Questions about RSTV

Unregistered · Jul 20, 2010

How simple/complicated is the RSTV? We will be traveling to Hawaii in Feb for 2-3 weeks, and considering the RSTV for our then 4.5 yr old, to make it one less car seat to haul on the plane. Is the vest something that is too complicated to put on and take off constantly every time we go somewhere? How long does it take to put on and strap a child in compared to a harnessed seat?

Maedze · Jul 20, 2010

I wouldn't choose it as a primary seat for permanent use because as you said, you have to put it on every time you go anywhere. But no, it isn't complicated, just takes a few seconds, and is really ideal for vacation scenarios just like yours

jnamommy · Jul 20, 2010

How long does it take to put the vest on and buckle it? I see a lot of recommendations for the vest for travel (and we will be traveling soon too), but I also see people not recommending it for daily use because of how long it takes to put on.

courtfrog2 · Jul 20, 2010

It's actually very easy and at 4 years old I can imagine that he'll learn how pretty quickly. My daughter uses her everyday afterschool to go to daycare. I trust her (she's 5) to put it on correctly by herself. It's just a couple loops. I feel safer with her in that then in a booster.

Maedze · Jul 20, 2010

I would say once you've done it a few times it takes less than a minute to strap it on and buckle the child in.

littleangelfire · Jul 20, 2010

We recently used one on vacation. It wasn't too bad, I'd leave the belt threaded through all the loops except one, the one I had to unhook to unbuckle the vest. Then just left the vest hanging there, hooked to tether and belt for him to put on when we got back in.

Athena · Jul 20, 2010

I got one for our upcoming trip and tried it on (in the car) this weekend. I was relieved at how quickly it went on, including the tether. We'll see how I feel after using it for a whole trip, but it seems like it'll be much better than having to take another car seat.

How do others do it when using it everyday on a trip? Do you leave it in the car attached to the tether hook or take it out each time to put it on?

littleangelfire said:
We recently used one on vacation. It wasn't too bad, I'd leave the belt threaded through all the loops except one, the one I had to unhook to unbuckle the vest. Then just left the vest hanging there, hooked to tether and belt for him to put on when we got back in.

I'm having a little trouble picturing this. So you would leave the vehicle seatbelt through two of the three loop holders on the vest? Is that right? Thanks!

Jeanum · Jul 20, 2010

I think that's what the previous poster was describing to a T.

We did the same during a recent trip, leaving DD2's RSTV installed as much as possible whenever we parked the rental car, top tethered with the vehicle seatbelt routed as much as possible through the RSTV's shoulder belt and lap belt guides, and only unthreading the vehicle belt from the guide on the vehicle seatbelt buckle stalk's side when exiting the car. You're not required to use the top tether with a lap-shoulder belt but I preferred to do so and it also helped keep the vest in place unoccupied in the car. Then DD2 would just have to put her arms in, buckle up the front of the vest, re-buckle the vehicle seatbelt, route the vehicle seatbelt through the guide closest to the seatbelt buckle stalk, and double check that the belt was routed properly through the other belt guides and snug before heading out on the road again. Not any longer time wise IME than using a "traditional" 5-point harnessed carseat. :thumbsup:

Another tip for hot weather/climates: I brought along a towel to drape over the RSTV and vehicle seatbelt whenever we parked to keep the vest's metal guides and all buckles cooler to the touch when parked in the blazing sun and summer heat.

littleangelfire · Jul 20, 2010

Exactly - I only unthreaded the one loop that I absolutely had to unthread so I could undo the buckle that's attached to the vest. And the tether wasn't required since I used a lap/shoulder belt, but I felt better using it, and it held the vest up in perfect position to be slid into.

Athena · Jul 20, 2010

Jeanum said:
I think that's what the previous poster was describing to a T. We did the same during a recent trip, leaving DD2's RSTV installed as much as possible whenever we parked the rental car, top tethered with the vehicle seatbelt routed as much as possible through the RSTV's shoulder belt and lap belt guides, and only unthreading the vehicle belt from the guide on the vehicle seatbelt buckle stalk's side when exiting the car. You're not required to use the top tether with a lap-shoulder belt but I preferred to do so and it also helped keep the vest in place unoccupied in the car. Then DD2 would just have to put her arms in, buckle up the front of the vest, re-buckle the vehicle seatbelt, route the vehicle seatbelt through the guide closest to the seatbelt buckle stalk, and double check that the belt was routed properly through the other belt guides and snug before heading out on the road again. Not any longer time wise IME than using a "traditional" 5-point harnessed carseat. :thumbsup:

Another tip for hot weather/climates: I brought along a towel to drape over the RSTV and vehicle seatbelt whenever we parked to keep the vest's metal guides and all buckles cooler to the touch when parked in the blazing sun and summer heat.

Thanks for the detailed instructions and the hot weather tip! I can completely picture it now. It sounds like it'll be very convenient and easy to use.

littleangelfire said:
Exactly - I only unthreaded the one loop that I absolutely had to unthread so I could undo the buckle that's attached to the vest. And the tether wasn't required since I used a lap/shoulder belt, but I felt better using it, and it held the vest up in perfect position to be slid into.

Thank you for the original description and for clarifying! We will also be using the tether with a shoulder belt for the convenience of it holding the vest in place and because I feel more comfortable with that, especially given my DD will barely be 4.

I'm getting excited about using the vest!

Btw, do others put it in their carry on suitcases? It looks like it'd be the right dimensions for that. I'll have to try it in mine. I know I want it on the plane with me so it doesn't get lost, but I just don't know if I've overlooked the best way to transport it.

littleangelfire · Jul 20, 2010

I took it in my carry-on. I was far too afraid I'd get there without luggage. I can find cheap clothes at Walmart, but I knew I wouldn't be able to find another vest.

Athena · Jul 20, 2010

littleangelfire said:
I took it in my carry-on. I was far too afraid I'd get there without luggage. I can find cheap clothes at Walmart, but I knew I wouldn't be able to find another vest.

Good point!

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