Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL
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Category: Product Reviews
Forum Name: Product Reviews
Forum Description: Cot or bassinette? Which pram is best for you? How about nappies? Check out our Product Reviews board to find out what other Mums and Dads think and share your thoughts!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=36391
Printed Date: 27 July 2025 at 6:59am
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Topic: Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL
Posted By: amme_eilyk
Subject: Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 11:00am
| those of you who bought one, how are they going? I really want one but it is a huge investment so I want to be sure before I do. |
Replies:
Posted By: luvmylittlies
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 11:30am
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LOOOOVE mine. Reason's I bought it over other seats;
Good weight rating for both rear facing and forward facing (so can use it for a long time). Can fit it with seat belt OR Latch system. 5 point harness for rear facing and forward facing. Had one of the best (I think it was the best) height adjustments for the straps (and I hear most baby's outgrow their seats in height before weight). But because of this it is long and some people have found it won't fit in their car. Narrowest one I found so you can fit 2 people in the back seat with one easily. If/when needed you can actually fit 3 across the back seat of most cars. Good design so works really well both rear facing and forward facing (doesn't compromise one for the other). Folds down for when you're checking it in as luggage(we take it with us when we travel so we're using a seat we're familiar with). I find it very easy to use and fast to get in/out (when needed). It is pricey, but I reckoned that by the time I bought a rear facing then forward facing seat it'd cost about the same anyway. Hope that helps. ------------- Adoring Mum to Talisin 8/9/11 and Kiara 18/01/10 |
Posted By: Kirstine
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 7:52pm
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I love mine too - all the reasons above too. Also the tether goes under the seat in front so not in the way when rear facing. There is a good audible "click" when putting in clip (unlike safe in sound car seats). also the straps do not twist (again like safe n sound).
Also child proof to unclip as you have to press in button and pull out clip at the same time. I like the way of tightening the straps too, you tug then it clicks, then repeat until tight enough. I had to use a hired safe n sound for a weekend away and hated it compared to my radian! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 8:40pm
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I am getting a radian in the next few months once DS is too big for his capsule and I cant wait! I love the fact that it can rear face for so long. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Delli
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 10:00pm
Ours is still going great, don't have anything bad to report about it - perhaps making sure it fits in your car is a biggie though (installing it in our car - 1998 Subaru Legacy Wagon - was a bit harder than other people have found with their cars). No buyers remorse here  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: NovemberMum
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 11:54pm
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I have my nearly 3 year old on one ,,rearfacing and she still has heaps of room to go both weight and height.
this was taken last month so she wont have grown much in the last 4 weeks but it gives you an idea of how long children can remain rearfacing in it she is around 96cm and has torso length of about 36cms (radians have a top slot of 43cms) oh and is around 15.5kgs  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: luvmylittlies
Date Posted: 26 October 2010 at 8:52am
Oh, is that why sometimes they don't come out  ------------- Adoring Mum to Talisin 8/9/11 and Kiara 18/01/10 |
Kirstine wrote:Posted By: bebebaby
Date Posted: 26 October 2010 at 9:16am
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I really wanted a Radian XTSL, however when we tried it in our car it wouldn't fit (middle rear), or it fitted behind the passenger seat, with it all the way forward, which we decided compromised the passengers safety.
So definately try it in your car before you buy. I'm thinking we might buy it when our next child comes along and use it as a forward facing carseat. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: amme_eilyk
Date Posted: 26 October 2010 at 12:47pm
| i have a mitsubishi mirage, so its not that big so hopefully it will fit |
Posted By: luvmylittlies
Date Posted: 26 October 2010 at 2:42pm
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Definitely try it in your car if you can, but some small cars fit them really well. A friend tried mine in her old Honda Civic and it fitted with far more room than in my car (Ford Mondeo). The Sunshine Kids lady might actually be able to tell you if it fits if you email her your car type (she was extraordinarily helpful for me). ------------- Adoring Mum to Talisin 8/9/11 and Kiara 18/01/10 |
Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 27 October 2010 at 8:30am
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Hmm, I never thought that it might not fit! I have a toyota corolla hatch, which is pretty small so I better check that out.
