Who gets what seat? Baby, 3 year, 6 year olds??

mom2RyErinBaby

New member
I need your help, as my brain is overloaded with the options!
I have a 5 month old who HATES his infant carrier on trips over 5 minutes. So I need to move him to a convertible. I'll list the seats we own, kids and then give me any and all suggestions as to how to do this. I'm willing to buy new seats/boosters, but have no clue as to which seats will last us, be economical and functional! Ryan sits well in booster in town, but we make 35-90 mile trips at least once a week, we haven't yet let him sit in a booster for those.

I like the marathons, but also really like the true fit, but open to any and all suggestions on the best arrangements. We have 2 vans and like to have seats in each of them for each child.

KIDS
Ry--age 6 this month, 42 pounds and 42 inches--not sure of torso height, but he still fit in our old evenflo advance, with room to spare, but was over the 40 lb mark

Erin--age 3.5, 35 pounds, 39 inches

Ethan--age 5 months

SEATS
2 Marathons (Ryan in one, Erin in one), one expires 2009, other 2011
2 Evenflo Triumph Advances (40 pound limit), both expire 2009 (hate this seat!)
1 Radian 65--2014 expiration (would consider selling, as its a pain to install in our odyssey)
1 Vivo Lite booster

Okay, if you can figure this out for me, I'd be grateful, so I can sleep at night!
Megan
 
ADS

MomToEliEm

Moderator
2 Evenflo Triumph Advances (40 pound limit), both expire 2009 (hate this seat!)

I thought the triumph advance seats had a 50lb limit on the harness. The original triumph had the 40lb limit.

What about this configuration:
6 year old:
Vivo booster
Marathon

3.5 year old:
Evenflo Triumph Advance
Radian (install it in the car where it installs well)

5 month old:
Marathon
Evenflo Triumph Advance

In 2009 when the Triumphs and marathons expire, you can buy a new seat then. If you really want to replace a seat now though, maybe get a frontier or nautilus for the oldest and pass some seats down.
 

Defrost

Moderator - CPSTI Emeritus
So, you need two seats for each child, yes?

Cheapest option (and still only temporary):
I'd say buy a Nautilus or Frontier for RY. That will easily get him to an age where he can use a booster full-time, and both convert to good boosters. OR it could be handed-down to Erin at that point and you could get Ry a dedicated booster.

Use the 2 Marathons and 2 Evenflos for Erin and Ethan.

More expensive option:

Since you said you hate the Evenflos, you could pass both Marathons down to Ethan, and buy two Nautiluses or Frontiers - one for Ry, one for Erin - and have Erin use the Radian in your other vehicle.

That's assuming you're not squeezing them 3-across in your second car, of course.
 

mom2RyErinBaby

New member
I like the idea of getting 2 new seats, but may have to do it over the next few months. I know the triumph's only have 40 pound limits, so they may not be advances?

Are the nautilus and true fit the best options? I can wait till Jan. if a newer better seat is coming? Also what booster would you recommend if I were to move Ry to one now?
Thanks
Megan
 

BW1426

Well-known member
I like the idea of getting 2 new seats, but may have to do it over the next few months. I know the triumph's only have 40 pound limits, so they may not be advances?

Are the nautilus and true fit the best options? I can wait till Jan. if a newer better seat is coming? Also what booster would you recommend if I were to move Ry to one now?
Thanks
Megan

The Vivo is my favorite booster, but could you swing 1 Nautilus right now? They're on sale at Amazon.com for $129 with free shipping and no tax.
 

abacus2

Well-known member
If one car is used less, use the Vivo in that car, otherwise I'd buy a Nautilus for Ryan.

Ryan:
Radian
Vivo or Nautilus

Erin:
2 Marathons - she's close enough to 40lbs, I'd put her in a high weight harness so I didn't have to worry about it.

Ethan:
2 Triumphs - I think these are nicer RFing than FFing anyway.

In 2009 when the Triumphs and one Marathon expire, I'd pass down the other Marathon to Ethan and get him a TrueFit as a second seat, and either pass down the Radian and the Nautilus to Erin and get another Vivo for Ryan or buy 2 more Nautiluses for Erin. In 2011 when the other Marathon expires, pass a harnessed seat down to Ethan and buy another booster.
 

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