combination seats

[hilwithonelary]

We're about ready to move DD up to a convertible seat. DS can move up to a combination seat, correct? If he can, I'd like to do that so DD can inherit his convertible seats. He's 35 pounds, 2 years 10 months, and already forward facing in his convertible seat.

I was looking at the Diono RadianR120. I like that it has a 10 year expiration and 5 point harness until 80 pounds. It also says that you can use the LATCH system up to 80 pounds. However, our vehicles have 40 and 48 pound weight limits for LATCH, so does that override the 80 pound limit of the seat?

Any other seats you can recommend?

[statlerwaldorf]

I have the Britax Frontier and I really like it. It's a little on the pricier side, but it was worth the money IMO. It is easy to install and adjust. DD found it more comfortable than the Nautilus which was the other one we were considering. I also heard good things about the Recaro ProSport, but I didn't like that I couldn't find it in store and see it in person. The Evenflo Maestro is a good seat if you are on a limited budget. It has a lower 5 pt weight limit and a lot less padding.

[hilwithonelary]

Thanks for all the info! It is really helpful.

[dragonfly08]

We have two Graco Nautilus seats and I really like them. If you don't need something that will RF, it's a great option. Used them as five point harness seats first, now we have one as a high backed booster for #2 and the other as a backless for #1.

LATCH should only be used to the limit in your owner's manual, even if the seat itself has a higher limit. After that point use the seat belt. LATCH doesn't make your seat safer, it just makes it easier to install it properly and *that* is what makes it safe. If you properly install it with a car seat, which I never had any trouble doing with the Nautilus, then it's perfectly safe. Safer than a LATCH installed car seat past the weight limit, because the hooks won't properly support the seat in an accident. And you don't use LATCH with it in booster configuration, only the seat belt.

[Willis Jackson]

We have an Evenflo Maestro and really like it. DS has had no complaints, either.

[savannah11]

Dec 31, 2012 0:25:19 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Technically, using the Radian as a 5-point restraint with LATCH past 40/48 lbs is a "parental decision" because you are going against the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation.

Which vehicle? I was curious about this as I have my 44 lb 5 year old still harnessed and latched in an older Sunshine Radian XTSL. I looked at my vehicle manual but did not see any weight restrictions for the latch.

[Deleted]

We have a britax frontier. It's great.

[h]

Both our kids are in Frontiers. We like them a lot.

[savannah11]

Jan 1, 2013 1:29:26 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Dec 31, 2012 20:02:28 GMT -5 @savannah11 said:

Which vehicle? I was curious about this as I have my 44 lb 5 year old still harnessed and latched in an older Sunshine Radian XTSL. I looked at my vehicle manual but did not see any weight restrictions for the latch.

Apparently it's not in most manuals - the company can tell you if you call, or a car seat tech can look it up, or there is a manual that lists all of the limits. According to what I've read, it's generally 40 or 48 lbs for most vehicles - that's just the max weight that they have tested in that vehicle. But this is also problematic because generally seats for kids over 40 lbs are FFing or boosters and should use top tethers if available, so it's kind of an impossible situation. Apparently a lot of people install with a seatbelt after 40/48 lbs but still use the top tether (so the seat itself is still secure and you get the benefit of the tether).

One of the threads on car-seat.org said that Diono's position is that the LATCH connectors (on the carseat) will fail before the anchors (on the vehicle) at higher weights, so they remedy that using the Super LATCH. But they obviously can't test this on all vehicles. Hence the parental decision.

www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=220942
www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=122514
carseatblog.com/14805/diono-radian-rxt/
www.thecarseatlady.com/vehicles/the_latch_system_4.html
www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=1478

Thanks for the info. This is the first time I've heard this. A quick google search indicated that mazda defers to the carseat manufacturer limits. We do have the SL which is why I still had it latched.

[dragonfly08]

Dec 31, 2012 12:25:47 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Dec 31, 2012 8:08:21 GMT -5 dragonfly08 said:

And you don't use LATCH with it in booster configuration, only the seat belt.

For the Radians (and the Frontier, and the Maestro), you can use LATCH anchors in booster mode (mostly so that the seats stay restrained when they are empty without having to rebuckle the seatbelt around the empty seat - otherwise they become projectiles in a crash). The seatbelt (not LATCH) still absorbs the crash impact when a child is buckled into the booster - it's not the same as with a convertible/infant seat where you don't want to double up on both the seatbelt and LATCH to hold the seat itself in.

I don't see this option for the Nautilus in the manual - it's seat specific.

Interesting to know, thanks! I don't think the Radian was an option when we got our seats, and I'm pretty sure the Nautilus says do not use LATCH with the belt when in five point harness mode (plus my old car, at least, said not to do it in the user's manual...I never bothered checking the manual for my mini van because both seats were boosters by the time we got it).

[zarapipe]

We have the frontier too and really like it.


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[vanillacourage]

We were in a similar situation and got a Graco Nautilus. They're $120 at Walmart and will be the last seat my older son will need.

[Deleted]

I just put DS (3) in a Graco Nautilus and gave DD his convertible.

[SpartanGirl]

We have 2 (about to have 3) Graco Nautilus seats. I love the high weight limit for the 5 pt harness (my 7 year old is still in a 5 pt harness in it). The downside to the Nautilus is that it it is a bulky (wide) seat.

[stephm0188]

You may use LATCH in booster mode up to 48lbs for the Nautilus. It's not required, but you can do it.

[agrippa]

This.