I need a convertible seat that turns into a booster - Page 2

[alegna]

Originally Posted by riversong

Angela- Why do you say the Radian can be difficult to install in some cars? I assume you're talking about difficult to install with a seatbelt. Or is it something about the way it fits into the seat?

I've just heard countless installing horror stories. Yes, probably most with belt installs.

-Angela

[Tofu the Geek]

Originally Posted by riversong

Seriously? I just read through the child restraint section in our car manual and it doesn't say anything about a weight limit for the LATCH system. How are people supposed to know this? Do I need to contact Toyota to find out how heavy my kids can be and still use LATCH?

I actually just found out that most vehicle manuals do NOT state the limit for their latch. How are people supposed to know it? I have NO idea. But yes, you SHOULD contact Toyota to find out the limit of your lower anchors.

The LATCH limits are out there on the internet somewhere, I'll see if I can track them down for you.

[Tofu the Geek]

Okay, here are the LATCH limits updated for 2007 http://www.saferidenews.com/pdfs/pg_126_max_wt_07.pdf

Since you have a Toyota, it says you need to follow what your child restraint says. So, you just need to follow what's in the restraint manual. Toyota should tell you the same if you call them.

[riversong]

Thanks, TechnoGranola! I will check the manual for whatever combination seat we buy.

[Anastasiya]

Originally Posted by alegna

I've just heard countless installing horror stories. Yes, probably most with belt installs.

-Angela

Yep - in some cars it's a breeze to install, in others an absolute nightmare. It's not a seat for the parent who doesn't care about their installations, that's for sure.

It took us literally seconds to install RF in our van, and FOUR AND A HALF HOURS to install it FF. Now that we know the tricks, we've lessened the time to about 10 minutes for a FF installation. (Both were seatbelt installations.)

[iluvbnamomma]

Originally Posted by cutekid

My DS loves his Radian. I have asked him how he feels after a long ride and he doesn't have any complaints.

As for installation, if you have LATCH it shouldn't be an issue to install. I haven't heard of any complication installing it this way. However, you may experience difficulty with installation if you are using a seat belt.

I HTH.

Denise

Does your DS sleep comfortably in his seat?

[riversong]

Originally Posted by Sancta

Yep - in some cars it's a breeze to install, in others an absolute nightmare. It's not a seat for the parent who doesn't care about their installations, that's for sure.

It took us literally seconds to install RF in our van, and FOUR AND A HALF HOURS to install it FF. Now that we know the tricks, we've lessened the time to about 10 minutes for a FF installation. (Both were seatbelt installations.)

Yikes! Are your tricks something anyone could use in any car? Do you want to pass them along?

[riversong]

I just realized that the Radian doesn't turn into a booster, which makes it not what we want.

It looks like the only combination seat recommended here is the Safeguard Go. Has anyone used this? I'm going to go back to the site with the car seat reviews that thepeach80 suggested.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by riversong

I just realized that the Radian doesn't turn into a booster, which makes it not what we want.

It looks like the only combination seat recommended here is the Safeguard Go. Has anyone used this? I'm going to go back to the site with the car seat reviews that thepeach80 suggested.

Combination seats are rarely really a good choice. Boosters are cheap. Buy a good seat to keep your child harnessed as long as possible. Then choose a booster. It will be a better use of your money.

-Angela

[MommyinMN]

:

You can get a decent booster for $40-60, esp. when there are sales and you aren't picky about color. Most Combo seats make terrible boosters. The only decent one I can think of is the Recaro Young Sport and that retails for about $250. It also only harnesses to 40 pounds. For that price you could easily get a seat that harnesses to 65 pounds (or more) and a seperate booster. The safeguard go is an okay seat, but only a backless booster. I share one with my sister and we use it fot traveling, but I wouldn't use it all the time, it isn't very comfortable and it is hard to install with a seatbelt.

[iluvbnamomma]

okay, this Thread has completely changed my thoughts on the combo seats so now i am trying to decide whether to get the Radian or to get a Marathon.
T
he installing problems make me a little nervous about the radian and my son loves his Roundabout. As far as i can see the Radian does not recline and my son's seat is always reclined a bit in our car right now which makes it very easy for him to sleep.

If your child is still using a Marathon and is past the age of 3, how old and how tall are they? And do you think i should invest in one at this point.
My son is 3 1/2, 29lbs, and about 38inches.

