Radian XT?

[VoodooChile]

Okay, long story short, we're about to do the shuffle in dh's car. Currently my 4 y/o dd is in a Frontier in my car, and my baby (almost 7 months) is in a MA. Currently in dh's car dd is in a MA and the baby's in a Snugride (22 lb one). He's about to outgrow the Snugride by height. We're looking at several options, 2 of which are moving ds to the MA in dh's car and getting either another Frontier or a Nautilus for dd in there. She's just turned 4 and will likely be harnessed for another year and a half to 2 years. However, I am also considering moving the Frontier to dh's car and trying a Radian XT in mine--dd REALLY liked rear-facing and has been asking why her seat can't face backwards like the baby. I'm just unsure of a few things regarding the Radian:
1. Install. I have a 2000 Mountaineer with no LATCH and slippery leather seats which slope back towards the bight. Has anyone had compatibility issues?
2. If I'm going to plunk down $300 for a convertible I want to be darn sure she can rf in it for awhile. She's fine weight-wise, 36 lbs, but it's height I'm concerned about. She's 40 1/4 inches tall, seated height is about 13.5 inches. Does anyone have a good estimate if she'd fit rf?

	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. Ready to buy a Convertible car seat? Please support our sponsor!

	Graco SnugRide - Click for more info The Graco SnugRide with EPS infant car seat is a highly popular and top-rated infant car seat that provides first-rate transportation safety for your baby, plus convenient mobility options for you. Even with its relatively low price, the Graco SnugRide with EPS receives unmatched praise for its safety by leading consumer magazines and websites. Ready to buy a Graco Snugride? Please support our sponsor!

	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.

	LATCH LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. It is a system mandated by the Federal government in an effort to standardize and simplify the installation of child restraints without using the vehicle's seat belt system. New vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on and after September 1, 2002 will be equipped with the LATCH system. Cars, minivans, and light trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions, and a top tether anchor (with the exception of convertibles). Child safety seats will have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors. Most forward-facing child safety seats will also have a top strap (tether) that attaches to the top anchor in the vehicle.

	Forum Speak DD: Dear Daughter DS: Dear Son DH: Dear Husband DW: Dear Wife SO: Significant Other BF: Boyfriend GF: Girlfriend