I haven’t posted in so long but I remember some of y’all were so nice and knowledgeable about car seats so taking a shot-
We are moving to NYC and I am planning on what to do about car seats. We won’t have a car and will rarely be driving. Are there safe car seats that are small and light we could keep in a closet for when we do rent a car?
LO 1 is 5 about 40lb and 42 in
LO2 is 3 about 30lb and 34 in
When LO2 grows a bit more is something like this safe?
Any other recommendations?
pear / 1697 posts
If I were in the city, I would choose the Chicco Fit2 infant-to-toddler seat. It works like other infant seats on the market that are usually outgrown somewhere between 8mos and 18mos, but this one fits most kiddos until somewhere between 2 and 3 years old. It will super quickly and easily install without the base and it will also click into a stroller. If there is a vehicle you would ride in semi-regularly (like a grandparent) they could install the base in their car so you just click in and out.
Another good choice would be using the Cosco Scenera Next from birth. It isn't an infant seat with a carry handle, but it does give even newborns a good fit. It is theoretically a combination seat that can be used both rear-facing and forward-facing, but the quirks of the seat mean that it actually lasts longer rear-facing than forward-facing. It will get most kids until somewhere between 2 and 4 years old. While it won't click into a stroller, it is *extremely* lightweight. Install is a little trickier than a baseless install of an infant seat, but still pretty easy once you've practiced a couple of times.
Once kiddo outgrows either of those seats, they should be old enough (minimum of age 2) to switch to a super compact forward-facing seat like the ImmiGo or the WAYB Pico. By the time you get to that point, there will probably be different and/or better options available.
A booster seat like the one you linked shouldn't be used unless/until the kiddo is at least 5 years old and has the maturity to sit up properly with the seatbelt appropriately positioned. For most typically developing kiddos, that maturity shows up somewhere between age 5 and 7. By the time you get to that point, there will probably be different and/or even better options available.
pear / 1697 posts
And for some reason most of your post didn't load and I thought you were looking for a seat for a newbie! Not very useful, sorry!
Lol. Well, in this case, I'd get an ImmiGo or Pico for #2. If your #1 is a mature enough to ride with a booster, there are some even more compact options that get a better belt fit -- the bubblebum is a great option.
pomegranate / 3983 posts
I would just use whatever car seats you already have....The bubblebum is what we use for travel and I have used the ride safer vest as well if you want to carry it around. But what was most useful for us was having the phone number of a car service that had car seats! Enjoy the city- we just left after 5 years and miss it!
nectarine / 2054 posts
@justjules: Hope your move goes smoothly! We're in NYC and have a 3 and 8 year old, and also don't have a car. We have two of these carseat vests: https://www.whizrider.com/ and use them for the rare times we are in a taxi / Uber. Our 3 year old is a little young for the vest, but it fits, she isn't too wiggly, and it's better than nothing (and we don't want to lug a carseat with us). Honestly we just use the subway more during the "awkward" years before a booster or vest is really suitable (pre-5 or so).
clementine / 830 posts
Welcome!! NYC will be glad to welcome you 
In my experience the Cosco Scenera Next is by far the most popular seat for this purpose. We've kept a single one for our use, and then if we get a Lyft/uber family, we can put our older LO in the Immi Go they have in the car and the younger in the Scenera Next. Also I've been impressed by the rental seat options when we've rented cars, FWIW.
nectarine / 2243 posts
So you have a few options (we live across the river from NYC and do have a car, but I wholly understand using ubers with the kids and also would never dream of using our bulky heavy carseats)
Do you want them both harnessed?
The easiest and most compact for the 5 yo is the bubble bum if you don't want to have LO1 harnessed. Its an inflatable booster and folds to about the size of a loaf of bread. The mifold sucks, skip that. My next suggestion would be the hi-fold (not harnessed), pico wayb (harnessed), or Immi Go (harnessed, ubers and NYC taxis use these).
For the 3 yo I'd look at the immi-go or pico wayb. You could also look at a more traditional travel car seat like the cosco finale. You won't get much use out of the scenera as your LO will outgrow it pretty quickly. I wouldn't use a belt positioning booster until closer to 5, and even then I prefer to have my kids harnessed if I have the choice.
Congrats on the move! We are just across the river in Hoboken. People say NYC is dead; it is anything but. The city is slowly coming back to life, nothing can ever kill that spirit.
apricot / 488 posts
Hi Everyone! Thanks for much for your responses (and I apologize for the delay- all of a sudden I had a few super busy days at work and coming back to this kept slipping my mind)
apricot / 488 posts
@Baby Boy Mom: our carseats are so heavy and bulky and take up so much storage space 
I do like the idea of having a favorite car service that provides car seats. We probably would only be renting when we do vacations to visit families so maybe this is the way we should go?
apricot / 488 posts
@Beehive: oh those vests look useful. We imagine using public transportation and rarely doing uber but I can see how they would be useful for those rare car rides. I love how small it is to store!
apricot / 488 posts
@nwm: I need to look more into rental cars. for some reason I totally forgot you could also rent car seats!
apricot / 488 posts
@Littlebit7: Hi! You probably don't remember but a few years ago when we moved to downtown Jersey City, I posted and you were so helpful in giving me advice! we have been here two years and are now just moving across the river 
Thats all super helpful. looks like the bubble bum has been recommended a few times. I love the pico wayb but trying to justify the cost (x2) if we only use it sometimes. I'll have to look into the Immi-go!
nectarine / 2243 posts
@justjules: yes! I definitely do! I knew your name was familiar but couldn’t place it.
You are probably getting a sweet deal moving to manhattan right now, too. Smart!!
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