https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 25 May 2026 18:21:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1193994 Sun, 03 Nov 2013 20:57:17 +0000 Periwinkle 1193994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oooh, I'm so glad this popped up again, thanks to @allison. We still have not made the switch but I am so incredibly grateful for all for all of the advice and recommendations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1179046 Mon, 28 Oct 2013 12:22:28 +0000 allison 1179046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMcD: I just saw this, but I would definitely NOT put an infant in the Foonf! I didn't switch my LO until he could sit up unassisted. It doesn't recline to 45 degrees (the most recline I could get in my Jeep Liberty was 50 degrees) and the headwings push the head forward a bit so you get head slump when they're sleeping. Not safe for an infant, for sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1159491 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 15:54:35 +0000 runsyellowlites 1159491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMcD: It has a 14lb weight minimum so okay for infants but not newborns. :(</p> <p>And if I remember correctly the Radian has a 5lb minimum but in some cases the lowest strap slots are still too high for newborns. boo again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1159486 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 15:50:43 +0000 deactivated_account 1159486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: Is the Foonf a carseat for infants as well as older babies? (Clearly I am planning ahead here....) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1159352 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 15:00:10 +0000 Mrsbells 1159352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we have a britax marathon 70 and a graco myride 65. we use the britax more often and really like it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1159238 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 14:23:58 +0000 runsyellowlites 1159238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How old is your lo? Just to get an idea b/c P is 18mth and only 30" so we know she'll get a lot of use of just about any seat. If your lo is around/under a year old &amp; already 28" I wouldn't recommend the Britax just because they have a low rf limit.. you'd ultimately have to get another seat to continue rf to the NHTSA recommendation through the 3rd year. :/ We currently have a Combi but b/c of it's low rf limits we'll have to upgrade in the future ourselves.</p> <p>The Radian, Nextfit, Foonf, &amp; Graco MySize are all great high limit seats. Foonf &amp; Radian are narrower seats so they're good if you'll have another lo before this one is out of it's seat without losing your whole backseat.</p> <p>Here's some of the pro/con info on them from CSFTL</p> <p>Diono Radian R120:<br /> Stats: $220 , rear facing to 45 lbs, 44”, head 1.5” from the top of the 25” shell. Forward facing to 80 lbs, with 17.5” top harness slots, Expiration is 8 years harness mode, 10 years booster mode.<br /> Pros: Narrow, low profile makes it great for 3-across situations, high rear facing weight limit, push button LATCH connectors, allows for tethering rear facing.<br /> Cons: Can be difficult to install, often requires the angle adjuster to avoid taking up a large amount of front to back space. Booster mode isn’t very functional because of the 50 lb minimum and the short belt guides, it will be outgrown at the same time as the harness function.</p> <p>Graco Size4Me/MySize/Headwise:<br /> Stats: $180, rear facing to 40 lbs / head to 1” from the 28” red adjuster. Forward facing to 70 lbs with 17.5” top harness slots, 7 year expiration.<br /> Pros: Tallest available rear facing seat, easy to install, no re-thread harness, recline for forward facing mode, fits average sized newborns.<br /> Cons: Some parents have experienced issues with tightening and loosening the harness properly. </p> <p>Chicco Nextfit:<br /> Stats: $250, rear facing to 40 lbs / head 1” from the top of the 26” fully extended headrest. Forward facing to 65 lbs with 17.5” top harness slots, 8 year expiration.<br /> Pros: Easy to install, has seat belt lockoffs, push button LATCH connectors, no re-thread harness.<br /> Cons: Large strap covers that are required are sometimes uncomfortable.</p> <p>Clek Foonf:<br /> Stats: $400, rear facing to 50 lbs, 43”, head 1” from the top of the fully extended 26” headrest. Forward facing to 65 lbs with 17” top harness slots, 9 year expiration.<br /> Pros: Highest rear facing weight limit available, narrow, has magnets to hold the harness straps out of the way when buckling the child, water-resistant fabric, rigid LATCH connectors for forward facing, narrow enough for 3-across, anti rebound bar.<br /> Cons: Sits very high up in the vehicle, can be difficult to assemble, crotch buckle is uncomfortable for some kids, high price.<br /> CSFTL Foonf Review: <a href="http://csftl.org/foonf-world-problems" rel="nofollow">http://csftl.org/foonf-world-problems</a></p> <p>You can also join the group &amp; get more recommendations from the techs that are familiar with installations in your specific car. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1159195 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 14:01:38 +0000 MsLipGloss 1159195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@allison: Looks like I need to work on my adjustment skills! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1159189 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 13:59:38 +0000 allison 1159189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the Foonf's straps are really easy to adjust! Just like my infant seat. I'd read that the Radian straps are harder to adjust, and that turned me off.</p> <p>Definitely not Foonf or Radian if you're looking for something lightweight. Probably not a Britax, either! Is weight an issue? Will you be moving the seat often? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1159092 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 13:30:31 +0000 MsLipGloss 1159092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Yoyo: That's one thing I do like about the Foonf . . . it has deep wings on the side, but LO sits up so high that she can easily see out the back window . . . and she's a peanut! And the cons you listed for the Radian are also true of the Foonf. