Child/baby seats: Which one fits best?

[TheHeiko]

Sorry this post is about a "mod" that does not make the A4 go faster, sit lower, or look better so consider it a break from talk of FMIC, APR, KW/ST, and VMR. [>_<]

I'll be needing to switch from our Chicco infant car seat to a convertible car seat soon and I need to find one that is first and foremost safe but also that will fit in my A4 Avant without requiring front seat passengers or me to amputate legs to fit in the front. The seat has to be rear facing which is what jams us up for room. My wife drives a C6 A6 Avant (yes, we love Avants) so her car isn't a problem for a decent fit but rear facing child car seats in an A4 is a different story.

We're looking at the Britax Boulevard right now but we're open to others.

I found some threads about this but nothing for B8s. I'd love to hear what you guys are using and pics would be awesome. Thanks in advance to all the daddies out there rockin' B8 A4s.

[Blake P]

My wife and I considered the Britax Boulevard and Recaro ProRIDE. The stores near us didn't have any Recaro in stock to try out, so we ordered one and it should be arriving soon. I'll let you know how it fits!

[TheHeiko]

My wife and I considered the Britax Boulevard and Recaro ProRIDE. The stores near us didn't have any Recaro in stock to try out, so we ordered one and it should be arriving soon. I'll let you know how it fits!

Thanks Blake! Those are two that I like. There is a good (25% off) sale on Britax until July31st on diapers.com so the Boulevard is $240 with free (usually overnight) shipping and no tax for us in CA. We might order the Boulevard and see how it fits. Returns are easy with diapers.com.

[Blake P]

Thanks Blake! Those are two that I like. There is a good (25% off) sale on Britax until July31st on diapers.com so the Boulevard is $240 with free (usually overnight) shipping and no tax for us in CA. We might order the Boulevard and see how it fits. Returns are easy with diapers.com.

I know I definitely want the Recaro in my car, so we ordered 1 to test fit. If my wife doesn't like it, it will be mine. If she likes it, she keeps it and we'll order another for me.

[TheHeiko]

I know I definitely want the Recaro in my car, so we ordered 1 to test fit. If my wife doesn't like it, it will be mine. If she likes it, she keeps it and we'll order another for me.

I love the Recaro too. It looks cool. We need two as well; one for each car. We might wind up with one of each.

This thread is not as sexy as big wheels and go-fast parts but more important.

[Erwheezy]

I am in the same boat,my son is starting to outgrow his infant carrier and we are also looking for a convertible car seat. The one I decided to order and try out first is the peg perego sip viaggo 5-70 (say that three times fast). I like the overall look and I think will go well with the interior of my allroad. It's pricier than the comparable seats but it is rated up to 45lbs rear facing and I would like to keep him rear face as long as possible for safety reasons. Here's a pic.

http://img.tapatalk.com/47c6fe03-e28b-bca3.jpg

[ahkim]

I had the Recaro for 3 months and returned it and went went a Boulevard. I loved the fact it was a recaro, but the Boulevard was a bit smaller and made it easier to get the guy in/out.

[Blake P]

Wow, that is really cool looking. First I've seen/heard of it as well. Keep us posted!
I've thought about starting an "Audizine Parents Club" thread where we discuss the finer points of parenthood and share tips/tricks/ideas or just go to vent about whatever. I know alot of our members are young, but there's quite a few of us who would probably participate. The problem is where to place the thread, since the majority of GCC'ers don't seem to be the right crowd (take it how you want) for serious discussions.

[Blake P]

I had the Recaro for 3 months and returned it and went went a Boulevard. I loved the fact it was a recaro, but the Boulevard was a bit smaller and made it easier to get the guy in/out.

The size is exactly what I'm worried about. Heh, "that's what she said"?

[Mops@Nemesis]

Wow, that is really cool looking. First I've seen/heard of it as well. Keep us posted!
I've thought about starting an "Audizine Parents Club" thread where we discuss the finer points of parenthood and share tips/tricks/ideas or just go to vent about whatever. I know alot of our members are young, but there's quite a few of us who would probably participate. The problem is where to place the thread, since the majority of GCC'ers don't seem to be the right crowd (take it how you want) for serious discussions.

I haz kiddo.
But I am not very mature:(

[Erwheezy]

Wow, that is really cool looking. First I've seen/heard of it as well. Keep us posted!
I've thought about starting an "Audizine Parents Club" thread where we discuss the finer points of parenthood and share tips/tricks/ideas or just go to vent about whatever. I know alot of our members are young, but there's quite a few of us who would probably participate. The problem is where to place the thread, since the majority of GCC'ers don't seem to be the right crowd (take it how you want) for serious discussions.

I'll post a review as soon as it comes in. The parents thread would be a great idea. There are so many available options for everything a baby needs it would be nice to hear about products purchased and how they end up working out. Keep me posted if you do end up starting one.

[AUDuffer]

We're in the same boat now as well except we just the need the 1 for now since we already have three and just need one more right now to have even distribution in the cars. I liked it better when I was in Vegas and the wife wasn't working! The two we've looked at seem to be the same as most everyone else. We've got a boulevard right now in the wife's van and I like the smaller look of it, but the recaro would be awesome just based on looks alone. And count me in for a parents' forum.

[the1obster]

I am in the same boat,my son is starting to outgrow his infant carrier and we are also looking for a convertible car seat. The one I decided to order and try out first is the peg perego sip viaggo 5-70 (say that three times fast). I like the overall look and I think will go well with the interior of my allroad. It's pricier than the comparable seats but it is rated up to 45lbs rear facing and I would like to keep him rear face as long as possible for safety reasons. Here's a pic.

http://img.tapatalk.com/47c6fe03-e28b-bca3.jpg

I was shopping for a convertible seat for my son and we saw the peg perego sip viaggo in person. There is NO comparison when it came to quality of this seat and the others that were in the store (recaro/britax was in the store as well). The peg was smaller, better quality, and fabric and cushion was better. This is the seat im going to buy for sure. The recaro and britax is an economy seat compare to the peg. Expensive at $360 though. And yes, we tried it and it fits in the b8 fine.

[Blake P]

I was shopping for a convertible seat for my son and we saw the peg perego sip viaggo in person. There is NO comparison when it came to quality of this seat and the others that were in the store (recaro/britax was in the store as well). The peg was smaller, better quality, and fabric and cushion was better. This is the seat im going to buy for sure. The recaro and britax is an economy seat compare to the peg. expensive at $360 though.

WOW, ok now I have to see this thing in person!

[rayray]

Keep the recommendations going.... I'm expecting a little one in November and we are searching for quality car seat / stroller combos to compare. The kiddo will likely be in the Q5 most of the time, but I need versatility getting everything into the A4 also.

[NoR32]

Keep the recommendations going.... I'm expecting a little one in November and we are searching for quality car seat / stroller combos to compare. The kiddo will likely be in the Q5 most of the time, but I need versatility getting everything into the A4 also.

The sity select is an awesome stroller and is adaptable to a variety of newborn car seats

http://www.cityselectstrollers.net/p-316-baby-jogger-city-select-stroller-in-onyx-2012.aspx

[Blake P]

Keep the recommendations going.... I'm expecting a little one in November and we are searching for quality car seat / stroller combos to compare. The kiddo will likely be in the Q5 most of the time, but I need versatility getting everything into the A4 also.

Well, for an infant the convertibles we are discussing would not make great options. Babies sleep alot more, so you'll want something that you can easily remove with the kid still in it and snap it onto your stroller, or carry into a restaurant or whatever.

As for strollers, my wife "HAD TO HAVE" a BOB and Bugaboo. The BOB was so great and easy to use that we never used the Bugaboo and ended up returning it. Both are big and take up way too much space. If it was my decision, we'd use one of those cheapo umbrella strollers that our parents used when we were kids. Oh well...

[NoR32]

It's great with all the accessories available and very easy to fold and open. My be on the expensive side for some but well worth it. Some people go through more than one stroller but with this one you can use it for everything and it will last.

And if you get this if the baby falls asleep in the car you take the car seat out and put it on the stroller with the Baby still sleeping like nothing happened. A major plus

[Erwheezy]

We got the uppababy vista stroller in all black. In retrospect it may have not been the best thing but it really doesn't get hot in the bay area. The uppababy came with a regular stroller seat and bassinet. My wife loves the all the storage underneath and for me it turns and pushes really well. Another feature we like was it is compatible with infant carriers made by other brands. We had a Maxi Cosi Mico and he fell asleep in it whenever we drove anywhere.
http://img.tapatalk.com/c6e4d895-250b-632c.jpg
While researching online I found this stroller and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Saw it in person and it was heavy as hell and not practical at all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERQHRo0fHGE

[rayray]

The sity select is an awesome stroller and is adaptable to a variety of newborn car seats

http://www.cityselectstrollers.net/p-316-baby-jogger-city-select-stroller-in-onyx-2012.aspx

Thanks, I will check this site out.


Well, for an infant the convertibles we are discussing would not make great options. Babies sleep alot more, so you'll want something that you can easily remove with the kid still in it and snap it onto your stroller, or carry into a restaurant or whatever...

Yes exactly...we are looking for that type of combo.


My be on the expensive side for some but well worth it. Some people go through more than one stroller but with this one you can use it for everything and it will last. And if you get this if the baby falls asleep in the car you take the car seat out and put it on the stroller with the Baby still sleeping like nothing happened. A major plus

Price is no a big issue as I want to get something nice and that will last for a while.

[TheHeiko]

There are lots of daddies and daddies-to-be here to share information. I'm in for any forum or thread that may develop.

@Erwheezy: Thanks for the tip. It turns out my wife had her eye on the Peg but was a little turned off by the price. We may have to buy two since we aren't always sure who will pick up our daughter and removing convertible seats is more difficult than with the infant seat. You've got me thinking though.

We also got an Uppababy Vista stroller. We shopped the several of the major high end contenders including the Orbit, City Select, and Bugaboo. We settled on the Vista because it came with the toddler seat and the bassinette, looks great and handles very well, the consumer reviews of Uppababy's warranty and customer service are all excellent, and as you noted, with the purchase of a $30 specific frame, we could use the infant seat of our choice. We also got the Uppababy stroller travel bag and it works like a champ to check your stroller. Plus, if your Vista is in the bag and the bag is registered with Uppababy, and the Vista gets damaged, Uppababy covers any damage. We also liked that the wheels on the Vista are not air filled like the Orbit. We've heard of people getting a flat while out or traveling and they're screwed.

@the1obster: Thanks too for the recommendation on the Peg. How far back can you have your front seat with the Peg in rear facing position?

@rayray: See my comments above re: Uppababy Vista stroller. It's great. The others are good too and I don't think you can go wrong with any of the brands mentioned. It comes down to what you like.

[NoR32]

Don't know why my post says sity when typed city and why would it auto correct it with an S what the hell? Any ways you got what I was saying. Haha. And the city select also converts to a two kid stroller.

[belzebutt]

Hi,
I have 3 various seats and the one I use in the A4 now is the Radian XT (it's old now, here's some current versions: http://us.diono.com/en/car-seats).

This seat is noticeably narrower than most and it's one of the few cars seats you can have two of in the back of an A4 and still be able to fit a non-fat person in-between. Also if you have it installed on the driver side, you can fold the large section of the split-folding seats without removing the car seat. It folds so you can take it for travel. The only drawback is that you need to remove the head rest from that seating position, and that unfortunately requires a small screw driver in the A4, but most other car seats will force you to do that as well.

You should really buy some thick pads to put under and behind the car seat.

[Bayman48]

We use the britax marathon, which seemed to fit good enough and not require shoving the seat all the way up, but since he is not seating forward, to keep my sons feet off of the seat, we move the seat up. we have one of those rear seat covers..but unfortunately, it doesnt cover the head part of the very top, which he can reach and wreak havoc on.

[belzebutt]

We use the britax marathon, which seemed to fit good enough and not require shoving the seat all the way up, but since he is not seating forward, to keep my sons feet off of the seat, we move the seat up. we have one of those rear seat covers..but unfortunately, it doesnt cover the head part of the very top, which he can reach and wreak havoc on.

I had the Marathon too. I would recommend the Radian XT instead, it's much more compact and fits better while providing the same room.

[ramvfin2003]

I fit 3 Radian XTSL's across in my car. Great seat, would highly recommend it. Not "bulky" at all.

[TheHeiko]

@belzebutt and @ramvfin2003:

How does the Radian fit in the A4 rear facing?

[belzebutt]

@belzebutt and @ramvfin2003:

How does the Radian fit in the A4 rear facing?

Never tried it. But if it works then I would go with that from the start, since you'll be using it front-facing FAR longer. I kind of regret getting these other bulky seats at first, luckily I can still use them in the other car. If the Marathon fits then this one will for sure because it's not as tall. I think this one is good enough that you can use it rear-facing, then front facing, then just change to a small booster (don't bother buying a seat that can be converted to a booster, you'll be glad to spend a bit more money on a compact better-looking booster a few years later).

