Car Seat Option for Traveling parents...

[francine]

Found this in the new One step catalog now called Leaps and Bounds....
if you have the catalog it is found on page 12 right in the middle...

Tote'N Go Portacle Car Seat $29.95 item 08107

here's what it says:

never get caught without a car seat again! This portable travel vest is ideal for vacations, taxis, and carpools and makes a greats econd car seat for gransparents and caregivers. Converts ordinary seat belts into an instant five point safety harness. machine washable, with a badded backrest and impact absorbing stress plate. Weighs just 4 lbs. meets all auto safety standards. For kids 25-40 pounds.

I didn't check their site yet but the url is
http://www.leapsandboundscatalog.com

[browning93]

I also saw this new item at Walmart last Saturday when I was there shopping for my new nephew.I checked it out thoroughly and looks to be a great idea.I believe it may have been a couple of dollars cheaper there ,too!LeeAnne

[Kristie]

I haven't actually seen this seat but I think I know what you are talking about. I would suggest that you try it out before actually expecting it to work. Actually we really recommend this with all car seats becuase not ever car seat is compatible with each car.

I have worked on a seat like the one mentioned and it was a real pain to get in correctly. But that may have just been the car we were trying to install it into.

I will try to look into it further and see what I come up with!
Kristie

[browning93]

This is more like a foam and cloth restraint that has a 5 point harness and hooks up to the existing seat belts in ANY car.It's not a hard seat and it folds up neatly to fit in any bag. It';s not something you would want to use permanently but for travel it would be super and is still safe.

[Georgeann P]

I have been told by American Airlines that this seat does not meet airline safety requirements. I looked into this when getting ready to fly to Texas for the Mod-quad.

[Kristie]

I did go to Wal-Mart to look at the seat but they did't have a "floor model" out. I saw the picture and it is the seat style that I have worked with before.

Most all car seats are designed to be use with the existing seat belts. But this does not mean that it will fit ANY car seat belt. There are a varity of reasons why a seat can be imcompatible with a vehicle. The reason I say "most all" is because very soon car seat will be able to be installed with new components that don't require the use of the vehical seat belts... of course you would need a new car and a new car seat (when they come out) to do this but hey it's progress!

I am encouraging people to make sure this seat or any seat they want to buy actually fits into the car before planning to use it. There is nothing more frustraing than trying to install a seat just before you plan to use it and finding out that it doesn't work right in your car.

Blessings,
Kristie

[francine]

Kristie - but since this is a travel model - I would think that this might be made in a somewhat generic fashion? I do agree that parents check it out and try it out at home before going away. Actually - the parents need to also see how much the straps can expand as to fit a splint under them.

-francine

[francine]

here's one more I found...but this one says clearly that it's not for use in an airplane...

http://store.yahoo.com/perfectlysafe/travelvest.html

[Kristie]

Actually the hope of all car seat companies is that their seats will work in all cars... meaning that they are made to fit the basics of the car. It is just that since many models of cars have different "bells and whistles" it is really impossible to fit each seat into every car. Which is why they are going to this new "latch" type method so that there is a more universal fit and approach when installing a car seat into the cars.

The issue that I recall from this particular style of seat is that it was very hard to get the seat to tighten up meaning that there was more than an inch of movement after the seat had been installed. The second seat that you showed a link to appears that it would be easier to install since the belt path is in a good location. But I can't say for sure... Like I said before there are many issues as to why a seat might not fit well. Trying a different location might work. Things like how many other seats you are installing play a part as well. They type of seat belt you are working with and it's "locking" mechinism is an issue... I could go on and on but I think you get the point.

I am in no way saying that these seats are not a good option they very well may be! I would certinaly consider one for my kids because it is a pain to lug around the regular seats. I just knew that I had trouble with one once... enough trouble that we had to recommend the parnet get a different seat... I wanted to encourage parents to be sure to try it out.

I am not trying to be a know it all or bossy and have in no way intended to offend or come off as anything other than someone that wants to share info! And I hope that is what I have done!

Kristie

[Paula]

Kristie, these new car seats, do they anchor to the vehicles floorboard? I think i read something about them. I thought it was a great idea and safer also.
---Paula