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Ant 
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Joined: 22 April 2009
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 Topic: Extd RF - Radian and Brio only options?
Posted: 24 January 2011 at 7:00pm |
Hi All,
We will need a second carseat, and want to rear-face for as long as physically possible 
We currently have a Safe-n-Sound Omega (I think!) that goes up to about 12kg rear-facing I think, and our plan is to put the newborn in that and move our toddler into the new seat, since he'll outgrow it soonest and I've heard the Brio at least isn't good for newborns (?)
But it seems the choices are the Brio (of which I've read a couple of bad reviews) and the Radian. Are these the only options? Are there other seats coming out in the next year?
I've nothing against the Radian, but don't wan't miss out on looking at another seat just because I don't know about it yet!
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T_Rex
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Joined: 07 March 2007
Location: PN
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Posted: 24 January 2011 at 8:24pm |
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There's also the cosco scenera, I think? It's kind of in-between in both price and RF limits.
I vote radian, I have one and love it, and will be getting another when we have another baby and will probably use it from birth.
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ItchyFeet
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Joined: 27 September 2007
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Posted: 24 January 2011 at 9:28pm |
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We have the Evenflo Symphony 65 (I think), RF to 15.6 or 15.8kg, can't remember exactly. I think the Brio is the ugliest thing regardless of how good it is, although I think newer models have more head padding, the lack of which meant I wasn't comfortable using it for a little baby. We tossed up in the end between the Radian and the Evenflo, tried fitting both in the car (thanks to Baby on the Move who were incredibly helpful) as well as putting our son in to see what worked better. I have to say the Radian was way better than I expected, so we will get one when DS outgrows the RF in the Evenflo, and hopefully by then we'll have another baby who can use the Evenflo, although I'm not sure whether I'd use a capsule for a newborn first, then the Evenflo.
There is another brand (Recaro) that looks good, but has really specific fits so wouldn't work in our cars. BOTM were fantastic with helping us decide.
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HuMum
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Posted: 24 January 2011 at 9:41pm |
We have a brio and I love it, I tried a radian out the other day (thanks to baby on the move) as I liked the low profile, and portability compared to the brio but it wouldn't fit in my car (subaru wagon). Well it fitted but only if I was driving (and I'm only 5ft) so thats as good as saying it doesn't fit 
I was gutted! But so pleased BOTM had them there to try. I'd give them a call as they have a great selection and are very much rear facing orientated.
BTW while I was there I noted the new brio has much better padding than the old one.....
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bebebaby
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Posted: 24 January 2011 at 11:15pm |
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I also recommend going to Baby on the Move. Although I think some may be a little anti the Radian.
I would try the different seats out in your car and see what fits in your car.
We have the Brio, as the Radian wouldn't fit in our car rear facing. However plan to get a Radian for forward facing.
Also if you are interested in the Radian look into some of the online nappy shops that sell it. As they occasionally have 15% off.
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SquishysMum
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Posted: 25 January 2011 at 1:22pm |
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We have also bought the Evenflo Symphony 65, using it forward facing at the mo (as bought as a 3rd carseat for my PORSE kidlets, and for new bubba when he/she grows out of our other RF carseat). I LOVE that it's birth-booster, we will get LOADS of use out of it! It does have a very high base though, my care-boy occasionally hits hit head getting in it and we have a people mover...
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rachelsea
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Posted: 25 January 2011 at 2:48pm |
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We have a Radian and it's awesome. Fits fine in our car (Holden Astra) and DD is still happily rear facing at almost 2yrs old, with still heaps more room to grow. I chose the Radian over the Brio, because while the Brio RF to 25kg or so, the FF limit is only 18kg so once they grow out of RF you will have to get a new carseat. But the Radian RF till 20kg (my DD is still a long way off that being only just over 10kg now) and then FF till 36kg so will last a lot longer.
We also have the Evenflo one that RF till 16kg, which is in my mum's car now for when she has DD, as we have bought a capsule for the new baby so won't need to use the Evenflo for a year or so.
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DD 4yrs DS 2yrs 
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VanessaN
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Posted: 02 February 2011 at 1:43pm |
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We have the Evenflo Symphony 65 - LOVE it. It's awesome looking, our son is SO comfortable in it - he is quite tall, but still has plenty of leg room to stay rear facing. I wanted him to be harnessed and rear facing for as long as possible - and this is the car seat to do it in! Got it from Baby on the Move at a great price at the Parent and Child show last year. DEFINITELY recommend.
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kandk
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Posted: 02 February 2011 at 9:41pm |
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So if I find the Brio a tight squeeze in our vehicles would the Radian be better or not? How about the Evenflo?
And where do you get these? Only BOTM?
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VanessaN
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Posted: 02 February 2011 at 9:47pm |
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I got my Evenflo Symphony from BOTM - and it does take up quite a bit of room. In my car (Mazda wagon) the passenger seat has to be moved a bit forward. Best thing to do would be go and see BOTM and try out all of them in your car and go from there :) Good luck!!
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Mucky_Tiger
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Posted: 05 February 2011 at 2:24pm |
when a radian is rear facing how much space does it take up.
like i know this is a sh*t drawing but u get the idea (I hope)...how much room does it need to rear face.
I know i drew the front seat being too much of an angle and it would need to be more upright.
in my (new) car i have about 65cm with the seat in its current position which kinda suits DP
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Pinkygirl
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Posted: 05 February 2011 at 9:10pm |
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Between my Mum's, DH and my car we have two Raidians and a Brio.
I bought the Brio first and used it when DS was 6months old, then I had to buy one for Mum's car as she looks after him. I decided to go for the Radian over the Brio due to the increased weight limit for forward facing. I do however think the Brio is more protective rear facing for children who are smaller, due to the design of it but wouldn't go and buy this especially if I were to buy it as a first car seat. It only happens I have both as the Radian was not an option when I bought the Brio.
I will be transfernig DS into a Radian (I have spent a fortune on car seats!) in my car and putting baby number 2 into the Brio when he/she is 6 months old.
The Raidian is deffinately a leaner car seat and my friend who works for BOTM said she installed three Radian's into the back of a car.
A friend of mine has a Brio forward facing and she said her son ws complaining of a sore bum on a long car trip...the new Brio model might have more padding though.
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weegee
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Posted: 06 February 2011 at 9:46am |
Mucky_Tiger - sorry to not give you a straight answer but the distance you're asking about depends on the angle of your back seat too so it's not as straightforward as that
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Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010
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Limochick
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Posted: 06 February 2011 at 2:05pm |
I've got the evenflo symphony and I love it, ds looks really comfy in it!! I got it from baby on the move and they were awesome to deal with and lots of help when trying to decide what was the best carseat. We have just put another one on layby for when our new baby gets a bit bigger
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Extd RF - Radian and Brio only options?
