Will you choose a seat for MY toddler?ANOTHER UPDATE:BRU WAS RIGHT - Page 3

[wednesday]

Originally Posted by ThreeBeans

I 'know' many people who have one and even two Regents installed properly in the back of small and medium sized cars

In my Saturn the Regent could only be installed securely in the center and it was extremely impractical there as it blocked a large portion of the rearview. Furthermore we expect to have another child coming within a year or so, and we also transport a cousin from time to time, so a center-installed seat that made both outboard seatbelts compeltely inaccessible simply was not feasible at all. Installing it outboard was not even an option, it could not be secured tightly and still have the door close (the inner armrest of the door projects into the seating area somewhat).

DH drives an Outback Impreza Sport, and the side to side width as well as the front-to-back width are even less than in my Saturn.

I don't get the love affair and defensiveness of the Regent when people point out logistical drawbacks and reasonable alternatives. It's not like anyone says, "The Regent's too big, just get a booster." I bring up the Radian a lot because it's a great, high-quality, easy-to-use seat, with height/weight limits that are more than adequate for average kids to get to a maturity/size to move to a booster.

[Justmee]

Originally Posted by wednesday

I don't get the love affair and defensiveness of the Regent when people point out logistical drawbacks and reasonable alternatives. It's not like anyone says, "The Regent's too big, just get a booster." I bring up the Radian a lot because it's a great, high-quality, easy-to-use seat, with height/weight limits that are more than adequate for average kids to get to a maturity/size to move to a booster.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't get it. We have 2 radians and my twins have TONS of room in them. I will probably get Rivka a radian when the baby needs her carseat (we have a bucket to get teh baby through the first 6 months or so). There is no way I could fit 2 regents in my car, I don't even know if I could fit one in my car. My girls have a ton of growing room in their radians (esp. since they can use them until the tops of the ears line up with the top of the seat) and I am pretty sure by the time they outgrow them I will be happy with them in a booster (I'm guessing they will be about 6). I think all these new seats are going to give britax a run for their money. It looks like the new rerecos (sp??) will RF & FF longer than britaxes and be cheaper. Infants fit better in radians than in britax the marathon et, al britax seats, and the radians are cheaper. The new evenflo looks very nice, affordable, and will harness until 50lbs / 50 inches. I'm glad there are more seats to choose from now. I don't get this britax worshiping. : There are loads of safe seats on the market in all ranges for all kinds of kids / cars.

[ThreeBeans]

Gah, it has nothing to do with "britax worshipping". I hate that seemingly snide attitude about people who own them. The fact is there isn't a seat on the market with taller harness straps or even as-tall-as harness straps than the Britax Regent. So for parents of big children, it really is the ONLY choice for extended harnessing. Even the Radian doesn't have anywhere near the top harness height strap. (Radian is 18 inches, Regent is 21). That extra two inches can buy you 2-3 or more YEARS in a harness. So please, let's not be unkind, ok?


I understand that it is a big seat, and that it will be incompatible in some cars. But to say that it 'doesn't fit in small cars' is not true. And often times, someone inexperienced in seats, (Not casting aspersions, making a general statement here!), or someone who doesn't read the manual front to back, or some who doesn't consult a tech, will mistakenly believe the seat 'doesn't fit' when it does.

[rere]

Originally Posted by alegna

ah... yeah... not a great seat for lasting any amount of time. Not one I'd spend money on.

-Angela

Well,it's nice that it RF until 35lbs and then it's the same as most of the others with the 40lb harness use but I guess it's more expensive than a lot of the other seats out there.I'm not sure because I didn't pay for it.

[ThreeBeans]

Originally Posted by rere

Well,it's nice that it RF until 35lbs and then it's the same as most of the others with the 40lb harness use but I guess it's more expensive than a lot of the other seats out there.I'm not sure because I didn't pay for it.

The big fall backs of the AOE are

1. Cost. It's an expensive seat that actually has a lot of problems and is not worth the money
2. VERY low top harness straps. It may 'harness' to 40 lbs but in actuality the top harness straps are so low that with the exception of VERY short, heavy, children, no child is going to make it 4 years and 40 lbs in the seat as a harnessed carseat.
3. Crappy booster. It makes an absolutely awful booster. Why pay big bucks for a feature that doesn't even work, kwim?

[rere]

Originally Posted by ThreeBeans

The big fall backs of the AOE are

1. Cost. It's an expensive seat that actually has a lot of problems and is not worth the money
2. VERY low top harness straps. It may 'harness' to 40 lbs but in actuality the top harness straps are so low that with the exception of VERY short, heavy, children, no child is going to make it 4 years and 40 lbs in the seat as a harnessed carseat.
3. Crappy booster. It makes an absolutely awful booster. Why pay big bucks for a feature that doesn't even work, kwim?

I agree that the cost and the features don't match.

It's the short harness that I keep hearing about and scratch my head.My daughter's height and weight match up and she still fits in the harness.She doesn't have obviously long legs or short torso.Could the strap height be different from different yrs of manufacture?

P.S.I'm not using the top slot.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by RachelEve14

I think all these new seats are going to give britax a run for their money. It looks like the new rerecos (sp??) will RF & FF longer than britaxes and be cheaper. Infants fit better in radians than in britax the marathon et, al britax seats, and the radians are cheaper. The new evenflo looks very nice, affordable, and will harness until 50lbs / 50 inches. I'm glad there are more seats to choose from now. I don't get this britax worshiping. : There are loads of safe seats on the market in all ranges for all kinds of kids / cars.

