Radian doesn't work =(

[shashoo]

I was able to borrow a Radian to try and install in my car and I can't get a decent seat belt installation anywhere!!! It moves almost 3 inches from side to side. The buckle comes right up against the seat. So, now what??

I need a new seat for a just turned 3 year old that i nanny. He is about 1/2 inch from outgrowing the BV in my car (Just above the second slots from the top in Radian in mom's car).
I do have a Husky that I was going to sell that I can use for him, but the family is thinking of having a third baby (not pregnant yet) and that def. won't work in a three across situation.
So I think I have a few options...
1. Put him in Husky, once third baby is born (he will be 4 then) put him in a booster or hope another seat has come out that is super narrow with high harness slots.
2. Order Safeguard GO and have him harnessed for maybe one more inch and hope it works next to other seats in my car.
3. Only use Radian to 48 pounds with LATCH in my car and move to a booster once has reached weight limit.

Do I have other options?? I really need help here. One reason I didn't want to use the Husky is because I would like to sell it while it still has some use time left in it. If i use it for another year than it will only have 1-2 years left in it and I won't feel comfortable selling it then.
I also wanted to be able to get the two seats next to eachother now (not possible with the Husky) because I have to take out the seat for adult passengers every week and it is becoming tiring to reinstall them all the time.

Sorry this is so long...please help.

[Jewels]

What about the new Recaro? Here they are discussing pre-orders (http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=17810). The Como (http://www.recaro.com/index.php?id=3315&region=3&L=2) and Signo (http://www.recaro.com/index.php?id=3321&region=3&L=2) look like promising seats with a high weight (5-70lbs, 5-35lbs RF), high top harness slots, SIP and the Signo has the infinate adjustable headrest.

With the Radian did you try twisting the female bucle? You can give it 3 full twists to try to get it out of the belt path hopefully making it so you can get it tighter.

[easterbun]

Is the belt as tight as it can get? I have to kneel in my radians and wiggle them side to side a bit and really pull on the belt to get a secure belt install. It's not a big deal now that I've done it a few times, but the first time I was really scared that it wasn't going to work at all.. but it did, after a few tries, and I've been able to repeat it every time fairly quickly.

[stayinhomewithmy4]

What kind of car do you have? In my van, I have to twist the belt stalk 3 full times to make it work, but I know that doesn't even work in all cars (like my DH's '99 Corolla). The new Recaro seats are wide, too - 20", so not as wide as a Regent, but still pretty wide to fit 3 across. How much does he weight right now? I can't imagine a just-turned 3 yr old being that close to 48 lbs, so maybe it will take him a couple years to get to that, and then at that point, he could go into a good booster seat or maybe there will be another narrow HWH option by then. So, personally, I would keep using the Radian for him up to 48 lbs and then figure something else out then. Just my :twocents:.

What about the new Recaro? Here they are discussing pre-orders (http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=17810). The Como (http://www.recaro.com/index.php?id=3315&region=3&L=2) and Signo (http://www.recaro.com/index.php?id=3321&region=3&L=2) look like promising seats with a high weight (5-70lbs, 5-35lbs RF), high top harness slots, SIP and the Signo has the infinate adjustable headrest.

With the Radian did you try twisting the female bucle? You can give it 3 full twists to try to get it out of the belt path hopefully making it so you can get it tighter.

[shashoo]

What about the new Recaro? Here they are discussing pre-orders (http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=17810). The Como (http://www.recaro.com/index.php?id=3315&region=3&L=2) and Signo (http://www.recaro.com/index.php?id=3321&region=3&L=2) look like promising seats with a high weight (5-70lbs, 5-35lbs RF), high top harness slots, SIP and the Signo has the infinate adjustable headrest.

With the Radian did you try twisting the female bucle? You can give it 3 full twists to try to get it out of the belt path hopefully making it so you can get it tighter.

I'm afraid the new Recaro is going to be too wide as well. But I won't rule it out until I can try it. But at 20 inches...I'm doubtful. I know that I can't get two MA clones next to eachother.

