Quick car seat help

[Whereneverever]

We are prepping for a road trip. I have the kids three across in seats. My oldest is in a turbo booster, my middle is in a front facing Britax marathon, and my youngest is in a radian.

 

We switched the radian to forward facing ( he is turning two) and wow. It's straight up and down! There's no recline. I'm worried he won't be able to sleep in it.

 

I want him forward facing for this trip, but I need him to be safe and comfortable.

 

I have 20 inches of width for a seat. I need something I can buy in store at target or Walmart so I can get it in time to leave.

 

Do I want another Britax?

Something else?

 

Help!

[SonshineLearner]

Do you have a baby store? Maybe look at the seat you want to purchase, and then do it local? When are you leaving? (how many days?) Amazon Prime might get it there, fine :)

Here's the Britax spot to see exactly what you'd like.

PS, I think for the trip, it's just really so much easier to get a good fit with all carseats, instead of digging for the seatbelt. Just a thought... (but I'm crazy like that, my 8.5 year old is still in his Britax...)

[Whereneverever]

I'm leaving tomorrow. And I live in Wyoming. We don't have baby stores. :lol:

 

I'm really last minute with this!

[swellmomma]

Is there a reason you want him front facing? I think I would rather leave him rear facing if possible. I get it is it is due to not being able to squish all the seats in. That being the case maybe just switching the youngest and the middle for this trip (I am assuming the britax is still a 5 pt harness). The 4 yr old would be better suited to the positioning of the radian, where as the britax would have a gentle recline to aid with the youngst one falling asleep and still being safe and comfy.

 

I think I would jsut reconfigure who was using each seat rather than buy a whole new seat just for this trip.

 

And while on the topic of car seat safety, do you remove winter coats before buckling them up?

 

I know it is not relevant to what you asked other than buckling correctly with no winter gear on (or any other bulky clothing) is so much safer I try to mention it everytime someone is asking about car seat safety.

[Pretty in Pink]

I don't think you're going to find a 5 pt harness that will fit. They're all wider than 20". I can't see the ages of your kids -- could you put the 2yo in the Britax and the Britax child in the Radian? That's all I've got. Do you have to FF the 2yo for this trip?

[Tigger]

Can you put the radian in the center of the other seats, facing rear?

[abacus2]

Why not leave the seat rear-facing, at least for this trip? It should be more comfortable for travel and rear-facing ideally, for safety, would continue until the seat is outgrown. If you are sticking with forward facing, I would trade seats with the 4 year old. IME, forward-facing Radians are better for older, bigger kids than Marathons.

[Mom in High Heels]

I'm with the others, why turn it FF? If you must have it FF, switch the car seats of the youngest and the middle.

[~Tara~]

Agreeing with the switch option. Free, it fits...just swap kids for the trip :)

[jplain]

If you're set on turning FF, I agree with the suggestion to switch seats with the 4yo.

[LucyStoner]

My three year old sleeps just fine in his now FF Radian. It might work better than you think. Or else swap seats with the 4 year old. Or just leave him RF.

[Whereneverever]

I hadn't considered switching the two kids in the seats. Hmmm. I'd like him forward facing so he can watch movies with the other two. I'm facing about two thousand miles in the car on this trip, most of it while they are awake. I can't listen to him sob that long and I'm hoping forward facing will help.

 

Oh, and they never wear coats in their seats. Y

[Whereneverever]

Ok, seriously, I'm confused. The aap says he can switch at two. http://carseatblog.com/9452/rear-facing-until-2-years-old-why-not/

 

Blogs like this tell me two, as well. So why are all the suggestions just to keep him rf? It's not some unreasonable thing I'm doing by switching him, right?

[jennsmile]

Ok, seriously, I'm confused. The aap says he can switch at two. http://carseatblog.com/9452/rear-facing-until-2-years-old-why-not/

 

Blogs like this tell me two, as well. So why are all the suggestions just to keep him rf? It's not some unreasonable thing I'm doing by switching him, right?

 

Watch a

and see what happens to the rfing seat vs the FFing seat. That one has them so you can see both at the same time, don't put your Rfing child in the front seat. The longer they rearface the longer their spine is protected.

 

I switched my little one FFing at 2 1/2 due to a long car trip and him being on the brink of outgrowing the seat Rfing weight wise.

[jplain]

Ok, seriously, I'm confused. The aap says he can switch at two.

The AAP's most recent statement (April 2011) strongly urges parents to keep children rear-facing until at least age 2, but preferably until they've outgrown the seat in the rear-facing position by weight or height.

[Pretty in Pink]

Ok, seriously, I'm confused. The aap says he can switch at two. http://carseatblog.com/9452/rear-facing-until-2-years-old-why-not/

 

Blogs like this tell me two, as well. So why are all the suggestions just to keep him rf? It's not some unreasonable thing I'm doing by switching him, right?

 

And up until what, a year ago, the AAP said you could turn them at 1. Now they say 2. In many European countries RFing until 3, 4, or 5 is the norm and their crash statistics speak for themselves. Spinal injuries are greatly reduced with extended RFing. The AAP isn't going to jump from recommending 1 year to recommending 3 or 4 years because so many parents already balk at the idea of RFing past the age of 1.

