What CRs for 5YO Twins to use while traveling and possibly secondary car?

TwinMom07

New member
Advice Needed:
We will be taking a trip in May (airplane + rental car) w/5YO twins. My husband does not want to lug our two 22lb Signo's along. I'm not excited about it either, but I'm not sure what else to do. Any suggestions for a safe and hassle-free trip?

Background:
My twins will be 5YO in March and currently ride FF in Recaro Signo at ~38lbs & ~41in.

We do own 2 Go-Go Kidz Travelmates that I used with them countless times prior to the twins' 2nd birthday. (Due to cost, we haven't flown since.) It was easy because we just strapped the boys in and transported both them and the carseats through the airport. Now that they are taller and heavier, I'm doubting this is feasible or preferable.

My husband has been pushing for us to buy and use booster seats. I'm conservative on this issue, and he thinks I'm crazy. I prefer to use their current seats until they reach the limits. (Just curious: Does anyone have 69lb. kids still harnessed?) I guess I'd be okay with them using boosters just for a week on vacation (from what I can tell, FL laws don't require any CRs beyond the age of 3YO...although I can't imagine that!...and I will NOT be sharing that info with my husband!!! because that would apparently "solve" our dilemma.)

My concerns about using boosters even just for the trip:
Cost to buy 2 new seats (which might weigh less but still be bulky anyway)
Fear of discontent/battles w/harness upon return

(My twins and I are completely happy with their current seats. They can buckle themselves independently with me tightening the harness as needed and coaching them on where to place the chest buckle. I do have to assist with unbuckling because the button is hard to push, but I actually think that's great! I can reach both from the driver's seat in my Honda Accord, and they have no choice but to stay harnessed until I am ready to release them. They have no idea that booster seats actually exist--no siblings and no room to ride with other kids in other cars--so we have no battles currently to graduate...except from my husband, that is. Luckily, the TX law is on my side for another pound or two. AND, he travels 99% of the time for work, so he isn't transporting him in his car unless I move the seats for a family road trip.)

Thanks in advance for your travel and/or booster-seat-buying advice!
Rebecca
 
ADS

glockchick

New member
I'd get a couple Evenflo Maestros for the trip. If you bought boosters, you'd have to count them as carry ons, but you can (and should) use the Maestros on the plane. Car seats should never be checked.

Where are your kids' shoulders in relation to the straps? The shoulder straps should come out about above their shoulders. If their shoulders are above the top strap settings or the tips of their ears are above the top of the seat, the seat is outgrown regardless of weight. You won't find many 69 lb kids that fit by height in the Signo. ;)

Also, TX law is not on your side. :(. It simply states a child restraint. A booster is a child restraint. My ex puts my 36 lb not quite 4 year old in booster. This is perfectly legal in TX and there's not a dang thing I can do about it.
 
Last edited:

Jan06twinmom

New member
Just curious: Does anyone have 69lb. kids still harnessed?

My DS (also a twin!) is still harnessed at 69lbs. He just turned 7 years old and rides in a Britax Regent (Frontier is similar in size). He's around the 97th percentile for height and weight. We'll be moving to hbb full time in the next month or so.

If you go with a harness seat, I agree that the Evenflo Maestro would be my first recommendation. If you go with a booster, the Graco Turbobooster fits young/smaller kids very well. I ended up checking the backs with luggage and carried the nbb with us. I found out that 2 turbobooster backs fit inside a Radian 65 box perfectly.

We took booster seats only on our trip to FL this past summer. My twins were both 6.5yo at the time and they were already using booster seats part-time in secondary cars. They did find using the boosters full time for 3wks and then returning to using harness seats in our main car when we got home. My DS really likes both the Britax harnessed seat and his Monterey booster. He can never pick a favorite between the two seats.

Melanie
 

kam1011

New member
If you go with a booster, the Graco Turbobooster fits young/smaller kids very well. I ended up checking the backs with luggage and carried the nbb with us. I found out that 2 turbobooster backs fit inside a Radian 65 box perfectly.

Melanie

That. But I would tuck the backs inside your suitcases, like padded in the middle of all your clothes. The kids can each carry their own bottom part (NBB) themselves as a carryon.
 

Jan06twinmom

New member
That. But I would tuck the backs inside your suitcases, like padded in the middle of all your clothes. The kids can each carry their own bottom part (NBB) themselves as a carryon.

This was our original plan. However, I found that the Turbobooster backs were taking up too much space in our suitcases. With 4 people traveling for 3 wks and only 2 large suitcases in our checked luggage, I couldn't allot that much space for the booster back parts.

Melanie
 

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