Best child car seat to switch cars often

[McClane]

Hello,

I'm in the market for a car seat (first child due in a couple of months) but I'm overwhelmed by all the options.

I've been narrowing the list to some extent, but portability is an important factor for me and that doesn't come that often in product reviews. We don't own a car, but we're part of a car share program (for short trips) and we sometimes we also take weekend rentals. That's why I need a seat that is not too hard to switch between cars. Compatibility is another factor. From what I've read in customer reviews, some seats won't fit in certain cars. If that's true, what would be the most versatile option?

Thanks for your help.

Mc

[infamouskid]

foldable seat is what i reccomend if you plan on switching a lot.
there is another one that is also able to rear facing and foldable.
you can ask about it here.

http://www.safetysuperstore.com/

they got 4 locations in the gta.

[infamouskid]

nvm found it. it's called the radian.

http://babyproofingplus.com/category/28/car_seats/?page=4

it can do rear facing from 5 to 45 lbs.
folds flat.
and can also be carried like a back pack or a side bag with a strap.

i also reccomend getting this add on which can fit any car seat as well. there is also a second type as well.

http://safetysuperstore.com/product/9093/comfy_soft_gray/

http://safetysuperstore.com/product/7714/cuddle_soft_head_body_support/


here is a product video. (requires flash)
http://ca.diono.com/videos/Diono-RXT-Marketing-CA.swf

and here is the product website.
http://ca.diono.com/en/car-seats/radian-rxt

[ArtemisCat]

OP: as per your "Newborn leaving hospital" thread, I think everyone recommended you get an infant (aka bucket) seat for your new baby. There was another thread a while back where people seemed to come to a consensus that the Graco Snugride was the smallest one if you are concerned about a carseat fitting in a car when both parents are tall.

I do not recommend the Radian for your newborn because it doesn't offer the support a newborn needs despite the weight specifications, and I think you came to the same conclusion judging from your comment in your "Newborn leaving hospital" thread. Another thing to note, the Radian is steel framed, which makes it heavy, so although the folding bit makes it easy for storage, I certainly wouldn't want to be lugging a Radian around if I were doing a car-sharing thing. That's just my 2 cents.

[B0000rt]

Hello,

I'm in the market for a car seat (first child due in a couple of months) but I'm overwhelmed by all the options.

I've been narrowing the list to some extent, but portability is an important factor for me and that doesn't come that often in product reviews. We don't own a car, but we're part of a car share program (for short trips) and we sometimes we also take weekend rentals. That's why I need a seat that is not too hard to switch between cars. Compatibility is another factor. From what I've read in customer reviews, some seats won't fit in certain cars. If that's true, what would be the most versatile option?

Thanks for your help.

Mc
I would recommend getting any one of the Snugride versions. Original Snugride, the Snugride 30, 32 or 35.

I would recommend you using one of these without the base and it should just about fit any car out there.

http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=586810&postcount=9


nvm found it. it's called the radian.

http://babyproofingplus.com/category/28/car_seats/?page=4

it can do rear facing from 5 to 45 lbs.
folds flat.
and can also be carried like a back pack or a side bag with a strap.

i also reccomend getting this add on which can fit any car seat as well. there is also a second type as well.

http://safetysuperstore.com/product/9093/comfy_soft_gray/

http://safetysuperstore.com/product/7714/cuddle_soft_head_body_support/


here is a product video. (requires flash)
http://ca.diono.com/videos/Diono-RXT-Marketing-CA.swf

and here is the product website.
http://ca.diono.com/en/car-seats/radian-rxt

I've got the American version of this with the Super Latch (Radian XTSL) and I do NOT recommend this seat for portability. Sure, it folds up, and there's a promotional picture of a woman carrying it like a backpack or with a shoulder strap, but man, the thing is SUPER heavy, and routing a seatbelt for rearfacing setup takes abit of work. Not to mention for rear facing you gotta attach this bulky piece that makes the seat tilt back for proper positioning.




