Which car seat issue?

tl01 · Oct 8, 2010

So my brother is taking DS1 to Disneyland next week. My mom is going to drive him there and my brother will bring him home. This sounded like a great plan until I realized my brother has no seat in his car and he lives 2.5 hours from me so I won't be able to put it in for him. What do I do? Send a seat that has to be installed or use a booster. We have the following seats... Both versions of the frontier, a radian 65 sl? Radian xt, safeguard go that ds1 cannot sleep on, and a parkway sg. Both cars have LATCH and tether. Should I train DS2 this week for the booster? I'm going to ask if they can switch cars but I'm not sure if that will be a possibility. Thoughts pretty please. Which seat would be easiest to install?

Update in post #14...

mrswh · Oct 8, 2010

I don't know about the others, but I think the Frontier 85 is super easy to install with LATCH. Do you think your brother will do his best to make sure it is in properly, or not really care? If you trust him to understand the importance, you could ask him to watch the install video and also walk him through it over the phone. You can booster train a kid all you want, but you can't stop him from falling asleep . . . especially after an exciting day at Disney! Just my two cents.

NebraskaMom · Oct 8, 2010

For me, I'd have him LATCH and tether the Radian forward facing. This way he has no issue with recline and the LATCH is easy to use on that seat.

HOWEVER....

What kind of car does your brother drive? That can make a difference in which seat will install easiest.

tl01 · Oct 8, 2010

So I should mention that he weighs 46.5 lbs w/o clothes. My brother's car is a 2011 Mercedes e class. I'm trying to remember the LATCH limit of the radian sl. I think he is too close to the limits of the other seats for LATCH.

I know my brother will take this seriously. I just don't know how great a job he'll do. He doesn't have any kids of his own and hence no experience. He loves DS1 dearly and knows how crazy I am about my seats.

Melanie · Oct 8, 2010

mrswh said:
You can booster train a kid all you want, but you can't stop him from falling asleep . . . especially after an exciting day at Disney! Just my two cents.

Do you know anyone that could loan you a super easy seat like a MA?

tl01 · Oct 8, 2010

Melanie said:
Do you know anyone that could loan you a super easy seat like a MA?

Nope... I used to have a blvd and an RA 50 but they are both sold. I have been wanting to get DS2 a blvd 70 but I don't really have $$ for it right now and I am not sure he'd even fit in it.

TXDani · Oct 8, 2010

Hands down the booster...I wouldn't trust anyone to install a harnessed seat correctly if they don't do it regularly. At almost 50 lbs and with a great booster like the Parkway SG I would not even think twice about it.:twocents:

tl01 · Oct 8, 2010

DaniCPST said:
Hands down the booster...I wouldn't trust anyone to install a harnessed seat correctly if they don't do it regularly. At almost 50 lbs and with a great booster like the Parkway SG I would not even think twice about it.:twocents:

If I thought he wouldn't sleep I would totally do the booster... but I know he'll be snoozing all the way home. My brother's girlfriend will be with them too. Would it be better if she would agree to sit in the back and push his head back if it flops down?

TXDani · Oct 8, 2010

Have you ever seen him sleep in a booster? Or has he not ridden in it much?

My kids have always slept great in their boosters and tend to do the "catching flies" pose.

I wouldn't worry about sleeping comfort for one ride...many kids will move themselves into a different position if they get uncomfy in their sleep. But I would ask brother to lock his seatbelt when he gets into the seat to help keep him in position when he falls asleep.

tl01 · Oct 8, 2010

DaniCPST said:
Have you ever seen him sleep in a booster? Or has he not ridden in it much?

My kids have always slept great in their boosters and tend to do the "catching flies" pose. I wouldn't worry about sleeping comfort for one ride...many kids will move themselves into a different position if they get uncomfy in their sleep. But I would ask brother to lock his seatbelt when he gets into the seat to help keep him in position when he falls asleep.

I wonder if the Frontier or Parkway would make a more supportive booster. He hasn't ridden in it yet. I guess I could practice this week to see how he does. Would you do the PWSG for the SG part or the Frontier?

P1ally · Oct 9, 2010

Tara- I have a safeguard child seat you could borrow

Easiest seat to install everrrrr.

tl01 · Oct 9, 2010

P1ally said:
Tara- I have a safeguard child seat you could borrow Easiest seat to install everrrrr.

That is an awesome offer. My worry is that I wouldn't be able to replace it if it were in a crash... They don't make it anymore right?

P1ally · Oct 9, 2010

tl01 said:
That is an awesome offer. My worry is that I wouldn't be able to replace it if it were in a crash... They don't make it anymore right?

I'm not too worried about it. It's a back up seat right now. I also have a TF, but that's more difficult. With the SGCS, you literally click the latch connectors on, push the seat down, and it auto tightens. Done.

ETA- So yeah- LMK if you want to borrow either one

tl01 · Oct 16, 2010

Well just thought I'd update. My brother did an awesome job installing the radian with LATCH in his car. The seat was completely rock solid! My mom watched him install it and she said he was sweating from working so hard. I'm happy he understood how important proper usage is to me. I made videos of each step and sent them to him and walked him through the install
over the phone.

An Aurora · Oct 16, 2010

tl01 said:
Should I train DS2 this week for the booster?

Sorry I had to giggle at this. No I don't think you should booster train your 4 month old

tl01 · Oct 16, 2010

An Aurora said:
Sorry I had to giggle at this. No I don't think you should booster train your 4 month old

Come on... He has good head control and he's big for his age.

Which car seat issue?

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