I travel a lot with my two girls (3 year and almost 1 year) and I will not put either of my girls in a car (tax included) without proper car seats. The baby is not an issue since her car seat snaps into a stroller, but the older one is harder.
We bought a Sunshine Kids Radian car seat when she was a year old and generally like it but it is really heavy. Now that she is 3 and almost 30 lbs, I'm looking for suggestions for boosters that are easier to travel with. I want something lightweight and easy to carry with a 5-point harness.
Any suggestions? What do other mamas who take taxis a lot do with their preschoolers?
The minimum recommended for a booster is 4 and 40 lbs your 3 year old meets neither.
Look into Safety First Go Hybrid Booster. We still have our 4yr old in this seat. It is super light weight, folds up and comes with a carrying case. The only thing you have to worry about it to use the 5 pt harness you have to use the back anchor system. But I think almost all vehicles have those nowadays.
There is a 5 point harness car seat that has a handle and wheels. It was marketed as a way to travel even by planes and let your child have a seat and make it easier for parents. Sorry but i cant think of the name of it but i know you can find it online and in some stores like baby r us, target, walmart. Or there is attachable wheels and handle for about any car seat. I found results on onestepahead.com and bedbathandbeyond.com
Try onestepahead.com, as i have found alot of great ideas there before the stores have them.
You could use the car seat you have if you are set on keeping your girl in a 5 pt harness, and buy one of those carts that the seat fits on to and it becomes a "stroller" - GoGo Babyz Kidz Travelmate. They might be at Target or Amazon for $75? You would have to check if your seat fits it though. I think they must work, it has a pretty good review. I actually bought one, but never used it so can't give you feedback on it. We travel overseas a lot. I admit we don't use seats in taxi's but while overseas have a seat we leave with the family. On the aircraft we don't use carseats either. International airlines give you an infant seatbelt for children under 2, USA airlines do not when traveling domestically. Otherwise I don't know of a lightweight 5pt harness seat - maybe someone else will be able to help.
the Evenflo Maestro is a lightweight "Combination" seat (forward facing seat with 5-point harness that can be removed when the child reaches the harness's height/weight limit so the seat can be used as a belt-positioning booster) that would be easier to travel with. I know some Radian owners will fold it and use backpack straps to carry it so although it's heavy, it's not bulky.
This link has a couple useful suggestions:
http://carseatblog.com/6635/airplanes-carseats-and-kids—w...
We are flying into FLL in 2 weeks (cannot wait!) and we will need to get to Miami for a Cruise a few days later. I booked a van that will transfer us and requested 2 booster seats for our 3 and 6 year old.