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1159085 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 13:28:43 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 1159085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pssst, I recommend reading this, which profiles all those seats. I may or may not be very close to the freelancer who wrote it. ;-)</p> <p><a href="http://www.consumersearch.com/car-seats" rel="nofollow">http://www.consumersearch.com/car-seats</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1159076 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 13:26:20 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 1159076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've had/have both the Britax Marathon and the Radian RXT.</p> <p>Marathon pros:<br /> - Very easy to use, tighten straps, etc.<br /> - Fairly easy to install<br /> - Comfy</p> <p>Marathon cons:<br /> - Kinda wide<br /> - Short shell means no extended RF for some taller kids (why we have a Radian now)<br /> - Fabric can be kinda hot</p> <p>Radian RXT pros:<br /> - My tall LO can still RF for a long while (he's going on 28 months)<br /> - Fabric isn't as hot<br /> - Narrow, so back seat has more room</p> <p>Radian RXT cons:<br /> - Not as easy to install<br /> - Straps aren't as easy to adjust (you get used to them, but Britax is def. easier)<br /> - HEAVY (but not a big deal if you won't be taking it out of the car often/ever)</p> <p>FWIW, the Advocate is essentially the Marathon with deeper side wings. It is ostensibly "safer" (not really by federal standards, all car seats have to pass the same tests) but a lot of people don't like them because it makes getting LOs in/out a bit harder and some LOs dislike them blocking the view. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1159070 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 13:24:47 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1159070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Periwinkle: I don't have any of the 3 you mentioned, but I refer you to the thread called "why britax convertibles" because the ladies are there are comparing Britax seats and radian seats too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1159065 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 13:23:23 +0000 lawbee11 1159065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Periwinkle: We have the Maxi Cosi Pria, so I am no help with the ones you listed, but I have heard that Britax seats are really hot. We actually got the Pria because I read so much about how great the fabric is for warmer climates (my LO runs hot and we live in Texas). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1159055 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 13:20:23 +0000 MsLipGloss 1159055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@allison: My LO puked in the car 2 weeks ago. :( So, I can attest to the fact that the Foonf fabric cleans up easily/well!</p> <p>ETA: And I agree about the install . . . no hard to do, but the instructions are just all over the place (referring you to other pages constantly!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1158990 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 13:04:04 +0000 allison 1158990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: I agree that the install instructions were confusing, the first time around. But we've installed/uninstalled/moved the seat probably close to 10 times now, and it's really pretty easy to do it now! So it's not a HARD install, the manual is just kind of all over the place.</p> <p>For multiple seats and a cooler seat, I vote Foonf. We've driven 9 hours, 4 different times, with LO in the Foonf, and he slept the whole way. So it's comfy enough, but not super padded and hot. Haven't had any blowouts or spills yet, but I put a large prefold in the seat, underneath him, just in case. I hear the fabric cleans up well, but it's not removable/washable, which I think is a con! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1158966 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 12:56:17 +0000 MsLipGloss 1158966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have 2 Clek Foonfs: </p> <p>Cons:<br /> Monster seat (although it is only 17" at its widest, but it's tall) </p> <p>Confusing install instructions </p> <p>Pros:<br /> Steel and magnesium substructure. </p> <p>Has what Clek calls “REACT,” (“Rapid Energy Absorbing Crumple Technology) which is much like the way that cars are designed to crumple to diminish the impact of a collision (the Foonf utilizes a honeycomb of aluminum fibers that crumple to reduce collision forces by up to <b>40</b> percent</p> <p>Deep wings on the sides of the headrest protect the noggin during side-impact collisions</p> <p>The upholstery is thick and cleans up easily, and there’s plenty of padding</p> <p>Rear-facing until your LO weighs 50 pounds and measures 43 inches in height </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1158948 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 12:50:26 +0000 autumnlove 1158948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have Britax Blvds in both cars and we love them. Easy to install! My LO is rear facing at 22 months and she has a lot of room to go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yet-another-carseat-question#post-1158939 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 12:46:40 +0000 Periwinkle 1158939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are approaching that time when we will need to make the big switch from LO's infant carseat to a convertible. As with most baby purchases, I am obsessing (!) and cannot seem to decide the best seat for us.</p> <p>A few considerations:</p> <p>- We will need two seats (we share drop off and pick up frequently). Ultimately, we usually take my car for longer family trips so they don't have to be the same seat. </p> <p>- LO is still pretty small (~20lbs and ~28 inches).</p> <p>- LO gets very hot in his current carseat (Chicco KeyFit 30) so anything with a more breatheable fabric would score higher points in our book!</p> <p>Right now, We are debating between the Britax Marathon, Britax Advocate, or Diono Radian RXT.</p> <p>What do you have? Do you like it? Pros/cons? </p>