The only small downside of the Radian is that the kid doesn't get to see outside as well because the base is lower, on the Marathon it's like sitting on a throne. But mine can still see outside well though that he can tell what brand of car we're passing so it's probably sufficient. :)

[NoR32]

Here is what I used

Rear facing for infant

Graco snug ride except nine was all black including the base which I had one for my car and one for my wife's car so I never had to switch anything around just take pop the seat out of the base and switch cars or drop it in the stroller.
http://img.tapatalk.com/440478d7-6e1e-f718.jpg

The stroller fits the Graco with the correct attachment. And the baby would face you

http://img.tapatalk.com/440478d7-6fa7-59de.jpg

Then we both got the same forward facing when the time came

Britax frontier 85
Also all black

http://img.tapatalk.com/440478d7-6eb1-f774.jpg

[poker838]

We bought the following a few weeks ago

Britax Chaperone

http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/britax-chaperone-savannah.gif

B-ready stroller

http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/baby/detail-page/c26-B003OBYTHM_3.jpg

The Stroller is a beast and I'll probably be getting an SUV soon

[gunsmoker]

Had the Chicco Keyfit 30 car seat/basket and the matching Cortina stroller. The base of the basket is smooth and wont damage the leather. The stroller is a good combination of light weight for the summer and a decent isolation for the winter. The basket fits into the stroller. If you don't want to spend money on dedicated winter and summer strollers, that's a good set.

[Greg Nelson]

I've thought about starting an "Audizine Parents Club" thread where we discuss the finer points of parenthood and share tips/tricks/ideas or just go to vent about whatever.
Excellent idea. I'm not a parent, still think would be good for those of you who are [:D]

Also consider Audizine Retired Members Club thread, though I might be the only one [:o]
Retirement 10/1/2012, not done modding [:)]

[typer100]

Here's my setup... Since I have 2 seats per car for a total of 4 seats, I didn't go for a very expensive seat. All 4 are Eddie Bauer seats.
I've bought different model over the years with an average of around 125$ each.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LucZI_7c0iA/UBb7sWUt4HI/AAAAAAAAA90/6mvENWZaPRM/s720/IMG_1273.JPG

I've used some playroom foam to put on the seat to eliminate most of the marks that a seat can leave and protect the leather. it's not the prettiest setup but it's worked great since 2008.

Feel free to ask more questions.

[NoR32]

How well does the foam work at keeping the imprint off the leather?

[typer100]

How well does the foam work at keeping the imprint off the leather?

Pretty good. I mean this the best I've found. It's light, flexible, stiff/tick enough... and cheap.
I've started with a mat from Toysrus that was suppose to do the job but it's way too thin to prevent any marking. I've kept it installed and added the foam later in my learning process :)
It also serve as a shim because sometime you need to lift the seat a bit to get a thigh fit.

My setup is a two piece ghetto installation. One for the bottom and one for the back. The bottom piece is also curved and goes up a good 3". So this way the bottom and back pieces are over lapping.
Not sure if you get the picture (english is a second language for me).

[NoR32]

No worries thanks for the info I will have to try it out. Where did you get the foam from?

[typer100]

No worries thanks for the info I will have to try it out. Where did you get the foam from?

For kids...
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202019836/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=foam+mat&storeId=10051#.UBcosbQymsc

For grown ups (gray color)... Also used some in my workshop.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202019834/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=foam&storeId=10051#.UBcnvbQymsc

I've used the colored ones in my setup because I had them in hand first. Found the gray ones after. Make sure you get the ones that are 24"x24". That way you can make them a bit wider... it will help a lot in the installation process.

This is a link to a product that is suppose to do the job... But way too thin and soft
http://www.target.com/p/eddie-bauer-car-seat-protector/-/A-11119069

I like to get a really thight fit and I need my setup if I don't want any marking.

[TheHeiko]

Has anyone had experience with the Radian RXT (http://http://www.amazon.com/Diono-Radian-Convertible-Seat-Shadow/dp/B005MQRAAK), particularly in the rear facing setup in the A4? This seat is nice because it can be used rear facing up to 45 pounds and all the way up to 120 pounds in front facing booster mode.

[BoraSport]

Never tried it. But if it works then I would go with that from the start, since you'll be using it front-facing FAR longer. I kind of regret getting these other bulky seats at first, luckily I can still use them in the other car. If the Marathon fits then this one will for sure because it's not as tall. I think this one is good enough that you can use it rear-facing, then front facing, then just change to a small booster (don't bother buying a seat that can be converted to a booster, you'll be glad to spend a bit more money on a compact better-looking booster a few years later).

The only small downside of the Radian is that the kid doesn't get to see outside as well because the base is lower, on the Marathon it's like sitting on a throne. But mine can still see outside well though that he can tell what brand of car we're passing so it's probably sufficient. :)


I had a Radian in my wife's 2005 Golf with no issues, it fit both forward and rear facing. It is a fantastic seat!

[BMWBig6]

We're using a RF Chicco and RF Britax Boulevard in the Avant right now. The Boulevard is nice, but will not leave enough room for a tall person in front (taller than 5'5"or so will likely be uncomfortable). We plan to keep the older child RF as long as possible (she's 2 years 2 months now). Our younger child (6 mos) still has room to grow in his Chicco infant seat. He sits behind me (driver side) and I have adequate room in front (I'm 5'9").

[TheHeiko]

I had a Radian in my wife's 2005 Golf with no issues, it fit both forward and rear facing. It is a fantastic seat!

Thank you for this. If the Radian fits rear facing in a Golf, I would think it would fit in an A4 Avant without issue. How much fore and aft room did the front seat ahead of the Radian have?



We're using a RF Chicco and RF Britax Boulevard in the Avant right now. The Boulevard is nice, but will not leave enough room for a tall person in front (taller than 5'5"or so will likely be uncomfortable). We plan to keep the older child RF as long as possible (she's 2 years 2 months now). Our younger child (6 mos) still has room to grow in his Chicco infant seat. He sits behind me (driver side) and I have adequate room in front (I'm 5'9").

This is very helpful! We have a Chicco Keyfit 30 that we use rear facing. It is used in a Chicco base. It fits fine but I would say that 5' 9" is about the limit in height for the passenger sitting ahead of the Chicco. Maybe someone a bit taller but the seat will not be that comfortable for longer drives. The info on the Britax Boulevard is especially helpful since that one was on our short list for convertibles to run rear facing but I'll rule it out now based on your experience with fit.

We're focusing in on the Radian RXT. Good reviews here and online. I recently discovered the Cleck convertible seats. High tech, good looking, but seriously expensive ($500) and limited life span.

[Blake P]

Our Recaro arrived this week and even though I was expecting it to be large, the size (especially height) was surprising. Haven't test fit yet, but plan to this week and will report back. I imagine rear facing might be impossible in our cars. We shall see!

[NoR32]

I had both rear and now forward and it fit fine with my wife in the front she's 5'9-10" and never one complaint. But it was a Graco rear facing.

[aemulle]

+1. This type of thread would make sense to have and be very informative.

[TheHeiko]

I am reviving this thread hoping for more information.

We did buy a Diono Radian RXT because of the great reviews. It is intended for our C6 A6 so the size was not as important but I did a test fit in my A4 Avant and it is probably too big. By "probably", I mean that it could fit if I get Diono's "Angle Adjuster" that basically cranks up the seat so the passenger seat in front of the Radian has more room. I do not have the angle adjuster so I tilted the Radian as much I would need in order for it to not be touching the driver's seat and it causes the Radian to be nearly vertical. That would not be a very comfortable position for a child and I'm not even sure if that would be safe. (The driver's seat is adjusted for me at 5' 7" and I do like the seat a little farther back than my height might dictate.)

I am back on the hunt for a convertible car seat for my A4 Avant. I am currently focused on the Recaro ProRIDE. I had thought it might also be too big for the A4 but I just read a review on Amazon where someone stated it fit well in a 2009 A4 even with taller front passengers. I also saw a photo there of a ProRIDE rear facing in a 2008 Jetta. I'm thinking that this seat could work in the A4. Does anyone have this model rear facing in their A4?

Blake: Did you get your Recaro? How did it work out? Pics?

Other choices I'm looking at are the Britax Marathon or Boulevard but based on the post by BMWBig6, they sound like they are too big.

[XCELR8]

Take the headrest off the rear seat. You can get the car seat much tighter much easier w/out it there.

[iconoclast]

anybody else have an issue with seat fitment based the position/angle of the rear seat backs?

[Blake P]

I got the Recaro and it fits well in the center seat rear facing, though that only leaves room for one rear passenger to use a seatbelt since the base is so wide. I'll probably turn it around soon because my (almost 14 month) son's legs are pretty cramped. He seems to enjoy it and falls asleep comfortably, so the angle is not an issue.

[typer100]

anybody else have an issue with seat fitment based the position/angle of the rear seat backs?

You may want to use a towel to adjust the angle

[iconoclast]

the seat i have has adjustable bottom so you can adjust the pitch but there isnt any 'perfect' fit... the seatbacks are at a slight angle for semi-reclined mode and the child seats are not.

[TheHeiko]

Take the headrest off the rear seat. You can get the car seat much tighter much easier w/out it there.

I'm going with rear facing as long as possible so the rear seat headrest isn't an issue... yet. Good advice for when we go front facing though.


I got the Recaro and it fits well in the center seat rear facing, though that only leaves room for one rear passenger to use a seatbelt since the base is so wide. I'll probably turn it around soon because my (almost 14 month) son's legs are pretty cramped. He seems to enjoy it and falls asleep comfortably, so the angle is not an issue.

Did you try it in an outboard position? My preference is to have it behind the driver's seat and leave the center and passenger rear open. I am wondering how much I would have to move my seat up or how straight the seat back would have to be to accommodate the ProRIDE, or any other convertible for that matter.

[Blake P]

Did you try it in an outboard position? My preference is to have it behind the driver's seat and leave the center and passenger rear open. I am wondering how much I would have to move my seat up or how straight the seat back would have to be to accommodate the ProRIDE, or any other convertible for that matter.

Nope, never tried. We prefer to keep our son in the center in case of side impact. I'm pretty sure the center seat would become unusable if the ProRide was in one of the outboard rear seats, though that would give the other rear passenger much more room. My wife sits back there with my son alot to feed him on long drives or when we have to leave the house and don't have time to feed before heading out. I'm sure front facing will make this a more challenging task, but I guess we'll cross that bridge soon enough.

[poker838]

Britax Chaperone. It just fits on the middle seat without contacting the front seat backs. I'm 5'10 and my wife is 5'4 and we do sit fairly far up (I don't gangster lean). The Chaperone has a beast of a base and there's no way this would have fit in my old 3 series.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/9295/29346101522310608355371.jpg

[osideaudi]

Its not a baby seat unless its a RECARO babyseat.

http://www.pyspeed.com/RECARO-ProRIDE-Child-Seat-p/rec-8013.htm

[NoR32]

Britax Chaperone. It just fits on the middle seat without contacting the front seat backs. I'm 5'10 and my wife is 5'4 and we do sit fairly far up (I don't gangster lean). The Chaperone has a beast of a base and there's no way this would have fit in my old 3 series.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/9295/29346101522310608355371.jpg

Damn that thing is huge

[TheHeiko]

I have been meaning to get back to this thread and post. I wound up buying a Recaro ProRIDE (osideaudi approves). I chose the Recaro mainly because it is one that fits in the A4. (More on that later.) I also really like the Recaro name and the look of the ProRIDE. There are many great child seats and all of them sold in North America are safe but there are no safety standard comparison. I chose Recaro based on its reputation for making great car seats and racing seats. The design is very good too. How the straps work, the shell design, padding, ventilation, belts, etc, are excellent on the Recaro.

I got it in the Opal color combo for a few reasons. One it that is looks nice and matches my A4 Avant the best. Another is that it is the most color neutral in case we re-use it. Third and something that you can't always tell from website, the fabric differs depending on your color choice. The Opal and a few others have a sort of nylon Cordura kind of fabric that feels more durable and easier to clean than the microfiber type fabric you get when you choose gray, black, and one or two other colors. Most e-tailers do not provide this in their descriptions. Luckily I found that out when reading reviews.

As I stated, one of the reasons I chose the ProRIDE is that it fits in the A4. We bought another excellent and highly rated seat by Radian. We got the RXT. It is a bear of a seat! It weighs a ton but it is the highest weight rated for rear-facing and front facing so it will last longer. It is a large seat and has a pretty steep angle to it and it would not fit in the A4 in an outboard position. In the center, maybe, but I didn't try it. We use the Radian in our C6 A6 and it fits nicely with the use of Radian's optional "angle adjuster". I want to use an outboard position for the Recaro so that it is easier to get my child in and out, and so that I can preserve the full use of one of the rear seats. A center position kind of makes the two outboard seats tight. On that note, the Recaro is big but not massive. What presents the biggest challenge is the relatively small aperture of the A4's rear doors. Add that to the higher sides of the ProRIDE and it is a bit of a trick to get my 10 month old in and out. I do a kind of head first scoop in and out.

