Question Help me select a seat for a average size 4 year old.

[Momtobeof3]

My daughter turns four in July and we need advice on her next seat. We want to pass down her current MA to her 1 year old sister.

So DD1 is about 35/36 lbs, and 38/39" tall.

We will get two seats - one for each of the following locations:
the 3rd row of a 2010 Toyota Sienna - passenger side
the 2nd row of a 2010 Toyota Sequoia with a Radian 80SL RF on one side and a Britax MA RF on the other.

So far I've been looking at:
Britax Frontier 85
Radian (I already have 2 Radian 80SL and am NOT in love with them at all)
Recaro Prosport
Graco Nautilus

Any other options?

 

[jjordan]

Have you tried any seats in your 3-across row? You might be limited a bit based on what will fit with what you already have. Also there may be seats that won't fit between your two RF seats, but will fit outboard if you put the two RF seats next to each other. Just something to keep in mind.

With an average-sized child, there is no *need* to get the frontier if it's not your favorite, because your dd probably will last plenty long enough in any of the other seats you've mentioned. At the same time it's not a bad choice by any means. So if I were you I'd just give some seats a try and see what you like. (Since you already know you don' treally like the Radian, then I'd probably just leave that as a "last resort" seat at this point.)

 

[Momtobeof3]

We currently have a Chicco KF RF, Britax MA FF, Radian 80SL RF in the 2nd row with plenty of room. I am sure another Radian would fit, but not sure about the other options. The Sequoia is a very large SUV, so I don't think we should have any problem, but will fit test anything before we buy it to be sure. The main reason for keeping the 4 year old in the middle is that she can climb in where it would be hardered to lift the 22-23 lb 1 year old into the middle position over the 4 year old's seat.

I do plan to shop this weekend, but wanted to try to get advice on what are the 'best' seats right now to try to look at. With a nearly 4 year old and 1 year old twins it is hard to shop with as much focus as I would like.

I really want to love the Radian, so many people do, but he leans to the side and the opposite strap falls off my 1 year old's shoulders. I can get past the fact that it is not as easy to tighten as the Britax and Chicco, but the fact that the straps do not stay on his shoulders really bothers me. I feel that it is not going to protect him properly.

I would mainly get the Frontier since it would give me flexibility to pass down to one of the twins in 3-4 years when they are ready for a bigger seat and the fact that I've been very pleased with the Britax MA. About a year ago I was told the Britax MA is not a good seat so that is why I am open to other options that people have had good luck with.

 

[BeautifulChaos]

The Maestro is another option that will harness her to a good booster age. Its outgrown as a booster by then though.

 

[mylittlet]

The Maestro is another option that will harness her to a good booster age. Its outgrown as a booster by then though.

Our ds2 would fit the maestro as a booster but not a 5-point because he is over 50#. He is under the top slots though.

I would try the maestro for the suv. I would look at the nautilus or frontier for the van.

Stefanie - CPStech in Iowa

 

[gsdguenter]

About a year ago I was told the Britax MA is not a good seat so that is why I am open to other options that people have had good luck with.

The MA is a fine seat, although people might have been referring to the poor Transport Canada test results for the Classic MAs ffing. Just throwing it out there that.

It seems like the Mestro would be good and if you want to swing the extra money either the Frontier or the ProSport.

 

[BrookeSLP]

I love Nautilus for my 4 year old! Prior to the Nautilus, she was in a MA. I prefer the Nautilus.

 

[BeautifulChaos]

The MA is a fine seat, although people might have been referring to the poor Transport Canada test results for the Classic MAs ffing. Just throwing it out there that.

It seems like the Mestro would be good and if you want to swing the extra money either the Frontier or the ProSport.

I'm unfamiliar with the test results. Is there a link?

 

[gsdguenter]

I'm unfamiliar with the test results. Is there a link?

I've never tried to link a thread, so here goes:

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=101040&highlight=changing+seat+usage+response+TC's+videos?

If that didn't work, just type into the search: "Will you be changing your seat usage in response to TC's videos?"