S
SSAguirre
Guest
Hello Community!
I need help sorting out the logistics of this upcoming trip, or maybe I just need someone to talk me off my obsessive, type A ledge. Anyway...
So, I will be traveling at the end of Oct, Chicago-Midway to Atlanta on Southwest, alone with my two children - a very petite 2.5 year old (25 lbs currently, rides RF in a Diono Ranier) and my beast 6 month old (22 lbs/28 in currently, rides RF Bitax Highway 65. Just maxed out the shoulder height on his Britax B-Safe). I have traveled regularly via air alone with my daughter, and we traveled as a family of 4 in July, but this is my first attempt at transporting/installing 2 kids + carseat(s) without a second adult.
So, what's the best option here?
1. Traveling with both of my existing cs...which seems like a bad idea. Cost effective, but bad.
2. Travel with the Diono, rent CARES for the 2.5 yr old and purchase a Cosco Scenera to ship ahead to Grandma in ATL. **This is my first choice, but my concern here is that the Diono would have to go RF on the plane to accommodate the 6 mo old, and I have no assurance it will fit RF and installing the Diono on a plane sucks in general.
3. Buy 2 Sceneras (Or the Diono and buy 1 Scenera) and both kids ride in cs on the flight. **I'm nervous about the FA in this trip possibly not allowing me to install 2 cs in a row (window and middle, me on the aisle). I've also heard that the Sceneras are difficult to install and I have zero interest in negotiating pool noodles.
I am open to traveling with the Diono again, I LOVE that car seat normally, but maybe someone can offer some tips to make airplane install easier? I am really good at installing in a car and already know to use a seat belt extender and flip the seat belt over. My problems were rooted in not being allowed to pre-board, so I was wrestling with the Diono during regular boarding and I couldn't get the belt to tighten enough. Those issues don't seem to be resolvable.
RE: Cosco Sceneras: How difficult are these to install really? If I bought 2, will they stack/nest so that I could secure to a luggage cart and let the toddler ride in the top Scenera through the airport? She's a runner and tantrum-prone, so not trustworthy to go unrestrained in places like an airport. I have to admit I'm a little concerned about the safety of a cs that is basically just a plastic shell with a this fabric cover and no padding around the head. Also, with my baby turning out to be tall, maybe the Sceneras are going to be a short lived fit for him?
I am open to buying another brand of carseat(s) specifically for travel if they are lightweight, easy to transport by myself and easy to install, but cost is a huge concern for us right now.
Can you tell that I'm a little over-researched?
I need help sorting out the logistics of this upcoming trip, or maybe I just need someone to talk me off my obsessive, type A ledge. Anyway...
So, I will be traveling at the end of Oct, Chicago-Midway to Atlanta on Southwest, alone with my two children - a very petite 2.5 year old (25 lbs currently, rides RF in a Diono Ranier) and my beast 6 month old (22 lbs/28 in currently, rides RF Bitax Highway 65. Just maxed out the shoulder height on his Britax B-Safe). I have traveled regularly via air alone with my daughter, and we traveled as a family of 4 in July, but this is my first attempt at transporting/installing 2 kids + carseat(s) without a second adult.
So, what's the best option here?
1. Traveling with both of my existing cs...which seems like a bad idea. Cost effective, but bad.
2. Travel with the Diono, rent CARES for the 2.5 yr old and purchase a Cosco Scenera to ship ahead to Grandma in ATL. **This is my first choice, but my concern here is that the Diono would have to go RF on the plane to accommodate the 6 mo old, and I have no assurance it will fit RF and installing the Diono on a plane sucks in general.
3. Buy 2 Sceneras (Or the Diono and buy 1 Scenera) and both kids ride in cs on the flight. **I'm nervous about the FA in this trip possibly not allowing me to install 2 cs in a row (window and middle, me on the aisle). I've also heard that the Sceneras are difficult to install and I have zero interest in negotiating pool noodles.
I am open to traveling with the Diono again, I LOVE that car seat normally, but maybe someone can offer some tips to make airplane install easier? I am really good at installing in a car and already know to use a seat belt extender and flip the seat belt over. My problems were rooted in not being allowed to pre-board, so I was wrestling with the Diono during regular boarding and I couldn't get the belt to tighten enough. Those issues don't seem to be resolvable.
RE: Cosco Sceneras: How difficult are these to install really? If I bought 2, will they stack/nest so that I could secure to a luggage cart and let the toddler ride in the top Scenera through the airport? She's a runner and tantrum-prone, so not trustworthy to go unrestrained in places like an airport. I have to admit I'm a little concerned about the safety of a cs that is basically just a plastic shell with a this fabric cover and no padding around the head. Also, with my baby turning out to be tall, maybe the Sceneras are going to be a short lived fit for him?
I am open to buying another brand of carseat(s) specifically for travel if they are lightweight, easy to transport by myself and easy to install, but cost is a huge concern for us right now.
Can you tell that I'm a little over-researched?