Help me think through this

We'll be taking a trip in a couple weeks, and may be picking up a couple of extra passengers partway there.

If possible, I'd like to keep my older 2 in the 3rd row of our 2013 Odyssey. They're both harnessed FF outboard, in a FR90 and a Milestone, no room for anything between them really.

Then we'll have 2 RFers, both toddlers who have outgrown their infant seats. DS3 is in a Radian on a daily basis; the other kid has a Nextfit. Neither of these works RF in the +1.

I think our options are:

1) Use the car seats everyone is used to. Have DS1, DS2, and whichever adult ends up in the +1 crawl over or under a RF seat to get to their seats. The Nextfit would be moved to a different vehicle at our destination, then (potentially) back to our vehicle for part of the return trip.

2) Put the Milestone RF in the +1, the Nextfit outboard, and DS2 FF in a Radian. It's an R100, so not much SIP. And he really likes the Milestone.

3) Second row is the same as in (2), but in the 3rd row, put DS2 in the FR90, and DS1 in the PWSGL he normally uses in our other car. He's booster trained, 6 years old, way over 40 pounds, occasionally falls asleep on long trips, and hasn't gone more than maybe 20 minutes in a booster.

4) Buy something new. But what? A Sureride? It can be used for any of my children, so it's a nice spare to have. I'd use it for DS2 and put the Milestone in the +1. An E2F? I'm mostly planning to get one anyway. It works in the +1. Something else?

I think I would do 2 or 3. If 3 do booster practice now.

Booster practice how? He won't be doing any drives longer than maybe 10 minutes between now and then.

How long is the trip you will be taking?


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I found this out in my tech training two weeks ago that you can put a child in a high backed booster and lock the seat belt so if the child is new to being in a booster they can't really move or if they sleep they can't move. They also talk about harnessing to the max as well so I understand the want to keep harnessed.

How old are your forward facers?

seb3244 said:

I found this out in my tech training two weeks ago that you can put a child in a high backed booster and lock the seat belt so if the child is new to being in a booster they can't really move or if they sleep they can't move. They also talk about harnessing to the max as well so I understand the want to keep harnessed.

How old are your forward facers?

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This article from June 2014 explains why you shouldn't lock the seat belt for a child in a booster http://cpsboard.org/cps/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/TechUpdateSUMMER2014_FINAL.pdf The organization who put it out seems legit.

The forward facers are 4 and 6. Rear facing them (totally possible for the 4 yo) wouldn't help in any way, though.

The trip is about 6 hours of driving time. Add 3-4 kids and it's 7 if we're lucky, 9-10 if we're not.

seb3244 said:

I found this out in my tech training two weeks ago that you can put a child in a high backed booster and lock the seat belt so if the child is new to being in a booster they can't really move or if they sleep they can't move. They also talk about harnessing to the max as well so I understand the want to keep harnessed.

How old are your forward facers?

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TechnoGranola said:

This article from June 2014 explains why you shouldn't lock the seat belt for a child in a booster http://cpsboard.org/cps/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/TechUpdateSUMMER2014_FINAL.pdf The organization who put it out seems legit.

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That's the CPS Board- they design the curriculum. Totally legit.

Crash testing studies at University of Michigan showed a higher risk of submarining even in a booster with a locked belt. It should not be done except in extraordinary temporary circumstances. And they shouldn't be training techs to do it.

lgenne said:

Booster practice how? He won't be doing any drives longer than maybe 10 minutes between now and then.

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Well, I would use a booster full time for those, and engineer some longer trips and trips while sleepy.

If you are unwilling or unable to do that I wouldn't use a booster on a road trip.

ketchupqueen said:

Well, I would use a booster full time for those, and engineer some longer trips and trips while sleepy.

If you are unwilling or unable to do that I wouldn't use a booster on a road trip.

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It would either require a lot of car seat shuffling or acquiring another booster to get him boostered for the majority of drives between now and then. I could engineer a couple longer drives (maybe 45 minutes) but I don't think I can make them happen while he's sleepy.

Sigh. And I made the mistake of suggesting the idea to them.

If you're planning to get an E2F anyway, will the NextFit fit next to the E2F in the 2nd row? Oldest two kids in their regular seats 3rd row, guest kid in NextFit, your baby in E2F and spare adult in the other 2nd row capt chair?

That's a good question. In wide mode, generally speaking, just about anything fits. But I don't actually have either seat to try. And both of those are pretty wide, and seem unlikely to puzzle. Stupid E2F cup holders!

I suppose we could bring a folded up Radian along, plus the RF boot, just in case. Or fall back on option 1 if they don't fit.

I'm leaning away from the E2F. I wanted to see what the 3 in 1 version looks like when it comes out next month. And we've got another year and a half at least before current car seats are outgrown. I think if I were to get something new it would be a Sureride.