If you have a carseat listed below, please give all your pros and cons.

My inlaws are wanting to buy a carseat for ds (and other grandchildren) to keep in their car. They haven't had a carseat in 28 years or so and asked for some options that I would approve of. It was very gracious of them to ask my opinion (well, mil) because fil said he would just get one at a garage sale. I just about choked! I gently explained how you didn't know if the seat had been in a car crash and how old the seat was, expiration date etc...they couldn't believe they have expiration dates! lol! It does sound funny when you think about it...whatever. anyway, let me know your opinions please...

Sunshine Kids Radian 80

Graco Nautilus

Britax Frontier

Britax Regent

The car it would most likely go in is a VW passat. DS is currently 45 lbs and 44 inches and 4 years old next month.

That's a tough one because they are all great seats.
My pick would be SK Radian because can be used rear-facing or forward facing and thus would be most versatile for different children. It is also one of the most narrow seats which would be good in a VW.
One of the down falls would be is- some ppl find it tricky to get a great install in some cars.
d:)

PM ~Tara~....she's our car seat expert- she even took the certification course!

Thank you both for your replies. :mrgreen: I have no experience with the Graco or Britax models...We have the Radian and love it, but wanted to see the comparisons especially with the Graco because of the price difference. Tara did help us choose the Radian and I'm hoping she gets a moment to help me with the comparisons...we all know she's *never* busy! ha!!! [halo]

I have had Britax all the way up....Marathon and Regents....LOVE the REGENT!! It is HUGE though....if you have a small car, do not get it for height/leg room! If you have a small SUV/minivan, you'll love it! Very roomy and comfy and will grow with them forever, easy to install with latch. I HIGHLY reccomend latch with this seat too due to its size, it fits tighter better.

If it might be used for multiple children rear and forward facing...I'd do another Radian, if you know it installs well in that vehicle, you know the Radian can be finicky ;)

If it will only be used forward facing for an older child, I'd go with the Nautilus. Harnessed for as long as possible then as a high backed booster. I'm planning on getting one of these soon for Doodles and/or Boo. Depends on where it fits in the truck best and what strikes me at the time hehe But the plan is so Doodles can stay harnessed another year or so then she'll use it as a booster. She will be harnessed in either the Nauti or the Radian.

The Frontier has had some install and harness issues. While I adore Britax and would love this seat, I just can't recommend spending that extra $ on it over the Nauti. They are SO similar, it's crazy. If I could get a Frontier for the same price or *maybe* up to $30 more, I might...just because I love Britax that much and then the cover options ;) But I've not seen such a deal...so Graco Nauti it will be for us.

Regent is a fine seat and all, but yes, huge. However if you plan to harness for a long time, it's a good choice. It accommodates larger/wider kids than the Radian. So if you have a beanpole, Radian may still be the choice for you. However, if you have a stockier kid, you may need the room of the Regent. But if used for multiple children remember that you don't want teeny ones in this. Yes it says a small minimum weight but really, you don't want a small one in there. I like 3yr at least, otherwise they are dwarfed. (ds would be great, I'm just saying don't expect to put Shaelyn in there anytime too soon :p) Annnnnd...you have to uninstall/reinstall that beast every time you need to adjust straps.

Ok, hth, had a baby on me and kids interrupting...tell you something new eh? :p

I'm using the Nautilus now for Aidan and love it (thanks Tara). Planning on getting another one as Erin is about to outgrow her current seat. I think like the other gals pointed out it would depend on the size of the kiddos using it. Whether it needed to be forward and rear facing. I don't know how big a passat is but if it is anything like my car there is not much room so going too big is not a good thing.

yuh, the room...hence the non-recommendation for the Regent..there probably wouldn't be much room to speak of left in a Passat. The Nauti, while bigger than a Radian, isn't terribly large, from what I gather. I've only played with one in the store, mind you.

Speaking of which, just realized dd is at the top slots of the Radian AND the top slots of the Nauti. So, I'm stepping back and regrouping...what am I going to do with/for that girl. hmm

But anywho...no further hi-jacking :p

What are the ages of the other grandkids that would use the seat Kate? It's sounding like the Nauti would be the most logical choice thus far. (don't forget to check the manu. date on the box if buying from WalMart and the like...I just noticed ours was selling one that's 9 months old..could be worse, yes, but Ugh!)

Well the other grandkids are Shaelyn - 11 months, 16ish lbs and a cousin that is still cookin'! hehe!

I would NOT put a 1 year old in the Regent due to it being so big it would dwarf them, my soon to be five year old boy has been in it a year and still looks 'little' in the Regent....I'd say your biggest issue would be to find one that is very adjustable if you will be using it for such a diverse age group and size spectrum...ease to adjust and possibly adjustable without taking the seat out completely?
Good luck!

Not having to remove seat to adjust....Britax Boulevard. Would fit kids up to 65# (though 55 is generally a more accurate number) but of course would still depend on height/torso...but anywho, I think you follow me here.

Oh, the TruFit...that's a no-thread harness too. I think that one goes to 55#. It can rear face as well (as can the boulevard) though for that, obviously, there will be removal and reinstallation.

So...the thing is...you have one needing a higher harnessed weight forward facing seat...and then rear facing for smaller ones too.

The Boulevard, TruFit and Radian all fit that bill. And if you're going to have to remove the seat and reinstall it rear facing to accommodate the littles, it's no big deal to rethread the harness at the same time.

The TruFit is a beast of a seat!

The Boulevard will help for later when Shaelyn is big enough for forward face...but by that time, Trevor will likely have outgrown it by height and possibly weight. The Radian *might* buy you a little more time in that area.

Did that totally clear things up for you? LMHO