Carseats for older kids

[justhat]

Thanks! I think we'll probably go with the RSTV after your review, all4fun. You can't beat the weight and portability of it, even better than a high back booster and presumably safer as well. And the fact that I can pass it down to my son and still use it for years since it won't expire is great to hear, since I will probably have to buy a larger size for my daughter at some point.

Is the RSTV in stores at all? I'd love to try the fit on her to be sure what size I need, but I've never seen one before.

And Ali, thanks for posting about the Radian. I never knew that they folded up like that. That's a neat feature.

Molly - We're lucky enough to have airports that don't allow cart use past security. I know some have carts available after security as well as when you arrive, but not us, so we have to ditch the cart at that point and lug all our stuff basically in our hands since we use the stroller for our 2yo. It was nice when he was smaller, and I could wear him in a sling and use the stroller as a cart, but those days are gone!

 

[bumbershoot]

But she is not in the top slot on her Nautilus yet, though the one it's set at is just AT her shoulders.... But IIRC, the Radian we used when visiting my cousin, there were TWO slots above her shoulders? I wont deny I could be wrong, but it was a mental note I recall making.


I certainly hope there is a better option on the market in the next year or so when she reaches the top slot on her Nautilus. I already have a family friend whose son was killed in a relatively minor accident because his booster failed to keep his little 4 year old body correctly positioned. Most children do not have the mental restraint to keep their backs pressed against their seats and not leaning from side to side. For this reason, I stil vry much doubt the safety of a belt positioner even if the child is tall enough for it.

You might know this, but remember there's a sort of hidden slot when you have the headrest further down.

I'm so sorry for your family friend and her son.

 

[tanyaandallie]

If you have a specialty baby store in your area, you may be able to find the RSTV. I'd try The Right Start if there is one close by.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Is the Radian specifically meant for travel, or can I use it everyday? I have a Nautilus for DS5 and my twins are outgrowing their infant seats. One twin will use the Evenflo Triumph that I have, and then I need to purchase another seat for the other. I think I want to keep them rearfacing for awhile, I thought about another Nautilus, but I don't think that's RF. Also, thought about another Triumph, because I love that seat too.

Any suggestions? I know this is a little OT, but you guys seem to know alot more about carseats than I do!

TIA

 

[tanyaandallie]

Is the Radian specifically meant for travel, or can I use it everyday? I have a Nautilus for DS5 and my twins are outgrowing their infant seats. One twin will use the Evenflo Triumph that I have, and then I need to purchase another seat for the other. I think I want to keep them rearfacing for awhile, I thought about another Nautilus, but I don't think that's RF. Also, thought about another Triumph, because I love that seat too.

Any suggestions? I know this is a little OT, but you guys seem to know alot more about carseats than I do!

TIA

The Radian is a great seat! If your babies are outgrowing their infant seats it would be a great choice. You could also consider the Evenflo Triumph Advance. It's a great seat as well. Skip the Nautilus. Your babies are too little to go ff.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

The Radian is a great seat! If your babies are outgrowing their infant seats it would be a great choice. You could also consider the Evenflo Triumph Advance. It's a great seat as well. Skip the Nautilus. Your babies are too little to go ff.

Thanks so much!

 

[laughinplace199]

Speaking of FF (OP, sorry to hijack a little here), I have a question and this seems like a good place to ask since so many of you seem to have really great car seat knowledge. How long do/did you keep your kids RF? DS is 28 mos and still RF in his Marathon. DH thinks he looks uncomfortable, but I think he's fine.

 

[all4fun]

Speaking of FF (OP, sorry to hijack a little here), I have a question and this seems like a good place to ask since so many of you seem to have really great car seat knowledge. How long do/did you keep your kids RF? DS is 28 mos and still RF in his Marathon. DH thinks he looks uncomfortable, but I think he's fine.

You can keep him r/fing until he is 33 or 35lbs (check your Marathon labels, they changed the weight limit recently so it depends on your model), OR until there is 1" or less of shell above the head. That is the general rule, check your manual though, it may say it's ok for the top of his head to be even with the top of the seat. The older models didn't have the 1" rule. My ds was rear facing in his Blvd to 3 3/4yrs old when he hit the 33lb limit. He never complained. Actually he complained when I turned him f/fing because he didn't have anywhere to rest his feet and his legs kept falling asleep. Poor thing!

