which seat is the smallest?

[sillysmile]

I'm looking for a way to keep 2 kids RF with a TALL driver (6'6"). I recently started another post about this and got a lot of seat recommendations. Probably too many to try out in person, though. I'm wondering if anyone can help me narrow down the list. For example, have you compared any of these seats head to head, and know for a fact if one is smaller than another? I'm concerned about the front-back distance rear-facing, not necessarily the width.

I just need one small seat (i.e. for the toddler OR the new baby), as I can sit in front of the other one. Our cars are both small SUV's (Ford Escape and Lexus).

Here are my recommendations:

For the toddler (24m, 30#, 35", long torso, seat installed at 30deg):

safety 1st complete air
first years truefit
graco my ride
evenflo triumph advance 65
britax marathon 70
britax companion
britax roundabout 55
britax boulevard 70
britax advocate 70
cosco scenera 40rf
recaro signo

For the new baby (45 deg):

combi coccoro

first years truefit (*without headrest*)

Thank you so much!

[Llyra]

I'm sorry I can't answer your question about the size of the seat. I do know, though, that for the toddler, you can safely install the seat at a shallower angle, which will free up a lot of front-to-back room. Rear-facing installation for an infant must be at 45 degrees, but the toddler's seat can be as upright as 30 degrees from vertical, and still be entirely safe. (Experts-- please correct me if I'm handing out incorrect information-- but this info saved me from turning DD1 forward at too early an age, because DH was tired of eating the dashboard.)

[leighi123]

Originally Posted by Llyra 

I'm sorry I can't answer your question about the size of the seat. I do know, though, that for the toddler, you can safely install the seat at a shallower angle, which will free up a lot of front-to-back room. Rear-facing installation for an infant must be at 45 degrees, but the toddler's seat can be as upright as 30 degrees from vertical, and still be entirely safe. (Experts-- please correct me if I'm handing out incorrect information-- but this info saved me from turning DD1 forward at too early an age, because DH was tired of eating the dashboard.)

The TrueFit can only go as upright as 35 degrees, and the complete air, in the manual says it can ONLY be at 45* regardless of age.  But I know many carseat techs who are comfortable installing it more upright.   

Everything else can be installed more upright.  

The radian allows bracing IF your car allows it, and IF you can get it in there upright enough (depends on the slope of your seat) - I've gotten mine pretty upright because of this.   It also might fit sticking out between the two front seats.   

[an_aurora]

I have already responded to both of your other threads, but I'll answer here again.  

I would recommend the Complete Air as it allows my driver's seat to be all the way back in my small SUV.  I have seen most of the seats you listed in person and compared them.  I haven't seen the new Britax 70 line, but the original versions took up relatively little space and the new ones take up even less.  As the tech in the other thread mentioned, she has a new Britax in her Escape with the seat all the way back and a bunch of room between it and the car seat.  

I'd skip the Signo because it's hard to ERF with, due to no leg room and huge sides.

I'd also cross off the MyRide for a tall, long-torsoed child.

The Companion is a retired infant seat so I'm assuming that's on the list by mistake.  

Of those, the tallest shells are the True Fit and the Complete Air, with the CA having a higher RF weight limit.  

Originally Posted by sillysmile 

I'm looking for a way to keep 2 kids RF with a TALL driver (6'6"). I recently started another post about this and got a lot of seat recommendations. Probably too many to try out in person, though. I'm wondering if anyone can help me narrow down the list. For example, have you compared any of these seats head to head, and know for a fact if one is smaller than another? I'm concerned about the front-back distance rear-facing, not necessarily the width.

I just need one small seat (i.e. for the toddler OR the new baby), as I can sit in front of the other one. Our cars are both small SUV's (Ford Escape and Lexus).

Here are my recommendations:

For the toddler (24m, 30#, 35", long torso, seat installed at 30deg):

safety 1st complete air
first years truefit
graco my ride
evenflo triumph advance 65
britax marathon 70
britax companion
britax roundabout 55
britax boulevard 70
britax advocate 70
cosco scenera 40rf
recaro signo

For the new baby (45 deg):

combi coccoro

first years truefit (*without headrest*)

Thank you so much!