 

I am sure that someone here can link you to the appropriate statistics. I no longer have them bookmarked.

 

Is it unreasonable to turn him? I wouldn't do it. Others will tell you that they have for various reasons and that their kids are just fine. I've seen people argue against wearing bike helmets or using infant seats on airplanes and argue that not doing so is safer right here on this forum. Rather than take anyone's word for it I suggest that when you have the time you do the research yourself and draw your own conclusions. (Not being snarky at all here...I'm in a hurry and I feel like that comes across as snotty and I'm not trying to be). :grouphug:

[AndyJoy]

I worried about DS not sleeping well in his Radian when we turned him FF, but he sleeps just fine with his head tilted to the side.

[Whereneverever]

I worried about DS not sleeping well in his Radian when we turned him FF, but he sleeps just fine with his head tilted to the side.

 

Good to know! Thank you.

[Whereneverever]

And up until what, a year ago, the AAP said you could turn them at 1. Now they say 2. In many European countries RFing until 3, 4, or 5 is the norm and their crash statistics speak for themselves. Spinal injuries are greatly reduced with extended RFing. The AAP isn't going to jump from recommending 1 year to recommending 3 or 4 years because so many parents already balk at the idea of RFing past the age of 1.

 

I am sure that someone here can link you to the appropriate statistics. I no longer have them bookmarked.

 

Is it unreasonable to turn him? I wouldn't do it. Others will tell you that they have for various reasons and that their kids are just fine. I've seen people argue against wearing bike helmets or using infant seats on airplanes and argue that not doing so is safer right here on this forum. Rather than take anyone's word for it I suggest that when you have the time you do the research yourself and draw your own conclusions. (Not being snarky at all here...I'm in a hurry and I feel like that comes across as snotty and I'm not trying to be). :grouphug:

 

You don't sound snotty. I'm just trying to weigh this out. All of my friends here have their toddlers in boosters already and I'm having a tough time reconciling that with what I'm seeing here. I already thought I was doing well by keeping him rf for two years instead of one. :confused:

[swellmomma]

Ok, seriously, I'm confused. The aap says he can switch at two. http://carseatblog.com/9452/rear-facing-until-2-years-old-why-not/

 

Blogs like this tell me two, as well. So why are all the suggestions just to keep him rf? It's not some unreasonable thing I'm doing by switching him, right?

 

You are not being unreasonable, it is just safer to continue with extended rear facing. It's like all parenting things we do what is best for our kids. The AAP recommends at least 2 yrs, but extending that further is safest. Since DS8's car accident I am even mroe uptight about this than I used to be. Up until a year or so ago the recommendation was age 1 and 20 lbs, before that was age 1 OR 20 lbs so there was babies as young as 6 months forward facing. As more research and knowledge of safe practices emerges the recommendations change. Who knows a year or 2 from now it maybe recommended to rear face until age 4 or 40lbs or something else. With my youngest I was the weirdo among my friends rear facing her until age 19 months. Now that is thought to be too young to FF.

 

If you feel that FF is safe for him and will make such a long journey better then do so, but I would then recommend switching the 2 like I said earlier. There is nothing unreasonable about wanting a peaceful trip or for feeling that since he is coming up on age 2 that he will be fine. There is just more and more parents that feel it safer to keep them RF.

[Whereneverever]

You are not being unreasonable, it is just safer to continue with extended rear facing. It's like all parenting things we do what is best for our kids. The AAP recommends at least 2 yrs, but extending that further is safest. Since DS8's car accident I am even mroe uptight about this than I used to be. Up until a year or so ago the recommendation was age 1 and 20 lbs, before that was age 1 OR 20 lbs so there was babies as young as 6 months forward facing. As more research and knowledge of safe practices emerges the recommendations change. Who knows a year or 2 from now it maybe recommended to rear face until age 4 or 40lbs or something else. With my youngest I was the weirdo among my friends rear facing her until age 19 months. Now that is thought to be too young to FF.

 

If you feel that FF is safe for him and will make such a long journey better then do so, but I would then recommend switching the 2 like I said earlier. There is nothing unreasonable about wanting a peaceful trip or for feeling that since he is coming up on age 2 that he will be fine. There is just more and more parents that feel it safer to keep them RF.

Thank you. I need to keep my 4 year old in the Britax I think, she needs the recline. She's special needs and having a tough time ATM and the last thing shed agree to woulda be switching seats. She loves her car seat!

 

That would make this all easier, though.

 

I think I'm going to put my little guy in a Nautilus.

[Mom in High Heels]

Indy was rfing until he was just under 4 IIRC. It is safer to keep them rfing because of the strength of their bones and muscled in the event of a collision. He never minded his legs being folded (and he was, and still is, ridiculously tall). When we finally turned him he didn't like that there was nowhere to prop his legs. :) After he outgrew his Britax Marathon, we moved him to the Britax...darn it, can't remember the name, but it is for older kids and was so big, I could almost sit in it. We moved him to a booster when he was 6 and a half. Yes, he rode in a 5 point harness until he was 6 1/2. He never minded. He's 9 and still in a booster because it's required by law here that kids are in boosters until they are 12yo or 4'11" whichever comes first.

