Chest clip issues....

[Shaunam]

DD's scoliosis is getting worse and causing her front to stick out as well. You can see it here:

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/tim_shauna/0813090850b.jpg


That was a few months ago and it's much, much worse now. I would post a new pic, but honestly it's just upsetting to see. :( You guys get the idea though.

So her chest clip is digging into this bone and it does NOT look comfy. I can't tighten the straps properly because I'm afraid of hurting her. This all became an issue in the last WEEK. She hasn't ridden in the car in a week. A week ago it was not a problem. Now it's a problem. Crazy fast progress. :thumbsdown:

So do I just put it lower, between that bone and her tube? Take it off entirely?

I'll call graco monday, though I have a feeling they might not be very helpful since 1) It's hard to tell what I'm talking about without seeing it and 2) I'm sure they won't want to advise me to use the seat differently than the manual states. I have to do something though. WWYD?

[ame0312]

id probably take it off... from my understanding if the straps are tight enough it should be fine... :twocents:

[Maedze]

Take it off :twocents:

[gecikuh]

i would also take it off in your situation. i'd just make sure the straps are nice and snug...obviously.

[skiersnowboarder3]

Personally, I'd take it off.

[jess71903]

Agreed- take it off. I would never ever tell the parent on the street to do that, but we all know that you know how to properly tighten a harness. :)

[Ali]

Agreed- take it off. I would never ever tell the parent on the street to do that, but we all know that you know how to properly tighten a harness. :)

:yeahthat:

[libbiesmom]

I agree with the others, I would take it off.

I also just want to say that your DD is absolutely precious!

[tiggercat]

She normally leans to one side in the seat though, if you take it off, will the straps stay on her shoulders? That is my only concern about taking off the clip.

[Shaunam]

She normally leans to one side in the seat though, if you take it off, will the straps stay on her shoulders? That is my only concern about taking off the clip.

Not in the My Ride! :D

[simplychels]

would that be clause for legally being able to import a foreign seat that didnt require chest clips?

im not fully aware of the engineering on the foreign seats, but do they not have chest clips because the harness straps are maybe closer together then ours at the shoulders, which means the chest clip isnt "needed" to keep the straps at the shoulders?

[chickabiddy]

I don't think importing a seat is the best solution at this time for this family. :twocents:

I agree with taking it off, as long as she can stay properly positioned. No, removing the chest clip is not a technically acceptable solution. Special circumstances call for special solutions.

[safeinthecar]

I normally have no problem with removing a chest clip in general, but I do worry about it in Charlie's case. I know the MR corrects her lean, but does the scoliosis draw her shoulder down on the side she leans toward, and/or will the uneven chest rise cause the harness to be looser on one side is what I'm wondering. (Not sure I explained that well)

You could try taking the chest clip off and see what happens. You could also try moving the chest clip UP, to just below her collarbone, to get it on a flatter part of her ribcage.

[simplychels]

I don't think importing a seat is the best solution at this time for this family. :twocents:

I agree with taking it off, as long as she can stay properly positioned. No, removing the chest clip is not a technically acceptable solution. Special circumstances call for special solutions.
it was more of a general question. still learning everything know ya?

[chickabiddy]

Those approvals are pretty hard to get -- my best guess is that this would not qualify, since she CAN use a standard US seat, even if it hurts her. :(

[Shaunam]

She sits VERY straight in the MR so I don't think it would be too much of a problem. I can always roll blankets to put on either side of her. But I will just try it and see what happens.

I'm not sure now that her scoliosis actually got worse. I think maybe since she lost more weight, it makes the bones appear to stick our further, but maybe not really? I don't think she's curving more, but she's definitely having more problems from pressure on those areas. She had red-purplish marks up her back (on her vertebrae) the other day from sitting in her chair for 20 minutes. :thumbsdown:


http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/tim_shauna/car%20seats/0831091501a.jpg

I'll take pics once I get her up in it today and you all can tell me what you think.

[Jennifer mom to my 7]

That myride really does fit her sooo great. Could you put something under the chest clip, to cushion it a bit. There was a lady that was having issues with her infant seat and infant with an umbilical hernia. What worked was a small gelpac under the buckle, so that it didn't rest on his belly there. But, it does also look like taking it off wouldn't change the fit much. She looks so cozy in there.

[tiggercat]

Not in the My Ride! :D

Then I would totally take it off!
She looks so cozy in her seat :love:

[Kat_Momof3]

this is a very rare circumstance... so I'd simply remove the chest clip and not worry... heck, we know Graco straps are not too far apart to have the straps go off her shoulders... so I'd have no qualms removing it for a child in this instance.

