So I am headed to Florida in January with my two DS'. We have two seats between the three of us - I just couldn't swing buying a seat for this flight for my 7-month old when we've got a big trip to Europe planned for this summer when we will absolutely be buying him a seat.
Anyway. I am trying to figure out what to do about car seats. I have a RN65, a Frontier, and a Snugride. What I would like to do is carry the RN on, put my 3-year old in it for the flight, and then use it RFing for my 7-month old when I get to Florida.
Which leaves me with a few problems.
1) Do you think it is physically possible for me to manhandle a RN on to the plane while gate-checking a stroller, carrying a 7-month old (most likely in an Ergo), and guiding a well-travelled 3-year old through the airport/onto the plane? I am just having a really hard time visualizing getting myself through security with the big RN and a small stroller and then on to the plane. Thankfully, we are taking the one and only non-stop available.... The downside to the nonstop is the 2.5 hour drive on I-95 to get home at speeds way higher with way more traffic than I am accustomed to driving at in my little remote corner of Vermont.
2) If it is possible to get myself onto the plane without putting my back out and having a temper tantrum (me - not DS#1), what do I do about older DS' carseat situation when we get to FL? Do I have dear granny go buy an inexpensive seat for him to keep down there, even if she tells me she can get her hands on one from some other granny in the neighborhood? Do I trust her to locate a decent loaner seat for the week? Not trying to sound flip about this, but I know that is what she is going to say, so I need to be prepared to respond appropriately.
3) If I do tell her to go buy him a seat, what do I tell her to get? Would it just be better for me to buy it and have it shipped to her? Should I be worried about installation issues at the airport when we arrive if we go this route?
4) Or should I check the Snugride on departure and then have my own seats on hand when we arrive in FL?
5) Or do I use the RN for DS#1 FFing, and get an inexpensive seat for DS#2 to use RFing when we get there? If so, the same question looms - which one?
She drives a VW Passat, I want to say it's an '06, perhaps an '07 at most. DS#1 is 34# naked, roughly 37" tall. DS#2 is about 17 lbs, and close to 28". TIA for your input.... We leave on the 11th, and it occurred to me yesterday that I really need to start strategizing this....
Anyway. I am trying to figure out what to do about car seats. I have a RN65, a Frontier, and a Snugride. What I would like to do is carry the RN on, put my 3-year old in it for the flight, and then use it RFing for my 7-month old when I get to Florida.
Which leaves me with a few problems.
1) Do you think it is physically possible for me to manhandle a RN on to the plane while gate-checking a stroller, carrying a 7-month old (most likely in an Ergo), and guiding a well-travelled 3-year old through the airport/onto the plane? I am just having a really hard time visualizing getting myself through security with the big RN and a small stroller and then on to the plane. Thankfully, we are taking the one and only non-stop available.... The downside to the nonstop is the 2.5 hour drive on I-95 to get home at speeds way higher with way more traffic than I am accustomed to driving at in my little remote corner of Vermont.
2) If it is possible to get myself onto the plane without putting my back out and having a temper tantrum (me - not DS#1), what do I do about older DS' carseat situation when we get to FL? Do I have dear granny go buy an inexpensive seat for him to keep down there, even if she tells me she can get her hands on one from some other granny in the neighborhood? Do I trust her to locate a decent loaner seat for the week? Not trying to sound flip about this, but I know that is what she is going to say, so I need to be prepared to respond appropriately.
3) If I do tell her to go buy him a seat, what do I tell her to get? Would it just be better for me to buy it and have it shipped to her? Should I be worried about installation issues at the airport when we arrive if we go this route?
4) Or should I check the Snugride on departure and then have my own seats on hand when we arrive in FL?
5) Or do I use the RN for DS#1 FFing, and get an inexpensive seat for DS#2 to use RFing when we get there? If so, the same question looms - which one?
She drives a VW Passat, I want to say it's an '06, perhaps an '07 at most. DS#1 is 34# naked, roughly 37" tall. DS#2 is about 17 lbs, and close to 28". TIA for your input.... We leave on the 11th, and it occurred to me yesterday that I really need to start strategizing this....
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