Not happy with my TF

[dragonfly8]

I bought it a few months ago, when it was on sale at Zellars. It's still in the box, I take it out now and again to play with it. I am not happy with the way Kaden fits in it, he just seems twisted when he's strapped in. I also find that the harness's kind of ride up into the next harnass slot when he's in it, not like the bar thingy moves up or anything, just the harnass itself, and part of it seems like it is twisting near where it comes out of the slot.

I have the receipt but cannot return it for cash as Zellars only has a 30 day return policy unless I want to get a store credit, which I don't. I am sure I could sell it on a used website, brand new, all tags attached, in box etc.

My thing is, what do I get then. Do I just settle with this? Another radian is kind of out of my budget right now, and K still has a bit of time in his safeseat........or do I just get the nautilus for Connor and put K into Connor's radian when he outgrows the SS? I really wanted to keep him RFing longer and our radian only goes to 30lbs RF and 48FF.............

Sometimes I really hate car seat stuff!

[featherhead]

Have you looked at the new AOEs at all?

[dragonfly8]

No, but here's why. I've seen them in stores yes, but am not aware of the harnass heights on the new ones. Are they the same as on the older AO's?
I have an older one and HATED it when it was in use. The straps twisted all the time, the little plastic things that the strap on the base came out of always came unclipped. My son was too tall by the age of 3 to get much more use out of it.

Connor just turned 3 a month ago and I put him in the older AO (to measure) and he is already on the top allowable harnass slot (one down from the top), so to spend $150 approx on a seat that will only do Kaden for a few years, seems silly. Especially since I'd then be stuck replacing our 48lb radian and the AO at pretty much the same time.

I know the new AO's have a 35lb rf limit and a 50lb FF limit, but it's the harnass height/twisting issues that are my main complaint.

Maybe I'm just in a bad mood today and maybe once the TF is installed and in use I'll like it more................I don't know.

Part of me thinks I should have bought the Nautilus as was my original plan, but then the TF went on sale...............

[featherhead]

I'm guessing the straps are just as twisty, but the top harness height is supposed to be around 17.5 inches I think. I'm considering one for this babe in a year or so once the Keyfit is outgrown.

[snowbird25ca]

Top harness slots are 17.5" on the new AOE seats. Straps, still twisty - but if your original AO was made prior to August 2004, these won't be anywhere near the same kind of twisty as the other one you had. Before they switched in August 04, the straps would literally twist in to ropes and it was near impossible to prevent it from what I've heard. They switched the harness straps in that period though and while they still twist, it's not twist and get bunched in to ropes the way the old ones do.

Probably the biggest thing about the AOE is that it can be difficult to tighten the harness rf'ing. I've had seats returned at work because parents physically can't get it tight enough even with knowing to pull on the straps on the back of the shell and then pull the slack out with the adjuster strap. One family spent over 10 minutes prior to coming to the store... I believe it's just a case that the splitter plate doesn't have much room to move under the seat so it's physically catching.

So far as the TF, if you haven't had it in your car yet, I'd put it in and try your ds in it in there before making a final decision. I was iffy on my TF when I first bought it last year, but the more I used it, the more I liked it. Ds is narrower than dd was when we got the TF and if he's not perfectly centered in the seat I do get bothered by him seeming to slump a bit sideways. If he's centered in the seat though, then the problem disappears.

I do still sometimes find it frustrating when I'm buckling him in, but I otherwise like the seat enough to put up with it. There's something about how deep the sides are that just gives me a lot of trust in the safety of the seat - and provided that he's centered in the seat, it fits him well. (It's also a better fit since I decided on the next harness postion up.)

All that being said, no one seat is right for everybody and just because other people like a seat doesn't mean you're going to. I don't think it reflects on the seat so much as on us all having personal preferences and kids who are different shapes and sizes. If the TF isn't the right seat for you, don't try to make yourself like it just because others do. :thumbsup:

[mommycat]

Have you ever tried K in the seat but installed to see if that changes his positioning any? The straps might do some shifting out of the "harness slot" in the fabric as the "slots" don't actually have a solid edge top/bottom but I don't find that to be an issue - I would rather they adjusted their angle through the fabric if that means they are snugger and go in a direct line from the shell to baby's shoulders. I am imagining that the twisting you describe is that the strap comes out horizontal and then angles around to lay on the baby's shoulders, which are slanted? Either that or the harness folds on itself a bit passing through the cover slots which are a little narrower than the harness straps. Neither is an issue other than it seems to bother you. So that being said, if you don't like the seat and will be annoyed using it, then by all means consider switching seats. I am sure you could pass it on easily. Or, you could return it for store credit and sell/trade the gift card to someone who shops at Zellers more.