Justhat, I ordered my RSTV from elitecarseats.com and got really fast service. I don't think there are many brick and mortar stores that carry them, unfortunately.

hth!

 

[bumbershoot]

Speaking of FF (OP, sorry to hijack a little here), I have a question and this seems like a good place to ask since so many of you seem to have really great car seat knowledge. How long do/did you keep your kids RF? DS is 28 mos and still RF in his Marathon. DH thinks he looks uncomfortable, but I think he's fine.

My guy went until he was a pound under the limit of his Scenera and older model (lower RF weight limit than the ones now) Roundabout. Hubby begged, brought up how fast he'd grown etc. Then the boy stayed at that same weight, one pound lower, for a YEAR. Augh.

Sometimes his legs looked uncomfortable, but ultimately it's about safety, and uncomfy legs (which HE never complained about, it was just my perception every so often and hubby's perception enough that he begged me to turn DS forward) are a small price to pay to keep baby from death or paralysis in a car accident. I know YOU know this, of course.

 

[laughinplace199]

You can keep him r/fing until he is 33 or 35lbs (check your Marathon labels, they changed the weight limit recently so it depends on your model), OR until there is 1" or less of shell above the head. That is the general rule, check your manual though, it may say it's ok for the top of his head to be even with the top of the seat. The older models didn't have the 1" rule. My ds was rear facing in his Blvd to 3 3/4yrs old when he hit the 33lb limit. He never complained. Actually he complained when I turned him f/fing because he didn't have anywhere to rest his feet and his legs kept falling asleep. Poor thing!

Justhat, I ordered my RSTV from elitecarseats.com and got really fast service. I don't think there are many brick and mortar stores that carry them, unfortunately.

hth!

My guy went until he was a pound under the limit of his Scenera and older model (lower RF weight limit than the ones now) Roundabout. Hubby begged, brought up how fast he'd grown etc. Then the boy stayed at that same weight, one pound lower, for a YEAR. Augh.

Sometimes his legs looked uncomfortable, but ultimately it's about safety, and uncomfy legs (which HE never complained about, it was just my perception every so often and hubby's perception enough that he begged me to turn DS forward) are a small price to pay to keep baby from death or paralysis in a car accident. I know YOU know this, of course.

Thank you for your replies. DS will fit RF for quite a while since he's nowhere near the weight limit and there is more than 1" between the top of his head and the top of the seat. No one we know seems to keep their kids RF longer than 1 yr, and therefore DH was not feeling like it was really necessary. I'm sure I can convince him otherwise though.

 

[justhat]

Thank you for your replies. DS will fit RF for quite a while since he's nowhere near the weight limit and there is more than 1" between the top of his head and the top of the seat. No one we know seems to keep their kids RF longer than 1 yr, and therefore DH was not feeling like it was really necessary. I'm sure I can convince him otherwise though.

My son was rearfacing in his Decathalon (same base as the Marathon) till almost 2.5yo (so very recently) and he's 30 lbs. so he could still be RF in it now. He never once complained and actually preferred it as I let him sit in my daughter's Marathon, which is FF, a few times and asked which way he liked better. The only reason I turned him around was that we were driving to my mom's house (a 5 hour trip each way) and I put on a DVD and he couldn't see the movie (one of those roof mounted DVD players) without craning his neck around and it looked really uncomfortable. So I turned his seat for that trip and then just never turned it back. I thought about it, but I figure he's 30 lbs, 2.5yo, so he's okay FF. Granted RF is still safer, but he's pretty close to the weight limit. If I do have to take his seat out to clean it or whatever, I will most likely put it back in RF.

In my husband's car he's in a Roundabout and had to turn FF at 2yo because he outgrew it RF by height at that point. With my daughter, we had to turn her in both cars at once as she did not like staying RF in my car (Marathon) while FF in my husband's (the Roundabout), but my son didn't care at all.


Thanks for the website. I've heard good things about elite carseats so I'll give them a try.

 

[DWFan4Life]

My 2 use the Graco Nautilus which goes to 65 pounds in the 5pt

We used the same as this.

Have a nice day.