Hi I'm new here and hoping for help sorting thru options for our 2 kids for an upcoming trip (and for home use as well). Here's the situation:
City dwellers without a car -- we rent or use carshare maybe once or twice a month. Need a second seat to use in grandparents' older Corolla hybrid in Chicago in a few weeks. We visit around once a year. We won't use the car all that much b/c we can't all fit in it anymore. They live in the city so we can get places via transit just like at home. They already have a Diono Radian RXT. They say they have all the pieces to turn it back rear-facing.
Kiddo
4.5 years, 46", 54 lbs
currently in forward-facing Diono Radian RXT
top of his head is just above back of shell; shoulders are above top slots but Diono says that is ok; he will probably outgrow crotch buckle and/or his shoulders will hit the head wings before his ears are above the shell)
gets carsick easily (so no toys/books/tech in car AND usually an adult rides in the back to help if he gets sick in a place we can't pull over)
Baby
4.5 months, 28.5", 19.5 lbs
currently in Chicco Keyfit 30
shoulders hit just barely below top harness slot (so he is using the second from top slot) but max height is 28.5 and at current rate of growth he may hit that before/during trip
Here's what I see as the options and concerns with each -- I'd appreciate suggestions/feedback/recommendations because I'm overwhelmed by the options -- HELP!
(1) Baby RF in Radian & Kiddo in high-back booster we ship to grandma's
* Radian is very long RF from what I remember. In-laws are super tall, so we may be limited to center seat install even if booster could go in center otherwise, and in theory he isn't he better off in the center b/c the seat is less protective than RF?
* What if they don't actually have all the right pieces when they come to pick us up?
* Kiddo has never used a booster before. No idea how he will react, though he is generally not squirmy in the car b/c of carsick issues.
* No idea if this will leave enough room for adult to sit in back if we put booster in center
* More expensive than travel booster or bringing our own seat
* Bulkier for grandma to store unless we get one that folds (Baby Trend Yumi?)
(2) Baby RF in Radian & Kiddo in travel booster (eg bubble bum)
* see above
* Kiddo does tend to fall asleep in the car and not sure how that will work out without head support on the sides, though none of the trips should be more than 30-45 minutes so maybe not too much of an issue
* not sure about center seat head restraint (assuming we can cram the Radian in RF on the passenger side)
(3) Baby RF in Radian & Kiddo in second Radian we bring from home
* Radians are HEAVY and we have to make a train connection without checked baggage; we've taken one with us before with just 1 kid but it was rough even with go-go-baby wheelie thing
(4) Baby RF in Radian & Kiddo in Frontier Clicktight
* Frontier is what I'm leaning toward for home BUT don't want to buy extras for grandparents b/c so expensive
* Not sure how long my long-torso'd Kiddo will even be able to stay harnessed in Frontier, which may make the expense pointless
* Not sure if we can fit adult in rear seat with both these installed -- almost sure we'd have to put the britax on the side?
* No idea how we'd travel on & off a train with this seat, so how would we get it there and/or home??
(5) Kiddo in Radian and Baby in Keyfit we bring from home
* Keyfit is super cumbersome (and heavy with a large baby in it) -- we were only planning to bring a small umbrella stroller which won't accommodate a carseat attachment
* Baby may well outgrow before/during trip
(6) Kiddo in Radian and Baby in inexpensive convertible seat (eg Cosco or Evenflo recommended seats)
* Won't know if the 2 seats will work together and leave enough room for an adult in the backseat
* Slightly more expensive than booster and harder for grandparents to store
* Won't know if baby will be able to use next year as toddler (he may outgrow it if he continues on current growth curve...)
* unfamiliar with installation (will be doing this on the street at pickup with luggage and kids in tow b/c inlaws not comfortable doing installs)
Thanks in advance!!!
City dwellers without a car -- we rent or use carshare maybe once or twice a month. Need a second seat to use in grandparents' older Corolla hybrid in Chicago in a few weeks. We visit around once a year. We won't use the car all that much b/c we can't all fit in it anymore. They live in the city so we can get places via transit just like at home. They already have a Diono Radian RXT. They say they have all the pieces to turn it back rear-facing.
Kiddo
4.5 years, 46", 54 lbs
currently in forward-facing Diono Radian RXT
top of his head is just above back of shell; shoulders are above top slots but Diono says that is ok; he will probably outgrow crotch buckle and/or his shoulders will hit the head wings before his ears are above the shell)
gets carsick easily (so no toys/books/tech in car AND usually an adult rides in the back to help if he gets sick in a place we can't pull over)
Baby
4.5 months, 28.5", 19.5 lbs
currently in Chicco Keyfit 30
shoulders hit just barely below top harness slot (so he is using the second from top slot) but max height is 28.5 and at current rate of growth he may hit that before/during trip
Here's what I see as the options and concerns with each -- I'd appreciate suggestions/feedback/recommendations because I'm overwhelmed by the options -- HELP!
(1) Baby RF in Radian & Kiddo in high-back booster we ship to grandma's
* Radian is very long RF from what I remember. In-laws are super tall, so we may be limited to center seat install even if booster could go in center otherwise, and in theory he isn't he better off in the center b/c the seat is less protective than RF?
* What if they don't actually have all the right pieces when they come to pick us up?
* Kiddo has never used a booster before. No idea how he will react, though he is generally not squirmy in the car b/c of carsick issues.
* No idea if this will leave enough room for adult to sit in back if we put booster in center
* More expensive than travel booster or bringing our own seat
* Bulkier for grandma to store unless we get one that folds (Baby Trend Yumi?)
(2) Baby RF in Radian & Kiddo in travel booster (eg bubble bum)
* see above
* Kiddo does tend to fall asleep in the car and not sure how that will work out without head support on the sides, though none of the trips should be more than 30-45 minutes so maybe not too much of an issue
* not sure about center seat head restraint (assuming we can cram the Radian in RF on the passenger side)
(3) Baby RF in Radian & Kiddo in second Radian we bring from home
* Radians are HEAVY and we have to make a train connection without checked baggage; we've taken one with us before with just 1 kid but it was rough even with go-go-baby wheelie thing
(4) Baby RF in Radian & Kiddo in Frontier Clicktight
* Frontier is what I'm leaning toward for home BUT don't want to buy extras for grandparents b/c so expensive
* Not sure how long my long-torso'd Kiddo will even be able to stay harnessed in Frontier, which may make the expense pointless
* Not sure if we can fit adult in rear seat with both these installed -- almost sure we'd have to put the britax on the side?
* No idea how we'd travel on & off a train with this seat, so how would we get it there and/or home??
(5) Kiddo in Radian and Baby in Keyfit we bring from home
* Keyfit is super cumbersome (and heavy with a large baby in it) -- we were only planning to bring a small umbrella stroller which won't accommodate a carseat attachment
* Baby may well outgrow before/during trip
(6) Kiddo in Radian and Baby in inexpensive convertible seat (eg Cosco or Evenflo recommended seats)
* Won't know if the 2 seats will work together and leave enough room for an adult in the backseat
* Slightly more expensive than booster and harder for grandparents to store
* Won't know if baby will be able to use next year as toddler (he may outgrow it if he continues on current growth curve...)
* unfamiliar with installation (will be doing this on the street at pickup with luggage and kids in tow b/c inlaws not comfortable doing installs)
Thanks in advance!!!