Radian harness pads for RF 6 month old

[lalazap]

Just got a Radian R120 for my 6 month old who at 21 lb is about to outgrow her infant bucket.

I'm not thrilled with the way the harness pads sit on her. Even though she's a big girl, the pads practically cover the entire length of the straps from the upper slots down to her lap. It makes it hard to do a pinch test on the straps and I feel like they keep the straps so rigid over her shoulders that they can't be tightened enough. 

Will they get more pliable?

Do I have to use them at all? I didn't see anything about it in the instructions. I took them off and was much happier with the fit - maybe I'm just used to the unpadded straps from her old seat.

Thanks in advance!

[brigala]

You don't have to use them. If they are making it hard to tighten the straps, call Diono. I believe they'll send you some of the smaller, more normal-looking harness pads instead.

A lot of people hate those giant padded things. They don't come on all the Diono seats. I have only seen them in person once, and that was on a Sunshine Kids Radian when I was doing a car seat inspection for a lady. We couldn't get them tightened on her son so we ended up removing them. 

I didn't realize Diono was sending out the big harness pads at all. Interesting. I really didn't like them when I saw them, but I'm having a problem with my toddler squirming out of her harness when she gets pissed off in the car. I wonder whether I could get a pair and whether it would help solve the problem for her. Hmm...

To be honest, sometimes it's hard to tighten the Radian straps with or without those strap covers. On my Radian, what I end up doing a lot is unbuckling the harness, tightening it slightly while unbuckling, and then buckling her back up. If it's too tight, it's easier to let out just a smidge of harness than it is to tighten a smidge. Maybe that trick would work with the big harness covers too. It's worth trying. 

[lalazap]

Thank you for the reply! I bought the seat in Vancouver BC and these were the only pads that came with it. Good to know they're not required!

[brigala]

I just found this today:

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=233237

It says in Canada they're required for FF but not for RF. 

In the US, I don't think they're standard issue and are certainly not required. I was told I could call and get a pair, though. I'm hoping they'll help prevent my daughter from squirming out of the straps.