Who did you ladies email? I was getting mine through Mothers Instinct, she might know. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: luvmylittlies
Date Posted: 27 October 2010 at 8:56am
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Interesting, they've changed their website. This is the email address I got off their website when I bought it. sales@skjp.co.nz
The lady is in Belmont (near Takapuna) and I went and she tried one in my car and showed me how to set it up etc. She got into selling them because she herself needed a seat that she could fit 3 across a car because her 3rd child turned out to be TRIPLETS! ------------- Adoring Mum to Talisin 8/9/11 and Kiara 18/01/10 |
Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 27 October 2010 at 10:35am
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I love my radian, I can't fault it and can't rave about it enough, I will tell anyone who'll listen to look into buying it. I have it installed it (rear facing) in: A Mazda 6, Toyota Rav4, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Prius, Another ute and a Nissan 4x4 (can't remember those two makes).
They all fit nicely and had heaps of room for passengers and front seat people.
If you like Amme you are more than welcome to meet up with me and I can try my one in your car. -------------  
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Posted By: Pinkygirl
Date Posted: 28 October 2010 at 9:09pm
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We have bought two one for my mums car (ford focus) and one for my husbands car (ford 4wd truck) this month. I have a brio in my car.
The reason why we bought them as Travis is 17 months and believe we will get more milage out of the Radians than buying two more Brios. Plus the five point harnes has a good weight rating so that was my selling point over getting another Brio. I still love the Brio but wanted to get as much milage out of the seats. |
Posted By: stefany3
Date Posted: 23 November 2010 at 10:26pm
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I just got my new radian today! So excited. I have a mazda atenza (mazda 6) station wagon, and i have had to put it in the middle seat. It takes up more room than I thought it would!
I just have one question, I hope soemone can help... I have it rear facing, and have threaded the seat belt thru, but I dont have a tether strap anchor point on the floor... do I need to use the tether strap? or is the seat belt enough? ------------- 
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Posted By: stefany3
Date Posted: 23 November 2010 at 10:33pm
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OOOHHHH, I have just discovered the 'tether connecting strap'
I'll go find somewhere to attach it to. I guess I shouldn't try installing a carseat at 10pm at night haha -------------
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Posted By: Nothing
Date Posted: 24 November 2010 at 8:46am
By NZ law if a car seat has a teather strap then you have to use it. I have to get a bolt installed in our car for rear facing as I cant clip the teather strap around the front seats sliding rails  ------------- 
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Posted By: amethyst
Date Posted: 24 November 2010 at 11:02am
What about where the seatbelt attaches to the side of the car? Radian's are ok to use without a tether (page 28 of the instruction manual), they are the only seat I know of where using the tether is optional (highly recommended but your choice). I think the law is the seat has to be installed as per the manufacturers instructions isn't it? |
Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 24 November 2010 at 9:45pm
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stefany - I have a Mazda atenza too and have our carseat rear facing in the middle. I have attached the tether to the rail bit where the front seat slides along (IYGWIM), just threaded the attachment part through that and wallah!!! Easy peasy. -------------
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Posted By: jessiesmum
Date Posted: 24 November 2010 at 9:56pm
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Re: NZ law, this might be of interest. It doesn't look like it goes into the specifics of tether straps etc. http://www.childrestraints.co.nz/law.php.
I haven't tried our Radian rear-facing yet as my 3 year old currently sits facing forward in it. My 2004 Mazda 6 has an anchor point on the roof in the middle.. can you use that or does it have to go behind the seat in the rear-facing position? FYI it also has the Latch bits too which is handy. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
DD 2007, Angel Baby 2009, DS 2010 |
Posted By: NovemberMum
Date Posted: 24 November 2010 at 10:46pm
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people get confused in regards to tether straps
basically you follow the manufactures instructions.. eg safe n sound you have to tether both forward and rear facing. these car seats have been tested with the tether and to use it without would make the carseat unsafe cosco you dont tether rearfacing but (least I am sure you do( you do tether forward facing. this carseat hasnt been tested with a tether rearfacing so again by using the tether would place the car under unnecessary force in an accident. sunshine kids radian you can chose whether to use the tether both rear and forward facing. This carseat has been tested both with and without the tether ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: stefany3
Date Posted: 25 November 2010 at 1:24pm
Thanks MamaT! I have done this, it feels much more secure now. I had to put it in the middle too, otherwise DH (or anyone) couldn't go in the passenger seat. Why are carseats so complicated! To use the tether or not to use the tether. I am happy with the installation of my Radian now. Thanks guys. I do think that the Radian manual instructions are easier to follow than the 'old' carseat I was using. -------------
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