Here it is in my A4 Avant. Rear facing is safest and as long as we can do it, we will. I did have to use a couple of pool noodle sections to prop of the rear to make the seat as level as possible. (This is recommended by Recaro. An alternative is a rolled up towel or two.) Our back seats are fairly sloped so without the pool noodles the Recaro was way too angled. I used the LATCH anchor points and did my best contortionist strong man to get the seat anchored in to reduce movement and the LATCH points to 1 inch or less. I bought a purpose made seat cover by "Prince Lionheart" to help protect my seat and reduce movement by the Recaro. The Recaro is in the fully reclined position as the manual instructs for the rear facing position. For reference, I am about 5' 7" and my seat is probably a little farther back than my height would require. The seatback is not "gangsta lean". It is fairly upright. As you can see, the Recaro fits quite nicely. You will notice what I meant about the small aperture.

I hope this helps others trying to decide. I had a helluva of a time finding photos and information specific to the B8 A4 so here it is. FYI: I bought it from Amazon for about $225 plus tax. Shipped 2 days free with Prime.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/PNG_x5world/P1030581.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/PNG_x5world/IMG_1729.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/PNG_x5world/IMG_1728.jpg

[Bonger]

My wife and I are expecting in a few weeks and we recently went to a baby safety class where they covered this stuff. From what I gathered Britax is among the safer and good looking and thats what I'll be going with.

[Erwheezy]

My wife and I are expecting in a few weeks and we recently went to a baby safety class where they covered this stuff. From what I gathered Britax is among the safer and good looking and thats what I'll be going with.

Our son is 7 months old and we used the maxi cosi mico. We liked it a lot and the seat itself is one of the lighter ones we tried. Just a heads up. Congrats on the baby

[NoR32]

My wife and I are expecting in a few weeks and we recently went to a baby safety class where they covered this stuff. From what I gathered Britax is among the safer and good looking and thats what I'll be going with.

Congrats that's what I currently have.


That's what's up!

[TheHeiko]

Congrats Bonger!

The Britax seats are excellent. They have a very good reputation. We used a Chicco Keyfit 30 for our baby until she got tired of it when she grew. We liked the base system since we bought two - one for each car - and were able to click into either car. I thought about the Britax Boulevard instead of the Recaro but thought the Recaro would fit better in the A4.

This car seat stuff is nuts and only usually discussed on mommy forums. I'm glad that we can share some of this information here for us cool guys. [cool]

[rayray]

Wife and I are expecting very soon too and we went with a Britax set (B-Safe) also. Test fitted great in both the A4 and Q5. We like their line and will probably get another one when our little one get bigger.

[poker838]

Damn that thing is huge

yeah. It's a beast.. like 20+ lbs for the seat and a 22 lb capacity. The base is a monster too, partly because of the rebound bar (I call it a roll bar LOL). I'm happy that it doesn't impact my rear view visibility, although right now I'm already seeing it to be a pain to lift over that tall base.

[formula1guy]

Have Recaro Pro-ride seats in each of our cars for our 16 month old little boy. The race seat look and safety made the Pro-ride an easy choice (at least for me). Plus, the little guy can't wait to get in it every time we leave the house:)

Dropped my Avant off at the dealership again yesterday and one of the lot guys who jockeys cars around even complemented me on the seat.

[vwong]

Wow...there are definitely a lot of daddies and daddies-to-be here. [up]

My wife and I have twin girls, they're now 2.5 years old. We kept them as long as we could in the Chicco KeyFit30 infant seats, then switched to Recaro ProSport forward facing seats when they were 18-months old. So we didn't go with the bulky convertibles. Both the Chicco and the Recaro seats fit fine in our E92 and B8. Both of these seats have very good safety ratings, and both have rounded edges on the bases so they won't scratch the leather. They do leave indentations on the leather, maybe I should add the foam mats as suggested by someone here on the bottom of the car seats.

Here are some pictures.

http://vwong.net/images/car-seats/car-seats-audi-2.JPG

http://vwong.net/images/car-seats/car-seats-bmw-4.JPG

http://vwong.net/images/car-seats/recaro1.jpg

http://vwong.net/images/car-seats/recaro2.jpg

[Bonger]

A 2-door coupe E92 to boot. Looks good [up] We have the Chicco Keyfit 30 as well

[Bonger]

Britax Chaperone. It just fits on the middle seat without contacting the front seat backs. I'm 5'10 and my wife is 5'4 and we do sit fairly far up (I don't gangster lean). The Chaperone has a beast of a base and there's no way this would have fit in my old 3 series.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/9295/29346101522310608355371.jpg

Hey Poker838, not to be a stickler but I don't think car seat are rated for the center seat. You need to use the intended safety hooks built into the seat frame/body. We recently went to a baby seat safety seminar where they covered car seats and gave a download of all the need to know info. Just passing on what I've been told.

[TheHeiko]

I just saw a recall on some Britax seats. FYI guys....

http://www.parenting.com/blogs/show-and-tell/kate-parentingcom/britax-recalls-55000-convertible-car-seats

[NoR32]

^good looking out


That's what's up!

[Disco Moo]

Hey Poker838, not to be a stickler but I don't think car seat are rated for the center seat. You need to use the intended safety hooks built into the seat frame/body. We recently went to a baby seat safety seminar where they covered car seats and gave a download of all the need to know info. Just passing on what I've been told.

It's a gray area to be sure but the guidelines is that the hooks need to be between a certain distance apart for the latch system to be approved for the Britax seats. In the case of the A4 the inside hooks of the left and right anchor points are well within this maximum distance, therefore according to the guidelines you can latch to the center. You can also use a lap belt. Other places will recommend the center to be the safest place for the seat since it is furthest from any potential impact point, i.e. where you will be t-boned....

We have a B-Safe in the same spot, believe it is supposed to be more compact than the Chaperone, but it is still tight, however it does sit flat. Will post picture at the w.e. If we put behind the seat the front seat has to go forward to a less than ideal place...

(Also the recall - "chewed off by kids", damn bitey buggers)

[poker838]

It's a gray area to be sure but the guidelines is that the hooks need to be between a certain distance apart for the latch system to be approved for the Britax seats. In the case of the A4 the inside hooks of the left and right anchor points are well within this maximum distance, therefore according to the guidelines you can latch to the center. You can also use a lap belt. Other places will recommend the center to be the safest place for the seat since it is furthest from any potential impact point, i.e. where you will be t-boned....

We have a B-Safe in the same spot, believe it is supposed to be more compact than the Chaperone, but it is still tight, however it does sit flat. Will post picture at the w.e. If we put behind the seat the front seat has to go forward to a less than ideal place...

(Also the recall - "chewed off by kids", damn bitey buggers)


Hey Poker838, not to be a stickler but I don't think car seat are rated for the center seat. You need to use the intended safety hooks built into the seat frame/body. We recently went to a baby seat safety seminar where they covered car seats and gave a download of all the need to know info. Just passing on what I've been told.


+1 to what Disco Moo said. That being said, I'll look into it. However, technically speaking the LATCH points were only made available for the outboard seats and not the center seat. The base that I have can use LATCH, the seatbelt.. even the seat on its own have hooks that can be used to anchor down directly using the car`s seatbelt.

Additionally the LATCH points supposedly have some kind of weight limit.. in my mind, the adult seatbelts have a much higher capacity so I`d rather use those.

Read more about the weight limits here:

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/perfi/basics/story/2012-06-06/child-safety-seat-latch/55452346/1

[TheHeiko]

I'm bringing this thread back to life! My baby girl is now old/heavy/tall enough to go front facing! 18 months flew by!

A quick review of how the Recaro ProRide worked for me in my Avant. The fit was a bit tight, to be honest. Rear facing in the B8 A4 required the Recaro to be fully reclined and that intruded on the fore/aft position of the front seat. The angle of the seat bottom required the use of foam "pool noodles" to level off the Recaro. The high side bolsters of the Recaro got to be challenging given the small aperture of the rear doors on the Avant. When my baby was smaller it was easy but recently it require a sort of cradle and scoop technique. I opted to not go with the middle seat position due to the difficulty in getting all the way in the middle and then plopping my baby in the seat. Overall, I live the Recaro in terms of safety and quality. The fit was fine but for someone tall, rear facing with the Recaro could be problematic and could force use of the middle position, which may not be bad anyway.

Now that my girl is bigger, her legs were getting a bit cramped up against the seat back in the rear facing position so it's time to turn around. I found an older thread here about using the top tether strap being weird. Indeed it is. The top tether anchor point for the Avant is on the top of the seat back on the cargo side. It's a chrome "D" ring. It is quite close to the back of the Recaro and even taking up all of the slack on the tether strap, there was still a couple of inches of play once hooked to the anchor point. I don't know if this is typically supposed to be pulled taught but there is no way to do that in the A4. (This is the same conclusion in the older thread.)

I had to move the headrest to its highest position and then I had to wedge the top of the Recaro under the head rest in order for the back of the Recaro to rest against the seat surface. I then thought that it might be a good idea to push the headrest down again and use it to sort of clamp the Recaro in. With the LATCH clips tightened and the headrest pushed down to wedge the top of the Recaro, the thing is pretty rock solid. My question is whether this as safe as I think it is?

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/PNG_x5world/IMG_2614_zps087bbd98.jpg (http://s220.photobucket.com/user/PNG_x5world/media/IMG_2614_zps087bbd98.jpg.html)

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/PNG_x5world/IMG_2613_zpsd61105f3.jpg (http://s220.photobucket.com/user/PNG_x5world/media/IMG_2613_zpsd61105f3.jpg.html)

[NoR32]

That seems like a lot of extra effort for the Recaro, but it looks sweet

[BMWBig6]

I'm bringing this thread back to life! My baby girl is now old/heavy/tall enough to go front facing! 18 months flew by!

While your child may have reached the minimum weight or height, are you sure about the minimum age? 18 months was acceptable practice a few years ago, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) changed their recommendation on the minimum age to turn children from rear-facing to forward-facing from 1 year to 2 years, "or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat." The latest recommendations suggest up to 4 years of age (up to the limits of the car seat of course), because that's when toddlers' bones and bodies are strong enough to sustain the forces generated in forward-facing crashes.

But don't take my word for it. Check out the AAP or NHTSA guidelines (http://www.nhtsa.gov/ChildSafety/step2) yourself.


Keep your 1 to 3 year old children in REAR-FACING car seats for as long as possible. It's the best way to keep them safe. They should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer.

Note that some European countries with stricter safety standards rear-face their children even beyond 4 years of age (granted, with larger seats designed to support that practice). Anyway, not trying to tell you your business, just want to make sure you're making an informed decision. You have some great looking seats. And by the way, I do practice what I preach (still rear-facing both my 3 year old and 1 year old in my Avant).

[Blake P]

While your child may have reached the minimum weight or height, are you sure about the minimum age? 18 months was acceptable practice a few years ago, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) changed their recommendation on the minimum age to turn children from rear-facing to forward-facing from 1 year to 2 years, "or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat." The latest recommendations suggest up to 4 years of age (up to the limits of the car seat of course), because that's when toddlers' bones and bodies are strong enough to sustain the forces generated in forward-facing crashes.

But don't take my word for it. Check out the AAP or NHTSA guidelines (http://www.nhtsa.gov/ChildSafety/step2) yourself.



Note that some European countries with stricter safety standards rear-face their children even beyond 4 years of age (granted, with larger seats designed to support that practice). Anyway, not trying to tell you your business, just want to make sure you're making an informed decision. You have some great looking seats. And by the way, I do practice what I preach (still rear-facing both my 3 year old and 1 year old in my Avant).

Either your 3 year old has short legs or just doesn't mind having his/her knees in his/her chest. By 15 months my son was way too cramped to keep him rear facing any longer. More power to you, bud.

[TheHeiko]

While your child may have reached the minimum weight or height, are you sure about the minimum age? 18 months was acceptable practice a few years ago, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) changed their recommendation on the minimum age to turn children from rear-facing to forward-facing from 1 year to 2 years, "or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat." The latest recommendations suggest up to 4 years of age (up to the limits of the car seat of course), because that's when toddlers' bones and bodies are strong enough to sustain the forces generated in forward-facing crashes.

But don't take my word for it. Check out the AAP or NHTSA guidelines (http://www.nhtsa.gov/ChildSafety/step2) yourself.



Note that some European countries with stricter safety standards rear-face their children even beyond 4 years of age (granted, with larger seats designed to support that practice). Anyway, not trying to tell you your business, just want to make sure you're making an informed decision. You have some great looking seats. And by the way, I do practice what I preach (still rear-facing both my 3 year old and 1 year old in my Avant).


Either your 3 year old has short legs or just doesn't mind having his/her knees in his/her chest. By 15 months my son was way too cramped to keep him rear facing any longer. More power to you, bud.

Thanks for the info, Ben. I trust your information. My wife and I want to keep our daughter as safe as possible and we would like to keep her rear facing as long as possible. We can do that in her Q5 because we use a Radian RXT in her car and that seat fits differently and there is sufficient room for our girl rear facing. The problem with the Recaro in my A4 is as Blake mentioned. As much as I would like my daughter rear facing, she's at the point where her legs are folded up and she's cramped so as a matter of her comfort and development we have to turn the seat around. Another reason for this is that we live in a very hot area and she will get more AC front facing. I know that's not a huge deal but it's a bonus.

