help me pick a carseat, please!!

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   ok, it is two am and i am finally tired after looking on elitecarseats.com for over two hours trying to decide between four seats: 
sunshine kids radian xt or xt sl
recaro signa or signa g2

i like the fact that the radian xt sl can rf up to 45 lbs and might fit next to the other carseat that is outbound. but, i like the super deep sides of the recaro. i really just want to know which one is for us. tiffany is pretty avg. on height and a little hefty. she is 30 lbs, not sure how tall. she will be two in december but if she can rf longer, that would be good. the recaro is only rf to 35 lbs. the roundabout i have now is rf to 33 lbs. that is not much different. ESP compared to the radian xt sl. HELP ME!  we want to get her a seat for her birthday (because they are pricey and she doesn't know the difference AND loves carseats, go figure ) so i need to figure this out soon. i know the radian xt sl is backordered but i could call and find out when it will be in stock.  the xt is on sale and the recaro's are more than the xt, same as the xt sl. the ff limit on the recaro is 70 while the radian is 80. the recaro looks more comfortable but the radian has higher limits, but do i need the higher limits??? aaahhhhh! im going to bed now. please help me decide if you can. pretty please :)

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mommyjessica Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'insightful Member Rating(18) Perennial Pinner 2 years 96 days Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Location: Here and Now Posts: 2710	Quote Reply Topic: help me pick a carseat, please!! Posted: 02 Nov 2009 at 3:29am
	ok, it is two am and i am finally tired after looking on elitecarseats.com for over two hours trying to decide between four seats: sunshine kids radian xt or xt sl recaro signa or signa g2 i like the fact that the radian xt sl can rf up to 45 lbs and might fit next to the other carseat that is outbound. but, i like the super deep sides of the recaro. i really just want to know which one is for us. tiffany is pretty avg. on height and a little hefty. she is 30 lbs, not sure how tall. she will be two in december but if she can rf longer, that would be good. the recaro is only rf to 35 lbs. the roundabout i have now is rf to 33 lbs. that is not much different. ESP compared to the radian xt sl. HELP ME! we want to get her a seat for her birthday (because they are pricey and she doesn't know the difference AND loves carseats, go figure ) so i need to figure this out soon. i know the radian xt sl is backordered but i could call and find out when it will be in stock. the xt is on sale and the recaro's are more than the xt, same as the xt sl. the ff limit on the recaro is 70 while the radian is 80. the recaro looks more comfortable but the radian has higher limits, but do i need the higher limits??? aaahhhhh! im going to bed now. please help me decide if you can. pretty please :)
	Jessica- Wife to the Husband, Jared, Mommy to the kid, Tiffany Eve- born gorgeous on 12-31-07. Unexpected fruit due mid May 2010


Sarah2106 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'incredible Member Rating(13) P'insane Yearlong Pinner 1 year 175 days Joined: 29 May 2008 Location: Rocky Mtn High Posts: 6083	Quote Reply Posted: 02 Nov 2009 at 8:40am
	I like the Radian because it is narrow (perfect for fitting more in the back seat) Isn't deap, so it is really easy to get the LO's in and out even though they are both RFing and DD is around 40" tall. Higher sides would be more difficult to get the long legs in the seat. RF to 40#'s - I have a 65. As for the extra weight limit. The shell of the seat didn't get any larger so the chance that your LO would outgrow the height before the weight is high, unless they are short and stocky. DD is 3 years old, 37#'s and 40" tall. She has 3-4" to grow in the RFing height, and q lot more to grow in FFing. So I have a very strong feeling she will grow in height before she hits the 40#'s so there is no way she would be able to RF to 45#'s. DS is following the same track for growth so I have a feeling he will be FFing due to height before weight. The same thing goes for FFing. The 65 is FFing to 60#'s and seeing my neice who is 8 years old and not 60#'s, but tall there is no way she would fit, so I think my kids will hit the height before weight. I feel very comfortable with 60#'s for the FFing limits. If you can't try them in person, I would get the one you like the best and just get the return shipping insurance for $5 (from EliteCarSeats) that way if it doesn't work out you can return it with out paying extra. The Radian can take some time to get a more upright RFing install, but it works for us and I love how simple and trim they are. Edited by Sarah2106 - 02 Nov 2009 at 8:41am
	Wife & Mom to 2 crazy kids. Using cloth PT for naps & bedtime. Hurray for PLing!! "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person." Mother Teresa