 

Instead of turning your little one or buying a new car seat, is it possible to buy a second, cheap DVD player and let him watch different, younger kid movies? Or maybe just a second screen that plugs into your other player. We have one that has a plug for up to 2 additional screens When we traveled when he was younger and couldn't change the DVD, we kept the main player up front and gave him the extra screen so we could change the movie without having to do acrobatics. If you can get another screen or DVD player, he could rf and you could have the screen on the headrest so he can see too.

[hmvaughan4]

The Combi Corroco is a convertible seat that is very small. I'm not sure if they carry them at Walmart or Target, but it's worth a look!

[PeacefulChaos]

Ok, seriously, I'm confused. The aap says he can switch at two. http://carseatblog.com/9452/rear-facing-until-2-years-old-why-not/

 

Blogs like this tell me two, as well. So why are all the suggestions just to keep him rf? It's not some unreasonable thing I'm doing by switching him, right?

You're not being unreasonable. I think you are being perfectly reasonable. :) Your reasoning is the same as ours was when we switched DD.

 

And up until what, a year ago, the AAP said you could turn them at 1. Now they say 2. In many European countries RFing until 3, 4, or 5 is the norm and their crash statistics speak for themselves. Spinal injuries are greatly reduced with extended RFing. The AAP isn't going to jump from recommending 1 year to recommending 3 or 4 years because so many parents already balk at the idea of RFing past the age of 1.

 

I am sure that someone here can link you to the appropriate statistics. I no longer have them bookmarked.

 

Is it unreasonable to turn him? I wouldn't do it. Others will tell you that they have for various reasons and that their kids are just fine. I've seen people argue against wearing bike helmets or using infant seats on airplanes and argue that not doing so is safer right here on this forum. Rather than take anyone's word for it I suggest that when you have the time you do the research yourself and draw your own conclusions. (Not being snarky at all here...I'm in a hurry and I feel like that comes across as snotty and I'm not trying to be). :grouphug:

 

:iagree: with this, basically. I think that if you do the research yourself and make up your own mind, that's really the best way to do it. I've made car seat decisions that were not the greatest, and some of them were even poor decisions because I just didn't know any better. Now I do, (and I research things and am more enlightened on the car seat stuff than I ever was before, though I'm still not part of the strictest group of car seat aficionados) and I'm thankful that my kids were safe anyway. :tongue_smilie: But a researched decision is a good one, whatever you choose to do. :)

[~Tara~]

Did your Radian come with the infant inserts? The bigger body pillow, for infants, can be used as a head pillow for older children. That might help your little one. :)

 

And as the others have said, yes, the longer rear facing the better. But I don't think you're being completely unreasonable (or careless, or whatever else) for turning him. Even if you turn him for this trip, doesn't mean you can't continue to rear face him. :) I understand your reasons for wanting to forward face him for this trip. It's one of those...would I do it? probably not...but I regard that as a personal choice. You make YOUR decision. Would he be safer still rear facing? Yes. No doubt about that. But turning him forward facing isn't the end of the world either.

 

Anyway...

 

I also see good reason for not swapping children in seats. I have a child who isn't keen on seat swapping at times..and they have the same seat, just different colors. One is further back in the vehicle..so if one is riding with me, alone, I prefer they sit in the closer one, for my convenience. Not always up for negotiation! ;) But if you can avoid that conflict...oh yeah, I understand.

 

Honestly, a 2 yr old wouldn't be too bad off in a forward facing Radian. Like I said, if you have the insert for it, use it for him to rest his head. And it all may not be nearly as bad as you envision. :)

 

As much as I love the thrill of a new seat (car seat geek, sorry), I would rather not have to spend the money. Work with what you have first.

 

Try the Radian ff for the youngest. If that's really a 'no', then see about swapping. If that's a 'no', then maybe go ahead with that Nautilus purchase, though that's going to make things tight, especially for the one trying to buckle a booster (moreso depending on what the configuration is)

[Pretty in Pink]

I believe that the Nautilus is 23" wide at it's widest point, which is across the cupholders at the front of the seat as well as the 'wings' on the seat back. It may be just a bit more. It's a big seat. I remember measuring mine (I owned three of them) when shopping for a carseats last summer.

[ktgrok]

Thank you. I need to keep my 4 year old in the Britax I think, she needs the recline. She's special needs and having a tough time ATM and the last thing shed agree to woulda be switching seats. She loves her car seat!

 

That would make this all easier, though.

 

I think I'm going to put my little guy in a Nautilus.

 

At less than two I would NOT suggest the nautilus. I bought one last week for my just turned 2 year old and returned it the next day. It has little to no recline, and the headrest is weird and actually makes their head go forward towards their chest a big. I hated that. I returned it and got a First Years True Fit from walmart.com. However, it would be too big for you. If you like a lot of recline I would highly suggest the Graco My Ride. It goes forward or rear facing and has more recline than most seats. Great cupholders too.