[sclarke]

I realise I promised pictures but didn't deliver - here is the Britax B-Safe in the back of an Avant. I am 6-1" and my seat is pretty much all the way back and lowered, the wife is 5-10. The B-Safe fits between the seats, putting it on the passenger side does not really leave any comfortable room in the front. Mostly it has been fine, apart from dragging her out of the center of the car, the squeaking of the carseat offa the front seats and the release handle which is between the seats (the light coloured plastic between the seats in the second picture). Overall we have happy with the setup, it is a solid seat and doesn't move a inch when fitted.

http://i.imgur.com/Zue2k87.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/wQ0sbSF.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/UIksEqi.jpg

We were considering the Britax Boulevard for the next step (she is approaching a year now) but based on the feedback looks like it will not work. Am hoping that the Recaro will fit on the passenger side, but looks good. Thanks for the pictures TheHeiko, huge help!

[Spooner]

Good info here. We recently bought an A4 for my wife as she is 6 months pregnant and are having a hard time finding a seat that fits comfortably. Luckily neither of us are very tall (I'm 5'9", she's 5'4") so I know we will find something. We had planned on getting the Maxi-Cosi something or other but that thing was HUGE when we test fitted it because it lays really flat. Luckily we have a little time to figure out all this car seat stuff.

[TheHeiko]

I realise I promised pictures but didn't deliver - here is the Britax B-Safe in the back of an Avant. I am 6-1" and my seat is pretty much all the way back and lowered, the wife is 5-10. The B-Safe fits between the seats, putting it on the passenger side does not really leave any comfortable room in the front. Mostly it has been fine, apart from dragging her out of the center of the car, the squeaking of the carseat offa the front seats and the release handle which is between the seats (the light coloured plastic between the seats in the second picture). Overall we have happy with the setup, it is a solid seat and doesn't move a inch when fitted.

We were considering the Britax Boulevard for the next step (she is approaching a year now) but based on the feedback looks like it will not work. Am hoping that the Recaro will fit on the passenger side, but looks good. Thanks for the pictures TheHeiko, huge help!

Thanks for sharing the pics of your Britax, sclarke! Glad I can help as you did. After turning the Recaro around, my 18 month old daughter is much more comfortable and enjoys seeing us as we drive. She also gets the benefit of the rear A/C vents now and with our hot summer, it really helps keep her more comfortable. Again, I prefer the safety of rear facing but it was just no longer comfortable for her at her size.


Good info here. We recently bought an A4 for my wife as she is 6 months pregnant and are having a hard time finding a seat that fits comfortably. Luckily neither of us are very tall (I'm 5'9", she's 5'4") so I know we will find something. We had planned on getting the Maxi-Cosi something or other but that thing was HUGE when we test fitted it because it lays really flat. Luckily we have a little time to figure out all this car seat stuff.

That's why I started this thread and as someone else posted, lots of us are dads (and moms) or are expecting and as cool as all the go-fast/get-low mods are, car seat info was hard to find.

[poker838]

Anybody have feedback on convertible seats that are slim? I'm happy with the Britax infant seat but the next stage convertible seats seem gargantuan. Note - Recaro is not an option in Canada. I hope to find one that keeps encroachment to the other seats to a minimum.. but not compromising on safety obviously.

[TheHeiko]

Anybody have feedback on convertible seats that are slim? I'm happy with the Britax infant seat but the next stage convertible seats seem gargantuan. Note - Recaro is not an option in Canada. I hope to find one that keeps encroachment to the other seats to a minimum.. but not compromising on safety obviously.

Check out the Radian line. (Formerly known as Sunshine Kids.) They bill themselves as being narrow and being able to fit 3-across in most vehicles so if you want minimal intrusion into the other seats, this might be your seat. Their RXT has a wide age range from infant to 120 pounds. We bought one for my wife's A6 Avant and continue to use it in her Q5. It is very narror relative to other child seats and is very sturdy but it is very heavy so you would not want to be lugging it in and out. You should also look at the Radian R120 that does not have the "wings" which may be good for when the kid gets taller and those wings can be in the way of shoulders. I did not get one for my A4 because the overall size would not work for rear facing but it sounds like you are at the front facing stage so it should work in an A4. I have not tried ours in my A4 though.

A quick look shows the Radians are available on Amazon.ca.

http://www.amazon.ca/Diono-Radian-Storm-Convertible-Seat/dp/B005MQRAXM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372801218&sr=8-1&keywords=radian+rxt

http://www.amazon.ca/Diono-Radian-R120-Storm-2013/dp/B009S1DWP2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1372801218&sr=8-3&keywords=radian+rxt

[Big Nodge]

Love this thread. My boy is almost three months and this thread has been very helpful! He's rocking a Chicco KeyFit 30 for now, have bases for the wife's B7 Avant and my B8 but truth be told he's never been in the B8 yet. Thinking about the Recaro for when he gets bigger. Keep the updates coming guys!

[billybob_lee]

Within the past 6 months, two major events have changed my life for the better: The birth of my son this past March, and the purchase of my 2013 allroad. I've been browsing various Audi forums, admiring build threads and getting ideas and suggestions on small mods or items that would increase the joy of ownership of my Audi. My wife has stopped asking me what is in the various boxes that occasionally arrive on our doorstep. She hasn't stopped rolling her eyes and shaking her head in disapproval, though.

I've really enjoyed reading this thread and agree with another poster that a topic like this is not something you would typically find on an car enthusiast site, but makes more sense the more you read and become informed. Before my son was born, I was looking into car seats and carriers for my allroad. I initially purchased the newer Graco Snugride 40, which allows angle adjustment at the base to give the child more room, when the seat is rear-facing. At the time, I felt that this was a great solution, because of Graco's quality and for allowing our son to sit rear-facing for a longer period of time.

Unfortunately, the Graco was not compatible with our stroller selection (UppaBaby Vista), because the current Graco adapter does not fit the new Graco Click-Connect system. I wrote UppaBaby and inquired if they were planning to support the new Graco adapter, and they said that they had no current plans to. We weren't interested in the Graco Click-Connect compatible strollers, because we really liked the light-weight, storage capacity, and handling of the Vista. So, we returned the Graco and got a Chicco KeyFit 30 and the stroller adapter, which has served us well these 4 months.

The Chicco w/base does fit well in the right-rear out-board position, but does require me to put the front passenger seat forward. For my wife, who is 5' 4", this is not a problem. As much as I would've liked to put the car seat in the middle position for safety, I felt the out-board position allows me to reach back (when the car is at a stop, of course) and activate whatever noise making toy we have there in case he gets fussy. I felt that the aspect of being able to calm/soothe your baby instead of being distracted by his/her crying is a big safety factor, too.

Thankfully, our son still fits in the Chicco. He's about 20 lbs now (only 4 months old), and getting to a point where we'll need to start thinking of the next seat. As a car enthusiast, it's hard not to want to have a Recaro seat. Some of my friends even demanded that I get nothing less. Thanks to the original poster for posting photos and providing his experience in purchasing and using his Recaro seat. I am looking into the Britax, because they are highly rated, as well as the Peg Perego. The Peg Perego seat caught my eye on a recent trip to Babies R Us, and I really like how it looks, but not sure how it functions. Does anyone have experience on using the Peg Perego?

Thanks to all the parents out there for making this thread such a great read! Looking forward to seeing more posts! [:d]

Bobby

[TheHeiko]

Love this thread. My boy is almost three months and this thread has been very helpful! He's rocking a Chicco KeyFit 30 for now, have bases for the wife's B7 Avant and my B8 but truth be told he's never been in the B8 yet. Thinking about the Recaro for when he gets bigger. Keep the updates coming guys!

We used the KeyFit 30 as well and the ability to use a base in each car was great. Since your son is only 3 months of age, you have some time but take a look at the earlier pics of the Recaro in my Avant. It worked great when my daughter was smaller but as she grew, it got a little tough to get her in the Recaro with its higher side bolsters and "wings". I had to sort of scoop and swing her in. The lower roofline of the A4 made it a little tough. I was aware that could be a problem as she got bigger but I like the side protection and support of the Recaro. Now that we're front facing, it's a breeze and I can get that extra fore/aft room for the front seat. I'll get some photos of the Recaro in front facing position soon and post.

[TheHeiko]

Within the past 6 months, two major events have changed my life for the better: The birth of my son this past March, and the purchase of my 2013 allroad. I've been browsing various Audi forums, admiring build threads and getting ideas and suggestions on small mods or items that would increase the joy of ownership of my Audi. My wife has stopped asking me what is in the various boxes that occasionally arrive on our doorstep. She hasn't stopped rolling her eyes and shaking her head in disapproval, though.

I've really enjoyed reading this thread and agree with another poster that a topic like this is not something you would typically find on an car enthusiast site, but makes more sense the more you read and become informed. Before my son was born, I was looking into car seats and carriers for my allroad. I initially purchased the newer Graco Snugride 40, which allows angle adjustment at the base to give the child more room, when the seat is rear-facing. At the time, I felt that this was a great solution, because of Graco's quality and for allowing our son to sit rear-facing for a longer period of time.

Unfortunately, the Graco was not compatible with our stroller selection (UppaBaby Vista), because the current Graco adapter does not fit the new Graco Click-Connect system. I wrote UppaBaby and inquired if they were planning to support the new Graco adapter, and they said that they had no current plans to. We weren't interested in the Graco Click-Connect compatible strollers, because we really liked the light-weight, storage capacity, and handling of the Vista. So, we returned the Graco and got a Chicco KeyFit 30 and the stroller adapter, which has served us well these 4 months.

The Chicco w/base does fit well in the right-rear out-board position, but does require me to put the front passenger seat forward. For my wife, who is 5' 4", this is not a problem. As much as I would've liked to put the car seat in the middle position for safety, I felt the out-board position allows me to reach back (when the car is at a stop, of course) and activate whatever noise making toy we have there in case he gets fussy. I felt that the aspect of being able to calm/soothe your baby instead of being distracted by his/her crying is a big safety factor, too.

Thankfully, our son still fits in the Chicco. He's about 20 lbs now (only 4 months old), and getting to a point where we'll need to start thinking of the next seat. As a car enthusiast, it's hard not to want to have a Recaro seat. Some of my friends even demanded that I get nothing less. Thanks to the original poster for posting photos and providing his experience in purchasing and using his Recaro seat. I am looking into the Britax, because they are highly rated, as well as the Peg Perego. The Peg Perego seat caught my eye on a recent trip to Babies R Us, and I really like how it looks, but not sure how it functions. Does anyone have experience on using the Peg Perego?

Thanks to all the parents out there for making this thread such a great read! Looking forward to seeing more posts! [:d]

Bobby

That's good info, Bobby! We also got an Uppababy Vista. Love that stroller! For us car guys, the stroller purchase is not an easy process! The Uppababy warranty is excellent, the build quality superb, and it is lightweight and efficient. We also used the Chicco adapter in our Vista which was one of the reasons we went with the Chicco KeyFit 30 since Uppababy had an adapter for it.

I think there are some great choices like the Recaro, Peg, and Britax. As I researched, I found that there are really no safety standards that we can compare them by, as in ratings they do for cars. They are all presumed to pass minimum standards to be sold in the US. For me it came down to fit and looks. Price was not a big issue except I did rule out the very expensive but cool looking Clek convertible seat. As far as my reading, the Peg and Britax are great seats but a little on the bulky side. If anyone has either, please post comments and pics.

I'm not sure if I posted this before but with many child seats you have to do some fitting to get them right and that usually means having them as level as possible. The A4 rear seat bottoms do slope down quite a bit so I had to use a couple of sections of foam "pool noodle" under the Recaro ProRIDE to get it more level. This is okay and some people use rolled up towels. Some companies even make a dense foam pad to put under the seat to adjust the angle. The "pool noodle" and having the recline angle steeper helped me fit the Recaro better with some decent leg room still for the front seat.

[magno111]

I have 2 britax boulevards, they fit relatively well and are rated well for safety

[Big Nodge]

We used the KeyFit 30 as well and the ability to use a base in each car was great. Since your son is only 3 months of age, you have some time but take a look at the earlier pics of the Recaro in my Avant. It worked great when my daughter was smaller but as she grew, it got a little tough to get her in the Recaro with its higher side bolsters and "wings". I had to sort of scoop and swing her in. The lower roofline of the A4 made it a little tough. I was aware that could be a problem as she got bigger but I like the side protection and support of the Recaro. Now that we're front facing, it's a breeze and I can get that extra fore/aft room for the front seat. I'll get some photos of the Recaro in front facing position soon and post.

Thanks, I had seen your pics and they had led me to tentatively select the Recaro for when we get there, although the Avant is the primary baby-hauler so I need to make sure it will fit in the B7.

[billybob_lee]

My wife and I recently purchased a Britax Advocate G3-70 for our Toyota Highlander. It came highly rated by Consumer Reports, which my wife really liked. I was hoping to install it in our allroad to see how it would fit and look, and maybe get a photo or two. Unfortunately, I ran out of time and needed to have it installed in our Highlander for our trip to San Francisco.

