New Back up Seat Questions

tl01

New member
I've mentioned b4 that I need to buy another seat to leave as a spare for DS for preschool p/u. I was going to buy a forward facing only seat and leave it just for back up but I'm thinking of another plan. I can leave the seat at his preschool w/ his name on it. I was thinking of leaving my Radian b/c it is so narrow and I doubt installing it in most cars would be an issue (forward facing). I would love to get a Signo so I need to see how well DS will fit in it... the shoulder width issue.

Now, would you leave a seat at the preschool or would you store it somewhere in your backyard where people can get to it if they need to pick up the seat. Either way I'm thinking of leaving my Radian... but I still want to use it for travel so I don't want to treat the seat too badly. Anyone have a bad experience leaving a seat at a school. I think it might be a better plan then letting the seat sit outside all the time. We leave in a climate where it is pretty hot in the summer and I can't imagine that is a good thing for the seat. I guess I could even leave the seat stored in carrying case at the school. Thoughts please!

Thanks!
 
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wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor
Staff member
I'd hide a key somewhere (since the only people who would be driving Piper are people I would trust at my house alone) and put the seat inside. Then when you call them to ask for a pick up you can tell them where the seat is. Piper's booster and Radian are in her closet.

I don't know that I'd do the Radian, though. If you can guarantee LATCH then it's probably ok. But if you have a seatbelt it's far worse forward facing than rear (IME).

Wendy
 

tl01

New member
I'd hide a key somewhere (since the only people who would be driving Piper are people I would trust at my house alone) and put the seat inside. Then when you call them to ask for a pick up you can tell them where the seat is. Piper's booster and Radian are in her closet.

I don't know that I'd do the Radian, though. If you can guarantee LATCH then it's probably ok. But if you have a seatbelt it's far worse forward facing than rear (IME).

Wendy

Good point about leaving the seat in the house.

As for the seat. I got a good install today in one of the cars and I did it pretty quickly. I think I could teach the mom how to do it. Too bad she doesn't seem very confident about getting a good install. One of her other seats is a bit loose and I'd love to fix it for her... just don't know the liability about of doing it since I'm not a tech. This situation is only for a total emergency.. ie either I'm too ill to pick up DS or my car is someone totally disabled and I can't figure out any way to get there and DH cannot be reached to p/u DS. We only live a few miles and two stoplights from the school. I didn't check on tethering the seat but I don't think I'd worry about that with the Radian. I'd rather the mom focus on the seatbelt install.

If I buy another seat then I guess I could leave my True Fit. I wonder which is an easier install for a newbie (FFing). The lock off is a little tricky the first few times but does mean she doesn't have to lock the seatbelt. Hmm... maybe that is a better choice. It just means I don't get to use the seat anymore b/c it has to stay in the house:( I really like my TF.
 

BW1426

Well-known member
If it were me, I'd just buy a scenera or better yet an uptown (on sale for $65 a BigLots this week). How many times do your think it will be used? Also, I don't trust anyone to put my Radians in that doesn't have "Radian experience". Not to be untrustworthy, but they're a tough seat to put in and I've seen the installs on radians screwed up by even techs too many times. Really I'd get something inexpensive that you aren't going to be upset over if for some reason something happens to it.

I'd also try to steer clear of anything super heavy for the sake of whoever will be picking up.
 

tl01

New member
I'm just thinking since DS is 35 lbs already... I don't know how long at 40 harness seat will last (need to update my sig). I'm thinking I might buy another seat that will last us longer to use as a primary seat and then put one of our current seats into backup mode.
 

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