I believe the new AOE has the top slots reinforced, which would bring the top slots to around 17.5" as featherhead said. What year was your older one? I have had 4 identical AOEs from 2005-2007 and never had a major issue with twisty straps. I wonder if they are better than thy were at one time? "the little plastic things that the strap on the base came out of always came unclipped" I am not sure what you mean by this. :confused:

If you can manage the money, though, I might just go for the Nauti since it's what you wanted, though.

[snowbird25ca]

"the little plastic things that the strap on the base came out of always came unclipped" I am not sure what you mean by this. :confused:



You know the oval plastic pieces that snap in to the shell over top of the fabric where the hip straps come out of? I'm pretty sure that's what she's talking about. I've seen some AO's where those things won't stay in for love or money, and it really is super annoying.

[dragonfly8]

I suppose I'm just partial to my Radian. I love the narrowness of it. I love the low profile of it. I love that is is narrow enough to accomdate 3 across. We don't need 3 seat across, but do have 3 kids (2 in seats) that fit side by side.

I do like that like you mentioned, the TF has big sides/wings, they make it seem so much safer than even the radian.

I've installed it and removed it, and although it is a tight install next to the radian, it is a good install. And really, I have it. I hear of alot of people that try to get them on sale and cannot.

And really, as K grows, maybe he'll fit into it better.

I've just had to many negatives to want to try the AO again..............

[mommycat]

oh, ok! Mine on the other hand were always a b*t*h to get out and i would be swearing in pain every time I had to take a cover off... erm. I'm not helping am i?

[mommycat]

dragon, you sound very discouraged/down in your posts. sorry you are not happy with your seat. :(

[dragonfly8]

You know the oval plastic pieces that snap in to the shell over top of the fabric where the hip straps come out of? I'm pretty sure that's what she's talking about. I've seen some AO's where those things won't stay in for love or money, and it really is super annoying.

Yes, those are exactly what I am talking about!

[canadiangie]

My good friend is a die hard Radian fan. Loves the Radian.

She bought a TF as a back-up seat, and can hardly tolerate the darn thing. It's not anything specific as she says, it's just an overall dislike.

I *know* she's comparing it to her Radian though. And honestly, a TF and a RN are about the least similar convertible seats I can think of. My best advice is to try and leave the 'goodness' of the RN out of your thoughts, and give the TF a chance. I think once it's installed you might like it more. :thumbsup:

I agree, you sound down. Hugs mama.

[shauburg]

If it helps, I like the Radian better - low profile, simple clean lines, less colourful, plastic accents screaming 'I now drive a mommymobile' on it.

But DS likes the True Fit better. He is just so much more comfortable in it, with its slight FF recline and the way it surrounds his body. Also with all the toy-like colours on the True Fit, I think DS also just thinks its a more fun seat - LOL! Maybe your DS will love it too!

[dragonfly8]

Thanks all,
I think I'll give it a chance, and realistically, I don't know that there is such thing as a "perfect seat". Safety is my #1 and I am sure that over time, I'll learn to love this seat too.
I suppose one just gets to really like one particular seat and features and all, and now that we are a one income family (I quit my FT job to stay home with the kids, and only work every second weekend now), I really shouldn't be looking into a more $$ seat when the TF is a good, safe one.

Anyhow, thanks for your help and support!

[NewfieMoma]

Sorry you are unhappy Dragon,
See... I looked at the TF last week when I was at BRU and I should have brought my camera, but I was unhappy with the way my 2YO AND my 6 Month old fit in it... I guess I just an bias against the Radian... I can not tell you how much I love the seat! when Melissa outgrows her SS1 you can bet you bottom buck that she will have a Radian too!