My impressions of the Britax Advocate: It is well made and nicely padded. The Advocate is basically a Pavillion with extra side impact cushions on the sides of the seat. Looking at the instruction book, the seat cover can be removed and hand-washed if needed. The Advocate only has 3 adjustment positions. For our son, who's currently 21 lbs, we used the more reclined position.

In this reclined position, the seat takes up a lot of room when rear-facing. I don't have photos or measurements, but I could try to do some on the sly when my wife and son are asleep. I would seem hard to have a regular sized adult sit in the passenger seat of our allroad with the Britax behind them in rear-facing configuration. I don't know if I'll get the chance to try it out because the installation of the Britax took a lot longer and was more difficult that I anticipated.

I found the installation more difficult than with our Chicco Keyfit30 car seat. With the seat on the ground, it was real easy to adjust and configure the seat. With the seat in the car, some of the levers, straps, and hooks, are much harder to get to, and takes more effort to use. I think the larger seat+base of the Britax as well as the higher seating position in the Highlander contributed to this. The users guide suggests adjusting it prior to installing it in the car. I would wholeheartedly second that suggestion, because trying to get at the recline position lever with the seat installed is darned near impossible.

Britax also recommends using the tether anchor straps in the rear-facing configuration. Typically, they're used forward facing, and I couldn't figure out where to secure them when in the rear-facing position. I ended up attaching it to part of the front passenger seat frame, which worked OK. I don't know if this will cause an issue if the front passenger wants to adjust their seat forward or backwards.

On our trip up north, my son seemed to enjoy being in the Britax. No longer confined to the smaller Chicco, he can now has a wider field of view and can see around the interior of the car as well as the world outside. The seating area seems very comfortable, but my son does get a little sweaty from sitting in it for long periods of time. I don' think the fabric breathes very well.

If the car is big enough in the back seat, I would recommend the Advocate. For smaller cars, it seems like it would be too difficult to fit in the back seat, in the rear-facing configuration. I don't know if I even want to try to fit it in the allroad for testing purposes.

For my allroad, I'm probably going to get the Recaro like many posters here have for their kids. However, I am entralled with the new Chicco NextFit. It just looks so futuristic! It looks like something George Jetson would strap Elroy in. Even though I know that it's probably too big and too unwieldy to install in the allroad, I can't stop thinking about it!

[NoR32]

I would def make sure you are installing the seat correctly since wrongfully installed child seats are the #1 reason of deaths when in accidents for children

[Spooner]

Just to update from my post but we got the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio which is their up to 30lb infant seat. Fits great behind either seat. Might not be good for people over 6' but works great for us without having to move the seat.

[dennisA4]

Just to update from my post but we got the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio which is their up to 30lb infant seat. Fits great behind either seat. Might not be good for people over 6' but works great for us without having to move the seat.

Thanks for the update! You didn't happen to compare this seat to the Chicco KeyFit 30, did you?

[Spooner]

No we didn't try that one. I know finding a seat that we liked plus fit the stroller we got and fit in the car was a bit of a tough combo haha.

[TheHeiko]

Thanks for the update! You didn't happen to compare this seat to the Chicco KeyFit 30, did you?

We used the KeyFit 30 before our girl grew out of it. I think it can fit well. It was behind my seat which is back to where someone about 5' 10" would probably sit. (I'm not that tall but like my seat back.) The basket hand on the KeyFit gets in the way a bit. The base system for the Chicco is easy to use and not too expensive if you need a spare for another car. Some people who need a little more room put it in the middle seat.

I'll see if I have any pictures of it in my car.

[dennisA4]

I just keep seeing that the keyfit 30 and the britax b safe are the two smallest that still fit a kid up to 30" in length, with the chicco getting the nod for being a tad easier to use. The middle wont be an option this time since our second is on the way, but that's what we did with our huge britax marathon.

[MilltekSportUSA]

We stock Recaro child seats in both our Berkeley, CA and Rochester, NY locations. All colors in stock. Let me know if we can help!

http://www.g-werke.com/categories/recaro/child-seats/

[X Y Z]

We also used the Chico Keyfit30, it was nice and compact. When it came time to upgrade we did a lot of research and the Recaro Proride was perfect. The Proride is a bit tall and admittedly a little difficult to use rear facing in the middle seat with the low b8 Avant roof. I am very satisfied with the Recaro seats.

[VeeDubbinJetta]

Bumping this back up...Got a baby seat from our baby shower last week. It is a graco one and it fits great in the A4, anyways I really would like something to put down to protect the seats..What do you guys recommend? I would like to get the most protection possible but fit the seat well. What do you all use? [up]

[TheHeiko]

Bumping this back up...Got a baby seat from our baby shower last week. It is a graco one and it fits great in the A4, anyways I really would like something to put down to protect the seats..What do you guys recommend? I would like to get the most protection possible but fit the seat well. What do you all use? [up]

Great baby shower gift! I have a Prince Lionheart seat protector in my A4. Got it on Amazon. It has done a pretty good job. I also have the OEM Audi rear seat covers but have not bothered to install them. I recently got a Diono seat protector, also from Amazon, for my wife's Q5. It is branded and intended to work with the Diono Radian seats but I'm sure it would work for your Graco. I like it better than the Prince Lionheart because it goes higher up the seat back and is a little longer in the seat. There is also a decent amount of padding. Both brands are inexpensive.

Prince Lionheart (http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Lionheart-580-Compact-Seatsaver/dp/B000ETUFVQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1384079864&sr=8-5&keywords=prince+lionheart+seat+protector)

Diono (http://www.amazon.com/Diono-Ultra-Full-Size-Protector-Black/dp/B00BFQ5BM0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1384079937&sr=8-2&keywords=diono+seat+protector)

I might switch up and try this one. We have had good luck with Brica products too.

http://www.amazon.com/BRICA-Seat-Guardian-Car-Protector/dp/B00B7M7BKW/ref=pd_cp_ba_3

Now that my daughter is taller and able to kick my seat back, I'm thinking of these.

http://www.amazon.com/BRICA-Deluxe-Kick-Mats-pack/dp/B00B7M7CLA/ref=pd_cp_ba_2

[VeeDubbinJetta]

Great baby shower gift! I have a Prince Lionheart seat protector in my A4. Got it on Amazon. It has done a pretty good job. I also have the OEM Audi rear seat covers but have not bothered to install them. I recently got a Diono seat protector, also from Amazon, for my wife's Q5. It is branded and intended to work with the Diono Radian seats but I'm sure it would work for your Graco. I like it better than the Prince Lionheart because it goes higher up the seat back and is a little longer in the seat. There is also a decent amount of padding. Both brands are inexpensive.

Prince Lionheart (http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Lionheart-580-Compact-Seatsaver/dp/B000ETUFVQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1384079864&sr=8-5&keywords=prince+lionheart+seat+protector)

Diono (http://www.amazon.com/Diono-Ultra-Full-Size-Protector-Black/dp/B00BFQ5BM0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1384079937&sr=8-2&keywords=diono+seat+protector)

I might switch up and try this one. We have had good luck with Brica products too.

http://www.amazon.com/BRICA-Seat-Guardian-Car-Protector/dp/B00B7M7BKW/ref=pd_cp_ba_3

Now that my daughter is taller and able to kick my seat back, I'm thinking of these.

http://www.amazon.com/BRICA-Deluxe-Kick-Mats-pack/dp/B00B7M7CLA/ref=pd_cp_ba_2

Ooo I like that Brica seat cover, and for the price if it sucks im only out $25 bucks. Thanks for the info [up]

[AudiTLC]

Any updates oe additions to the list? We are thinking of the Recaro Proride but also see the Recaro Performance ride which is a newer model

I would like to know how these fit and daily use in the B8. Thanks previous posters for the photos and info thus far. Incredibly helpful!


I should add my wife is concerned that the recaro is big and ease of use as well as rear facing baby legroom may be inadequate? Visibility impaired with the seat installed? Thanks

[Toast]

I have a pro ride in my b8 a4 avant and a britax 85 in my x3. My 5 year old finds the britax more comfortable since it isnt built like a race car seat, I think the recaro is better built.
As for getting him in and out hes pretty much doing it by himself. I find the britax easier since I dont have to lift him over the bolsters which are high and the recaro sits up way higher in the car relative to the britax. When he falls alseep i need to angle him out of the recaro and then tilt him to avoid hitting his head on top part of the door frame. I didnt notice any impairment of vision with either seat, neither seat goes over rear head rests.

[TheHeiko]

I agree with Toast. The Recaro Pro RIDE does have higher side bolsters like a racing seat that requires me to kind of scoop my 2 year old in and out. It's not that bad though I do have to be mindful of bumping her head on the upper door frame since our A4s do not have a very big rear aperture. The Recaro isn't big relatively speaking. Many have said that the Britax seats like the Boulevard is much bigger and I know that our Radian RXT in my wife's Q5 is bigger and far heavier. (Note: If you ever travel and need a rental car for your kid(s), weight will be a major factor when you're schlepping the thing through airports.) The ease of use is as easy as it gets. The straps are stitched with white lines to remind you which way they face. The buckles are simple and the tightening is an easy pull. (Our Radian uses a ratcheting system that requires a long series of jerking pulls to tighten.) The rear facing legroom issue is going to be the same as with any other seat and if there is any difference, it will be negligible. Your child will get taller and heavier and will eventually have to be turned front facing. We tried to hold out as long as we could but by the time our daughter was too tall for rear facing, she was well at the safe weight to turn around. The benefits of front facing is that I get a little more fore-aft space with my front seat, my daughter has more room and can see where we're going, and she gets the benefit of the AC in the summer.

I took a quick look at the Performance RIDE and it looks great! I didn't compare weight and height capacities but I reckon they're probably on par with the Pro RIDE. I think you'll be happy with it. I don't regret buying mine at all and given the limitations on what seat will fit well in our A4s, I think I picked the best one.

[AudiTLC]

Thank you guys!
We are getting the ProRide. The PerformanceRide, although being a newer model, had some unfavorable reviews compared to the PR. We played it safe, knowing the PR would fit for sure.
I do like the idea of the tall sides for safety reasons. The baby's head is so much larger in proportion so the lateral support seems very reassuring to me- not just accidents, but going over bumps and ramps where you are rocked side to side.
I'll see how the entry/egress difficulty tradeoff works out but willing to make a go of it. :)

driving visibility will reassure my wife- thanks for the real world feedback
It will not get used right away, as we have an infant carrier for the first months. But, the plan is the PR should be a nice long term solution as our little one grows.

thanks everyone!

[TheHeiko]

Thank you guys!
We are getting the ProRide. The PerformanceRide, although being a newer model, had some unfavorable reviews compared to the PR. We played it safe, knowing the PR would fit for sure.
I do like the idea of the tall sides for safety reasons. The baby's head is so much larger in proportion so the lateral support seems very reassuring to me- not just accidents, but going over bumps and ramps where you are rocked side to side.
I'll see how the entry/egress difficulty tradeoff works out but willing to make a go of it. :)

driving visibility will reassure my wife- thanks for the real world feedback
It will not get used right away, as we have an infant carrier for the first months. But, the plan is the PR should be a nice long term solution as our little one grows.

thanks everyone!

I'm glad the info helped. I have found that another benefit of the higher sides, especially in the head area, is that when my daughter falls asleep, her head is less likely to flop over without support. The higher side bolsters just seem like they would provide more support and safety for which I am happy to sacrifice a little bit of convenience. Also, I have my ProRIDE installed on one side instead of in the middle position. I did this for several reasons, including easier access than having to stoop and contort to get my daughter in and out of the middle, maintaining some usuable passenger seat area in the rear, and also for better visibility down the center.

I would also recommend a good seat pad for under the child seat. I have an okay one now but will likely order the Brica set linked above. My girl has started to enjoy kicking the back of my seat so it might be time to put that Brica seatback cover on. As an additional bit of advice, if you ever need to fly with your ProRIDE, I would not check it without a bag. I bought http://www.amazon.com/Childress-Ultimate-Seat-Travel-Black/dp/B0009RNXNA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1388521290&sr=8-2&keywords=car+seat+bag and it works very well. The ProRIDE does fit in it snugly. Being able to wear it as a backpack, while hilarious looking, is very convenient and my ProRIDE has arrived safe and sound each time, free of dirt and grease from the handling and conveyors.

[sclarke]

Good choice! Took a couple of pictures and measurements with the ProRide today, we are also happy with the fit. The first / second show the seat at 1 ft from the back to the seam when the tape is on the seat. The third shows the measurement on the seat rail. This is an Avant. You do have to contort her a little to get her in and out, but it is far easier than putting her in the center seat we used to have.

Excuse the mess, well you know....

Full album here:
http://imgur.com/a/VFQYC



http://i.imgur.com/Pz4uX1v.jpg

[AudiTLC]

thank you for the photos! I think that's the color we are getting too.

Couple questions:
-LATCH pretty easy w/ the Audi? I also have a B6, havent checked if it has LATCH... i hope so :)

-any concern on side airbags and baby seats? My wife was asking about "turning them off"

theheiko,
thanks for the airplane and cushion tips!