More big seats are better. No question. BUT the recaros will still have a lower top strap height. Leaving the regent with the highest straps on the market. Seeing that most kids outgrow seats by height not weight, regent will still keep most kids harnessed longer than any other seat. That's all.

I would LOVE to see another less expensive seat with higher straps than the regent, but fact of the matter is there isn't one yet.

-Angela

[rere]

Ok so let me recap and maybe you can tell me if I have it right.

The apex is a less expensive choice and harnesses to 65 lbs but needs high back seats or a head rest and isn't a very good booster.

The radian 65 is also a less expensive choice and harnesses to 65lbs but needs a latch system to work.

The radian 80 is a lot more money than the radian 65 and you're not getting any more height.

The regent has the highest height and weight limits but is pretty expensive and may not fit in my car and can't be tested because it's not really available in stores.

And those are my choices for harnessed seats.

Do I have it straight?

Thanks for all the help!I really appreciate it.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by rere

Well,it's nice that it RF until 35lbs and then it's the same as most of the others with the 40lb harness use but I guess it's more expensive than a lot of the other seats out there.I'm not sure because I didn't pay for it.

Problem with many, if not all, of the 40lb seats that rf until 35lbs is that tall, long torsoed kids will outgrow it RF by height before weight....

-Angela

[alegna]

Originally Posted by rere

The radian 65 is also a less expensive choice and harnesses to 65lbs but needs a latch system to work.

I'm pretty sure you don't need LATCH for the radian. You may need a top tether, but not full LATCH.

And don't forget the new recaros coming out - just to further confuse you

-Angela

[rere]

Originally Posted by alegna

And don't forget the new recaros coming out - just to further confuse you

-Angela

Just what I need.

Do you know when they are coming out?I don't think we have much time left in this seat.

[alegna]

My understanding is early August.

-Angela

[theelfqueen]

Originally Posted by rere

Ok so let me recap and maybe you can tell me if I have it right.

The apex is a less expensive choice and harnesses to 65 lbs but needs high back seats or a head rest and isn't a very good booster.

Actually the APEX is fine booster -- nice open belt paths, it's the Alpha Omega that they're talking about being a poor booster choice.

Originally Posted by rere

The radian 65 is also a less expensive choice and harnesses to 65lbs but needs a latch system to work.

The radian 80 is a lot more money than the radian 65 and you're not getting any more height.

Pretty sure it only requires the top tether not LATCh. (the lower anchors AND the tether together).

Originally Posted by rere

The regent has the highest height and weight limits but is pretty expensive and may not fit in my car and can't be tested because it's not really available in stores.

Actually a lot of Babies R Us are now carrying the Regent, you may be able to find one there.

[rere]

Originally Posted by alegna

My understanding is early August.

-Angela

I just saw that they have them at Babies R Us on line but they didn't have any info on them.

[ThreeBeans]

Actually the APEX is fine booster -- nice open belt paths, it's the Alpha Omega that they're talking about being a poor booster choice.

:

Pretty sure it only requires the top tether not LATCh. (the lower anchors AND the tether together).

You can install the Radian without LATCH, just the seatbelt. Radian was also extensively tested without the use of the top tether and performed VERY well, so it's a good choice if you don't have a top tether, but as always, the top tether does make it safer.

Actually a lot of Babies R Us are now carrying the Regent, you may be able to find one there.

:



And of course the Recaro Signo! The new Signo is a great convertible. However, it costs 260-280, and only has 19 inch top straps and a 70 lb weight limit, and the Regent has 21 inch top straps and an 80 lb weight limit, for 270 dollars.

I too am THRILLED more HWH seats are available, but you still can't get more inches and weight with anyone but a Regent.

[rere]

Ok,I just found some info on the Recaro that they sell at BRU.It said they only harness to 40lbs.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by rere

Ok,I just found some info on the Recaro that they sell at BRU.It said they only harness to 40lbs.

That's their old ff seat. I have a thread here somewhere on the new recaros that has a link to them.

-Angela

[hottmama]

You know, I have a Britax, and I like it, but it is really big. I couldn't fit 3 in a row, which is fine, since I only have 2 kids, but if I had 3, I'd have Radians. If I'd planned ahead and bought a higher weight limit seat to begin with, instead of a Scenera, I'd have a Radian. Julian has an Apex and it seems just as comfy as the Husky, but it doesn't seem as sturdy.

I think that the Radian and Apex will get most kids to 6+, at which point most people feel comfortable with a booster. I know I will let my son ride in a booster when he outgrows the Apex in his dad's car, which I expect will be around 7 (at 4.5, he's 43", 40 lbs. and just moved to the second highest harness slots).

[theelfqueen]

ACK -- I am saying "actually" a lot, aren't I?

[bdavis337]

And just for fun, let me say that I just came back from testing some Radians at my local baby store (A boutique, NOT a BRU or big box) and the tech that works there (YES!!! a tech, free for my use to pick his brain and even let my kids sit in the seats prior to purchase and have his opinion on what best fits them!) told me that Britax won't be shipping anymore Regents until SEPTEMBER. They, of course, are out of Regents, and nobody else locally stocks them. You apparently can't even get them directly from Britax, so if you want one you may have to search around. I noticed that several online retailers are also out of stock. September is a loooong time to wait for a carseat.

On the happy side, I discovered my toddler's ff'ing harness seat goes to 40 lbs, so I only need to buy 1 seat.