How long could a kid *really* stay in a Radian?

[jadefaerie]

I'm about to order a new Radian for my almost 5yo DD (I'm thinking the XT, or whatever the most expensive one is ) because I need some more room to fit a 3rd carseat in our very tight Corolla and her seat is the oldest (she's been in her Britax for ~4 years). I figure she'll use the Radian it until my 3yo's Britax expires, then I'll give it to him, putting her in a booster--I imagine this to be in about 2 years when she's pushing 7.

Am I crazy to think she'll be in a "carseat" that long? She's pretty tall for her age, 44" (and about 42 lbs). Or could she truly be in it even longer than that?

Reading sizes and weights doesn't really translate into average ages for me mentally and I want to make sure I'm not nuts

[gabeyho]

fwiw, i put all my kids in boosters around 4, depending on their height. If I went by weight my string-bean 7yo son will be in a car seat until he is 15.

5 seems a little old to me to still be in a car seat, but that's just me.

ETA: wow. I had no idea there were kids out there in their car seats/boosters for so long; no one around here has their kids in any kind of seat past 5ish. I have 5 kids, and my 4th who just turned 2, is in a marathon (which is our first 'nice' car seat), and I definitely plan on keeping her in it until she is too big because it is just SO nice. With the first three we just had such inexpensive and uncomfortable car seats I took them out of it as soon as I could and never knew what they were missing until we got a marathon. I'd never even heard of a Radian until I saw this post, and just now looked it up.....I think I want a couple of those!

Anyhow, perhaps I spoke too soon in my original post, but I did speak from my personal experience.

[PurpleRina]

I can't say how long she'll actually fit, but I can say that she is CERTAINLY not too old for a car seat, and that as long as she 'fits' and knows nothing different, I bet she'll very happily ride in the safety way possible -- her awesome new Radian! (P.S. LOVE our XT)

[Shaunam]

Hard to say, how does she fit in the marathon now? Where are her shoulders in relation to the top slot? She'll outgrow the radian by height first so her torso height is the most important factor. Kids will generally fit in the radian for 1-2 years longer than the marathon, so if she's *right at* the top slot, she may have 1-2 more years in the radian. If she has room to grow in the marathon, I'd say she'd make it to 7. If her shoulders are already over the top slot, you won't get as long, but I'd still get it since you plan on using it for more than one child, you might just be passing it down sooner than you wanted.

My 44" 5 1/2 year old still fits in the radian with about 1-1 1/2 years to go, I think. (my best estimate)

No I don't think it's crazy to keep her in a car seat that long. She'll be safe in a booster at any time, provided she can sit properly, but if you are working with a tight fit in a 3 across, I'd totally keep her in the radian since it's easier.

She's certainly not too old to be in a car seat at 5, or even at 7. That's why they make bigger car seats now, because parents are choosing to use them longer (well that and the obesity epidemic)! My DS rides in a regent with his grandma because I cannot trust her to help him buckle a booster correctly and he'll ride in that until he outgrows it or it expires. He'll be 7+ when that happens.

[jac1976]

I just moved my DS from a Radian to a FN85 a few weeks ago. He is 5 years old, 47", and 44 lbs. I am hoping to keep him harnessed for the majority of the time for the next year. We do have a booster seat and I am going to start using that for short trips. I tried to do the booster full time, but he was not sitting still enough (he has sensory issues and is a very active, fidgety child.) TBH, he is the only 5 year old I know IRL who is still in a harnessed seat. But DS has never complained. He is comfortable in his seat and he just knows that that is how it is in my car.

[m0mof2bratz]

Originally Posted by gabeyho fwiw, i put all my kids in boosters around 4, depending on their height. If I went by weight my string-bean 7yo son will be in a car seat until he is 15. 5 seems a little old to me to still be in a car seat, but that's just me.

5yo is perfectly fine to be harnessed and the safest way for her to ride!
My 4yo STILL rides RFing!

[kababy76]

My 7yr old DD still fits in our Radian if needed She's normally in a booster, but we drove 200 miles last weekend and I put her in it. She "barely" fits...but still fits! (not sure of her stats)

[mommabritt]

Originally Posted by m0mof2bratz 5yo is perfectly fine to be harnessed and the safest way for her to ride! My 4yo STILL rides RFing!

Yes, this here too! What they dont know doesnt' hurt them!

Our 7yo (who weighs 54 pounds and has a 21" shoulder height!!) rides in high back booster in both vehicles and doesnt complain; even though around here most kids are safety-seatless by age 4 or so. Our 4yo (who weighs 37 pounds and has a shoulder height of 14") rides in a FF Graco Nautilus in mama's car and RF Radian XTSL in daddy's car. Our 2yo is STILL RF in both cars in a TrueFit and Radian XTSL.

I think I did read in the manual that children's shoulders may be over the top slot (only seat on the market to allow this I believe) provided they are still within weight limits and their ears haven't grown over the top of the shell. I *love* this seat for this reason. He has tons of growing room in this seat as his head is not even near the top yet, even when FF. My tall 7yo does not fit in this seat by a few inches.

All I can say is MEASURE MEASURE MEASURE!! And have fun shopping!!

[Austinsmamma]

I think it depends on the kid my DS outgrew the Radian at 5.5 and 35 pounds we put him in a Regent and Frontier which he has TONS of growing room in

[jadefaerie]

Originally Posted by Austinsmamma my DS outgrew the Radian at 5.5 and 35 pounds

Really?? In what way? Which style was it?

She seems fine in her Marathon, though honestly I'm so used to her in it I *might* not notice it was too small until it was ridiculous But she's certainly comfortable. I hadn't thought about the Radian being too small for her. Is there anywhere that sells them IRL so I can see it?