[mr_milo]

Using a Britax Roundabout 65 in my 2014 A4. My 19 month old seems to like it and can sleep fine during long trips. My complaints are Audi's lack of center latch points. I have to use the center ones (1 from each side) which works for the seat but blocks the outer seat's seatbelt latches. I finally got a seatbelt extender (http://www.amazon.com/Car-Seat-Belt-Extender-Certified/dp/B005JZSP08/ref=sr_1_48?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1388559469&sr=1-48) and that worked great!

Hope this helps.

[dennisA4]

I just put the chicco key fit 30 behind my seat and it barely fits. I had to do some adjusting of my seat to get it comfortable.
I'm 5'8".

[AudiTLC]

Using a Britax Roundabout 65 in my 2014 A4. My 19 month old seems to like it and can sleep fine during long trips. My complaints are Audi's lack of center latch points. I have to use the center ones (1 from each side) which works for the seat but blocks the outer seat's seatbelt latches. I finally got a seatbelt extender (http://www.amazon.com/Car-Seat-Belt-Extender-Certified/dp/B005JZSP08/ref=sr_1_48?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1388559469&sr=1-48) and that worked great!

Hope this helps.

man, you guys are a wealth of info!
is that extender the correct one? there are a couple different sizes avail. wasnt sure if you just threw that up as an example or if that is specifically the right one.

thank you!

[mr_milo]

man, you guys are a wealth of info!
is that extender the correct one? there are a couple different sizes avail. wasnt sure if you just threw that up as an example or if that is specifically the right one.

thank you!

I thought that was the one I got since my seatbelt tongues are 7/8" (but see below). I'd measure yours just to be sure but they should be the same.

Glad it could help. [:)]

EDIT: This is actually the one I purchased (http://www.amazon.com/Seat-Belt-Extender-Safety-Certified/dp/B00FHRV4ZQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1388728398&sr=8-4&keywords=seatbelt+extender+audi) although I think the other would fit fine too.

[TheHeiko]

I ordered a set of the Brica "Kick Mats" from Amazon. They run about $18 for a pair. They're pretty well made and fit the A4 seat back quite nicely. There is an elastic strap that goes around the base of the seat back that could be a little longer but it hides decently. There is a short strap with a clip that goes around the headrest posts and can be hidden if you push the headrest down. (Those with S4 seats are SOL. The one time I'm glad I have regular Sport Seats.) As you can see from the pic, my little one put it to the test pretty much as soon as it was installed. I put one in my car and one in my wife's.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/PNG_x5world/IMG_3385_zps090afd03.jpg

[dennisA4]

Neat, i hadn't seen those. Thanks for posting.
So far I'm just cleaning the foot prints off. haha

[NoR32]

Target has one for like $10 also just heads up. Def recommend getting one


Your SoCal Realtor

[TCHUN003]

Should be getting Recaro ProRide delivered today!!!

[dennisA4]

Now that my 2.5 year old daughter got a little brother on Jan 5th, we had to add one more.
This is the Chicco Keyfit 30 that I mentioned a few posts above. It seemed to be the most popular and smallest. Definitely smaller than my daughters Britax infant carrier was, that thing was a monster. But even the Chicco just barely fits for me when facing backwards. I'm 5'8" and I had to move my seat much closer than I normally would have had it. I'm still comfortable, just had to get get used to it. I could probably gain a little more room by swapping car seats to opposite sides but I like being able to see/communicate with my daughter. My wife will be able to tend to my son if need be from the passenger seat.
So overall it works, but looking forward to the day when i can at least turn that Chicco around. lol

And for my daughter I chose the Britax Frontier 90.
Great reviews, nice dimensions (seemed better than the Recaro options), it converts from forward facing to a booster so it will work from 25lbs to 120lbs, and the ClickTight installation is awesome.
Both seats are sitting on the Brica seat covers.

http://bluelemonphoto.smugmug.com/Cars/2014-Audi-A4-Prestige/i-JZnVkp8/0/O/20140121-_1210015.jpg

http://bluelemonphoto.smugmug.com/Cars/2014-Audi-A4-Prestige/i-W9F5NcV/0/O/20140121-_1210017.jpg

http://bluelemonphoto.smugmug.com/Cars/2014-Audi-A4-Prestige/i-6w9L9WR/0/O/20140121-_1210016.jpg

[billybob_lee]

I've been using the Prince Lionheart seat protector since my son was born with both the Chicco KeyFit30 and our current Recaro Performance ride. The Prince Lionheart was fine with the infant carseat, but as TheHeiko mentioned earlier, it doesn't extend as high up on the seat back as I would like. As my son grows, he's now able to touch and kick the seat back.

I recently purchased a Brica seat guardian much like the previous poster has, and it does appear to fit and cover the seat back. Both the Prince Lionheart and Brica have a raised lip on the bottom, which I find useful for catching crumbs and the occasional liquid mess.

What do you guys use for a back seat mirror? I've used both a Britax back seat mirror (http://www.amazon.com/Britax-USA-S864600-Back-Mirror/dp/B008HCXIU2/) as well as a Brica Day & Night Light Musical Auto Mirror (http://www.amazon.com/BRICA-Night-Musical-Mirror-Safety/dp/B007HS6W6Y/).

I like the way that the Britax mirror adjusts over the Brica. The mirrored surface is also bigger. I can now see my son's face as well as his hands so I know what sort of mischief he's up to. Highly recommended.

I bought the Brica initially when my son was born and used it for a few months. The Brica has a night light feature which I didn't use properly when I initially bought it. I didn't know that you had to hold the button down on the remote to make the light brighter. A single press turns on the light, but at a lower intensity. For months, I thought it was broken. The mirrored surface is smaller, and the range of adjustment is not as good as the Britax. There's a music function, but the sound is so low that I can't hear it. I probably am using this function incorrectly too. Also, the manual recommends turning the music/light function off when not using for long periods, or else the battery will drain.

LATCH question: I read somewhere that the weight ratings for using a LATCH connection does not take into account the weight of the car seat. Does anyone know if this is true? I'm thinking about using the LATCH in conjunction with the shoulder belt to secure the convertible seat.

[dennisA4]

Latch shouldn't be a problem at all with the infant carriers.
What I like about the Frontier 90 for forward facing/booster is that it uses the seatbelt which is more secure than the latch.

[billybob_lee]

I think I answered my own question. Here's an article on Consumer Reports on the new strength limit on the LATCH seat anchors (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/08/new-latch-car-seat-rules/index.htm).

[AudiTLC]

nice link billybob_lee

we did get the RECARO PRORIDE and it's really nicely designed. I like the safety features a lot, which is afterall, the only reason for the seat.
However, be warned, it is huge! It looks like it would be difficult to load/unload the baby from. We will see how it goes.

I think it will be a good choice for a long term seat and we are looking forward to putting it to use for the next few years.
Thanks everyone for the info and photos. It really was key in the decision.

We also got a GRACO SNUGRIDE infant carrier for newborn use. It's much smaller and locks into our stroller so it's a great portable solution.
We will break out the Recaro after she outgrows the Graco.

[ChuckB02]

Just found this forum and this thread in particular. There is a lot of good info here.

We currently have twin 15 month olds. We have 2 Chicco Keyfit 30s and 2 Recaro ProRide seats. What I don't have is an Audi yet... ;)

As far as the seats go, we are happy with both. My wife did the research on the Recaros, and as soon as she showed them to me, I was sold!

Right now the KeyFits are in our Saab 9-5 Wagen (My DD), I'm 6'0" and no issue with fitment in both outboard seats. Looking to replace this car with an Audi (B7 RS4/S4 or B8 S4). The twins still fit in the KeyFits for short trips but not for too much longer. The Recaros are in the wife's DD (LX470).

The issue I have is #3 is one the way, due in July. I haven't seen anyone mention having 3 kiddos in the back seat of an Audi sedan/avant. We would have 2 forward facing outboard and 1 rear facing in the center. Am I crazy to think this would fit?

For strollers, we have the Double BoB and the City Select.

[billybob_lee]

First of all, congratulations to you and your family on the arrival of your baby! Looks like you and your wife will be outnumbered. Time to switch to a zone defense? [:)]

Since your current twins are close to moving up to a convertible, or possibly a forward-facing booster, you're probably looking at two convertible/boosters + infant car seat. I currently have a Recaro in the back seat, and it doesn't appear to me that the center area would be big enough to fit another seat. You might want to look at narrower convertible/boosters like Diono (http://us.diono.com/) or Clek (http://www.clekinc.com/foonf/).

[ChuckB02]

Thank you! I'll look into the Diono.
I'm fearing that an Audi might not be big enough for 3 as you mentioned.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BMWBig6]

Just FYI, Diono is introducing a new seat design this spring with better side impact protection. You may want to hold off if considering one of the currently available Radian models.

[ChuckB02]

Good to know thanks.

Also, if anyone in the San Diego area wants to test fit a Chicco KeyFit or Recaro ProRide let me know. It would be mutually beneficial.

[VAG_4ever]

Hi all. Does anyone have a Clek foonf or peg perego? I just got a B8 and we currently have a radian RXT and I'm not able to fit it rea racing with the angle adjuster for my 20 month old.

My husband and I are looking to rear face as long as possible so we are looking for a seat with high limits. I'm not sure how the mentioned above would fit rear facing in B8s so any help would be appreciated!

[B8SlineNate]

Since this thread helped me a bit today, I wanted to contribute also. Wife and I went to Buy buy baby to check out the recaros since they have them on display. They also let you try them out in your car which is really nice. Our daughter is 15mos and it was time for an upgrade. We decided to go with the Performace Ride. It was almost like this seat was made for the Avant (I have a B8 Avant with Sline interior; if that matters). I think the pics below speak for themselves. sorry for the crappy iphone vs. sunlight vs. garage pics.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/kid1320/Recaro%20Maddie/8_zps5e292647.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/kid1320/Recaro%20Maddie/photo4_zps98866207.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/kid1320/Recaro%20Maddie/photo2-1_zpsa8bfa35f.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/kid1320/Recaro%20Maddie/photo4-1_zpse07c2567.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/kid1320/Recaro%20Maddie/photo3-1_zpsce408ecc.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/kid1320/Recaro%20Maddie/photo1-2_zps593697b2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/kid1320/Recaro%20Maddie/photo1-1_zps4eeb91cf.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/kid1320/Recaro%20Maddie/photo3_zps0fa404ff.jpg

[AudiTLC]

Nice pics B8SlineNate

I was going to update to say the ProRide is really a FORWARD facing seat. It's really not designed well as a rear facing. Very difficult to put your kid in.
Also, never thought about this but since it doesn't have a sunshade of any kind, it's basically useless to us. In the sedan, the rear window is right there-so a sunshade is necessary for us.

In the avant, it's not an issue so much.

I am looking forward to using it as a forward facing seat or a rear facing on longer trips. It's big so more comfortable for our girl, I suspect.

[PA_Matt]

Just found this thread, wish I would have found it sooner! Although I obviously went with an A4, I was initially interested in a new A3. Along with the lack of a manual transmission, the back seat was a complete killer as a parent of a very young child. My son is only two months old but there's no way his rear facing seat (graco click connect 35) would have fit correctly. Nor would a stroller have fit in the tiny trunk.

The rear facing graco seat fits fine in my A4.

[BaysideS4]

Love our Britax.

[billybob_lee]

My wife took advantage of the recent Black Friday deals to get a Recaro Performance Sport Harness/Booster seat. We already use a Performance ride for our son, but now that we've welcomed a second son into our family, we figured we'll eventually need another seat. They're 20 months apart so once our second son exceeds the weight limit of the Chicco Keyfit 30, we'll put him in the Performance Ride, rear-facing, and move our first son over to the Performance Sport. both kids are big for their ages so it could happen sooner than later.

If I ever figure out how to post photos successfully, I'll try to include a photo of our double Recaro config.

[AudiTLC]

thanks for the reminder bump

I ended up using the Recaro in my car, and frequently. It's still rear facing, and you have to be a bit careful getting your baby in,
but the seat is working out fine.

I have to say I think our Graco is better and has some touches that make life a bit easier.
But, the Recaro will def get a lot more use as it will be big enough over the years for her to grow into
so I will have to say the Recaro is a better value.

Lack of sunshade is an issue in a sedan w/ the rear and side windows so close- so for infants, I would look into some kind of shades
on the window or block the sun somehow.

The folding shade on the Graco is great

[valida4]

thanks for the reminder bump

I ended up using the Recaro in my car, and frequently. It's still rear facing, and you have to be a bit careful getting your baby in,
but the seat is working out fine.

I have to say I think our Graco is better and has some touches that make life a bit easier.
But, the Recaro will def get a lot more use as it will be big enough over the years for her to grow into
so I will have to say the Recaro is a better value.

Lack of sunshade is an issue in a sedan w/ the rear and side windows so close- so for infants, I would look into some kind of shades
on the window or block the sun somehow.

The folding shade on the Graco is great

I use Sonniboy shades in the back. Fitment is great and does the trick.

[AudiTLC]

thanks never heard of Sonniboy- looks nice but €200+ship, ouch

[billybob_lee]

In another thread, another AZ member posted their experience with UV Privacy Shades from the UK: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/588486-Custom-fit-sunshades-Anyone-have-these

I also purchased a set and shared my experience with initially getting the wrong clips. After getting replacement clips, I'm very happy with my purchase.

