Oh dear, another car seat ?...but I already have a Marathon!

[mamasthree]

I have 3 kids, ages nearly 9, 7 and the baby is 9 mos. Space is getting tight in the back seat. I have a Marathon and a Roundabout (in different cars)--and neither fit well in the middle position of my main vehicle. So that leaves my 7 yo stuck with the hump in between her knees.

Is there another safe car seat that will fit? The problem is the base interferes with the side passengers seat belt buckles (ie, covers them up!). Is the Radian that much smaller at the base? I don't have a store nearby that sells the Radian...so hoping for someone with a similar experience.

Surely someone else has this problem?! Help!!

[midwestmeg]

Try ordering the Radian through Target.com and then make sure you can return it at the store (if there is one nearby you). That's how I made sure my last carseat would fit when I couldn't check it out IRL.

The Radian is skinny, from what I have heard, but of course I haven't seen one...

[ScotiaSky]

The Radian does not have a base like the Britax's, its very low profile. Off hand I don't know the measurement's but am sure some one here does.

I am able to fit a two Radian's side by side one RF outboard/one FF center in a Volkswagen Jetta and still have room left over for a small adult(me) to sit comfortably.

[ThreeBeans]

Originally Posted by ScotiaSky

The Radian does not have a base like the Britax's, its very low profile. Off hand I don't know the measurement's but am sure some one here does.

I am able to fit a two Radian's side by side one RF outboard/one FF center in a Volkswagen Jetta and still have room left over for a small adult(me) to sit comfortably.

I have the same arrangement in a small backseat, except the third space is taken up by a Graco SafeSeat I.

[hollyml]

First I thought you were saying the 7yo is in the Marathon! But I guess you mean the baby is in the Marathon, and the 7yo is riding without a carseat? Is she really big enough to go without a booster seat already?

Anyway, yes, the Radian really is a lot narrower at the base, so getting one might solve your problem.

But if I were you I'd likely get a good booster with side impact protection for the 7yo and put the presumably boosterless 9yo (least protected passenger) in the middle (most protected seating position). You don't WANT the baby in the middle because she's the one who's most protected by her RF carseat.

Holly

[angie3096]

The Radian is about 13 inches wide at the base. I just went out and measured for you; sorry I didn't see this thread sooner! I have a Radian 65 in our truck because nothing else fits, and I just ordered another one as a third seat for the back of our CRV. They are not my favorite seat; the seatbelt install can be tricky, but they are the narrowest thing on the market. When nothing else will fit, a Radian is your answer. I hope it works for you!
You do have your 7 year old in a booster, right? Most 7 year olds are not tall enough to ride without one.