Help me figure out what car seat to get

[maciascl]

DS1 is 3.5 yo, 33lbs & 37 in. Currently in a Britax Regent.
DS2 is 9mo, 16.25lbs & 27in. Currently in a Graco sung ride.
We also have a Britax marathon that I plan to put DS2 in very soon.

The problem is that the Regent is NOT comeing out of my van. It doesn't fit in DH's Carolla anyway. But that thing was a PITA to get in right & it's a monster (MEGA HUGE) anyway. So we need another seat that we can use in DH's car on occasion or for carpooling with friends.

We may have another baby after March 09. I want to spend as little on car seats & buy as few car seats as possible. I've thought about a Decathalon so that if we do have another I can use that as the Snug Ride expires Jan 09. So we wont be able to use it again. However I've heard the Decathlon can be a pain to adjust. I also don't know much about seats other than Britax. I guess I've become a car seat snob of sorts

Please make some suggestions:

[cdncasper]

How about a Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe? It Rear faces up to 33 lbs and Forward faces until 55 lbs. It is made on a Marathon base. Or check out www.car-seat.org and ask there.

[chickabiddy]

The least expensive convertibles that harness past 40 pounds (since you want one that will last a long time) are the Fisher-Price Safe Voyage Deluxe, the Evenflo Triumph Advanced, and the Radian65.

[midwestmeg]

Originally Posted by cdncasper

How about a Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe? It Rear faces up to 33 lbs and Forward faces until 55 lbs. It is made on a Marathon base. Or check out www.car-seat.org and ask there.

:

I think that's the route you'd have to go if you want to harness longest and are used to the Britaxes. I noticed on another thread that babycenter is having a sale and you can get them for $97.00- that's a GREAT deal!

[alegna]

I wouldn't consider the decathalon, but the boulevard instead.

Other higher weight/height seats include: radian, apex, and the new recaros.

-Angela

[jeteaa]

Originally Posted by alegna

I wouldn't consider the decathalon, but the boulevard instead.

Other higher weight/height seats include: radian, apex, and the new recaros.

-Angela

I just ordered the decathalon for dd2 and regent for dd1. I wanted to buy the boulevard, but there were too many negitave reviews about the crotch stap being to tight and NOT adjustable. Where it is with the decatholon. But yes, for $15 more, I would have gone with the boulevard for teh true SIP and infinite hardness adjustments.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by jeteaa

I just ordered the decathalon for dd2 and regent for dd1. I wanted to buy the boulevard, but there were too many negitave reviews about the crotch stap being to tight and NOT adjustable. Where it is with the decatholon. But yes, for $15 more, I would have gone with the boulevard for teh true SIP and infinite hardness adjustments.

Hate to tell you, but the decathalon is only adjustable *smaller* not larger. It's largest setting is the same as the boulevard.

A lot of people have had problems with the decathalon. I wouldn't spend money on it personally.

-Angela

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

The least expensive convertibles that harness past 40 pounds (since you want one that will last a long time) are the Fisher-Price Safe Voyage Deluxe, the Evenflo Triumph Advanced, and the Radian65.

Awesome! Now will any of these truely fit a newborn as well? DS1 was 18 in & DS2 was 21 in so no telling what DC3 might be Also since the FPSVD is made by Britax will the Marathon (I am guessing) covers fit on it, cuz it ain't cute

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by maciascl

Awesome! Now will any of these truely fit a newborn as well? DS1 was 18 in & DS2 was 21 in so no telling what DC3 might be Also since the FPSVD is made by Britax will the Marathon (I am guessing) covers fit on it, cuz it ain't cute

The Radian will fit a newborn better than the FP SVD; plus, the Radian can tether rear-facing. I do not know the lowest slot height on the Triumph Advance since it's so new.

As far as the covers, as a CPST, it is my responsibility to advise you that you are not permitted to use a Marathon cover on a FP SVD. (Someone who is NOT a tech might tell you that the cover fits fine, though.)

[Threefold]

For those of you who have the Boulevard, can you share the approximate height limits. My (almost) 3 yo is in her Roundabout with 10 lbs to go and plenty of height, I'd like to get her something with more SIP though.
Her older brother (6.5 yo) is in a Recaro Young Sport as a booster, but if I had to do that all over again, I would get him a seat that would allow him to be in a 5pt harness past 40lbs/40". He's fine in the booster, but I'd rather drop $300 on a 5pt harness that will takes us through 5-6 yo).
Thanks!

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

The Radian will fit a newborn better than the FP SVD; plus, the Radian can tether rear-facing. I do not know the lowest slot height on the Triumph Advance since it's so new.

As far as the covers, as a CPST, it is my responsibility to advise you that you are not permitted to use a Marathon cover on a FP SVD. (Someone who is NOT a tech might tell you that the cover fits fine, though.)

Good to know. Just looking at them on line I would guess the other way around. Why is that?

