Carseat for long trips that require sleeping?

Question

We are about to embark on an eight hour trip this coming weekend and my three year old son is going to need to be sleeping (we are driving overnight). Anyway, we often make three hour trips to visit his Grandma and when he falls asleep, he is generally falling forward or to the side and it looks very uncomfortable. I bought him a travel pillow, but it doesn't seem to help. And his car seat is completely unadjustable.

When I was a child, we just slept across the backseat (when seat belts weren't really enforced). But that is not an option. Does anyone have any advice or techniques to make him more comfortable during the long drive - that are also safe? Or even know of a child booster/car seat that is more comfortable for long trips? Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

I have the Graco SafesSeat. It is great to travel with. When I bought it last year, it was the only seat that you could recline without having to uninstall and reinstall the seat. There is a lever at the bottom that allows the seat to recline into 3-4 different positions. When Frances falls asleep we change the recline to keep her head from falling forward.

It is a moderately priced seat (around $129). The safety ratings were very very similar to the Britax seats.

There is one drawback. Because it reclinces it is a rather large seat. We have a van and it fits perfectly fine, but I don't think we could have put it in our Impala and definitley not in our PT Cruiser.

Answer 2

We travel often with our kids and I have found that the Britax Marathon is by far the best.  It is very easy to install and remove and is spacious for the kid.  Both my 17 month and my 3 1/2 yr. old have this car seat.  You can recline the actual car seat in about 3 different positions and we keep ours reclined as far back as it will go.  Some vehicles also allow you to recline the back seat and if yours does, reclining the actual car seat a notch or two helps.  Also, don't know if you use a dvd player but it really helps with the ride.  Lolly pops are a lifesaver when the kids have just had enough driving!

Answer 3

http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/product...

Answer 4

My 5 year old has slept very comfortably in her Britax Marathon during long and short trips.

Answer 5

Our 3 yr old has a graco with very cushie foam. It came with cup holders and snack holder and it had a red adjustable lever underneath. We tilt it forward and it tilts the carseat back. it also came with head support but not the kind that went all around the head. The closest one I could find on the graco website was Platinum CarGo™ Booster Car Seat. It's $100 but will grow with him when he needs just a booster seat! Good luck. Bring audio books and lots of snacks! Best wishes!

BTW, the carseat fits in airplane seats with the cupholders detached. If you ever fly somewhere...

Answer 6

Is there a head rest attached to the seat where the carseat is? If so, move it all the way up or remove it completely. Sometimes the head rest pushes the car seat forward just enough that their heads flop forward. If you take it out, the seat should go back just enough.

You can also try one of those u-shaped neck pillows.

Answer 7

we have looked at the graco junior maxi, (or maxi junior), it reclines although not sure how much, as haven't bought it yet, daughter tried in shop, said was comfortable.( i am in the UK)we have maxi cosi priori xp at moment and this reclines, daughter sleeps fine in it.

Answer 8

I'm only 11 yrs old, but i have alot of travel experiance. I live in TN and my parents are divorsed, and my mother lives in KY. Thats 3 hours away. My relatives live in SC. Thats about 10 *the way we go* hours away. The beach; 12 hours away. And in about 4 weeks, we are moving to Apharetta, GA. Thats 6 hours away.

My advice : this may sounds surprising.. but i would actually let him be. If he was that uncomfortable, he would move in his sleep.. probally. If it starts to look really bad... maybe take a break and check into an hotel??