Can you handle two more unrelated car seat questions?

[Eman'smom]

We are flying to the east coast early next year, me and the two kids.

1. My mom has a newer Suburu Forester (2004 I think, maybe a 5). I've been back before when both kids were in Marathons, but now that ds is in a Regent, will a Regent and a Marathon both fit in it? I remember it was tight last time but there was still a little space.

2. What is the best way to check the carseats? Last time I checked ds's seat in a standard carseat bag (which I'm now reading isn't the safest thing) and carried on dd seat. This time I plan on checking both seats. It was just way too hard to travel alone with two kids for that long a distance while carrying a carseat through an airport.

At the time of travel Ds will be 3 weeks shy of 6 and dd will be over 3.5.

We also have a highback Evenflo booster that we keep in Dh's car as a back-up emergency seat for him that I could bring instead of the Regent but for many obvious reasons I'd feel much safer with his Regent.

[moms3kids]

is it possible to get 1 new seat??? if that's not out of the question you could look into a radian it's a great travel seat, folds neat, the bag will carry on your back through the airport, ect. you could take it for you older child it's much more narrow and not a heavy as the regent...
OR
if you do take both, how are you going to carry 2 car seat and 2 kids to the check counter?? will someone help you? i worry about checking seats, it worries me how much they could be droped, threw around, ect. but putting them in a stanard car seat bag is good...

[Eman'smom]

How would one new seat help with 2 kids? Maybe I'm missing something.

Dh would get me to the gate checked in. My mom would be on the other side. I've flown before alone with the two kids and their carseats (carry on)and it's not fun to put it mildly. This time since they are older I plan on checking the seats. My current thought was trying to find a really big box to check them in.

Yeah I'm not keen on the checking them in just a regular car seat bag given the possible damage they would encounter.

[moms3kids]

I guess that would work out then, i was thinking the radian would be a lot less space then the regent, for the checking the, and for getting them in your moms car, but i'm pretty sure the regent and a marathon would fit, i can't see them not unless it's a tinny two door so something, there will prolly be NO room for another passanger back there, but i think both seats would work. I just though the radian might save some space, weight, but i think that it would work with the others too w/ help...
is there a limit on the size of things you are checking? might check that out before you get one big box for both of them, then fill it with stuff it with something to keep them from getting to ruffed up... but i know i got my parkway shipped to me via usps and it was in perfact shape...

[Eman'smom]

Thanks I don't know if there are demension requirements the weight is 50 pounds per piece.

There was not enough space in the second row with just two marathons so I'm not expecting ANY space with the Regent. But I'm thinking it should fit. As an aside I was surpirsed last time we visited how small the Forester was inside.

Thanks for your responses, I don't want to damage the seats, but I also want the trip to be as stress free as possible. Last time I called dh from O'hare airport near tears saying how I would leave the children there and fly home alone It was that bad with all the stuff, and that isn't an experience I want to repeat.

[mbhf]

if the forester is the same width wise as a legacy, those seats should fit fine.

how big are your kids? i don't fly, so i don't know about checking seats, but if your younger child would fit in a scenera or another similar seat and you would be comfortable with your older child in a booster, you could spend $100 or so (or i guess have your mom do it before you arrive) and get seats for using in her car.

i know i wouldn't want to travel with two big seats, and the regent isnt approved for air trael anyway, so i would check them if you couldn't get two safe seats to keep with your mom.

[Eman'smom]

Yeah I know about the Regent and aircrafts, we didn't buy the seat until ds was almost 5 and figured by that he'd be ok traveling without a carseat.