Carseat Q: Nauttilus vs Radian?

REOM

I need to buy two new car seats for my 2.5 y/o before school starts.

At first, I was thinking the Nautilus, b/c it becomes a booster and it would be the last carseat I would have to buy. But it is huge.

Then I was thinking the Sunshine Radian, b/c it is thinner, and we could fit 3 car seats across the back of my station wagon in a couple of years.

Which would you buy?  If you buy the booster when your child is 4, how much does that cost (trying to determine the weight that the booster included Nautilus carries)?

goodheartedmommy

You can get a booster for as cheap as $40...just depends on what you want. I love the radian, and Gina is pretty small, right? It should last her until 5 or 6, really, or maybe even longer. They're awesome seats. They are a bit hard to install in some cars, though.

REOM

Hmmm, why are they hard to install? We've only had Britax, so spoiled I guess. We won't be moving it a lot, so one proper installation, and it will be fine.

Ok, $40?  That's a nonissue then.

REOM

Do you think I should get the Radian 65 or 80?  Gina is 2.5 and 25lbs.

goodheartedmommy

If you use the seatbelt instead of latch, that can help a lot. It does not work well on seats that have a really big dip in the back for forward facing.

Angela814

REOM:

Do you think I should get the Radian 65 or 80?  Gina is 2.5 and 25lbs.

We have the Nautilus for DD, but she's 3yrs, 36.5lbs, and 41.5". I'd guess that the Radian 65 would be fine for Gina until she's 4 or 5 yrs. A basic booster is cheap too. What's the size and cost difference btwn the 65 and 80?

goodheartedmommy

There is no harness height difference, so really no child ever needs the 80. Maybe a really obese child. Go for the 65! I have one and really, really like it. More than my britax seats.Here is Bella in the seat. She's 38 inches and still has a ton of room left. She's got at least 4 inches of torso growth until she outgrows the top harness slot FF.