narrow booster seat whine - any other options?

I'm still stuck. I've been carpooling with the RSTV, and the kids don't want to ride in it. and DD has grown out of it torso-wise, so I can't make her ride in it. I am really, really reluctant to buy another for the steep price if kids hate it so.

Why, oh why are there no carseats like this over here:
http://www.britax.com.au/car-seats/mobility

390 mm width = about 15.5". I could probably fit two of those and the radian in the back of the prius. One RF radian, one vivo, and one RSTV are already pretty tight. One roundtrip ticket to Australia and two of these is still way cheaper than a new car....not really an option, I know.

Are there any other solutions out there? I'd even be willing to spend $$$ to get a HB booster and use it as a LB to make things fit.....the Rodi? I dunno.

Something else on the horizon? Seems like I heard something about a LBB from harmony for carpooling in the ABC show info.

Things aren't going to improve this spring when I turn DD ff in the radian. Sigh.

first... THAT booster may be the first and only one I've ever actually seen that we COULD call a LOW back booster...

I'd say a harmony literider would be the way to go - http://www.walmart.com/ip/Harmony-Juvenile-LiteRider-Backless-Booster-Car-Seat-Pink/10992661

what about that new inflatable booster? Bubble Bum I think?

While I haven't tried, say, two literiders and the FF radian, I do have one and for the current set-up, it is definitely too wide. Bummer - I know it is considered the narrowest LBB that is out here now.

That bubblebum thing looks really, really interesting. I think the kids might actually fight to get to ride on it, not fight over who HAS to ride in the RSTV. And I'd feel just fine about having someone in the middle between the FF radian and the vivo (or other HBB). Now if they actually release it on time, that would be miraculous. Though a trip to the UK and a seat would still be cheaper than a new car - and hey, that thing would pack small.....

I will be curious to hear what some of the tech have to say about if they feel it is safe (I do rather wonder if it would ever pop in a bad crash).

I'll keep my eyes peeled. In the meantime, I'm considering a rodi SPS - it is narrower than the XR, cheaper, and is considered the narrow go-to booster for the UK. (at least it was until that bubble bum thing came out). We'll see how it goes.....

Thanks! It'll be interesting to see if anything else pops up. Oh, and I did find that other harmony seat:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Harmony-Cruz-Youth-Booster-Car-Seat-Black-and-Red/14914783

Honestly, I don't know if it is any narrower than the literider. I'd buy it if it was - but I couldn't get thru to anyone at harmony when I called today. But it says 16.5", and the literider says 16" for width. Not sure why they made such a big deal of it if that is the case.

mamakc said:

what about that new inflatable booster? Bubble Bum I think?

Click to expand...

Yep, the BubbleBum. It will hit the US market in April (I believe). I think it's EXACTLY what you need.

bigteamug said:

Thanks! It'll be interesting to see if anything else pops up. Oh, and I did find that other harmony seat:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Harmony-Cruz-Youth-Booster-Car-Seat-Black-and-Red/14914783

Honestly, I don't know if it is any narrower than the literider. I'd buy it if it was - but I couldn't get thru to anyone at harmony when I called today. But it says 16.5", and the literider says 16" for width. Not sure why they made such a big deal of it if that is the case.

Click to expand...

I put the one on top of the other. The new harmony is exactly the same width as the literider, but has high arm rests.

The evenflo amp is 15.5 inches wide.

it appears that it's .5" wider than the literider (I scrolled down on the walmart page to see... 16.5" wide... the literider measures wider than it is, though.

hmm... maybe a cosco backless then? It is 15.5" wide (I should have thought of it sooner, it's what we had for Damian - walmart only has the black and gray, but Kmart has nice colors - http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_9990000076982811P?prdNo=15
http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_9990000076984811P?prdNo=15

Didn't at least one of the inflatable seats get horrible reviews?

I'd probably totally go for that Britax backless though. (Got any friends in Australia?)

I have a friend that lived in AU a few years ago, and she has some super narrow LBB's that all us carpool moms are lusting after. Just some Kmart specials, she said. Haven't measured them, but they have arms that go straight up and are about as narrow between the small arms as a skinny kid butt, which works just fine for us and most of DD's friends. She said she was going to check the brand in case I can get them in the US - I'd be surprised. They are so narrow that people would be all over them if you could find them. I will also add that AU boosters sooner than here, I think, and that these were probably marketed for preschoolers over there.

Don't know anybody in AU, not sure if I could even get stuff shipped here. If the Rodi doesn't work, it's a bit tempting. I would sure trust a Britax (safensound is the AU branch) more than the inflatables. I'm hearing mixed thoughts on the inflatables at this point.

I seem to always be longing for carseats that we don't have here in the US.