[CarSeatShopperMom]

We have a 2005 Saab 92-X wagon, which is a Subaru Impreza wagon in disguise. Our daughter will be 9 months on August 23 and is 25th percentile for weight and height, so not huge. Her current Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP RF infant seat works well (provided that we are very careful about not reclining the front passenger seat very much -- we did have this installation inspected) but we're trying to figure out what convertible seat will work when the time inevitably comes. She currently is about 68 cm (I think that's nearly 27 inches) and 17-18 pounds.

We are currently looking at convertible seats.

I was initially taken with the Sunshine Kids Radian80 SuperCool seat, since it was billed as good for small vehicles and airplane seats, folds, has the unique fabric to keep kids cooler/less sweaty, and seems to grow with the child for a long time. However, we were advised in the store that this seat will not work RF due to the size constraints in the Saab 92-X wagon; or rather, it will work RF but we will lose the front passenger seat. To retain use of the front passenger seat with a RF car seat, we were advised to go with the Britax Roundabout.

Our other vehicle is a 2003 Pontiac Vibe (also marketed as a Toyota Matrix). We received similar feedback about the Radian80 RF fit in this vehicle.

Three questions:
1) Is the Britax Roundabout the only seat we can contemplate for a safe RF installation without losing our front passenger seat? Can you recommend any others? [Note that while taking it on an airplane would be nice, we're really most concerned about our daily drives!]

2) If we decide to lose the front passenger seat, would you recommend Sunshine Kids Radian80 as both a RF and FF seat for both our vehicles?

3) While safety is the primary factor in selecting a seat, can you recommend any seats that offer "cool" fabrics or covers to help reduce in-seat sweat and overheating? I can only see that this is going to become a bigger problem as our daughter becomes older.

Thank you so much!

	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.

	Britax - Click for more info Britax International has been producing reliable child safety products for over 30 years. Not only does Britax have decades of experience creating car seats and other children's safety equipment, Britax has a long standing reputation as an industry leader and innovator. Britax International is headquartered in the United Kingdom, but Britax car seats are designed and manufactured at facilities in Germany, Austria, and the United States. In the summer of 2002, Britax strengthened their commitment to creating the safest car seats with the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art crash testing facility in North Carolina. Britax car seats have a reputation around the world for being some of the safest, most reliable, and best designed child safety seats ever made.

	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.

	Infant Car Seats Infant-only rear-facing seats are for babies up to about 22 to 30 pounds, depending on the specific car seat. You will need a new seat when your child gets bigger. Infant-only seats have handles that allow you to move the seat from the car to the house or other locations. Some have a base that you can leave installed in the car, so you can just click the car seat into place each time you use it.

	Britax Roundabout - Click for more info With the introduction of the new LATCH laws, Britax has improved even further upon their famously popular Roundabout Convertible Car Seat. This car seat has been praised by just about every consumer safety organization and mom and dad out there - and for good reason. It is easy to install, compatible in just about every car, super comfortable for baby, stylish and most importantly safe! Ask around and you will see that everyone raves about this car seat.

	Sunshine Kids - Click for more info Makers of a number of accessories geared towards making parents lives easier, Sunshine Kids has recently embarked in a new direction. In 2005 they unveiled their first car seat, the Radian. Their years of experience working in children's products focusued on child comfort and parent convenience shine through in this unique convertible car seat. The Radian is packed with safety features and is the first ever folding convertible car seat appealing to parents who car pool or travel often.

	Peg Perego - Click for more info Founded by Italian designer Guiseppe Pérego all the way back in 1949, Peg Pérego quickly branched out from traditional prams to strollers, high chairs, car seats, toys and accessories. Internationally renowned for innovative products and a supreme sense of style, Peg Pérego creates some of the most enjoyable and eye-catching transportation and safety options for children all over the world. With factories and offices in Italy, Germany, Canada, and the U.S., Peg Pérego is a truly international entity, blending technology and history to create lines that are reputable and safe. Peg Pérego professes a "dedication to original and innovative products designed for discriminating consumers who demand fashion, individuality, quality and safety in the products they purchase for their babies and young."