Sarah2106 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'incredible Member Rating(13) P'insane Yearlong Pinner 1 year 175 days Joined: 29 May 2008 Location: Rocky Mtn High Posts: 6083	Quote Reply Posted: 02 Nov 2009 at 8:43am
	Here is a picture of my 2 in their Radian65's. The short sides are also nice because DD sits "froggy' so she can also let her legs rest on the outside of the seat. With higher sides she would not be able to do that.
	Wife & Mom to 2 crazy kids. Using cloth PT for naps & bedtime. Hurray for PLing!! "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person." Mother Teresa

ambrose Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'insightful Member Rating(1) Perennial Pinner 2 years 57 days Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Location: PDX Posts: 2882	Quote Reply Posted: 02 Nov 2009 at 1:52pm
	i'd get one of the Radians. just because they are more familiar and higher limits seems key to me. How old is your car? cause i think if it's 2005 or earlier the super-latch option isn't really an option. I figure for us, having pre-2005 cars, it might not be worth the extra money. though, given how long that might last you there could be a car upgrade in the meantime! I'd say if it looks tight timetable between when she might hit #33 and when they get them in i'd just go for the plain old XT. maybe you could advance purchase the XTSL and if it turns out to be too long a wait, i bet EliteCar seats would be good about getting the plain XT out to you (and refunding the difference). isn't it weird how the how car seat quandry can suck you in? sounds like your daughter might grow up to be like us all on that count! Edited by ambrose - 02 Nov 2009 at 1:53pm
	Katherine, telecommuting mom to Solomon, 7/07 and expecting a little girl in early March.

mommyjessica Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'insightful Member Rating(18) Perennial Pinner 2 years 96 days Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Location: Here and Now Posts: 2710	Quote Reply Posted: 02 Nov 2009 at 4:22pm
	thanks for your imput ladies, it helps :) and sarah, i was actually thinking about your pictures when i was looking into which one i want. i also talked to an irl friend today and she loves her 65 and made a good point as well, the chances of it lasting to 80 lbs is unlikely. i do have an older than 05 car, it is an 02 hyundai. so who knows if i will get a newer car anytime soon, right? i think i will try to weigh the pros and cons and see what i need out of a seat and which one will work for us. either way, i will be getting two of the same when i need to so i better like them!
	Jessica- Wife to the Husband, Jared, Mommy to the kid, Tiffany Eve- born gorgeous on 12-31-07. Unexpected fruit due mid May 2010

gotlucy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'integral Member Rating(19) P'insane Yearlong Pinner 1 year 76 days Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 8492	Quote Reply Posted: 02 Nov 2009 at 5:43pm
	i recommend radian, because they are narrow but are plenty spacious. i don't think there's too much difference between the models you have listed, i would go for the best sale? i know the pounds for the radian and what you have now doesn't seem like a whole lot, but remember just a few pounds at an older age can be 2 yrs difference also.
	FSOT CD+waterbirth lover, natural birth supporter

jenandchan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'incredible Member Rating(6) Perennial Pinner 2 years 8 days Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 3849	Quote Reply Posted: 02 Nov 2009 at 6:41pm
	I have the Recaro Signo and LOVE it. Chan is picky about car seats and he loves this one.
	Run, run, as fast as you can... can't catch me, I'm the Chan Chan Man! 4.25.2007 It's gotta be Shasta! 10.30.97

mommyjessica Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'insightful Member Rating(18) Perennial Pinner 2 years 96 days Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Location: Here and Now Posts: 2710	Quote Reply Posted: 04 Nov 2009 at 12:22am
	thanks jen, i was wondering if anyone had one and what they thought of it. i know people like the radian, for good reason. i guess i will just have to decide what features are most important and what will work best for our car. both the radian and recaro have tons of pros but not many cons.
	Jessica- Wife to the Husband, Jared, Mommy to the kid, Tiffany Eve- born gorgeous on 12-31-07. Unexpected fruit due mid May 2010