Lightweight seat for plane/rental car

[veggiegirl228]

What is a good lightweight carseat to use for the plane and a rental car (something like a dodge caliber) ?

DD's stats are in my siggy plus the last time I measured I believe she was 22" seated height (will remeasure after nap)

[ketchupqueen]

Avenue?

Or, if you want it to last longer, Generations 65?

Ride Safer Travel Vest MIGHT fit and could be used in the car only (I'm okay with a kid that size/age in nothing on a plane if you think she can sit still.)

[veggiegirl228]

how does the rider safe travel vest work?

What are harness and shell height on the Gen 65 or Avenue? I've tried her in the Chase today, would that be a good option?

as far as sitting still who knows how she would be since she's never had the option before. would it make any difference that we are going to a place with snow?

[ketchupqueen]

The RSTV is a vest she would wear in the car; you can use it with a lap/shoulder belt or with a lap belt plus tether. It has no expiration date and fits for a long time, so it's cost effective; it's easy to throw in a carry-on. In my experience it takes 15 seconds more than buckling up a harness does, so I suppose it depends on the car you have there whether that's practical for snow. Here's their website: http://www.safetrafficsystem.com/ (Oh, wow! They redesigned it!) Sitting still isn't quite as important on a plane as in the car; she can move around in the seat some. She would need to stay seated, with her belt buckled, though. Some kids can at that age, some can't. It will also depend how long the trip is...

I don't know exact harness heights on the Avenue or Gen 65. Gen 65 is the same as the old Generations, about the same as the Apex I believe; the Avenue is around the same as the Chase (I suggested it instead because I find it less awkward to carry, it even comes in its own little carry bag.)

[aeormsby]

I'd try to find the Generations 65 - or the vest. She's so close to 40lbs already I'd skip the Chase and the Uptown. I think the Generations & Chase both have about 17" slots, Uptown is about 16".
Ann

[ketchupqueen]

Uptown/Avenue are higher than 16, actually, and Chase is a little lower than 17. They're both closer to about 16.5 by my measurements... (Chase got a redesign and they came down a little lower. :( )

[veggiegirl228]

Thanks for the input. I do remember a few months ago trying out the avenue and she looked to be over the top slots, but I'll retry it though. Who sales the avenue in a store? Also as far as safety goes how does it compare to being in a 5 pt harness?

[ketchupqueen]

Sears and Kmart have the Avenue.

How does the RSTV compare to a 5-point harness? It tests more like a 5-point than a booster. The head excursion numbers are fantastic. They publish their crash test numbers on their website.

[InternationalMama]

If you want something more than just the seatbelt for the plane and she fits in the RSTV you could also consider the CARES harness for the plane. Here's a thread with pics. (http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=101267)

Also, if you want to use the CARES harness or seatbelt on the plane you could consider the Safeguard GO as a travel seat. It looks like online stores are sold out right now, but Dorel is going to start making the same seat soon. Not sure when the new version will be released and when you're traveling though.

[ketchupqueen]

Personally I'd think that lugging the GO through an airport would be about as awkward as lugging the Avenue (slightly less than, say, the Generations.) It's really pretty big, it is light and does fold into a boxy carry bag-- but the carry bag is kinda big. The RSTV just folds right into your carryon, which is why I prefer it. :)

[InternationalMama]

Personally I'd think that lugging the GO through an airport would be about as awkward as lugging the Avenue (slightly less than, say, the Generations.) It's really pretty big, it is light and does fold into a boxy carry bag-- but the carry bag is kinda big. The RSTV just folds right into your carryon, which is why I prefer it. :)

I was just thinking she'll get more use out of the GO than the Avenue since her LO is approaching the upper weight limit of the Avenue and similar lightweight seats. But on the other hand, she's very close to the lower weight and height limits of the RSTV and she might find she doesn't like the fit. So the GO could be a good alternative depending on the price point of the new version.

Also, what do you think about the SIP the GO provides vs. the RSTV which provides no SIP? This is something I just thought of. Could make the GO preferable for side impact protection?

[ketchupqueen]

The RSTV comes with a head thing which they say provides some head containment-- if you use it. I'd say that I'd prefer to use either one in the middle seat when possible-- and that's more often possible with the RSTV because the GO is a PAIN to install in seats without LATCH. The GO has very little additional SIP. Either one does provide a significant SIP advantage over a booster of course, and both have their advantages and disadvantages.

It's possible the GO would be a better fit-- but it's also possible the RSTV would fit fine. My daughter started using it at around the same weight but with a taller torso-- so she was skinnier through the chest-- and it just fit her.

[veggiegirl228]

Finally made it down to BRU to check out the Gen 65 and FYI it is not FAA approved. So I didn't even bother. I tried to weigh her at the post office but it wasn't working so I'll try again later.

Is CARES something to think about for the flight? Where would I find it.

[MomToEliEm]

Finally made it down to BRU to check out the Gen 65 and FYI it is not FAA approved. .
I just looked in the Evenflo Generations manual from their website. On page 6 of the manual, it states:

Airplane Usage

When used WITH the 5-point harness system:
This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft. See “Using as a 5-point Child Restraint,” pages 16 – 25.

When used WITHOUT the 5-point harness as a Booster:
This booster seat is NOT certified for aircraft use. A belt-positioning booster seat requires the use of a lap/ shoulder belt system, which is not available on aircraft.

Check with your airline before departure to make sure this restraint meets
their requirements.

[veggiegirl228]

Really I must have looked at the sticker for the booster mode. I'll have to go back and look at it. How did you pull up the manual?

[MomToEliEm]

How did you pull up the manual?

I found the model number on the Babies R Us Site (Model Number: 3761981) and then on the Evenflo Manual Download site, I entered the Model Number and Oct 1, 2009 for the mfg date. It gave a list of all the parts which included a download version of the owners manual.

Here is the link it gave me for the pdf:
https://plweb.evenflo.com/ShowDocument.aspx?ManualID=671

[veggiegirl228]

Will the seat have 2 set of stickers one for harness and one for booster mode? The sticker had said that it was good for the care but "not for aircraft use" I'm going to look at it again this weekend.

[Maedze]

It absolutely is approved for aircraft use in harnessed mode.

[ketchupqueen]

Yes, the side with the harness use sticker should say in red "Approved for motor vehicle and aircraft use." The "Not for aircraft use" side is in booster mode.

[veggiegirl228]

What do you think of the Graco Cargo? It looks like (from what I've read) that it has 17" top harness slots. It's light and not as wide. (Of course as long as DD has reached 40lbs) I'd have to buy it online since it doesn't look like anybody sells it in a store.

[MomToEliEm]

What do you think of the Graco Cargo? It looks like (from what I've read) that it has 17" top harness slots. It's like and not as wide. (Of course as long as DD has reached 40lbs) I'd have to buy it online since it doesn't look like anybody sells it in a store.


Our graco cargo was a wonderful travel seat. So lightweight and easy to install on an airplane and in cars. I really wish my DD could still fit in it, but she reached the 40lb limit. If you think your daughter won't gain any weight prior to your trip, it would be a great seat choice.

[veggiegirl228]

Yeah, DH will be happy. I wish I could try her out in it first. I'm going to weigh her at my dr appt tomorrow so fingers crossed! Anything I should know about on this seat?

As a backup how much does the gen 65 weigh? How wide is it?

[ketchupqueen]

My daughter had the same amount of room to grow in the CarGo as the Radian. Really high top slots. :thumbsup:

[veggiegirl228]

Has anyone measured how wide the EF gen 65 is or how much it weighs? (i need another option in case the cargo is out b/c of dd's weight)