carseats for the 8,000,000th time...

[traceyt07]

Hello all!  I'm sorry to ask the same question that I know has been answered multiple times, but DH just got a hand-me-down car from his dad and we're looking for carseats.  The car is a tiny 2 door Camry and he wants to be able to pick up the kids from school sometimes on his own.  I know there was a specific low-profile carseat that many of you have and like.  Could you remind me of the name?  Again, I'm sorry to bother you all with this when I know it has been posted to death, but I can't seem to find it here on PB.    TIA!

[abseptember]

If you're looking for a narrow carseat, then the Diono is the way to go. I'm not sure of it's depth for RFing b/c I've only used it FF.

[cbear]

My parents have a Costco one and it was like $60

[summergirl1211]

Mar 16, 2015 9:56:53 GMT -5 abseptember said:

If you're looking for a narrow carseat, then the Diono is the way to go. I'm not sure of it's depth for RFing b/c I've only used it FF.

traceyt07, yep, the Diono is super narrow which is nice. But it leans pretty far back if you're still RFing. If both kids are FFing by now you should be good. Can you take the car to BRU and try out a few options before buying? Hope this helps!

[traceyt07]

The Diono... that's the one! I knew there was one that everyone kept raving about. I will definitely go to BRU summergirl1211, and try it out. Both kids are FF now, so hopefully that will work. I just hope it's big enough for Asher. He's over 50lbs now!

cbear, I'll check the costco ones too. I looked there the other day and they had a Safety 1st one or a Graco one. Neither got great ratings. (

Thanks so much, all!

[summergirl1211]

Mar 16, 2015 10:04:26 GMT -5 traceyt07 said:

The Diono... that's the one! I knew there was one that everyone kept raving about. I will definitely go to BRU summergirl1211, and try it out. Both kids are FF now, so hopefully that will work. I just hope it's big enough for Asher. He's over 50lbs now!

cbear, I'll check the costco ones too. I looked there the other day and they had a Safety 1st one or a Graco one. Neither got great ratings. (

Thanks so much, all!

traceyt07, I know the Diono eventually transitions to a booster seat (and has a RF limit of 40 or 45 lbs.), so hopefully it'll work for Asher. Good luck!

[traceyt07]

Thanks, summergirl1211! I was just reading the reviews and I think it'll definitely fit both kids. Now to see if they'll fit in the car! I'm amazed that it's only 17" wide. In my car (a rav) we have 2 Britax and they're DEFINITELY wider than that!

[aimeefarrahfowler]

There's also the Clek Foonf that can fit 3 across in most cars, I think.

Another alternative is a combination booster seat with a harness if DD is forward-facing. They seem to be a little slimmer than the convertible carseats that also RF. We have a Recaro combination seat that doesn't seem to take up much room.

[vtkatydid12]

We have the Diono Radian RXT. I used it RF for awhile and it does take up a lot of space but there is a piece of foam (I think they call it an angle adjuster) you can get off their website which will help the seat sit more upright when RF. Good luck!

ETA:  I just saw that both kids are FF, so you won't need the angle adjuster.  Reading fail!

[pegleg715]

The diono is kind of expensive for a car not use that often but they're definitely great. We have one ff and one rf right now. It does take up a good amount of space rf.

If you need narrow but not SUPER narrow we have a safety 1st car seat of
Some sort at my parents that we sometimes use 2 of in my sisters jetta. You couldn't put a person in there with them but it does fine and they were like $100 a seat rather than like $270 or whatever diono is.

Good luck!

[pegleg715]

Oh also! Your friend that came to gtg was newly pregnant! Baby must be what? 8/9 months by now?!?

[versed]

We're slowly making our way to a 4-Diono family. Diapers.com has them 30% off right now and BBB price matches. We just saved $110 on the Rainier!

[cookiesandwine]

The Britax Pioneer was recommended to me on the Car Seats for the Littles group when I asked for recommendations on low profile seats, like front to back.

[traceyt07]

pegleg715, good memory! Clare will be 1 May 7th. I have yet to meet her, but we're hoping to get up there this Spring. She's such a beautiful baby!

[traceyt07]

Ooh, versed that's great to know, thanks! cookiesandwine, I'll check out the pioneer too, thanks!

[traceyt07]

Thanks, @pegleg. I'm a bit crazy about my carseats as I seem to be pretty accident prone. I've been badly rear-ended twice with the kids in the car. (Once just Asher, once both) Honestly, this is one area I don't mind splurging & dh knows better than to argue with me. ;-)

[abseptember]

I think the Diono has some type of incline wedge that you can buy separately for RF that is supposed to make it lower profile but don't hold me to that b/c I've never used it RF so I've never really looked into it. Gee.... aren't I helpful

[paddyb]

Mar 17, 2015 7:39:46 GMT -5 abseptember said:

I think the Diono has some type of incline wedge that you can buy separately for RF that is supposed to make it lower profile but don't hold me to that b/c I've never used it RF so I've never really looked into it. Gee.... aren't I helpful

It does, it's called an angle adjuster.  it helps a little bit, but it is still quite long front to back even with it (or maybe I didn't prop it in right to maximize the angle change....)