Too reclined? (Radian XT)

cm_nghs1 · Jan 6, 2010

So i got my Radian XT on monday!! I am stoked, i love it so far. Anyways, I installed it today (finally) and i'm thinking it's a tad too reclined.. also does the place i tethered too look okay? Also, i just stuck LO in the seat so i could get pics... we did NOT drive anywhere yet (i really feel its too reclined.. so i'll wait to see what you guys think before going anywhere..).. so that's why he has his puffy snowsuit on and doesnt even have the crotch strap done (that'd be nearly impossible to do with his puffy outside snowsuit on.. i dont' know how parents do it. oh and one more question.. the crotch buckle, i can't remember does it have to come up and FORWARD or up and BACK? thanks

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...65_251016422584_504942584_3280866_92232_n.jpg

oh and can it touch the front seat like this:
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._251016447584_504942584_3280867_7729809_n.jpg

myliljunebugs · Jan 6, 2010

ummm...to me it looks way reclined, but I'm no good at figuring that out, mine is fairly upright. The best way to get it more upright is to pull it away just a little bit from the bight of the seat and tighten while pressing down where his feet would be. Sometimes this is easier with 2 people

snowbird25ca · Jan 6, 2010

It most definitely looks too reclined to me in this picture. In the other pictures it looks borderline - I'd probably be ok with it for a newborn, but not for an older baby. Your ds looks to be of an age/weight where I would say it's too reclined.

So far as the front seat - what kind of vehicle do you drive? Some vehicles prohibit a carseat touching the front seat, others don't.

If you loosen off the top tether does it make the seat any more upright? It looks like the tether is pulled pretty tight...

If it doesn't make the seat any more upright, then I'd re-install the seat putting more pressure on the edge of the seat where your ds' feet would be and try and get it more upright that way.

firemomof3 · Jan 6, 2010

OK, yes that is too reclined.
There are tricks to getting the Radian installed more upright, I should make a video! I will try and dig up a thread about it for you.

DahliaRW · Jan 6, 2010

I agree it's too reclined. Try to get it more upright, and then give it a few days to see if it'll stay. In some vehicles the radian will continue reclining even when installed more upright and it may just not work for you.

firemomof3 · Jan 6, 2010

OK I couldn't find the thread but I'll try and walk you through it:
First pull the front of the seat away from the bight of the vehicle seat. Attach the latch connectors, stand behind the Radian lean over and put your weight onto the top of the seat while tightening the latch strap at the same time. Sometimes having 2 people helps. Then if the Radian is still not tight enough put all your weight into the seat of the Radian and tighten again.

morninglori · Jan 6, 2010

I think this is the post that firemom was looking for....

http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=1054779&postcount=8

firemomof3 · Jan 6, 2010

YES! Thank you morninglori!!

cm_nghs1 · Jan 6, 2010

thanks everyone. I know it's too reclined.. but my seats are slanted... and when you pull the seat from the bight it just slides right back in once i get in the seat to put pressure on it.. we have tried the 2 people thing... and it either slides into the bight OR the boot slips off when im putting all my weight into it AND pushing down from the ceiling.. any tips? i really want it to work.. my LO is 8 months and about 20 lbs.. so i want him more uprigbht and i just KNOW it won't work in our truck because it has suicide doors.. so ther eis no way the back seat is "deep enough" to fit it.. ugh!!

zeo2ski · Jan 6, 2010

cm_nghs1 said:
and it either slides into the bight OR the boot slips off when im putting all my weight into it AND pushing down from the ceiling.. any tips?

What do you mean the boot slips off? You mean the boot actually detaches from the Radian? That should not happen, there's a little metal clip that slides in to lock it in place, and then it can't come off.

shelbyscout · Jan 7, 2010

The trick I learned here installing the Radian is to push down, not in. I got a rock-solid install in my mom's Rav4 using the technique in the linked post. Also the straps of the toddler support are really silly--there's no place on the seat for them to go! I tied mine to the little loops in the back where you'd clip in the carrying straps if you were wearing it as a back pack.

ketchupqueen · Jan 7, 2010

I tied it to itself after threading through unused harness slots.

cm_nghs1 · Jan 7, 2010

okay we are off to try the install from behind...
about the boot.. ya it doesn't totally come off the radian but it slips out of place if you know what i mean? i need to look for the little metal clip...

thanks everyone. will update with how it goes..and post new pics!!

okay didn't see all the new posts.
thanks for this "I tied it to itself after threading through unused harness slots. ".. that will work.. do you use it beside their body or their head?
glad it isn't just me not being able to figure out the head/toddler support.

cm_nghs1 · Jan 7, 2010

okay thank you everyone..
here is the link to my BBC post:
http://community.babycenter.com/post/a21121855/radian_xt.._too_reclined?cpg=-1#c2100444060

one new pic:
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...5_252279492584_504942584_3286682_661235_n.jpg

Mirandagrate · Jan 7, 2010

I don't have a RN so I don't know if that last pic is a better angle or not. Hopefully someone will be able to come along and tell ya!

I just wanted to mention that it looked like in the pictures that the kiddos were in puffy snow coats and you probably know that that's not safe but I'm just so paranoid!

just thought I'd share

myliljunebugs · Jan 7, 2010

Yeah, that looks acceptable to me

If you find the time as he gets older you might try again with getting it more upright or see if there is a tech in your area that could help with that. Good luck!

firemomof3 · Jan 7, 2010

That looks better

What is the year/make/model of your vehicle? Do you have latch?

cm_nghs1 · Jan 7, 2010

Thanks soooo much everyone, i really appreciate your help! I'm comfortable with it now... but like you guys said as he gets older I will definitely try to get it more upright!

I am actually a tech... I don't get a lot of practice around here though and NO practice with Radians (my gosh I wish they installed like britaxes. they are a dream.. but as many of you know.. just not THE seats anymore.. I think i've gone from being a britax girl to a SKJP girl lol.. I owned 4 britax at one time.. now i own 4 SKJP

)... anyways.. i'll get off my tangent lol.. next time we have a check I think i'll get some of the male techs to try to get it more upright for me.. i really think its just I am not strong enough.. i think if we had THREE people (one to sit at the feet area.. and one behind AND one to tighten we could do it).

My car is a 2008 Ford Fusion... so I have latch.. but i just find we cannot get the latch tight enough. .i even thread it back through the belt path so you're pulling at a better angle but it just isn't as easy.. I LOVE britax latch. However this new superlatch is WAAAAAAAAAAAy better than the latch on the Monterey's i have.. that latch is such a PITA to undo!!!

One more question, does anyone know off the top of their head if Ford Fusions allow bracing? if so I want to push my pass seat back a bit more.. i have about an inch between my knees and the dash..

thanks soo much everyone!!

firemomof3 · Jan 7, 2010

Using the tech. provided in the thread posted I'm very surprised you weren't able to get a more upright & tight install with the latch.

Too reclined? (Radian XT)

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