Help me pick a birth to booster convertible seat for my sister...

[Irishmama]

Ah well, I'll pass the anti-rebound information on to her and see what she thinks. I'm just not comfortable recommending a Radian to her, I've taught her how to install the Marathon, and I've still had to fix it several times. I've had tricky installs in my van, I was able to get acceptable installs but I really had to work at it.

I'm so glad I wasn't going crazy about the Peg rf tethering.

If I absolutely have to, I can loan her my SureRide until baby fits something larger. If I take out the Nextfit and SureRide since there isn't confirmed anti-rebound, then that leaves me MA65, MA70, TFP, Peg, and possibly Radians.

She did mention she was willing to spend more to get the "best" seat, so maybe I'll suggest that getting two less expensive seats that will meet her needs best in each stage could be the same cost at one more expensive seat that won't meet her needs well in each stage.

It's so much easier when I'm picking and buying my own seats. I argue with myself, but in the end I always win.

 

[smileyblue4]

"I think it will be her best bet, although I've heard the padding in the bum may leave a bit to be desired. The Radians would definitely fit her requirements, but it's got to be a guaranteed easy peasy install. "

Did you mention what car your sister drives? In some cars, the Radian can be a pretty east install. When we got our Radian, I was driving a Saturn Outlook (twin to Traverse/Acadia/Enclave). The install was so easy in the captain's chair, I was afraid I had done it wrong after reading about what a beast it can be. Good luck helping her find her perfect seat.

 

[Patriot201]

The install was so easy in the captain's chair, I was afraid I had done it wrong after reading about what a beast it can be. Good luck helping her find her perfect seat.

I had that experience the first time I installed my Radian, as well. It was so easy that I was worried I had done something wrong!

 

[Lenae]

I did not read all the responses.

Pria fits all requirements but rebound control. I seriously wish Sassy had just had the Pria all along. It is amazingly cushy, adorable, and with the TinyFit and tall top slots, is a good candidate for birth to booster. It does have the 40" RF height limit, but a 50th percentile boy reaches 40" after 4 years old, so I feel like its a reasonable limit for the average child.

 

[finn]

I have an ra55 and love it. Everything about it is easy. Dd is in the 97th% for her height at 2y4m and she still has quite a bit of room above her head, I could easily see her getting to 3 rf in it.

I hate the radian, there is nothing easy about it & I never recommend it to non car seat people.

 

[Irishmama]

She drives a 2005 Nissan Quest. Seat would be going in a captain's chair. I guess I could try one and see how it installs. I'm going to pass this along to her. She's looking at they Peg, but for that price she could get two seats, one for tiny baby and one for ERF toddler. I'm going to link this thread so she can get a better idea of what she wants. Thanks for all the great replies!

 

[1mommy]

The true fit premier is really nice, I like that you can save room by removing the headrest while the baby is still little and then once the baby is able to sit more upright you can reinstall it upright with the headrest. The premium latch connectors and the lock offs are nice so its an easy install both with the seatbelt and with latch, and the no rethread harness is pretty cool.

 

[DanielleCT]

I pretty much have the same requirements as your sister, except my cars are smaller and I didn't set a budget because I only have one kid. I didn't want a Radian because I was worried about the install/ease of use and I also wanted more than the SIP wings of the RXT. Like your sister, I also really wanted anti rebound or rear tethering, although I am reexamining this currently and considering a Pria. You're right, there is no perfect seat.

I'm brand new to convertible seats, but I am trying out a Peg convertible right now. I wanted to let you know that the manual is updated for the rear tether use. It's also updated for the rf headrest height limit, and they placed a sticker on the back so you know where to stop. Install was okay for me, I have to use a rolled up towel, which I don't love. She might have better luck with a captains chair.

The seat is very deep and my baby is 40% for height and not likely to be very big (I'm five feet tall), so I am okay with leg room for her while RF. The fabric on the seat is really nice, as are the details. This is what you are paying for, in my opinion. The infant pad stays in until the baby is 22lbs, but I am a little concerned that the crotch strap will still be too far out for her when she hits that weight. I can also tell that the harness slack adjustment will be annoying when the seat is rf (this is mentioned in this seat's review on here). I think I'd prefer the TinyFit system of the Pria (or something similar) to the infant setup on this seat for a newborn, but that's just my opinion as I don't have a newborn to try the seat out!

 

[jordansmom]

I pretty much have the same requirements as your sister, except my cars are smaller and I didn't set a budget because I only have one kid. I didn't want a Radian because I was worried about the install/ease of use and I also wanted more than the SIP wings of the RXT. Like your sister, I also really wanted anti rebound or rear tethering, although I am reexamining this currently and considering a Pria. You're right, there is no perfect seat.