I drive a 2005 Subaru Outback, it has a humped backseat which makes it hard to get 3 across in there. The seat belt stalk on the outboard positions can't be twisted at all, it has plastic around it. The center seatbelt i twisted 2 times, which is all i could get it to twist and it didn't help. But in the center, the seatbelt can be removed and retracted up into the ceiling so it has another attachment point on the other side. So i have two plastic seatbelt pieces getting in the way. I also tried to kneel in the seat while having the fabric open so i could pull the lap portion tight while rocking the seat, I got it a lot tighter but then when i checked it, it still moved 2 inches or so. Also tried to do the little recline to see if that would make a difference and it didn't.

He turned three at the end of March and is 40 inches, 41 pounds. He has a rather long torso. When i have him sit on the floor to measure it, it is about 15-15.5, but he sits a little taller in my Britax. The Radian is in his mom's car. I'm not interested in switching her seat from car to car either when i need it as sometimes i have to go pick him up from school before i see her, etc.

Sorry, I didn't know how to quote everyone in different sections to answer all the questions.

[joolsplus3]

I think even Splash couldn't get a Radian in the middle of her Subaru :(

[snowbird25ca]

I drive a 2005 Subaru Outback, it has a humped backseat which makes it hard to get 3 across in there. The seat belt stalk on the outboard positions can't be twisted at all, it has plastic around it. The center seatbelt i twisted 2 times, which is all i could get it to twist and it didn't help. But in the center, the seatbelt can be removed and retracted up into the ceiling so it has another attachment point on the other side. So i have two plastic seatbelt pieces getting in the way. I also tried to kneel in the seat while having the fabric open so i could pull the lap portion tight while rocking the seat, I got it a lot tighter but then when i checked it, it still moved 2 inches or so. Also tried to do the little recline to see if that would make a difference and it didn't.

He turned three at the end of March and is 40 inches, 41 pounds. He has a rather long torso. When i have him sit on the floor to measure it, it is about 15-15.5, but he sits a little taller in my Britax. The Radian is in his mom's car. I'm not interested in switching her seat from car to car either when i need it as sometimes i have to go pick him up from school before i see her, etc.


Are the outboard buckle stalks on a hard plastic stalk, or is it a fabric stalk with the plastic sleeve that holds it up? If it's the sleeve around the fabric, then it's ok to carefully slice and remove the piece of plastic.

Another trick that Jen used when we were playing with her Radian in my truck was after engaging the ALR and tightening the belt as much as we could, we unbuckled it, let the belt go in a few clicks, and then re-buckled it. We had to repeat it a few times in order to actually get the seat in tight - but at the end it was in rock solid. Honestly, I might've given up - but Jen has more experience with the Radian than me and is an expert in tricks to get it to work. ;)

So anyways, I'd try it again with the belt, and failing that then I'd just use LATCH until 48lbs. That should get you a couple more years anyways.

eta: IIRC, SK has ok'ed the buckle being in the belt path now as long as it's either totally in or else totally out & not interfering with adjustment of the belt. Anyone else remember?

[shashoo]

I think even Splash couldn't get a Radian in the middle of her Subaru :(
:(

Are the outboard buckle stalks on a hard plastic stalk, or is it a fabric stalk with the plastic sleeve that holds it up? If it's the sleeve around the fabric, then it's ok to carefully slice and remove the piece of plastic.

Another trick that Jen used when we were playing with her Radian in my truck was after engaging the ALR and tightening the belt as much as we could, we unbuckled it, let the belt go in a few clicks, and then re-buckled it. We had to repeat it a few times in order to actually get the seat in tight - but at the end it was in rock solid. Honestly, I might've given up - but Jen has more experience with the Radian than me and is an expert in tricks to get it to work. ;)

So anyways, I'd try it again with the belt, and failing that then I'd just use LATCH until 48lbs. That should get you a couple more years anyways.

eta: IIRC, SK has ok'ed the buckle being in the belt path now as long as it's either totally in or else totally out & not interfering with adjustment of the belt. Anyone else remember?


I also tried the let the seat belt click back trick. Couldn't get that to work either. I think it is because of where the seat belt is positioned next to the doors. The back of the vehicle seat curves forward about an inch next to the doors and the seat belt comes out there. I think I have to take a picture for it to make sense. I will take a picture of the buckle too to see if it is something that I could cut away or not.

[joolsplus3]

Last resort... locking clip? Belt stalks seem too long, maybe not, but....worth a try? Seat in recline mode? (Just brainstorming, sorry if you've tried it)