Regent... Radian...Regent..Radian

doriansmummy · Dec 21, 2006

My 4 year old son is 41'' and 38lbs.
He is in a Evenflio Triumph and has about 4'' from his ears hitting the top of the car seats back.

Now the question. I have gone back and forth on what to get.
I need to go try both seats our car (2000 Ford Focus) but I have some questions.

Does the Regent sit higher up than the Radian?
(My son is so use to being able to see out the window with these lower seats I am wondering how that will work.)

The Radian seems safer as its bigger in frame but is that correct?

Thanks!

Splash · Dec 21, 2006

The Regent is WAY bigger than the Radian.
Neither sits on a base, but the Regent has a thicker shell, so it probably sits a bit higher.
I think the Radian installs well in a Focus (or is it a Taurus... who knows?) and the Regent installs well in almost everything.

The Focus is a small car, and the Regent is a huge seat, so take that into account. Also you must use the top tether over 50 pounds for the Regent (but should always use it when possible) so if you cannot get top tethers installed in the seating position you want, that might be out.

The Regent will last much longer, but your son is fairly small, so the Radian should last a long time as well.

becca011906 · Dec 21, 2006

i know that radian installs ok/well (well with LOTS of force and weight into it) in a ford taurus... not sure about focus, don't know anyone that owns one... but i do love the radian seat, my dd has current stats in the siggy line... check it she's on the second to the top slots but about to be moved to the top soon, althoug she still has about 3.5 inches of growing torso hight... so i would say she will last in it till atleast 6 years old.

musicmaj · Dec 21, 2006

I just got a Radian for my almost 5 year old. He fits great in it. He is 43.5 inches tall and 43lbs. He is on the second to top slots, but they need to be moved up very soon. I think he will have a couple years worth of growth in the seat and then it will be passed down to my youngest.

Dillipop · Dec 21, 2006

We used our radian when we rented a focus and it fit well in all seating positions with and without latch, IIRC.

scatterbunny · Dec 21, 2006

Your son has about 4 inches before the tips of his ears are level with the top of the seat shell, but where are his shoulders in relation to the top slots?

The Radian is 17 inches wide, the Regent is 21.5 inches wide, so the Regent is a much bigger seat.

Both sit flat on the vehicle seat, no base.

The Radian harnesses to 65 pounds (except the new Radian80, but it is the same exact seat as the Radian65, same to slot height, no way a kid will make it past 65 pounds in the harness of that seat).

The Regent harnesses to 80 pounds.

The Radian's top slots are about 18 inches.

The Regent's top slots are about 21 inches.

Your Triumph's top slots are 15.5 inches, for comparison purposes.

Most kids will make it to age 6-7 in the Radian before going over the top slots, most kids will make it to age 8-10 in the Regent.

I'm leery of recommending the Radian unless you can try it before you buy it or can buy it and return it if it doesn't work out. It just has compatibility issues.

The Regent fits in a huge variety of vehicles. I had one in a 1991 Honda Accord, a pretty small car. I've seen it in smaller cars, like the Ford Escort.

Your son is small/average for his age though, so a Radian should last him quite awhile. My dd was your son's size at 3.5 years old. She would still have a bit of growing room in a Radian now at 5.5 years old, 4 feet tall and 48 pounds, probably a year or so. She'd have 3+ years left in a Regent.

BlueDragon · Dec 21, 2006

My son just moved from a Wizard to a Radian -- he's 37" tall. He sits MUCH lower in the Radian and I was worried that he would complain that he can't see. He didn't complain at all and thought it was the greatest thing that he had a new seat.

Same for my daughter who just moved from a Roundabout to a Safeguard GO. She is much lower, doesn't mind at all.

My guess is that the Radian would sit the child much lower than the Regent, but that your kid will get used to it.

It sounds really like you need to try both to be sure, given your small car. My guess is that will make the decision very clear -- either the Radian won't install or the Regent will be too huge (or both, which I hope doesn't happen). We have Regents on order, when they come you can come on over to our place since we'll have both.

PS If anyone wonders what is going on and why a 37" kid would move out of a Wizard, these are the seats that got checked in on planes. We are chucking them for Regents -- got a discount on the Regent but have to wait for it, so in the meantime got a Safeguard Go and a Radian, since we will use them for travel anyway. Not checking them in obviously, or perhaps in some very padded, inside a suitcase configuration.

scatterbunny · Dec 21, 2006

The Regent WILL fit, it will just make a three-seater backseat into a two-seater.

