sirrahn
Active member
My 5 yr old DD is about to make me crazy. She really wants to ride in a booster like her older siblings. None of my other kids were like this...I guess because she's the youngest, and there's no one else riding like she is. She is tiny though, and I've told her not until she's at least 6. All the in and out of the car all day long this summer has made this a very pressing issue.
Anyway, I think the biggest problem really she has with being harnessed is that she can't buckle/unbuckle by herself and has to rely on someone else. She has tried and tried, but her Radian is just hard to do. I even struggle with it a bit sometimes. It takes quite a bit of oomph to click in the tongues, and I sometimes have to use both thumbs to get it to release. I've made sure the buckle is clean.
She can do her AOE, but she's pretty much out of it height-wise (yes, I know...the headrest is on the next to top slot) and it's an older non-eps model so I've never had her in it full-time. And yes, I've explained to her that buckling her own seatbelt would probably be a challenge as well, but she sees everyone else do it all the time so she's not convinced...
I'm considering a Maestro for what might be no more than another 9 months harnessed. I intend to get her a good dedicated booster when it's time. She's small enough though that I think we could get some back-up booster use from a Maestro as well.
The big question though is whether or not she'll be able to buckle and unbuckle herself in a Maestro. She sits in the front and center spot in my Sienna so I can easily reach back to tighten and check. She just needs a little independence.
One other thing too though...is my Radian typical? I wonder if it could just be our buckle or something. Would it be worth trying just a new buckle?
TIA!
Anyway, I think the biggest problem really she has with being harnessed is that she can't buckle/unbuckle by herself and has to rely on someone else. She has tried and tried, but her Radian is just hard to do. I even struggle with it a bit sometimes. It takes quite a bit of oomph to click in the tongues, and I sometimes have to use both thumbs to get it to release. I've made sure the buckle is clean.
She can do her AOE, but she's pretty much out of it height-wise (yes, I know...the headrest is on the next to top slot) and it's an older non-eps model so I've never had her in it full-time. And yes, I've explained to her that buckling her own seatbelt would probably be a challenge as well, but she sees everyone else do it all the time so she's not convinced...
I'm considering a Maestro for what might be no more than another 9 months harnessed. I intend to get her a good dedicated booster when it's time. She's small enough though that I think we could get some back-up booster use from a Maestro as well.
The big question though is whether or not she'll be able to buckle and unbuckle herself in a Maestro. She sits in the front and center spot in my Sienna so I can easily reach back to tighten and check. She just needs a little independence.
One other thing too though...is my Radian typical? I wonder if it could just be our buckle or something. Would it be worth trying just a new buckle?
TIA!