Car Seat Gurus/CPS Techs: Booster Seat for Travel Question

[KristinU]

OK, here's our situation: my DS will be 4 in January and is currently 40" and 42 lbs. We're traveling for his birthday in January to Disney World, where we're meeting up with my parents who live in FL. We have a Radian that we travel with, so that will come with us, but DS will probably be staying over with my parents in their RV at Fort Wilderness a couple of the nights we're there and I can forsee the need for a seat in their car as well. I was thinking that a belt-positioning booster may be the way to go since my parents then can have it for future use in years to come as well. DS is a good rider in the car and I think he's mature enough to sit correctly for the probably 10-15 minute intervals that he'll be in this seat. He takes safety very seriously - so I think he'd see this as a good assignment he could arise to. (our little cop!)

Which brings me to seat selection if we go with a BPB: What are the thoughts on the Graco Turbobooster vs. The Fisher Price Safe Voyage Booster? Is the Safe Voyage a Britax made one like their other seats? That makes me partial to the FP, but is there a reason I shouldn't be so quick to dismiss Graco or any of the other brands? Albee Baby has the FP booster for 39.99, so that looks like an awesome price to me...thoughts, suggestions???

TIA!

 

[Minniemouse07]

Either booster should be fine.

If you are ordering online I would have them ship it straight to your parent's house so they can take it with them in their car as opposed to you packing it.

 

[tinkandpan]

I have had both the turbo booster and the britax one (i think it was the comfy starriser or something like that). I am actually partial to the graco one (which surprised me since I am a britax woman!). I think it does a great job for what it does.

 

[KristinU]

Thanks for the responses!

Minniemouse07 - that's exactly what we plan to do - either order and ship to my parents or give them a make/model and have them pick it up locally.

Tinkandpan - you're right, from what I'm finding the FP is the old Starriser. Can you tell me more about what you liked better about the Graco?

Thanks so much!

 

[tinkandpan]

I thought the back of the Graco stayed in place a lot easier. If you moved the britax on around, it wiggled a lot and snapped off (this wouldn't be such an issue if you don't take it from car to car, but we do a lot of carpooling etc). Also, the base of the Graco is wider so it seems a little roomier to me. It also has a cupholder (not such a huge bonus safety wise but...). It just seemed like a sturdier piece. I also thought for the job they do, which is essentially to raise the location of the seatbelt, they don't really do side impact etc (unless you buy the special britax one) that for the price, there was no need to buy the Britax.