[ignora]

Originally Posted by lilkittyy

Do you know how high the top slots are on those three seats you mentioned? I found a site once with this info but for the life of me can't find it again!! I think the Marathon was 17.5

Oh and can I buy the Regent or the Radiance in a store rather than online (is so what stores?) SO at least I can have her sit in it and try them out.

Here's the page with the slot measurements. The top slot on the Marathon is about 17.5", the Radian is about 18" (though, it seems taller because of the shape of the seat or something...), the Safeguard is about 19.5", and the Regent is about 20".

Most Babies 'R' Us stores have the Regent. The Radian is harder to find. If you have a USA Baby or a Buy Buy Baby where you are, they usually have them. Or, really, any kind of specialty baby boutique type of place. Even if they only have the Radian 80 (as opposed to the Radian 65) to try, the fit should be the same... it's the same shell and slot heights. The Radian 80 is more expensive, but has an 80 lb weight limit... the Radian 65 is a 65 lb limit. Those stores usually have the Regent as well. I don't know if any stores carry the Safeguard or not... I've only heard about it being ordered online.

If you can wait another week or two, the Recaro Como is supposed to go up to 70 lbs and have 19" slot heights. Supposedly, they started shipping to stores late last week, so maybe you'll be able to check that one, too. There's also the Recaro Signo (similar specs, but higher end features), but it won't be out until later in the year.

	Britax Marathon - Click for more info Increasing the time a child can safely stay in their convertible car seat is a big issue and Britax engineers have come through in a big way with the introduction of the Britax Marathon with LATCH. A LATCH Compatible Convertible Child Seat, the Britax Marathon can be used rear facing 5 to 33 pounds and forward facing from 20 to 65 pounds. Compare the numbers and you will see it is hard to find a seat with these weight limits that is safe and functional.

	Britax Regent - Click for more info The Britax Regent is the safe way to carry your older and larger passengers, all the way up to 80 lbs. Known as the "king of all car seats," the Britax Regent will accomodate your little king or queen for far longer than traditional car seats or booster seats. The Regent features a large roto-molded shell, comfy extra-thick comfort foam, washable covers, Patented Versa-Tether™, flexible buckle LATCH system, patented HUGS™ system, and tangle-free polyester 5-point harness.

	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.

	SafeGuard - Click for more info Indiana Mills and Manufacturing (IMMI) is SafeGuard’s parent company, and has been in the business of developing and manufacturing quality safety systems for every facet of the transportation industry for over 40 years, covering everything from the heavy truck and agricultural industries to child seating. IMMI has a world-renowned reputation for creating and promoting the highest rated safety harnesses and restraint systems available today, from integrated child seats in production vehicles to campaigning for increased use of safety harnesses on public transportation systems. Based in Westfield, Indiana, SafeGuard has been creating and testing essential components used across the child safety seat industry through their state of the art crash testing facilities since 1961. The SafeGuard and SafeGuard Go are IMMI’s first direct foray into the child safety seat market, and the results are simply outstanding. No other car seats or boosters are designed with as much attention to structural integrity, ease of installation, and total child safety. This seat has been subjected to the most thorough and extensive testing “ever conducted in the industry”: virtual prototyping with computer models; rigorous front, side, and rear impact crash testing; and environmental testing in a range of climates and road types.