Carrie_R
Ambassador - CPS Technician
Yet again, I'm opting to think this out here rather than on paper. Figure if anyone has any feedback that might be helpful, I'll take it... right now I'm just going 'round in circles.
Seven kids:
Full-time:
CT, 6.7y, 65lb, 49"
J, 3y8m, 43-44lb, 42".
S, 20mos, 29lb, ?"
K, 3mos, 14.5lb.
AM-only:
N, 5.5y, 52lb, 46"
PM-only:
CC, 4.5y, 33lb, 40"
CS, 2.5y, 23lb, ?"
Current setup (driver to pass):
Third row - Radian80SL (J), MyRide (S), Avenue (CS)
Second row - Monterey (C), SR35 baseless(K), Nautilus (N/CC)
Other available seats: FPSVB, CCO (which I would like to sell,) Scenera, Cosco HBB and Pronto.
The problem, ironicly, is the second row. The best setup I've found for N&CC to share a seat is to LATCH the Nautilus, have CC use it in harnessed mode, and have N use it as a booster. I'm aware that I can just set the straps to the highest strap setting and have them both use it that way, but I tried that (center) and really really hate it. CC is so petite it just looks like the seat is eating her alive. I have trouble deciding whether or not the straps are tight enough, and she doesn't look comfortable. Plus I feel like it gives her too much latitude in leaning over the baby.
The Monterey goes outboard, in the other LATCH position. It must be LATCHed. Not optional.
I tried the SR35 baseless in the center. It was the worst thing EVER. (Yes, I'm being melodramatic. ) Seriously, I couldn't tell if I'd gotten it installed tightly enough, and even if I put the base in there
If I let go of my requirement that the Monterey be LATCHed, I could put it center, the SR35 outboard passenger, and the Nautilus outboard driver. But then I have to untether the Radian, which I'm not crazy about with a 44lb child in it. The SR35 won't fit behind the driver.
My newest plan is to sell both the CCO and the Nautilus, and get a CA65. Install it center, adjust the harness height as needed. Then the Monterey can stay LATCHed and the SR35 can stay outboard. (I can get a base for it if I'm going to be using it long-term, although I haven't minded the baseless install. It doesn't take me long.) But I have to sell the seats first, I can't buy a new seat without funding one. I could *maybe* sell just the CCO, and then pay the rest for a CA65 OOP.
The other option would be to switch out the FPSVB and Scenera, but that's switching them four days a week and I'm not crazy about that. I would put the Scenera in RF, because she fits (or put her in the Avenue and CS in the Scenera.) But I'd like to avoid the frequent reinstalls. The upside is that with the SR35 baseless, I'd at least have a clear path to install the seat.
Dream option is to import a dang MT, which would satisfy N's want to RF and not require a reinstall...
I'd like to move K to a convertible -- in fact I had planned on using one from the start -- but the darned bucket is so convenient. I think N moved out of one at 4mos (outgrew a SR20) and I felt that was a little early; J was like 6 or 8 mos IIRC. That was ok. I think she just needs a bit more tone, so that I'm not trying to snuggle a newborn while wrangling a ton of kids and their stuff.
Down the road, I'd move S to the Radian and K to the MyRide; this turns J FF but I'd like to use the Nautilus, which I'd have to sell to fund a CA. If I could put it off 'til summer, I would just put N in a booster and let J use the CA (I don't have CC/CS in the summer) but I don't think he's going to make it that long before he hits 45lbs.
Option #612 is to put the N/CC seat in the third row, but I think I'm still stuck with a CA65; I don't think anything else will easily adjust for both of them. And I don't know if the CA65 will fit there. Every time I borrow a seat from BRU, they make a comment upon its return about how long it's taken -- so I'm hesitant to do that. I'm also not sure that really helps me.
The Radian/MR combo must stay where it is. Only other option for that space is MR/FPSVB, but N is the only kid who can ride in that seat.
Help?!? Am I missing something obvious, and easy?
Seven kids:
Full-time:
CT, 6.7y, 65lb, 49"
J, 3y8m, 43-44lb, 42".
S, 20mos, 29lb, ?"
K, 3mos, 14.5lb.
AM-only:
N, 5.5y, 52lb, 46"
PM-only:
CC, 4.5y, 33lb, 40"
CS, 2.5y, 23lb, ?"
Current setup (driver to pass):
Third row - Radian80SL (J), MyRide (S), Avenue (CS)
Second row - Monterey (C), SR35 baseless(K), Nautilus (N/CC)
Other available seats: FPSVB, CCO (which I would like to sell,) Scenera, Cosco HBB and Pronto.
The problem, ironicly, is the second row. The best setup I've found for N&CC to share a seat is to LATCH the Nautilus, have CC use it in harnessed mode, and have N use it as a booster. I'm aware that I can just set the straps to the highest strap setting and have them both use it that way, but I tried that (center) and really really hate it. CC is so petite it just looks like the seat is eating her alive. I have trouble deciding whether or not the straps are tight enough, and she doesn't look comfortable. Plus I feel like it gives her too much latitude in leaning over the baby.
The Monterey goes outboard, in the other LATCH position. It must be LATCHed. Not optional.
I tried the SR35 baseless in the center. It was the worst thing EVER. (Yes, I'm being melodramatic. ) Seriously, I couldn't tell if I'd gotten it installed tightly enough, and even if I put the base in there
If I let go of my requirement that the Monterey be LATCHed, I could put it center, the SR35 outboard passenger, and the Nautilus outboard driver. But then I have to untether the Radian, which I'm not crazy about with a 44lb child in it. The SR35 won't fit behind the driver.
My newest plan is to sell both the CCO and the Nautilus, and get a CA65. Install it center, adjust the harness height as needed. Then the Monterey can stay LATCHed and the SR35 can stay outboard. (I can get a base for it if I'm going to be using it long-term, although I haven't minded the baseless install. It doesn't take me long.) But I have to sell the seats first, I can't buy a new seat without funding one. I could *maybe* sell just the CCO, and then pay the rest for a CA65 OOP.
The other option would be to switch out the FPSVB and Scenera, but that's switching them four days a week and I'm not crazy about that. I would put the Scenera in RF, because she fits (or put her in the Avenue and CS in the Scenera.) But I'd like to avoid the frequent reinstalls. The upside is that with the SR35 baseless, I'd at least have a clear path to install the seat.
Dream option is to import a dang MT, which would satisfy N's want to RF and not require a reinstall...
I'd like to move K to a convertible -- in fact I had planned on using one from the start -- but the darned bucket is so convenient. I think N moved out of one at 4mos (outgrew a SR20) and I felt that was a little early; J was like 6 or 8 mos IIRC. That was ok. I think she just needs a bit more tone, so that I'm not trying to snuggle a newborn while wrangling a ton of kids and their stuff.
Down the road, I'd move S to the Radian and K to the MyRide; this turns J FF but I'd like to use the Nautilus, which I'd have to sell to fund a CA. If I could put it off 'til summer, I would just put N in a booster and let J use the CA (I don't have CC/CS in the summer) but I don't think he's going to make it that long before he hits 45lbs.
Option #612 is to put the N/CC seat in the third row, but I think I'm still stuck with a CA65; I don't think anything else will easily adjust for both of them. And I don't know if the CA65 will fit there. Every time I borrow a seat from BRU, they make a comment upon its return about how long it's taken -- so I'm hesitant to do that. I'm also not sure that really helps me.
The Radian/MR combo must stay where it is. Only other option for that space is MR/FPSVB, but N is the only kid who can ride in that seat.
Help?!? Am I missing something obvious, and easy?