Recaro seats?

[lmariana]

Okay, Atom is ready to more out of the infant seat, so I'm thinking of giving him Gabe's Marathon and getting Gabe a Recaro seat. I've been out of the loop for a while, what is the general consensus on the Recaro seats??

Any quick thoughts appreciated, I'm buying something today! Thanks!

Mariana
Mom to Gabe (8/03) and Atom (10/05)
www.heinzandmariana.com
http://www.geocities.com/kellysb/images/medals/awardbar2-bronze.jpg[p]
http://www.sloganizer.net/en/style3,Gabe-spc-and-spc-Atom.png

[lmariana]

I'm basically trying to decide between the Young Sport or the Young Style seats. Which one will I want? I don't have time to do my normal exhaustive research this time, so I'm counting on my girls to help me out!

Mariana
Mom to Gabe (8/03) and Atom (10/05)
www.heinzandmariana.com
http://www.geocities.com/kellysb/images/medals/awardbar2-bronze.jpg[p]
http://www.sloganizer.net/en/style3,Gabe-spc-and-spc-Atom.png

[ppshah]

How much does Gabe weigh?

The Recaro is a good carseat with high slots and makes a nice booster. But you can harness only until 40 lbs- which is why alot of people pass on this seat.

Would you consider letting Gabe keep his Marathon and getting Atom his own Marathon? Gabe is not yet 3 so he probably has many years left in his Marathon.

[kellyotn]

He's not yet three? You'll want the go with the Young Sport as it harnesses. It only harnesses until 40 lbs though. How big is he?

I was pondering a Recaro Young Sport and decided against it b/c of the low harness limit and my daughter is 36-38 lbs at 3.5 years. My youngest is 20 months and still RF, so I considered keeping #1 harnessed in the Recaro until she hits 40, then moving #2 into it harnessed and giving #1 his MA - but eh, too confusing and the timing may not work out ideally safetywise. So I crossed it off the list.

In your situation, I'd really consider another MA unless Gabe is very tall and very slim and could really maximize the harness of the Recaro Young Sport. I wouldn't consider the Young Style as its only a booster and he's too young for that situation.

If you want the future booster feature, the Apex is something to look at. It harnesses until 65.

[lmariana]

Thanks ladies!

Gabe is 32# and 40" tall...long and lean! (He's taller than some 4-yr olds we know) That's one of the reasons I was attracted to the Recaro...the very high harness slots. He's already on the top hole of his Marathon. So, that's one of the reasons I wanted something other than the Marathon.

Young Sport then? A harness is definitely good. :)

Mariana
Mom to Gabe (8/03) and Atom (10/05)
www.heinzandmariana.com
http://www.geocities.com/kellysb/images/medals/awardbar2-bronze.jpg[p]
http://www.sloganizer.net/en/style3,Gabe-spc-and-spc-Atom.png

[ppshah]

Hmmm...I'm not sure the Recaro's top slots are any taller than the marathon. Check out this website for slot height info:

http://www.carseatdata.org/csnumbers.html

If he's out growing the marathon, you're only options may be the Regent or safeguard if you want to keep him harness for a few more years.

[kellyotn]

Yeah, I don't think the Recaro is much, if any, higher....

The Radian would be a good choice as its a bit higher slot-wise, if it installs well in your car. There are issues with the seat belt front facing in lots of cars. Its ok with LATCH though, and you have a long time left to use LATCH (in most cars you must discontinue use at 48 lbs and move to the seat belt.

Would a Regent work? Its probably the best choice as it has VERY high slots. It really is not a lot larger than an MA. It sits very low (no base), hence it gains a lot of slot height w/o being taller over all. Its pretty wide, but really only and inch or two more than an MA.

[kellyotn]

You're right, that site says a Young Sport is .5 inches lower than an MA!

[Splash]

I would definitely go with the Regent if he is almost too tall for the MA. About the same price and it'll give him at least two more inches of torso height.

[Kat_Mom2D_J_andRuthie]

I'd go for the Safeguard Childseat... because the top slots are as high as the Regent... with him still well under 40lbs, if he's already at the top slots for the Marathon, he would probably only need the 65lb limit, not the 80lb... and the safeguard is not as wide...

I drool and dream over that seat.... but if not affordable (I certainly can't afford it) then I would go with the Regent.