is anything with a lot more leg room.

So, between the FPSE, the Scenera, CS, and the MA, which has more legroom? We are going to try this weekend and see which he fits in, but insight from those with experience might save us time. Any tips besides more recline to get a little more room?

Click to expand...

This "might" be a situation where ERF is not the best option for the child.

For many of the kids w/CP I've been around, their excess tone makes it very difficult to sit with legs extended and relaxed (up against the seat like the PO's DS, with legs dangling or crossed. I'd be concerned he would not only be extremely uncomfortable but could damage his legs/hips/back because of prolonged extension/arching.

I'd recommend having a PT observe him in his CR to assess potential harm from constant extending and recommending possible adjustments that could be made to reduce tone. [My PT friends are very quick to position kids who extend/arch in ways that make it harder for their arch/extend reflexes to be activated.]

Hopefully therapy and/or braces will help improve or balance his lower leg tone and make it easier for him sit in ways that are compatible with rear facing.

From experience, the radian has A LOT more RF leg room than the scenera and MA. If your friend ends up getting another seat, I would definitely look at the radian.

Other than that, I'm not much help. Sorry!

daycaremom2002 said:

Which RF seat has more legroom?

So, between the FPSE, the Scenera, CS, and the MA, which has more legroom? We are going to try this weekend and see which he fits in, but insight from those with experience might save us time. Any tips besides more recline to get a little more room?

Click to expand...

My DD seems to have more RF leg room in her Scenera than in her MA. Part of it may be because I'm able to install the Scenera with a little more recline (because of the shorter shell in my Focus). I would also make sure that she's giving him the full 45 degree angle if at all possible.