[AudiTLC]

Thanks billybob_lee
those look like a nice choice for the B8!

[AudiTLC]

Just another update- we got a Chicco (Key-Co) Nextfit and it is PERFECT for the sedan.
Really impressed with the materials and features. It is better than the Recaro- but also more expensive.

However, it's got material that is easy to clean and cool for the kid. It's got level built in and easy to adjust.
Importantly, it's LOW and EASY to access. ingress/egress and loading the child is not an issue with it, unlike the Recaro which I found very difficult.

So, if you're in the market for a rear facing/front facing convertible- consder the Chicco Nextfit- really nice, but a bit pricey at $300

[AvantinUSP]

You got pictures with it installed?

[Teslatim]

Love our Britax.

X2... I have had 5 or 6 Britax's. Olek is interesting.

[Quattritude]

Sorry if this has been covered already but anyone notice any damage to the seats/leather with the baby seats, etc ?

[uwbadger_2005]

For those that have liked their Britax, which models have you used? I have a b8 avant, just registered for the Britax B-safe and haven't gone to test fit it yet but would like to soon.

Any other Britax models you recommend and gen car you put it in?

[mobilesuit818]

IMHO, I think the Orbit Baby System is the ish.....

www.orbitbaby.com

[BMWBig6]

For those that have liked their Britax, which models have you used? I have a b8 avant, just registered for the Britax B-safe and haven't gone to test fit it yet but would like to soon.

Any other Britax models you recommend and gen car you put it in?

Britax Boulevard (convertible)
Britax Pavilion (convertible)
Britax Frontier (combination high back booster)

[kdaffy]

IMHO, I think the Orbit Baby System is the ish.....

www.orbitbaby.com

+1 - this thing is, as mobilsuit818 mentioned, the ish....especially if you travel by air frequently...one system for everything. Cant beat it!

[dropshadow]

In another thread, another AZ member posted their experience with UV Privacy Shades from the UK: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/588486-Custom-fit-sunshades-Anyone-have-these

I also purchased a set and shared my experience with initially getting the wrong clips. After getting replacement clips, I'm very happy with my purchase.


Thanks billybob_lee
those look like a nice choice for the B8!

That's my thread. I recently bought another set of those shades for my allroad. The shades are the same, but the metal clips are a little cheaper than those in my first set. The metal is thinner and the edges aren't rounded, so I've got little scratches in my tint now. Still, they're better than roll up shades, and install in a minute. I'm about to get a set for my wife's new car.

As for car seats, I originally bought a Recaro Performance Ride, but no matter what I tried, I couldn't get it to feel solid and stable in the car. Rear-facing, front-facing, side seat, middle seat, I tried everything. No matter how hard I tightened it, the seat would still move a good 2-3 inches side to side. Not very confidence inspiring. I ended up getting a Chicco NextFit CX for both our cars (and a Chicco NextFit for my inlaws' car since they watch our daughter). I'm very pleased with the Chicco seat. It feels solid as a rock when installed, and the CX model has a little extra padding on the straps so they stand up and out of the way when loading. Our son is due in September, so we'll pretty much lose all backseat space in both cars soon. Chicco KeyFit on one side, NextFit on the other.

[ThatOneDude]

IMHO, I think the Orbit Baby System is the ish.....

www.orbitbaby.com

Yah that does look pretty awesome. Has anyone tried fitting the orbitbaby seat into an S4?

[billybob_lee]

IMHO, I think the Orbit Baby System is the ish.....

www.orbitbaby.com

When my wife and I were looking for a stroller/car seat system, I really wanted an Orbit. It folded so easily and it was so easy to push. Unfortunately, the baby car seat is much heavier than the Chicco or Graco seats we tried. It also had a lower weight and height rating than the Chicco we ended up purchasing. Both of our sons were above average in weight so the extra margin was helpful.

I've been re-reading this thread to get ideas for a new car seat for my 2 year old son. My wife says she wants a third child ([o_o]) so I'm looking at options to have a baby car seat (probably the Chicco) along with 1 forward facing seat for my eldest and a convertible/backwards facing for my younger son in my allroad. With the two seats now, there doesn't look to be a lot of room, so any suggestions are appreciated!

[billybob_lee]

As mentioned in one of my earlier posts, my wife and I are considering having a 3rd child. I've been searching online for articles and photos as well as doing research on which seats I can fit in the back of our allroad. If we do have a 3rd child, we will have a combination of the following:
- Baby Carrier / seat (Chicco KeyFit 30)
- Convertible Seat (possibly rear facing, depending on how big Child #2 will be)
- High-Back Booster (for Child #1)

During my search, I found some websites that includes reviews on different seats, and different seat combinations for 3-across seating:
http://blogs.babycenter.com/products_and_prizes/02052015-13-car-seats-that-fit-3-across-in-most-vehicles/
http://www.thecarcrashdetective.com/3-across-car-seat-guide-html/

Also the second website, it lists different combinations of their recommended seats for various vehicles, including the Audi A4 (B6 through B8):
http://www.thecarcrashdetective.com/2015/07/3-across-installations-audi-a4.html/

[dennisA4]

As mentioned in one of my earlier posts, my wife and I are considering having a 3rd child. I've been searching online for articles and photos as well as doing research on which seats I can fit in the back of our allroad. If we do have a 3rd child, we will have a combination of the following:
- Baby Carrier / seat (Chicco KeyFit 30)
- Convertible Seat (possibly rear facing, depending on how big Child #2 will be)
- High-Back Booster (for Child #1)

During my search, I found some websites that includes reviews on different seats, and different seat combinations for 3-across seating: http://blogs.babycenter.com/products_and_prizes/02052015-13-car-seats-that-fit-3-across-in-most-vehicles/
http://www.thecarcrashdetective.com/3-across-car-seat-guide-html/

Also the second website, it lists different combinations of their recommended seats for various vehicles, including the Audi A4 (B6 through B8):
http://www.thecarcrashdetective.com/2015/07/3-across-installations-audi-a4.html/

Just a little word of caution... the Diono Radian gets great reviews for three across but I bought one after my son grew out of the Chicco Key Fit and let me tell you, that it was not even close to fitting behind the driver rear-facing unless you are under 5' tall and can really move the seat forward.
Ended up with a Britax Boulevard which worked out great. Don't know if you can fit three across though.

[billybob_lee]

Just a little word of caution... the Diono Radian gets great reviews for three across but I bought one after my son grew out of the Chicco Key Fit and let me tell you, that it was not even close to fitting behind the driver rear-facing unless you are under 5' tall and can really move the seat forward.
Ended up with a Britax Boulevard which worked out great. Don't know if you can fit three across though.

Thank you for your input and experience with the Radian. If we do buy the Radian, we would use it in forward-facing mode only. I've seen photos of it in rear-facing mode and I am not even going to try it in that configuration. If we do end up trying to fit 3-across in the allroad, I will probably use my current Recaro Performance Ride as the rear-facing seat on one side, Radian in the middle and Chicco behind the driver. It really depends on how big Child #2 will be if/when we decide to have a third child. In this scenario, my biggest fear is trying to protect my center console from getting stomped from my eldest. I call him "Godzilla" for a reason.

[TheHeiko]

Just a little word of caution... the Diono Radian gets great reviews for three across but I bought one after my son grew out of the Chicco Key Fit and let me tell you, that it was not even close to fitting behind the driver rear-facing unless you are under 5' tall and can really move the seat forward.
Ended up with a Britax Boulevard which worked out great. Don't know if you can fit three across though.

We have a Radian and I have to agree that rear facing in an A4, it's a challenge. It worked okay rear facing in our A6 but when we got rid of that for a Q5 it was tough. It is quite angled and is a substantial seat. The only time it felt totally roomy was when I had it rear facing in an A8L. Front facing is fine in the Q5. It is probably the narrowest car seat out there for three in a row front facing. They are a great seat with a wide range of weight and height suitability but it is also a heavy ass seat!

Radian in an A8L

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd280/PNG_x5world/Radian%20A8L_zpsgifreatk.jpg

I'm still able to use my Recaro ProRide but I'm looking forward to a booster.

As a side note, for anyone who needs to check their car seat for airline travel, invest in a good bag. I can't believe people would allow their car seats to get beaten up and smeared with whatever crap by checking them unprotected. I've used this numerous times and it has been excellent. (I'm flying this week with the car seat so I thought of it.) It's got backpack straps so you can strap it on and free your hands. Just be careful about spinning around and knocking people down.

Amazon link (http://www.amazon.com/J-L-Childress-Ultimate-Backpack-Padded/dp/B0009RNXNA/ref=sr_tnr_p_1_166836011_1?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1440548255&sr=8-1&keywords=car+seat+backpack)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41-9Dhku06L.jpg

[VAG_4ever]

Just FYI- You can buy an angle adjuster made by radian and safe and that substantially reduces the angle of the seat rear facing. It can only be used of the child has good head control, so not for newborns. Also the radian is one of the few seats that the manufacturer allows for the car seat to brace the front seat, so that another plus for rear facing.

I have 3 across in a VW Tiguan, which isn't much bigger than an A4, if at all.

-Radian, rear facing with angle adjuster
-britax boulevard clicktight, rear facing
-graco infant carrier rear facing, installed baseless.

[dropshadow]

Just FYI- You can buy an angle adjuster made by radian and safe and that substantially reduces the angle of the seat rear facing. It can only be used of the child has good head control, so not for newborns. Also the radian is one of the few seats that the manufacturer allows for the car seat to brace the front seat, so that another plus for rear facing.

I have one of these Diono Radian angle adjusters (http://amzn.to/1MNAIh7) that I've never used, and will gladly send it to another Audizine dad that needs it for $4 to cover shipping.

[BJustinR]

For those that have liked their Britax, which models have you used? I have a b8 avant, just registered for the Britax B-safe and haven't gone to test fit it yet but would like to soon.

Any other Britax models you recommend and gen car you put it in?

I used the Britax b-safe along side the Britax Boulevard. Fits great!

[BJustinR]

Sorry if this has been covered already but anyone notice any damage to the seats/leather with the baby seats, etc ?


I just used the rubber Britax mats that are sold separately. Made out of heavy duty rubber and protects against that

[dennisA4]

Just FYI- You can buy an angle adjuster made by radian and safe and that substantially reduces the angle of the seat rear facing. It can only be used of the child has good head control, so not for newborns. Also the radian is one of the few seats that the manufacturer allows for the car seat to brace the front seat, so that another plus for rear facing.

Ya, i forgot to mention in my previous post that I had gotten the angle adjuster (cheap foam pad) with it.
No way that seat was fitting rear facing behind the driver's seat.

[COLD13]

I haven't tried it myself but I'm told that a pool noodle is a great (inexpensive) angle adjuster.

[AudiTLC]

There is a safety recall on Recaro Performance Ride and Proride seats. If yours is affected, they will send you a fix.

[TheHeiko]

I'm now looking to update my daughter's car seat. She's currently in a Recaro ProRIDE and is starting to outgrow it. Also, my car was involved in a minor accident and my insurance company paid for a new car seat as that is recommended. The accident was just my front corner (headlight, bumper cover, small bend on the fender) and my daughter was not in the car at the time so the car seat is probably fine but there is no sense risking it and it's paid for so time to shop.

I'm currently looking at the Recaro Performance SPORT. It's attractive because it is a harness that converts to booster, which I will need soon enough. I've been happy with the ProRIDE and I know it fits but I would love to hear opinions and see photos of how well the Performance SPORT fits in an A4. Anyone have this seat?

http://www.recaropromotion.com/images/SPORT%20With%20Flag_350x450.jpg

http://www.recaropromotion.com/performance-sport.html

http://www.amazon.com/RECARO-Performance-Combination-Harness-Booster/dp/B00B507DN6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1445536659&sr=8-1&keywords=recaro+performance+sport

[TimAnt]

We have the Chicco NextFit in my wife's Equinox and this thing is giant! I tried it in the A4 and you have to move the front seat forward quite a bit. My wife is only 5'4" so she was ok but definitely tight. I took it out after the first ride and need to find something slimmer. Looking at the Recaro and a few of the bargain brands have really good safety ratings and are noticeably slimmer. Our son is still rear facing so we may just end up driving the Equinox everywhere and wait until he sits front facing.

[auditd0rk]

^^ Kids are grown and out of the house, but if I were to have a little one, that's the car seat I'd get. And I say that only because it looks cool... and it's Recaro... and it's made in the USA.

Seriously, though, the seat has great reviews on Amazon (http://smile.amazon.com/RECARO-Performance-Combination-Harness-Booster/dp/B00B507DN6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1445537588&sr=8-1&keywords=recaro+performance+sport).

[TheHeiko]

We have the Chicco NextFit in my wife's Equinox and this thing is giant! I tried it in the A4 and you have to move the front seat forward quite a bit. My wife is only 5'4" so she was ok but definitely tight. I took it out after the first ride and need to find something slimmer. Looking at the Recaro and a few of the bargain brands have really good safety ratings and are noticeably slimmer. Our son is still rear facing so we may just end up driving the Equinox everywhere and wait until he sits front facing.

