3-across booster question

[teekadog]

This pertains to nbbs in particular.

We have a summer trip coming up that will involve car seat shuffle that no one is particularly thrilled about. We are waking up very early to fly cross-country then renting a minivan to drive 3 highway hours to our destination. I'm taking a radian to forward face my 7yo because I'm certain he will fall asleep for the driving portion and I don't want him slumping out of position. My older 3 (full time in 2 nbbs and a harnessed frontier for the past couple years) are advocating to take 3 nbb, put them 3 across in the third row of whatever minivan we rent, and the two older kids on either side will keep the 7yo awake or support him if he falls asleep.

As much as I want to, I don't really buy into that plan, but I promised I would ask here. I think the kids all want to buy new bubble bums to take, which won't be happening, but I could find it reasonable to purchase an incognito to go with our connext boosters.

Thanks for your input.

 

[aeormsby]

My 7yo uses a NBB when we travel, even though he falls asleep occasionally. On our last trip to CA he fell asleep on the hour drive back from Legoland. DD is good about helping him stay upright, with no one in the middle I had her pull out the center console just slightly so that he could lean on that. With older kids on either side I think it would work as long as they're willing to help him stay upright.

 

[bnsnyde]

My 8 YO (Incognito) is in the middle of the third row, literally squished between a highback and a FF carseat. I THINK it'd be hard for him to slump.

The 7 YO (outboard) slumped sideways terribly when asleep so she now has a highback, though a flimsy one (but it fit).

If the 7 YO fits a Radian that's awesome. My one son, at 3, got moved out of it because he looked too tall. Headrest kept slipping down anyways.

 

[jjordan]

Often rental minivans are Dodge/Chrysler, which are notorious for being bad for booster belt fit. Just something to keep in mind. Is there a way for you to find out what makes of minivan the rental company typically has?

Personally I would probably do just about anything to avoid taking a Radian on a plane, as the heaviness makes it a pain (literally!) to haul around. But I do know that others like Radians for travel, so...

 

[teekadog]

Last time we did this trip the rental company said we'd get a dodge/Chrysler van. I called a couple times to confirm. I went the extra step of practicing installs in my friend's Chrysler so I'd be prepared. When we got there all they had to give us was an odyssey. So I have no idea exactly what can we are getting and know that there is nothing I can do to find that out before being handed the keys. C'est la vie.

We will be taking a radian regardless because either the 7yo will ff in it or the 3yo will rf in it. If the 7yo uses it then we will have to take a coccoro for the 3yo to ff in. I much prefer the CCO over the radian, but I'd much much rather rf than ff. My dh would much much much rather just lug one car seat through our connections.

My kids are like me and would like any excuse to buy all the shiny new car seats, so they are advocating for NEW BOOSTERS FOR ALL!
Posted via Mobile Device