Thanks for you help.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by iluvbnamomma

If your child is still using a Marathon and is past the age of 3, how old and how tall are they? And do you think i should invest in one at this point.
My son is 3 1/2, 29lbs, and about 38inches.

Thanks for you help.

My dd is in a boulevard, which is on the same basic frame as a marathon.

She turned 3 in August.

She's 31lbs and 38.5in.

She's rear facing now, though will have to turn ff due to weight soon. (hovering back and forth between 31 and 32 lbs, when she's consistently 32 I will flip her to allow for heavier clothes, shoes, etc)

Ff I expect her to have at LEAST 2 more years in the boulevard.

-Angela

[Tofu the Geek]

Originally Posted by alegna

My dd is in a boulevard, which is on the same basic frame as a marathon.

She turned 3 in August.

She's 31lbs and 38.5in.

She's rear facing now, though will have to turn ff due to weight soon. (hovering back and forth between 31 and 32 lbs, when she's consistently 32 I will flip her to allow for heavier clothes, shoes, etc)

Ff I expect her to have at LEAST 2 more years in the boulevard.

-Angela

I sure wish we could get the Boulevard in Canada! It has some nice features over the Marathon.

[hottmama]

Originally Posted by iluvbnamomma

okay, this Thread has completely changed my thoughts on the combo seats so now i am trying to decide whether to get the Radian or to get a Marathon.
T
he installing problems make me a little nervous about the radian and my son loves his Roundabout. As far as i can see the Radian does not recline and my son's seat is always reclined a bit in our car right now which makes it very easy for him to sleep.

If your child is still using a Marathon and is past the age of 3, how old and how tall are they? And do you think i should invest in one at this point.
My son is 3 1/2, 29lbs, and about 38inches.

Thanks for you help.

Actually, we have a Radian and it does recline. It's rear-facing in my car but I will probably have it reclined when I have to turn it around-- we go on long trips a lot and my son always sleeps in the car. Also, my older son is in a Britax Husky (aka Regent) which is totally vertical and doesn't recline, and he manages to sleep pretty comfortably. The harness really holds them in place, they can't flop forward or anything.

[iluvbnamomma]

I am so happy to hear that it reclines. I saw one in the store and it did not look like it did.

Why do some say that it is difficult to install?

We have a 96 Honda civic, no LATCH, and the seatlbelts do not lock without using the lock on our Roundabout seat. Our son is usually in the center with the lap belt holding the seat, but soemtimes we nee dto move him to the side. Does the radian have a built in lock also?

[Tofu the Geek]

Originally Posted by iluvbnamomma

I am so happy to hear that it reclines. I saw one in the store and it did not look like it did.

Why do some say that it is difficult to install?

We have a 96 Honda civic, no LATCH, and the seatlbelts do not lock without using the lock on our Roundabout seat. Our son is usually in the center with the lap belt holding the seat, but soemtimes we nee dto move him to the side. Does the radian have a built in lock also?

I've read that the Radian will NOT install properly in Civics, at least ones without lower anchors. Here's a post from a car seat board on a '99 Civic http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.p...an+honda+civic and here's another about a '97 Civic http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.p...an+honda+civic

You could search on that board to see if there is more about it, or post a question there.

[iluvbnamomma]

Oh no, it does not look like this seat is going to work for us. ugh!

Anymore suggestions?

Is the FPSVD the exact same as the marathon? Why so much cheaper?

I am going to go try a Radian in our car, but maybe we will have to go with the Marathon for now.

Thanks for the warning Technogranola!

[alegna]

Originally Posted by iluvbnamomma

Is the FPSVD the exact same as the marathon? Why so much cheaper?

Weight limit of 55lbs instead of 65lbs
Different covers
No rear facing latch.
maybe no lockoffs?

-Angela

[Tofu the Geek]

Originally Posted by iluvbnamomma

Oh no, it does not look like this seat is going to work for us. ugh!

Anymore suggestions?

Is the FPSVD the exact same as the marathon? Why so much cheaper?

I am going to go try a Radian in our car, but maybe we will have to go with the Marathon for now.

Thanks for the warning Technogranola!

Your welcome. But, please check over on that car seat board, just to be sure! I'd hate for you to pass it up *if* it will somehow work for you.

[Tofu the Geek]

Originally Posted by alegna

Weight limit of 55lbs instead of 65lbs
Different covers
No rear facing latch.
maybe no lockoffs?

-Angela

In addition, I believe I've read that this seat has been discontinued? Can anyone confirm?

ETA: We're talking about the FPSVD