Is this outgrown?

Stelvis · Feb 2, 2013

We will be visiting MIL in FL at the beginning of April. She drives a 2012 BMW X5. The back seat is not very wide. DH has to sit in the front passenger seat, and last year I was able to get us 3 across the back with DS behind the driver in a GoHybrid, me in the middle, and DD in the BLVD (RF obviously). We BARELY all fit. DD used the BLVD on the plane and DS used a CARES harness.

So, I just installed the Go in my car because I was nervous that he has outgrown the harness. I realize it can gain or lose height in different vehicles but I have no way to test it in her car. The shoulder adjuster is as high as it will go.

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View attachment 19727

So that looks outgrown, right?

If so, what are my options? I will not fit in between anything wider than what I already have. A Maestro is not going to work, it will be too wide to allow me to buckle.

Should I look for a narrow booster and start booster training him? I would be sitting right next to him the entire trip so I could remind him to sit properly. He is well behaved and takes safety seriously so I think he could handle it with an adult right there.

littleangelfire · Feb 2, 2013

yes it looks outgrown to me.

I'd definitely get a vest, easier to travel with than a booster and no worry about proper positioning

Stelvis · Feb 2, 2013

littleangelfire said:
yes it looks outgrown to me.

I'd definitely get a vest, easier to travel with than a booster and no worry about proper positioning

Traveling with a seat is not a concern, since I can ship it directly to MIL and she can bring it to the airport when she picks us up.

My concern with the RSTV, from what I've read, is that his torso may be too long for the size small, but he is too light for the minimum weight on the large, and the large probably would not fit him properly.

To give you an idea of his torso, he's on the third from the top click of the Frontier. He's outgrown the top harness position on the TFP.

aeormsby · Feb 2, 2013

Yes that looks outgrown to me too. When does he turn 5? Will you always be sitting next to him on the trip? If you'll always be in the back I'd probably look for a booster (possibly even a NBB)

I need to check my DS in our GO. We'll be flying once or twice this summer and he may be getting close to maxing it out. If he is we'll be getting a Harmony Literider (he's been begging for the flame one ever since we got DD the zebra one 1.5yrs ago). He'll be 5.5yo by the time we travel and my main concern with him in a booster is that he'll fall asleep on long drives. Hopefully his legs keep growing and not his torso! (he had a little room to grow last time we used it in Sept)

Stelvis · Feb 2, 2013

His birthday is in August so he'll be 4.5. He rarely if ever sleeps in the car. Like maybe twice in his life. And yes, I'd be sitting beside him the whole time. There would be a couple trips back and forth from her condo to Orlando, about 1 hour, depending on what parks we go to. The other car trips would be short.

SIL and BIL are visiting her now. They have 3 across with SIL, almost 6 year old nephew in a Bubble Bum in the center, and almost 2 year old nephew in an RA50.

MommyShannon · Feb 2, 2013

Would a HB TB fit? With you beside him, it would be a lot easier keeping him in position. My DS can be pretty wild but he would have done ok at 4 with me beside him on short drives. I'd be iffy with a NBB though. I think having the same feel as a carseat helps and limits side to side moving.

Stelvis · Feb 2, 2013

MommyShannon said:
Would a HB TB fit? With you beside him, it would be a lot easier keeping him in position. My DS can be pretty wild but he would have done ok at 4 with me beside him on short drives. I'd be iffy with a NBB though. I think having the same feel as a carseat helps and limits side to side moving.

I definitely think I'd like to try a HBB first. I may go pick up a TB today if they're still on sale because I'd want him to practice first up here. I am not confident he will gain any weight between now and then so it has to have a 30 lb minimum.

MommyShannon · Feb 2, 2013

Wow, tall and light! My DS was over 40lbs already. The Harmony Defender might be an option too.

Stelvis · Feb 2, 2013

MommyShannon said:
Wow, tall and light! My DS was over 40lbs already. The Harmony Defender might be an option too.

Ah, I hadn't thought of that! I'll have to take him to Wal Mart and see if he fits in it. Assuming it's no wider than the Go?

Stelvis · Feb 2, 2013

Another question -- does this mean he's outgrown the CARES? I know it has a 40" height limit but last year I made a parental decision to use it at 40.5"....

ETA: I just measured his chest circumference and got 21" over a thick fleece shirt. So the RSTV isn't going to work I don't think.

bella_1818 · Feb 2, 2013

I suspect what happens on the CARES is that as the child gets taller, their shoulder height is closer to the part of the plane seat that narrows/tapers. The warning labels on CARES will prevent you from tightening it enough to stay in position.

FWIW: I'd be comfortable using it as long as I could make it work.

Stelvis · Feb 2, 2013

bella_1818 said:
I suspect what happens on the CARES is that as the child gets taller, their shoulder height is closer to the part of the plane seat that narrows/tapers. The warning labels on CARES will prevent you from tightening it enough to stay in position.

FWIW: I'd be comfortable using it as long as I could make it work.

That makes sense. I guess I'd take it and try it out.

Stelvis · Feb 2, 2013

Okay, so, Harmony Defender -- wow, that crotch buckle is short! That thing is a dealbreaker. DS said it hurt.

Phineasmama · Feb 2, 2013

What about the Harmony folding travel booster? Or if you don't need the folding option you could always just get a HB Turbo, it's pretty good for 3 across.

Stelvis · Feb 2, 2013

Phineasmama said:
What about the Harmony folding travel booster? Or if you don't need the folding option you could always just get a HB Turbo, it's pretty good for 3 across.

OMG that's a great idea. I just went to Target and got a rain check for a TB but I like the idea of the folding one. I have to go to the other WalMart in town to find one in stock.

Phineasmama · Feb 2, 2013

Yeah I might be getting at least one because I think it would fit in the overhead bin of an airplane...hopefully lol. And we will be flying with all 3 kids sometime this year.

aeormsby · Feb 2, 2013

Man, that folding booster is cool! I need to keep that in mind for DS if he doesn't fit in the GO for summer travel!!

Athena · Feb 2, 2013

Stelvis said:
My concern with the RSTV, from what I've read, is that his torso may be too long for the size small, but he is too light for the minimum weight on the large, and the large probably would not fit him properly.

To give you an idea of his torso, he's on the third from the top click of the Frontier. He's outgrown the top harness position on the TFP.

Is the small RSTV really that small? I know overall height doesn't mean that much, but they list it as up to 52", right? It was almost too big when DD1 was 4yo and we are planning to use it for DD2 at 4.5 (almost 5), but I haven't tried it on because it didn't even occur to me it might be too small.

Did you see that others are outgrowing them really early?

Sorry, I don't have any better suggestions for your DS than you've already received. I thought of a Maestro, but would that be too short for him?

littleangelfire · Feb 3, 2013

At 30lbs I think it's safe to say the large RSTV would be too loose. It was nearly too loose on my son (95th for height and weight) when I bought it for him and he was at least 40lbs then, actually I think he was 43lbs. I had it cinched as tight as it would go. You might see if you can find someone on here who has a small and could measure it from shoulder to the bottom of the vest. Or are there measurements online? I just loved the ease of traveling with it! They so need to come out with a medium. There is just a pretty large gray area that neither size will fit or fit well, at least.

ketchupqueen · Feb 3, 2013

If you decide to go with a HBB you wouldn't have to bring one with- you could have her pick one up there, or have it shipped there, and leave it for another trip or have her donate it to a women's shelter or whatever when you're gone.

Is this outgrown?

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