Some of these car seats are made for Suburban owners only. They're huge! I posted a pic above of the Diono Radian when I had it in an A8L. That's the only way it has room. It wouldn't even fit on my A4. Rear facing is best but you'll be glad when you can go front facing. My daughter finally got A/C and her legs weren't all scrunched up against the back seat. Check out the earlier posts. There are some pics of the Recaro ProRIDE. That's what I have now. It first rear and front facing well.


^^ Kids are grown and out of the house, but if I were to have a little one, that's the car seat I'd get. And I say that only because it looks cool... and it's Recaro... and it's made in the USA.

Seriously, though, the seat has great reviews on Amazon (http://smile.amazon.com/RECARO-Performance-Combination-Harness-Booster/dp/B00B507DN6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1445537588&sr=8-1&keywords=recaro+performance+sport).

I won't lie. Looking cool is important. US made is a great bonus. I have a ProRIDE now and have been very happy with it. It has flown many, many times too and held up well. I'm very attracted to the ProSPORT because of my positive experience with Recaro so far, the cool looks, and the great reviews definitely help. I'd love to see one in an A4 though. Unfortunately I don't have a place near me that has them to try for fit.

[Dub_prime]

I have a Diono radian RXT in my A4 and with the angle adjuster and some skillful seat placement it's a tight but comfortable fit for my 5'6" wife and 5'9" son. Not the ideal seat for a small car but for the safety it can't be beat.

[billybob_lee]

I'm currently looking at the Recaro Performance SPORT. It's attractive because it is a harness that converts to booster, which I will need soon enough. I've been happy with the ProRIDE and I know it fits but I would love to hear opinions and see photos of how well the Performance SPORT fits in an A4. Anyone have this seat?

I currently have both the Performance Ride (same as ProRide) rear facing and Performance Sport in my Allroad. I don't have a photo of how they both look in the car, but I will try to post one soon. I do have a photo of both seats side-by-side: (photo may not show because I don't know how to post photos correctly)

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/594/medium/IMG_20150831_173736.jpg

The Performance Sport is a little lower, and slightly wider than the Performance Ride. The seating position is a little lower as well. When my oldest son was sitting in the Performance Ride, front facing, he would routinely kick the headrest and the door lock/unlock switches, as well as rest his feet on the door handle. Now, he can only kick the rear a/c vents and the window switches.

My son sits more comfortably in the Performance Sport than the Performance Ride when it was forward facing. The seat cushion slopes downward at the right spot where my son's knee is. On the Performance Ride, the cushion is more at a right angle, and further forward. My son to scoot forward so that he can bend his leg for comfort.

If/When we have a third child, I think I'll be using the Diono RXT we bought recently in the Allroad. If my second son is old enough, I might be able to fit 2 Dionos and our Chicco Keyfit in the backseat.

[TimAnt]

Some of these car seats are made for Suburban owners only. They're huge! I posted a pic above of the Diono Radian when I had it in an A8L. That's the only way it has room. It wouldn't even fit on my A4. Rear facing is best but you'll be glad when you can go front facing. My daughter finally got A/C and her legs weren't all scrunched up against the back seat. Check out the earlier posts. There are some pics of the Recaro ProRIDE. That's what I have now. It first rear and front facing well

Thanks man I'll take a look at the ProRIDE... Probably gonna go over to BBB and try them out first.

[Dub_prime]

Thanks man I'll take a look at the ProRIDE... Probably gonna go over to BBB and try them out first.

The angle adjuster I mentioned before is good for about 3-5" of extra room on the radian. So don't discount it completely.

[TheHeiko]

I have a Diono radian RXT in my A4 and with the angle adjuster and some skillful seat placement it's a tight but comfortable fit for my 5'6" wife and 5'9" son. Not the ideal seat for a small car but for the safety it can't be beat.

The Radian RXT is indeed. a very safe and solid seat. My daughter rides in one in Mommy's Q5. I tried it in the A4 and while it is can fit, I just thought it was too big. It is a heavy seat; solid as heck but heavy! I went with the Recaro ProRIDE because it fit better, is a very safe seat, and was much, much easier to travel/fly with so we have at least one option to take on vacation. I can't imagine having to lug the Radian RXT around an airport, rental car, hotel, etc.


I currently have both the Performance Ride (same as ProRide) rear facing and Performance Sport in my Allroad. I don't have a photo of how they both look in the car, but I will try to post one soon. I do have a photo of both seats side-by-side: (photo may not show because I don't know how to post photos correctly)

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/594/medium/IMG_20150831_173736.jpg

The Performance Sport is a little lower, and slightly wider than the Performance Ride. The seating position is a little lower as well. When my oldest son was sitting in the Performance Ride, front facing, he would routinely kick the headrest and the door lock/unlock switches, as well as rest his feet on the door handle. Now, he can only kick the rear a/c vents and the window switches.

My son sits more comfortably in the Performance Sport than the Performance Ride when it was forward facing. The seat cushion slopes downward at the right spot where my son's knee is. On the Performance Ride, the cushion is more at a right angle, and further forward. My son to scoot forward so that he can bend his leg for comfort.

If/When we have a third child, I think I'll be using the Diono RXT we bought recently in the Allroad. If my second son is old enough, I might be able to fit 2 Dionos and our Chicco Keyfit in the backseat.

Thank you for the pic and I look forward to some in-car pics if you can. Much appreciated and one of the reasons I started this thread. You can find tons of pics of car seats in minivans but hardly any in an Audi.

Your line about what your son is kicking in the car now is spoken like a true car enthusiast. I love my daughter but when she starts kicking her dirty shoes on the headrest, center console, A/C vents, whatever, I get a little mad.


Thanks man I'll take a look at the ProRIDE... Probably gonna go over to BBB and try them out first.

No problem! Definitely try it out. Some people find the "wings" on the ProRIDE make it tougher to get your child in and out from the smallish aperture of the B8 door but I like the safety and comfort of them and I have mastered a "scooping" motion to get my daughter in and out. She's just over 41" tall too.

[billybob_lee]

Sorry it took me so long to get the photos. We recently moved to a new house over the holidays and it was quite the mess.

Here are some photos of our Recaros in the allroad. Our youngest son is backwards-facing in the Performance Ride, and our oldest is in the Performance Sport. As you can see, there is very little room between the two seats.

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_20160226_1217351.jpg
http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_20160226_121542.jpg

My wife and I are thinking about having a 3rd child. If we are fortunate enough to have a 3rd child, I am hoping that my 2nd son would be tall/heavy enough to join my oldest in using forward-facing Diono Radian XT's. I currently have an XT in my wife's Highlander, and it's 4 inches narrower overall than the Performance Sport. I am hoping that with the two Diono's, it would give me enough room to fit a Chicco Keyfit 30.

[phillypino215]

we recently switched from recaros to dionos just because even though the recaros are so pretty, they're just so damn big.

[billybob_lee]

My wife and I are expecting our third child (another boy!) around the end of January. As you can see from my previous post, our dual-Recaro system will need to be revamped to handle a baby car seat in the middle.

I'm planning on swapping the dual-Recaros for something narrower. Thanks to the recent Black Friday sales, my wife and I bought a Clek Foomf (convertible) and a Clek Oober (high-back booster). Both seats are around 17in wide, so I hope there's enough room to put the baby carrier in the middle. My youngest son is now forward facing and loving it. We'll probably put both Recaros in the Highlander.

I received the Oober, but I'm still waiting for the Foomf to arrive. Once they're both here, I'll do a test fit and hopefully post photos.

[kdaffy]

^ What baby carrier do you use? It's going to be tight...I have a diono forward facing (also 17" wide) and the recaro RF in the middle and another diono would not fit behind the driver (or maybe could if you really jammed it in; also tried with chicco keyfit and same issue). Another consideration is that if you are putting either of the clek seats RF you can kiss comfort in the front seats goodbye as they take a TON of real estate front to back when RF.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Audizine mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87676)

[billybob_lee]

We're planning on dusting off our tried-and-true Chicco Keyfit 30. I think the base should fit in the middle, but I'm not 100% sure if the baby carrier will be able to clear either of the forward-facing seats' thigh/side bolsters. The Diono we have has a much smaller amount of bolstering around the thigh and it sits lower. I might swap the Diono in place of one of the Cleks if this is the case.

[keiffr]

I'm resurrecting an old thread for all the parents here in the forum. What car seats are you currently using? I'm just curious in case we plan to have another child.

I have a 2 year old son and he's in the Recaro Performance Ride Car Seat rear facing. I've had the Recaro for the past year and purchased based on the reviews in this thread. It's a comfortable car seat, but just very large for our rear seats.

My son will be forward facing by year end, so I think I should be good.

[pb_red]

I've tried a number of different front facing seats including Recaro and my favorite by far is the "evenflo evolve dlx platinum" from babies r us (amazon carried something similar but not the same model).

Sent from my moto x4 using Audizine mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87676)

[ChicagoDave]

I could not imagine doing a rear facing seat in a B8. I had a B5.5 Passat when my kids were born, which has a significantly larger back seat, and even that was tight. Both of my kids are over 10 yrs old now. It was glorious when we finally had them both out of car seats and boosters. It was like having a new car.

Hang in there man, they grow fast.

Dave

[keiffr]

I could not imagine doing a rear facing seat in a B8. I had a B5.5 Passat when my kids were born, which has a significantly larger back seat, and even that was tight. Both of my kids are over 10 yrs old now. It was glorious when we finally had them both out of car seats and boosters. It was like having a new car.

Hang in there man, they grow fast.

Dave

Thanks man! The Recaro is huge rear facing! To the point where my front passenger seat is at a 90 degree angle. LOL

[RamboDog]

I'd like to resurrect this thread and get input on more recent car seat models. I've got a 1 year old son and the Britax Boulevard seat my wife got isn't even close to being able to fit in my A4. Anybody have any suggestions?

[billybob_lee]

I still use our allroad as our daily family hauler, and I routinely pickup all 3 kids in the afternoon/evening. Our oldest son, is about 44in, using a Diono RXT, behind the driver seat. My middle son is a tick under 35in, and using a Clek Foomf behind the front passenger seat. Our youngest son is a little over a year old and he's still rear-facing, using a Clek Fllo.

Both Clek models and the Diono are narrower seats, which allows me to fit all three side-by-side. Both of the Recaros we purchased before (shown here (https://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/496535-Child-baby-seats-Which-one-fits-best?p=11433292&viewfull=1#post11433292)) are too big, either forward or rear facing in a 3-seat configuration. The Cleks are bit pricer, but the fabric and construction are very nice. The Fllo sits a little lower, rear facing, which gives me a few inches more room to see behind the car and at the baby mirror in the back. Foomf sits higher than the Diono, front-facing, which is better for my middle son, because he's shorter.

Please note that to fit all 3 seats in, the two outboard seats do not use the LATCH connectors, and rely on the shoulder belts for installation. This allows more room in the middle for the 3rd seat. Remember, there's a weight limit associated with using a LATCH connector and that weight limit includes the weight of the seat you're using. Since our rear seats have a nice indent in the seat cushion for people, I had to put towels to fill in that gap to make the outboard seats more level.

I've been meaning to post updated photos of our current set up. Hopefully, I can do that sometime soon.

BTW, Toys R Us is liquidating their stores or something like that. If you're in the market for a car seat, try to find one at a local store near you, if they're not picked clean already.

[keiffr]

I still have the Recaro Roadster front facing for my 2 year old son and it works very well for me.


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[SleeperCar]

what do you all use to prevent indents in the leather? i have a 3 months old, and im trying to figure out the best setup. We currently have a Graco with two bases, one for wifes car, and one for mine. and i dont want to install it until i figure out how to prevent leather indents.

i heard yoga mats can help?? TIA

[jfo]

what do you all use to prevent indents in the leather? i have a 3 months old, and im trying to figure out the best setup. We currently have a Graco with two bases, one for wifes car, and one for mine. and i dont want to install it until i figure out how to prevent leather indents.

i heard yoga mats can help?? TIA

Google this...

Britax Vehicle Seat Protector

[DetRebel]

My wife is set on that Nuna Rava Seat because it converts from an infant to a toddler seat but I can’t find a decent priced stroller that the car seat fits in.

I wish Recaro was still making their products for the US market but I can’t find them anywhere.


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[keiffr]

what do you all use to prevent indents in the leather? i have a 3 months old, and im trying to figure out the best setup. We currently have a Graco with two bases, one for wifes car, and one for mine. and i dont want to install it until i figure out how to prevent leather indents.

i heard yoga mats can help?? TIA

I bought one off Amazon. I believe it's made by a company called Summer. I've had it on for 2 years and the leather looks good underneath.

[byront8]

Using a BeSafe modular I-size baby seat currently.

when he hits 15 months will change up to this: https://www.carseat.co.uk/product/izi-kid-x2-i-size/

Takes up very little room in a A4 B8 Avant, and last til they hit 4 years old.

[SleeperCar]

I bought one off Amazon. I believe it's made by a company called Summer. I've had it on for 2 years and the leather looks good underneath.

[emoji106] thanks