[echodriver]

I made the mistake of buying a convertible car seat without trying it first because it was on sale. I bought a Radian that goes up to 48 pounds, but it is too long in the rear facing position, which was a disappointment. We are giving it to my mother and are on the hunt for another seat. Any suggestions? We have a 2003 Toyota Echo and would prefer if the seat fit well in the centre because I understand that is safer.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

	Convertible Car Seats Convertible seats are for infants and toddlers. The seat can be used as a rear-facing seats for younger children, and switched to a forward-facing seat on the child's first birthday if the child weighs at least 20 pounds. However, experts recommend keeping the child in a rear-facing position until he or she outgrows the weight or height allowed by the safety seat.

	Combi Centre DX - Click for more info The Combi Centre DX w/ ARB (Anti Rebound Bar) is a safe and comfortable mid-range infant carseat from our safety-centered friends at Combi. Lightweight and fashion forward, Combi car seats are a step above Graco seats in terms of quality and ease of installation, and offer certain distinct features like the anti-rebound bar (see "Safety" below) that enhance the seat's safety.

	Sunshine Kids Radian 80 or 65 - Click for more info If "the Sunshine Kid's Radian 80 convertible car seat is (probably) the only car seat you will ever need," the "probably" part of this statement comes into play when you directly compare the Radian 80 with the Britax Regent. While the Radian 80 has a very high weight capacity, the seat width is only 10" vs. the Regent's 14" seat. The Britax Regent may be a bit wider, but it is very bulky, is only forward facing, and does not fold like the Radian 80. Because the Radian 80 is so narrow, you can potentially put three of them side by side in the back seat. Three Regents side by side? Impossible.