I need help figuring out what CRS to use on our upcoming trip to Disney World. My daughter is 4 years old, 35 lb., and short. She'll need some kind of CRS for two (possibly more) taxi rides.
Her regular car seat is a Britax Frontier 85, but I'm afraid to try to take it on a plane and I don't want to check it. I really want to keep her in a CRS that has a 5 point harness and side-impact protection after we land, but I think we might have space issues on the plane. There are 4 of us (2 adults, 2 children) and we're flying Southwest (3 seats to a row). I was going to sit next to our 15 month old (Britax Diplomat) and have our 4 year old sit next to my husband who is overweight... there's a good chance that if her CRS is too wide the two of them will impinge on the space of the other passenger in their row. (I know from experience when we were flying as a family of 3 that my husband + the Britax Diplomat take up more than 2 seats.)
Is there a CRS that has a 5 point harness that is relatively narrow? I know that the Radians have a reputation of being narrow, but the Amazon reviews about Super Latch failing freaked me out. Would the Cosco Juvenile High Backed Booster be a good option? ([ame="http://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Juvenile-High-Booster-Viola/dp/B00313JA4A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1267463728&sr=8-1/?tag=dorejuvegrou-20"]Amazon.com: Cosco Juvenile High Back Booster Car Seat, Viola: Baby[/ame]) Is it as bad of an idea as I think to buy a cheaper CRS than the Frontier 85 and check it as luggage? (I would like to be able to use it as a secondary CRS after this trip.) What about the Cosco Scenera? (I could use it for DD2 once DD1 hits 40 lb.)
We also have the option of using a car seat provided by the car service. My husband thinks that we should go with this option, but I've had bad experiences with rental car seats in the past. He also thinks that she would be fine in a backless booster for such limited use. She has the impulse control (especially with an adult sitting next to her), but her small size makes me nervous.
I posted earlier (before I registered) with the idea of using a Ride Safer Vest, but the lack of side impact protection makes me nervous and I'm wondering if it's worth it for the price? I don't mind spending the money, but I'd like something that I'd feel comfortable using on a semi-regular basis in my husband's car.
Thank you in advance I apologize for such a long post. I know I'm over thinking this, but I've been in *a lot* of car accidents (two with my daughter).
Bonus question: It's ok to take both kids (4 y/o and 25 lb. 15 m/o) on the shuttle buses between our hotel and Disney World... right? I've taken them on similar short shuttle rides before, but it always makes me nervous and I'm seriously considering renting a car for the 2 mile drive, but my husband thinks that is absolutely nuts (and he's probably right)... although I might walk them in the stroller if there are sidewalks
Her regular car seat is a Britax Frontier 85, but I'm afraid to try to take it on a plane and I don't want to check it. I really want to keep her in a CRS that has a 5 point harness and side-impact protection after we land, but I think we might have space issues on the plane. There are 4 of us (2 adults, 2 children) and we're flying Southwest (3 seats to a row). I was going to sit next to our 15 month old (Britax Diplomat) and have our 4 year old sit next to my husband who is overweight... there's a good chance that if her CRS is too wide the two of them will impinge on the space of the other passenger in their row. (I know from experience when we were flying as a family of 3 that my husband + the Britax Diplomat take up more than 2 seats.)
Is there a CRS that has a 5 point harness that is relatively narrow? I know that the Radians have a reputation of being narrow, but the Amazon reviews about Super Latch failing freaked me out. Would the Cosco Juvenile High Backed Booster be a good option? ([ame="http://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Juvenile-High-Booster-Viola/dp/B00313JA4A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1267463728&sr=8-1/?tag=dorejuvegrou-20"]Amazon.com: Cosco Juvenile High Back Booster Car Seat, Viola: Baby[/ame]) Is it as bad of an idea as I think to buy a cheaper CRS than the Frontier 85 and check it as luggage? (I would like to be able to use it as a secondary CRS after this trip.) What about the Cosco Scenera? (I could use it for DD2 once DD1 hits 40 lb.)
We also have the option of using a car seat provided by the car service. My husband thinks that we should go with this option, but I've had bad experiences with rental car seats in the past. He also thinks that she would be fine in a backless booster for such limited use. She has the impulse control (especially with an adult sitting next to her), but her small size makes me nervous.
I posted earlier (before I registered) with the idea of using a Ride Safer Vest, but the lack of side impact protection makes me nervous and I'm wondering if it's worth it for the price? I don't mind spending the money, but I'd like something that I'd feel comfortable using on a semi-regular basis in my husband's car.
Thank you in advance I apologize for such a long post. I know I'm over thinking this, but I've been in *a lot* of car accidents (two with my daughter).
Bonus question: It's ok to take both kids (4 y/o and 25 lb. 15 m/o) on the shuttle buses between our hotel and Disney World... right? I've taken them on similar short shuttle rides before, but it always makes me nervous and I'm seriously considering renting a car for the 2 mile drive, but my husband thinks that is absolutely nuts (and he's probably right)... although I might walk them in the stroller if there are sidewalks