OP: as per your "Newborn leaving hospital" thread, I think everyone recommended you get an infant (aka bucket) seat for your new baby. There was another thread a while back where people seemed to come to a consensus that the Graco Snugride was the smallest one if you are concerned about a carseat fitting in a car when both parents are tall.

I do not recommend the Radian for your newborn because it doesn't offer the support a newborn needs despite the weight specifications, and I think you came to the same conclusion judging from your comment in your "Newborn leaving hospital" thread. Another thing to note, the Radian is steel framed, which makes it heavy, so although the folding bit makes it easy for storage, I certainly wouldn't want to be lugging a Radian around if I were doing a car-sharing thing. That's just my 2 cents.

+1

[Rehan]

I would recommend getting any one of the Snugride versions. Original Snugride, the Snugride 30, 32 or 35.

I would recommend you using one of these without the base and it should just about fit any car out there. The Snugride is a great choice, but do use the base. The base has LATCH connectors which make secure installation very quick & easy, whereas without the base you have to use the car's seatbelt. Secure installation with the seatbelt is possible, but it's also easy to get it wrong.

I haven't tried our current Snugride in a small car, but I remember our first one 11 years ago being a pretty tight fit in our Mazda Protege. It fits fine if you put it behind the passenger seat when it has been moved forward, though.


I've got the American version of this with the Super Latch (Radian XTSL) and I do NOT recommend this seat for portability. Sure, it folds up, and there's a promotional picture of a woman carrying it like a backpack or with a shoulder strap, but man, the thing is SUPER heavy, and routing a seatbelt for rearfacing setup takes abit of work. +1000
Try carrying two of these from one end of an airport terminal to another. Not much fun, but a very good workout! :)

[fly]

OP, just make sure the car and car seat have the latch system. It takes me less than 2 minutes to switch the seat between cars.

http://www.thecarseatlady.com/vehicles/the_latch_system.html

Also, I would recommend a baby carrier seat (the ones with a base) in the beginning since it's a lot more convenient to remove. We switched over to a convertible after 5 months and woke our baby every time took her out.

[McClane]

Thank you very much for your replies. That was exactly what I wanted. Now I've decided on getting the Snugride.

This one looks like a good option: http://www.graco.net/e/item.asp?code=11112&s=00AAA

Good information on the LATCH standard. I had not heard of that.

One last question, I'm going to drive to the US for a few days on business. Can I buy the seat there (within the usual customs limits, of course) or is there anything else I should consider? I went to the Health Canada site and found the info below, but I might be missing something.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/consumer_prod-consommation-eng.php#seats

Thanks again for all the help.

[ArtemisCat]

Thank you very much for your replies. That was exactly what I wanted. Now I've decided on getting the Snugride.

This one looks like a good option: http://www.graco.net/e/item.asp?code=11112&s=00AAA

Good information on the LATCH standard. I had not heard of that.

One last question, I'm going to drive to the US for a few days on business. Can I buy the seat there (within the usual customs limits, of course) or is there anything else I should consider? I went to the Health Canada site and found the info below, but I might be missing something.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/consumer_prod-consommation-eng.php#seats

Thanks again for all the help.

You cannot buy a carseat in the USA and use it in Canada. I think there have been a few old threads about this as well:
http://forums.redflagdeals.com/buy-car-seat-stroller-us-here-vancouver-927556/

The seats you purchase in the states do not have the canada sticker, (although someone in the other thread mentioned there was one seat that had both american and canadian stickers.)

[oddduck]

I'd personally get like a Snugride 30/32/35. Why? It has a built in lock off in the base (for seat belt installs if their is no UAS in that seating position) and also has a built in base height adjustment so you won't be fiddling around with pool noodles most likely. It also is easy to install with seat belt only and they are pretty affordable. They also have front adjust, some of the original snugride seats (still manufactured) are rear adjust which is a bit of a pain.

[McClane]

Thank you again. So I'll get the Snugride in a local store then. Great help. Thanks! :D