ff or new seat to rf in grandma's car

laudymama

New member
Grandma is going to start taking ds to preschool every other week (2 days a week) about a 30min drive in the next month or so -actually whenever we decide on seats. Ds is 33 lbs at 3 yrs 3 mo old and rf in my car in his xtsl. He outgrew his advocate and MR rf height wise months ago. My dilemma is to buy another radian to keep him rf in grandma's car, or just put the advocate or MR ff in her car -assuming he hasn't outgrown it ff too, I haven't checked. He only has another inch to 1.5in left to grow in the xtsl from what I can tell. We also plan to buy a prosport for him once he is ff full time. Grandma said she'll buy the seat if we need one since it's for her car and we do plan for her to be able to drive him around more now that we live close by and he'll spend more time at their house. My only gripe about buying a new radian is that once he outgrows it rf I will not use it ff. What do you all think? Obviously his safety is the most important thing to me but I want to be realistic and practical too!!

Oh and whatever the seat is it will be installed center in an '08 Ford Edge.
 
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flutie128

New member
I would probably just FF him in one of the seats you already have. I think it would be a waste to buy RN if you only plan on using it RFing.
 

jacqui276

New member
If he only has another inch or so to go in the xtsl, I would just turn him FFing in grandma's car. I personally wouldn't buy a new seat that is a few hundred dollars for a 3 year old to RF for another inch, especially if you don't plan on using it FFing.
 

Kel

Well-known member
I would FF I think.
But if grandma wants to buy him a new pro sport or something to FF him in for her car, I'd let her,lol!
 

Carrie_R

Ambassador - CPS Technician
At over 3, I would feel comfortable FFing him in Grandma's car. Great job ERFing him this long! :)
 

laudymama

New member
I was kind of leaning toward just ff but wanted to hear some opinions of other cps fanatics :) I know I had read some things here at some point about the head size of the child in question factoring in to personal decisions, so didn't know how legitimate that was. Yes, I do know about the reasons for erf but had never heard some of that before. I guess I am just reluctant to ff in someone else's car! Is that crazy?:eek: Are there any other seats out there that would buy him much more rf time than the radian or would it be so negligible it's not worth it? I do prefer ARB but could consider it if grandma wants to do rf (fortunately she understands and is 150% on board with safest practice!) As for her buying a seat…I agree with you all who said let her if she wants to :)
 

Carrie_R

Ambassador - CPS Technician
He's 33lb? What is his standing height?

The S4M would get him more time than a Radian. If he's less than 40" the Complete Air might, as well. But the S4M definitely would.

I am a little bit ERF crazy so I might still RF my kid under the circumstance... but I would do so knowing that I was a bit crazy. :p YMMV! In looking at your situation overall, I would probably go ahead and FF, but if you would feel more comfortable RF and Grandma doesn't mind, then it's really only a matter of cost. You wouldn't use a Radian FF in her car?
 

laudymama

New member
He's 33lb? What is his standing height?

The S4M would get him more time than a Radian. If he's less than 40" the Complete Air might, as well. But the S4M definitely would.

I am a little bit ERF crazy so I might still RF my kid under the circumstance... but I would do so knowing that I was a bit crazy. :p YMMV! In looking at your situation overall, I would probably go ahead and FF, but if you would feel more comfortable RF and Grandma doesn't mind, then it's really only a matter of cost. You wouldn't use a Radian FF in her car?

Yep, 33 lbs and he's 39 1/4in tall -mostly torso! I haven't paid much attention to the S4M but will check it out. Any idea how much more time the S4M would get him over a radian? I am a little ERF crazy too so I understand what you're saying:eek: I guess I'm just trying to be practical, although I must admit it feels bad to do when it comes to my child! I really don't like the radian at all which is why I wouldn't use it ff -plus I like more SIP protection and it's so shallow. I'm only using it because it was the only seat that had ARB he fit into after outgrowing the advocate. Grandma doesn't like the seat either and finds it difficult to use.
 

Carrie_R

Ambassador - CPS Technician
Something like two+ inches. It's ridiculously tall. Research it though - it has a few drawbacks and a few changed rules that have led to fewer drawbacks.
 

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