It's huge and hard to handle to get it INTO the car, but once it's there on the seat it's easier to deal with. The Regent is my favorite seat to install.

Both the Radian and Regent sit flat on the vehicle seat, so I don't think the Regent will sit the child up any higher than the Radian.

Patriot201 · Dec 21, 2006

The Regent *might* sit a child up higher by about 0.25 inches (MAYBE), but that is definitely not enough of a difference to make a difference in how well your child can see out the window.

Best of luck to you!

Morganthe · Dec 21, 2006

One item to consider about a Regent in a Focus -- Being a small car, how far back do you use your front seats? Something to check out. Even in the center, there might not be enough leg room for your child to fit comfortably as he grows older.

tchrgrrl · Dec 21, 2006

doriansmummy said:
Does the Regent sit higher up than the Radian?
(My son is so use to being able to see out the window with these lower seats I am wondering how that will work.)

My 4 year old has gone between a Husky/BPB (emergency drive home after accident)/DC/Regent in the last month and hasn't complained at all about not being able to see out the window in any seat. Your guy is likely tall enough to be able to see regardless which seat he is in

scatterbunny · Dec 21, 2006

Re: leg room. It should only be a problem if they use the recline bar, which is only required for a lapbelt install or if the seat is not top tethered.

Morganthe · Dec 22, 2006

scatterbunny said:
Re: leg room. It should only be a problem if they use the recline bar, which is only required for a lapbelt install or if the seat is not top tethered.

LOL -- reason I mentioned it is that I noticed with the Radian in my dh's Jetta, there's about 1 1/2 inches of space between his seat back and where her car seat ends. His shoulders are almost on her lap because he's so tall. She sits in the center, thankfully. I don't see how a Regent would fit at all.

If DD sits behind me in the Camry in her Maxi-Cosi, there's no way to wedge her legs in front of her seat. And my seat back is as upright as possible. I just need lots of leg space to be able to drive.
It's not just the size of the overall car seat, it's the sizes of the people in the front that matter too

doriansmummy · Dec 27, 2006

Since the Regent is a bigger seat would I be correct in saying it would be "safer" for my son in a small car to be a in a bigger seat? Im not really worried about how much room it takes up I just want him to be safe as possible.
He has to sit on the back passenger side as if we put him in the middle no one can fit in the back. Well no other car seat and I do watch a 2 year old 2 days a week so I do have to have one extra belt.

Thank you again!

scatterbunny · Dec 28, 2006

In my opinion, yes the Regent would be more protective outboard in a small car than the Radian. Just my opinion, but my reasoning is like yours: a bigger seat shell/deeper sides will provide more protection.

ajweeks · Dec 28, 2006

I have an '05 Focus and just bought a Regent for my almost 5 year old son. It fits great in the back installed without the recline bar and the long belt route and tethered. My husband needs the front seat back all the way when he drives and my son can still fit fine behind the front seat.

I would have considered the Radian if my son weren't so tall, but at this point, due to his height, the Regent was my best option. There is another tech on this board (search for Focus and Radian) somewhere who has a Focus and has had great luck installing the Radian in there.

I think both seats would install well in your car. The Radian takes up less space, but will not last as long. If you want your son harnessed until at least 8 years old, then go with the Regent. If you think he will be fine in a booster at around 6-7 years, then the Radian is okay.

My son loves his Regent and has not complained sitting lower (he was in an MA before). He also loves the storage pockets on the side of the Regent.

flipper68 · Dec 29, 2006

FWIW:

Regent is NOT airline approved.

Radian is.

Only an issue if you fly.

scatterbunny · Dec 29, 2006

Oooh, good point.

I think a 5yo would be perfectly fine using just the plane's lapbelt, though. The only issue would be having a seat for him at the destination.

doriansmummy · Dec 30, 2006

scatterbunny said:
Your son has about 4 inches before the tips of his ears are level with the top of the seat shell, but where are his shoulders in relation to the top slots?

They are about 2-3 inches from the top slots

scatterbunny · Dec 30, 2006

Wow--he's ALL legs, then!

A torso of 12.5-13.5 inches at 41 inches tall is great, in terms of fitting in carseats longer.

He'd only need the second set of slots (from the bottom) on the Regent, with 1-2 inches of room to grow. Your 5yo has a shorter torso than my dd did on her 2nd birthday. He'll last in either seat for years to come.

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