concerned about booster seat in rental

[momtojoshua2002]

We're going overseas in about 4 weeks and we'll be bringing DD's Roundabout for the flight and the rental car. (she's 15 months). We were planning on renting a booster seat for DS (4.5 yrs old) but I just checked with Avis and they only have the boosters without a back in Sweden. They have a few with the back but it's not guaranteed that they have those, plus, we're going during high season too. DS is currently in his Marathon. He's about 41-42 inches tall and weighs 38-39 Ibs.

Should I be concerned about having him in a backless booster? He's never used the seat belt in the car before --- only the harness that comes with his carseat. I have a Volvo V70 and it's got integrated booster seats but I was going to wait with using them for him until he's about 5-6 yrs old. So he's never even been in a real booster chair.

DH and I will be hauling the following between us --- 3 large suitcases, stroller, DD's Roundabout (I'm getting the gogo kidz), one packpack for carry on, one messenger for carry on. We'll be having DS carry his own smaller backpack as a carry on, and we'll be checking the stroller with the luggage. Dulles Airport has all these shuttles etc, so it's not even worth doing hte gate check.

The concern is if I should be worried about using the regular seat belt on DS in that booster chair, then I have to take his Marathon with us (check it), but it's just another thing to carry. At this point, we don't have enough arms as it is.

What should I do??.......

I saw this thing online last night about this harness thingy that goes on, that eliminates the need for a booster all together. Anyone tried that? It's not for use in conjunction with a backless booster, though.

TIA
~Ida

[Momof3Labs]

Does the rental agency GUARANTEE that you'll even get a backless booster (most do NOT)? Since you are going in high season, I'd plan to bring something so that you aren't left without anything for him. The Ride Safer travel vest is one option that Joolsplus2 talks about, was that what you saw online? How much driving will you be doing there?

[momtojoshua2002]

Yes, I will be able to get a booster for sure. The question is which kind. (At least that's what I've been told)..... (We've rented a car seat for DS twice before and haven't had a problem).

And yes, that vest is the Ride Safer Travel vest. I just couldn't think of the name before. :o) I'm wondering if I should get that, but I want to read more feedback. I'll do a search here and see what I can find, I guess.

We won't be doing too much driving once we get to our final destination. But we'll have a 6 hour trip from Stockholm up north to my parent's place (we'll stop half-way there to visit my brother). Once we get there and for the majority of hte time, we'll be just hanging out in this village (literally!) where my parents live. We may do a trip into the nearest city, but we'll just be hanging out for hte most part, local trips, etc. (The roads up ther are one lane in each direction). But then we have the same trip before we go home, where it's a good 6 hour drive. We'll stay with my friend who lives near the airport the night before we go home, but we decided this time NOT to go into Stockholm, etc.

I guess the question is too --- does that vest qualify as a carseat/booster seat, or can they technically give you a ticket for not having an actual car/booter seat??? That's a question for use in the U.S as well.....

[SusanMae]

If you take his MA, you can take it on board for him to use...you'd just have to get another go-go or strap it to a luggage rack. Maybe strap it to a luggage rack and let him push/pull it. That would be a very big boy thing to do to help mommy and daddy.

If you're worried about a booster, here's an idea. Get a High Back Turbo booster. Use it at home a couple times to make sure he can do it properly. The Turbo can be stored in 2 peices. Put the back in a suitcase. Then put the bottom in a carry on. That way if your luggage gets lost then you at least have the backless booster to use.

Susan

[postmodernmommy]

What about the new Compass B510 highback booster that folds for travel? You can even purchase a carrying bag for it to go into. You could check it through if you have room to check another bag.

I haven't seen one yet in person, I ordered mine last week and it hasn't arrived yet. I have high hopes for it as a travel booster for my 4 yr old who is normally harnessed in her Britax Regent.

Just a thought.

Amy :)

[momtoB]

I thought that the minimum weight for a backless bpb was 40lbs. That is what I would be concerned about. I would get the Ride Safer Vest or Turbobooster. I just wouldn't feel comfortable relying on a rental car agency for something like that.

[momtojoshua2002]

I was doing some research last night and DH and I were discussion what to do. We're torn between hte Ride Safer Vest and the Radian......it supposedly only weighs 20 Ibs??? That one folds too so we could get a bag for it and check it.

BUT.....is it worth the $200??? (And I don't mean "is our son's safety worth $200", but rather, would the vest protect him just as well so is that a better investment, considering it's $100....)

Oh, and yes, I'm concerend about hte weight too. But after talking to the rental people, we'd get stuck with the same type seat as before, which is like a Roundabout, and he's too tall for that. So the more i think about it, the more i HAVE to bring something for him.

[momtojoshua2002]

ok, to clarify my last paragraph....... :o) IF we opted not to get a backless booster, the only thing htey have is a seat that is like the Roundabout. We had it last time (2 yrs ago) and at that time, it was perfect. Perfectly installed when we picked up the car (remember, the Swedes promote RF until at least 3 yrs of age, so they are pretty good about infant/toddler safety --- no sure what happens beyond age 3-4.....), and fairly new.