I'm brand new to convertible seats, but I am trying out a Peg convertible right now. I wanted to let you know that the manual is updated for the rear tether use. It's also updated for the rf headrest height limit, and they placed a sticker on the back so you know where to stop. Install was okay for me, I have to use a rolled up towel, which I don't love. She might have better luck with a captains chair.

The seat is very deep and my baby is 40% for height and not likely to be very big (I'm five feet tall), so I am okay with leg room for her while RF. The fabric on the seat is really nice, as are the details. This is what you are paying for, in my opinion. The infant pad stays in until the baby is 22lbs, but I am a little concerned that the crotch strap will still be too far out for her when she hits that weight. I can also tell that the harness slack adjustment will be annoying when the seat is rf (this is mentioned in this seat's review on here). I think I'd prefer the TinyFit system of the Pria (or something similar) to the infant setup on this seat for a newborn, but that's just my opinion as I don't have a newborn to try the seat out!

Would you be able to start a new thread with pictures of the new Peg stickers? I would love to see how they are marking the headrest heights for rearfacing and allowing rearfacing tethering. I would be very much appreciated! Thanks!

Sorry for the hijack OP!

 

[DanielleCT]

Jordansmom, just posted it! It's in Carseat Chat.

 

[Irishmama]

Thanks everyone for all the help! I talked to her today and I think she's set on another Marathon Classic. She loves her current one, and wants to go with what she already knows well and loves. I loved my classic MA, so I can't blamer her. If baby doesn't fit well, she can borrow my SureRide until baby fits. So we shall see. Maybe some manufacturer will shock us and reveal the dream seat she's looking for.

 

[MommyShannon]

Thanks everyone for all the help! I talked to her today and I think she's set on another Marathon Classic. She loves her current one, and wants to go with what she already knows well and loves. I loved my classic MA, so I can't blamer her. If baby doesn't fit well, she can borrow my SureRide until baby fits. So we shall see. Maybe some manufacturer will shock us and reveal the dream seat she's looking for.

I think that's a good choice since you can loan her a seat at first until the baby fits.

 

[Patriot201]

Thanks everyone for all the help! I talked to her today and I think she's set on another Marathon Classic. She loves her current one, and wants to go with what she already knows well and loves. I loved my classic MA, so I can't blamer her. If baby doesn't fit well, she can borrow my SureRide until baby fits. So we shall see. Maybe some manufacturer will shock us and reveal the dream seat she's looking for.

I'm glad she found a seat she likes!

 

[Irishmama]

She's happy, so I'm happy! Does anyone know if they are planning on discontinuing the Classic MA anytime soon? My sister asked and I didn't have an answer for her. Thanks!

 

[Brigala]

Ah well, I'll pass the anti-rebound information on to her and see what she thinks. I'm just not comfortable recommending a Radian to her, I've taught her how to install the Marathon, and I've still had to fix it several times. I've had tricky installs in my van, I was able to get acceptable installs but I really had to work at it.

Well, for what it's worth, I gave a RA55 and an RXT to DH's baby grandson, and while the RXT is usually more or less installed correctly every time I get a chance to look at it, the RA55 almost never is.

I personally find the Radian much easier to install than the RA55 in most vehicles. The lockoffs are difficult to manage and seem to be the source of confusion for DSD and her husband as well. Unless their car has a feature (such as a long buckle stalk or something) which would make the Radian install more complicated, that one gets my vote. The only confusing things about the Radian are the "set up" (use the boot!) and stuff like the SafeStop. But those aren't things that need to be touched every time the seat comes in and out of the car. I'd think you'd be able to go over them with her when necessary, which would be once when it's first installed, once when it turns to forward facing, and maybe once more when SafeStop has to come off (if it ever gets used at all). And I'd go with a wingless model because the wings DO cause confusion for people a lot.

 

[Irishmama]

I mentioned Radians to her, but I think all those details overwhelmed her. As she says, she "hates car seats as much as love them." I think we go over the straps above/below shoulders almost every time, lol. And that the 1" rule only applies rf, not ff. I agree with you, a Radian fits her requirements, but she's decided on the MA65 and I can't really argue with it, I loved mine too. I still miss that seat. *sniff*

She knows the seat and the install, so it will be more likely to be installed correctly than them learning a new seat. At this point, if she's happy, I'm happy. And I know I've got a seat I can loan her if baby doesn't fit at first.

I don't mean to knock Radians, they don't always have tricky installs. The rf install in our Ford Escort was awesome! I just hesitate to recommend them to someone who I'm not certain will remember the rf boot, etc. I'm not a Radian-hater, I promise!