Question about Radian 80?

[mgentry]

We are thinking of purchasing the Sunshine Kids Radian 80 for our 2 and 4 year old, they are both very tall and thin for their age and keep outgrowing their car seats. I would like to keep both of them in the five-point harness for as long as possible. I have heard the Radian 80 takes up less room than some of the Britax models, which is very important since our backseat is kind of narrow, (even tough we have an SUV). I have also heard they are heavy, but I don't mind, since we rarely ever remove them or switch to another car.

Does anyone here have one and do you recommend?

Thanks!

	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.

	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.

	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.

[brendagreen]

I have one and love it. I purchased a Radian80 Princess for my daughter, Meredith, just after her first birthday. My then 9-yr-old daughter, Kaylan, was just a hair too tall for it, so I expected Meredith to get close to the full 8 year life out of the Radian80. I was hit head-on last month and totalled my van - without my kids. I replaced the Princess with another exact seat because after using it for a year, we still love it. Meredith is 28 months old and 26 pounds and rides rear-facing in a second row captain's chair in my 2008 Chevy Uplander.

	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.