Car Seat for small car?? Help???

Question

I have to buy my son a new car seat ASAP!!! He is 7 months old. I have a very small car a Kia Spectra. I cant decide between a Britax Decathalon, Brutax Roundabout, Racaro, or a Radian80. Please give me some advice.They are all very good car seats. I need the smaller of the 4, my car is VERY small, and he will be rear facing for along time yet. Which would fit better??

Answer 1

Did you have an infant carrier for him in your car? If so - you should be able to fit all except the Radian80 with ease. The reason is that infant carriers must be installed at a 45 degree angle, taking up more room front to back. But older babies don't have to be at a 45 degree angle, they can sit a lit more upright, somewhere between 30-45 degrees, so they will all take up less space than the carrier.

The Roundabout is the smallest of the group - but I would only purchase it if you intend to buy another harnessed seat in a few years, since it only forward faces to 40lbs. A Marathon is a much better buy for the money. P.S. Britax is having one of their semiannual sales from February 24 - March 2. You could snag a Britax seat for $200 or less including shipping!

The Radian80 you may actually have a problem fitting - it has a set 45 degree recline, and is a very tall seat, so it has trouble fitting rear facing in some cars. Also, just a note: the Radian80 is the exact SAME Seat as the Radian65! Same frame, same harness slots, the only difference is it was tested to 80lbs instead of 65lbs. There is no way any kid is making it to 80lbs in that seat, especially since few kids actually make it to 65lbs in the Radian65. The Radian80 comes with infant padding and the 65 doesn't. Other than they're the same, except for the price. I wouldn't pay extra for the 80.

The Recaro is again, a pretty tall seat, however, you can adjust the recline some on it depending upon how you install it. However, I would hands down choose a Marathon over the Como/Signo. Too many issues with the lockoffs on them not really locking the seat belt. Recaro has now said they never intended them to really lock the seat belt - they are only belt 'guides'. Whatever. They messed up and it makes me nervous, besides, for that price, I'd want the lockoffs which MArathon has. The Decathalon is quite similar to the MArathon, same basic seat, same exact size and weight limits. Just few different features (I think it has the push button harness adjuster, not sure, you can compare them on Britax website)

Another seat I would definitely consideR: The Evenflo Triumph Advance. The Evenflo Triumph Advance (not the original Triumph, make sure it says Advance) is a great seat. $150 version at Babies R Us has padding similar to Britax seats, top slots of 17", harnesses to 35lbs rear facing, and 50lbs forward facing. $120 Walmart version just has little less plush padding. Wide open belt path, easy to install, though it doesn't have built in lockoffs. The harness adjusts at the front of the car seat, you don't have to take the car seat out of the car just to raise/lower the straps. It's one of only 2 seats that does this (The Britax Boulevard is the other, I believE), and it has infinite harness adjustment so the harness always fits perfectly until its outgrown. No more tugging straps to tighten them either. You tighten and loosen the harness using k***s on the side of the seat. As a major bonus, it can be used in a recline position even in forward facing mode. Awesome for kids who still sleep in the car. I LOVE THIS SEAT! LOL My son, who is too big for every other car seat at Walmart has the same amount of room in this as the Britax Marathon.

So - to sum up - pretty much any should work - except the Radians. Also - good to hear he will be rear facing for some time yet!!!:) It is recommended babies stay rear facing as long as possible, preferably to their 2nd birthday. Good for you. :)

Answer 2

Try this site.

http://www.carseatdata.org/main/search?e...