[safeinthecar]

I think maybe since she lost more weight, it makes the bones appear to stick our further, but maybe not really?

That makes sense. When Danny was at his thinnest a couple of years ago, I ended up taking the chest clip off the RN because he was so thin that it was causing him a lot of pain.

[mommycat]

Could you put something under the chest clip, to cushion it a bit.

This was going to be my suggestion. I was thinking something along the lines of a small section of memory foam. It certainly made my very hard mattress a dream to sleep on so it should take some load off the pressure points. You would probably want to use a much thinner piece than my mattress pad, but it might help, if you want to find a way to keep the chest clip. When you take her out of the seat, do you see any marks on her skin from the clip? I am wondering if maybe it looks more uncomfortable than it is is. She looks like she is really interested in the pattern on the MyRide! :)

[Shaunam]

When you take her out of the seat, do you see any marks on her skin from the clip? I am wondering if maybe it looks more uncomfortable than it is is. She looks like she is really interested in the pattern on the MyRide! :)

I didn't pull the straps tight enough to see if it would hurt her. :o She doesn't respond to pain like other kids. She can be in a lot of pain and not say anything. I've found bruises on her back from her spine pressing against her chair and she never even cried. I haven't put her in the seat yet so I haven't tried any of the suggestions. I did have to put her in the EFTA today and I just put the chest clip low. The straps stayed on just fine even in that seat so I'm not very concerned about it.

[mommycat]

That's great that the straps stay put.

I am always amazed at little people who go through a lot without so much as a peep. They really do have amazing resilience and strength and just take life as it comes at them. I love your pictures of Charlie that you post because almost always she looks like she is smiling at you. :)

[Shaunam]

We finally went for a ride today. I took off the chest clip and the straps stay on perfectly. I rolled prefolds and wedged them in beside her just in case she decided to slump. I was able to get her straps nice and tight. :thumbsup: Please excuse her hair, I had not brushed it yet (still haven't actually :o ).

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/tim_shauna/car%20seats/nochestclip.jpg

I would probably not feel comfortable with this if she was ff'ing, but rf'ing I feel she's very safe.

[Genevieve]

I think it looks good.

[ketchupqueen]

I think that that's the right solution in this case. The straps look fine to me. And, well, you do the best you can, and that's all you can do. :twocents:

[Kat_Momof3]

I think she looks very comfy... and European! lol... with no chest clip.

I think it was the perfect solution...

[Maedze]

I think it looks excellent, and it makes me wish for the upteenth time that all chest clips everywhere would spontaneously combust.

[Shaunam]

I think it looks excellent, and it makes me wish for the upteenth time that all chest clips everywhere would spontaneously combust.

I agree. It's so much easier putting her in the car, without worrying that the darn thing is gouging her in the back. :rolleyes:

[Louisa+3]

looks like you solved your issue, but i just wanted to say that your daughter is adorable and looks great in the MyRide!

I think i will definitely check it out for one of my SN clients

[brightredmtn]

She's so Euro! So cute!

[fyrfightermomma]

Take it off and make sure the straps don't fall off her shoulders (we had to try a few seats to find one that didn't)

We haven't used a chest clip since surgery in the main car and I've never looked back.

[fyrfightermomma]

She looks great! Isn't it so much nicer???? The Graco straps definately work well with no chest clip

[An Aurora]

Wow that is a fabulous fit.

[Shaunam]

Yes it is a wonderful fit and even more impressive is that Charlie has VERY narrow shoulders. It's hard to see from pics that she's actually so small, but if you look at the pic in my OP, and compare her head to her shoulders....remember that she is very, very microcephalic. Her head is more than 3 standard deviations below the curve...maybe 4 now. Her head is about the size of a 4 month old's. So compare the rest of her body to THAT. Her shoulders are teeny tiny.

[Mommy2Marcus]

SO glad that you found a solution that helps. She looks SO snug & cozy in that seat without the clip. I also have to add that she is precious. You're an amazing momma!

[Kat_Momof3]

Yes it is a wonderful fit and even more impressive is that Charlie has VERY narrow shoulders. It's hard to see from pics that she's actually so small, but if you look at the pic in my OP, and compare her head to her shoulders....remember that she is very, very microcephalic. Her head is more than 3 standard deviations below the curve...maybe 4 now. Her head is about the size of a 4 month old's. So compare the rest of her body to THAT. Her shoulders are teeny tiny.

but that's also what makes the Myride the perfect seat for her... dont' know if you've noticed that the graco seats tend to have closely spaced harness straps.