Booster advice for travel

Hi. I have two girls. My oldest is 8.5yo, 50", 70lbs. She rides in the harness in a Britax Frontier at home. My youngest is 5.5yo, 45", 39.5lbs. She rides ff in a harness in a Radian at home. We will be traveling to Disney World in March with my in laws. We will use Disney transportation the whole trip so weren't planning to take any car seats. My in laws have requested we join them for Sunday mass via taxi which we will do. So the only travel of the whole trip where we will be in a vehicle requiring a car seat will be a 15 minute drive each way to church. Kids will be wide awake and in the back of the taxi van with my husband and I (and in laws). How should I handle this?

Should I use the boosters that the taxi company can provide? I am not sure that whatever seat they would provide as a "car seat" would fit my girls, but the booster should be ok, right?

Should I buy and carry two Bumble Bum boosters? My little one is less than a pound shy of 40 lbs. We still have 2 months until trip. I see Harmony Youth Booster recommended in reading many old threads here. They are considerably less expensive that the Bumble Bum, but look much more awkward to travel with. They also have the 30 pound limit so my little one is certainly in the clear.

Neither of my girls have ever ridden in a booster before, but both can sit still and follow directions. I feel pretty comfortable that with us closely supervising them and for such a short trip at an awake time of day they could do well.

Is it ok to check the booster seats in a suitcase with the airlines? I have never checked our regular car seats because they are too rough on them. Plus we always used them on the plane. Are the concerns the same with boosters being damaged?

Thank you!

I personally wouldn't hesitate to get 2 bubblebums and use them for your trip. I'd toss them in your carry on and just take them on board. Or throw them in your heckled luggage. The bubblebum is the one car seat I would have no concerns checking. Though you still run the risk of having the airlines lose it, so I'd personally carry it on.

The harmony youth is another good choice, just a little bulkier. It will easily fit in the overhead bin or under a seat, so I'd take it with you.


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A couple of BubbleBums can go right in your backpacks, or your girls' backpacks. The Youth Boosters aren't bad for travel, they aren't compact, but they're lightweight for travel.

Wendy

My in laws are going to need our help toting medical stuff and helping them through the airport. Since we won't need the boosters for 5 days after our flight, I would rather not carry them on in backpacks. I think I want to choose something I can check in a suitcase. If the airline loses that suitcase, I can order replacements with Amazon Prime. Would you also feel ok with the Harmony Booster in checked luggage ($26 total cost vs the $70 total for Bumble Bums)?

I'd be more ok with the BubbleBums checked, but it's your choice to check the Harmonys.

The BubbleBums are smaller than most people think. http://imgur.com/a/fPrCQ

Wendy

If you're going to be there 5 days before you need them anyway, why not just wait and order with Amazon Prime after you get there? Then you only have to worry about bringing them back.