Oh yeah & what about the Radian 80?

So I guess buying a custom made cover on Ebay for my Marathon is not a good idea :

[jeteaa]

Originally Posted by alegna

Hate to tell you, but the decathalon is only adjustable *smaller* not larger. It's largest setting is the same as the boulevard.

A lot of people have had problems with the decathalon. I wouldn't spend money on it personally.

-Angela

UGH!!! Do you know this from first hand experience. I ask because I called BRITAX and they gave me the measurments. They say the Deacthalon max setting is 7 1/2" away from the back, and the boulevard only setting is 5 1/2"????

[alegna]

Originally Posted by jeteaa

UGH!!! Do you know this from first hand experience. I ask because I called BRITAX and they gave me the measurments. They say the Deacthalon max setting is 7 1/2" away from the back, and the boulevard only setting is 5 1/2"????

There was a lot of discussion on this when it first came out... I remember useless facts well...

-Angela

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by maciascl

Good to know. Just looking at them on line I would guess the other way around. Why is that?

Oh yeah & what about the Radian 80?

So I guess buying a custom made cover on Ebay for my Marathon is not a good idea :

Why? Because it's the rule. I'm not trying to be snarky, really! But the "rule" is never to use anything with the carseat that didn't come with the carseat or hasn't been crash-tested with the carseat. SVDs have not been tested with Marathon covers, so the manufacturer and we techs cannot recommend their use.

The Radian80 has the same shell size and strap slots as the Radian65. It is *very* unlikely that a child will still fit in the seat by height after 65 pounds. It's an excellent seat, but it's not a practical or economical choice, IMO, to pay for the extra weight capacity when it probably won't be actually useable.

[lovingmommyhood]

Originally Posted by jeteaa

I just ordered the decathalon for dd2 and regent for dd1. I wanted to buy the boulevard, but there were too many negitave reviews about the crotch stap being to tight and NOT adjustable. Where it is with the decatholon. But yes, for $15 more, I would have gone with the boulevard for teh true SIP and infinite hardness adjustments.

I have the boulevard and have not even had an issue with the crotch strap. In my opinion the benefit of the SIP far outweighs any crotch strap issues.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by lovingmommyhood

I have the boulevard and have not even had an issue with the crotch strap. In my opinion the benefit of the SIP far outweighs any crotch strap issues.

:

I have a cloth diapered nearly 3 yr old and the crotch buckle is fine.

-Angela

[ChinaDoll]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

The Radian80 has the same shell size and strap slots as the Radian65. It is *very* unlikely that a child will still fit in the seat by height after 65 pounds. It's an excellent seat, but it's not a practical or economical choice, IMO, to pay for the extra weight capacity when it probably won't be actually useable.

But it is narrower, if that's a concern:

http://www.mypreciouskid.com/car-sea...-radian80.html

CAR SEAT COMPARISON - Radian 80 Car Seat VS Britax car seats

A lot of people compare the Radian Convertible Folding Car seat 80 with the Britax Marathon. We believe the Radian Car Seat has the following advantages:

(1) It is foldable, comes with a shoulder strap, easy for travel;
(2) The outside width of the car seat is narrower, yet the inside seating area is wider, thus the overall chair is less bulky with your child sitting more comfortably;
(3) the sides of the Radian car seat are lower, so it is easier for you to get your child in and out of the car seat;
(4) you can fit 3 car seats in the back roll, and there is no way that you can fit 3 Britax car seats in the back;
(5) weight limit of Radian (80 lbs) exceeds that of the Marathon (65 lbs), but price wise, the Radian Folding Car seat is lower than Britax's.
(6) You will only need 1 car seat - the Radian Folding Car Seat - for your child from birth to 80 lbs, but you will still need a booster seat for your child after Britax' Marathon.
(7) Safely standard matches/exceeds that of the Britax.

[alegna]

That comparison is comparing a radian 80 to a marathon, not a radian 65

-Angela

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

Why? Because it's the rule. I'm not trying to be snarky, really! But the "rule" is never to use anything with the carseat that didn't come with the carseat or hasn't been crash-tested with the carseat. SVDs have not been tested with Marathon covers, so the manufacturer and we techs cannot recommend their use.

: Sorry I was refering to the Radian fitting a newborn better than a SVD, not the cover issue. It looks like the SVD would fit a newborn better than the Radian. As for the 'rule' , I understand.

Thanks for the info on the Radian 65 vs the 80 also

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by maciascl

: Sorry I was refering to the Radian fitting a newborn better than a SVD, not the cover issue. It looks like the SVD would fit a newborn better than the Radian. As for the 'rule' , I understand.

Thanks for the info on the Radian 65 vs the 80 also

Oops.

The lowest strap slot on the Marathon iis 10". The Radians have a bottom strap slot at 9", so it's a better fit for a small rear-facing child who should have straps at or below shoulder level.