Integrated Car Seats

[disneymom3]

Hi we just bought a new car(well, used) and today while we were out taking it for a drive and letting the kids enjoy the thrill of having a DVD player in our car, we discovered that it has an integrated car seat. Actually two!

My question is have you used them and how comfy are your kids in them? My main issue is that we are going to be driving to WDW in a month and will be driving through the night. Of course, DS will be sleeping and in his carseat, he will lean to the side a bit and rest his head. The sides of the integrated seat do not come up as high so I am wondering how well this will work.

His regular carseat is the Britax marathon which is a beast of a car seat and takes up so much space. He is over 40 lbs and is 4 years old but will be in a carseat. He can't do the booster with a seatbelt because he won't be still enough. I did check and the integrated seat is rated up to 50 lbs. To not have to bring that Marathon would be a beautiful thing. In fact, we discovered that both of the older two cannot see the DVD from the back because they cannot see over his seat and while I have never seen the need for one, if we are playing a movie, clearly everyone needs to be able to see.


Soooooo have you used one for your kids and how comfy were they? Were they able to sleep and did you take any long trips?

 

[tjmw2727]

I don't know much about them except that my cousin who is a firefighter dosen't like them. He feels they make it more difficult to get to a child in an emergency. Hopefully we won't have to deal with that kind of emergency but its something to consider.

I was doing a google for someone else on carseats - fwiw - a friend wanted to save a few and buy a used CRS and I was trying to "help her decide otherwise" and offered to help her with the purchase if it made a difference. Anyway I thought of that when I saw your post because I saw came across this recall list when finding info on pros and cons of used CRS's. Maybe it can be helpful for you in making your decision.

TJ

 

[WantToGoNow]

Our previous vehicle had them and I used them quite often for short trips for my 4 y/o. On longer trips (more than 30-45 minutes) he would start complaining that his legs hurt. Instead of hanging over like a carseat, they basically go straight out. I don't think he would have ever made a long trip on one of them. Also, when he went to sleep, there were no "wings" like a carseat to help his head from bobbling around. Like I said, we used them for short outings, but the back seat of the van had their carseats for longer trips.

 

[disneymom3]

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. Maybe I will try having him in it for shorter jaunts and see how that goes.

I am not sure about the reference to the recall list, tjmw. I have done a search on them and most of what I am finding say they actually rate a lot higher in crash tests then reg carseats. Do you know how they make it more difficult for the rescue personnel to get them out?

Thanks!

 

[Sandcass]

We had them in our last Dodge Caravan and LOVED them. I think they're rated as safer because most people put car seats in wrong, and these are already attached, no chance of improper installation. My kids sat in them for short & long rides and never complained about being uncomfortable.

 

[SueM in MN]

My SIL had them in her van and kept them until the kids were too big for them. She really liked them and her kids didn't complain about them, but I don't think she took any long trips.
I'm not sure why a rescue person would think they would make it more difficult to get a child out in an emergency. I would think if it did, that would be reflected in the ratings.

 

[tjmw2727]

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. Maybe I will try having him in it for shorter jaunts and see how that goes.

I am not sure about the reference to the recall list, tjmw. I have done a search on them and most of what I am finding say they actually rate a lot higher in crash tests then reg carseats. Do you know how they make it more difficult for the rescue personnel to get them out?

Thanks!

My cousin liked the option of (God forbid) removing the entire seat if necessary as well as just cutting or removing the straps to remove the child. His feeling was that in the chance of a head, neck or back injury he would remove the entire CRS therefore moving the child less. Again - that is just one firefighters opinion.

I had come across that recall list looking for something else so if your vehicle isn't on the recall list that's good - I am glad.

TJ

 

[disneymom3]

We had them in our last Dodge Caravan and LOVED them. I think they're rated as safer because most people put car seats in wrong, and these are already attached, no chance of improper installation. My kids sat in them for short & long rides and never complained about being uncomfortable.

Thanks, I was thinking the same thing about the installation issues. Glad to hear your kids were fine for longer rides too.

tjmw--that makes sense. Thanks for the explanation. We don't ever want to think about those situations but obviously that is why we try to protect our kids in the first place so it is good to see it from both sides. My nephew and BIL are police officers so I will ask their opinion too.

 

[mjmcca]

I only had then in a rented car once and i loved it cause i didn't have to rent an additional car seat ( only brought one seat and was going to rent the other as i was traveling alone with the kids)

 

[kiddoc]

We used the integrated car seat for DD3 last year in our rental van at WDW. As above, it wasn't a long trip, but we absolutely LOVED it! DD really liked the seat -- I think she felt like a "big girl" -- and fell asleep in the van several times on short jaunts around the WDW property without any problems. Wish my vehicle had these, but I can't give up my SUV for the minivan just for the carseats!