Britax Frontier or Radian?

[luvsviola]

Originally Posted by Pixi6s btw the secure kid can just be used as a booster until height of 57 inches the same as the radian. Looks like the frontier actually goes to 65 inches. http://www.evenflo.com/product.aspx?id=398&pfid=5053 http://carseatblog.com/14805/diono-radian-rxt/ http://carseatblog.com/5751/britax-f...is-it-for-you/

The issue with the Radian is that it has the minimum booster weight of 50 pounds, while they others have significantly lighter booster minimums. So, if kiddo was ready to booster and only 40 pounds at 6, you could do it in a Frontier or Secure Kid, but you'd be stuck still harnessing in the Radian til kiddo hit 50 pounds, which at your kiddo's current size of 27 pounds at age 4, may not be til kiddo is really old.

[Hands&Fire Pottery]

DS is 27 pounds at 10 months- DD is 40.5 lbs- we just turned her.

[luvsviola]

Ohhhhh...sorry, I didn't understand. I am used to my lightweight kiddos and thought your 27 pounds was the 4 year old.

[Hands&Fire Pottery]

He is a little unusual in size

[mrosehughes]

For a 27 lb 10 month old, I'd get a radian, or hold out for a foonf, to RF as long as possible. DS has always been on the big/heavy side and now at just over 3 he'd be turned around if we didn't have a radian (he's ~40 lbs).

We fly with our radian -- I actually think its easier to fly with than our blvd was; even though it's slightly heavier I can put it on my back and walk down the airplane aisle, instead of hoisting it over the seats.

[brigala]

Yeah, I'd probably buy the Radian. You have a younger munchkin who's going to need it sooner or later anyway. You can use the Radian for the older child for a while, and when the younger one needs it for RFing when the Marathon is outgrown (or expires) you will have enough experience with it to know whether you want to get another one or not.

Probably my plan of action, if I were you, would be to get the Radian for the older child, and when it's time to pass it down, buy a Frontier for home and a lightweight highback booster for travel & other purposes. the Frontier is a bear to move around, and in another year or two the older child will probably need something to ride in a friend's car with and that sort of thing. So the booster wouldn't be just for travel. Of course you can't use a booster on the plane, but I think a blanket over the seat and wiping down the arm rests, seat belt, and tray table is probably a better long-term solution. You can't use a car seat on the plane forever.