Car Seats?

[Heather98012]

My dd will be 3 1/2 when we fly to get on the boat. I'm pretty sure she will need a carseat when on the plane & if so, we'll use it if we rent a car to get to the terminal or if we hire a car service. But...where do you store it when on board?!?! I'm assuming there isn't THAT much room in the closet, etc.

What have you guys done with your car seats? Or am I misinformed & we won't need one? Thanks in advance....

 

[Debbie H]

There is no place to store them except in your room. If you have a rental car, keep it in there, otherwise you'll have no choice. I think my daughter put it under the vanity and moved the stool under it.

 

[Kruegs]

What have you guys done with your car seats? Or am I misinformed & we won't need one? Thanks in advance....

I'm fairly confident that car seats are not required on airplanes.

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

Car seats aren't REQUIRED on airplanes, but they are recommended. As for a car service, the one we rented from Sun Ray Transportation, provided one for us (ours was a booster, but they had the option of a car seat). If you are concerned about space, you might consider flying without one and using either a towncar service that DOES offer one or renting one through your car rental. I believe AAA car rentals come with a free car seat? (Haven't had personal experience with this, but a friend of mine does that all the time.)

Two other options for storage: the closet is deep enough to put it in there or perhaps you could fit it under the bed.

It might be worth purchasing a lighterweight--while still safe--seat. We purchased a Cosco Touriva for DS specifically for travel and for use in DH's car. It wasn't as plush as our Britax, but it was a heckuva lot narrower and lighterweight.

Good luck!

mk

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I wouldnt use a car seat with my 3.5 yo on the plane unless she was really really small. My girls were uncomfy as they were approaching 4 with that.

We are traveling with 2 cabins so car seat will be "stowed" in some spot with minimal traffic in our cabin.

I haven't decided if we are taking it on the Disney boat--it is definitely coming with us on the Carnival boat though.

I have heard of folks using the bathtub (after it is dried) when not in use to store a car seat.

I saw a light weight car seat in a magazine today---cannot remember the name. But it is a car seat designed for travelers---light weight and 5 point harness and it was $200. i think it might have folded or something, I can't remember. If I remember which magazine I saw it in, I will post it. But it could work in a pinch for portability and stoability (I think it said it could fit in an overhead bin of an airplane).

 

[yndygo]

you can always opt for something like this for travel:

it's called a 'popup booster' and is good for those types of situations.

That said, the airlines don't require boosters - we used a car seat on planes until DD turned 4, then started checking it.

We don't take one on the boat.

 

[flexsmom]

Both my kids moved to a booster with a back when they were around 3, and none of the ones we had were authorized for airplanes - nor would they have really tolerated being in a full car seat anymore, just for a plane.

If your 3 1/2 year old is very small and in a full regular car seat still, then I would use it on the plane.

If not, I'd skip it and if you rent a car or do a car service, you can borrow a booster rom the rental agency (many will provide them free these days).

 

[HLAuburn]

I fly (alone) with DD 3 quite a bit, and there's no way I could drag around her big Britax carseat. She sits in her airplane seat just fine, and understands she has to sit with her seatbelt on. The seatbelts always fit snug on her. We just make sure we have a carseat when we get to where we are going. Carseats aren't required on airplanes, a lot of people recommend you have one, but I think its your choice. Then take the DCL bus, private car with a carseat, or rent a car with one.

Somewhat off topic, but I would NOT put ANY 3 year old in a booster.

 

[Debbie H]

Somewhat off topic, but I would NOT put ANY 3 year old in a booster.

I agree. According to Florida state law, it requires children under age 5 to be protected with an approved and properly used child restraint device. For children under 3, Florida law requires that they be in a separate car seat or a car seat that is integrated into the vehicle. Most states have a height and weight requirement for boosters.

 

[RCBA]

We stored ours in the bottom of the closet. We put our luggage under the bed so it really wan't in the way at all.

 

[tvguy]

The closet, the tub and the verandah are popular storage places for car seats.
Just realize, if you take an excursion, many taxis don't have seatbelts in the Caribbean, so there likely wouldn't be a way to secure a car seat on an excursion.

I just heard somewhere that here in California now kids 4' 9" and less need to be in a booster seat. Heck, I work with an ADULT who isn't that tall, and she drives!!! Never looked to see if she has a booster seat.

 

[Heather98012]

I agree. According to Florida state law, it requires children under age 5 to be protected with an approved and properly used child restraint device. For children under 3, Florida law requires that they be in a separate car seat or a car seat that is integrated into the vehicle. Most states have a height and weight requirement for boosters.

In WA, we just changed the laws this summer. Now kids under 8 years of age, or shorter than 4'9" have to be in a car seat or booster. And actually. most moms I know are skipping booster seats, & just getting car seats that have a 5 point harness & accomodate up to 60 lbs. It's amazing we ever survived, eh? But, definately...better safe than sorry!

I need to do more research on the plane thing. My dd is very thin, but very tall for her age, so she may get annoyed with a car seat on a plane. Then again, she'll be in one for a long time to come, so she may not care.

Have any of you seen, or used, those harnesses that attach to the seat belt on an airline plane? Those may be a good option instead.

 

[Heather98012]

TVGuy....LOL. The 4'9" rule is to ensure the lap belt hits at the hips, & doesn't ride up onto someone's tummy....which can do damage to internal organs. But yes....what about vertically challenged adults?

 

[flexsmom]

HLAUburn - Sorry, and but I feel it necsessary to respond, although I shouldn't - my then 40 lb, 40" 3-year old (who was nearly 4 at the time, but I didn't feel it necessary to defend myself at the time - nor should I feel it necessary now, but such a sweeping statement just bothers me a bit) was more than appropriately seated in my car in my "booster" - with a back on it - which was a fully separate and installed seat in our car. Thanks for the concern, but we visited our fire station regularly and ensure our kids are properly restrained, not only in accordance with our state law, but also iaw safety standards regardless of the law.

Please don't judge based on your interpretation of what I meant by "booster".

 

[mjkacmom]

HLAUburn - Sorry, and but I feel it necsessary to respond, although I shouldn't - my then 40 lb, 40" 3-year old (who was nearly 4 at the time, but I didn't feel it necessary to defend myself at the time - nor should I feel it necessary now, but such a sweeping statement just bothers me a bit) was more than appropriately seated in my car in my "booster" - with a back on it - which was a fully separate and installed seat in our car. Thanks for the concern, but we visited our fire station regularly and ensure our kids are properly restrained, not only in accordance with our state law, but also iaw safety standards regardless of the law.

Please don't judge based on your interpretation of what I meant by "booster".

I agree - my twins were in boosters when they were 3, and fit the weight requirement of the booster seats. They did not wiggle out of or move the seatbelt. 8 and 80 here in NJ, and my 2 older children had to meet both of those requirements before they were allowed not to use a booster.

 

[HLAuburn]

HLAUburn - Sorry, and but I feel it necsessary to respond, although I shouldn't - my then 40 lb, 40" 3-year old (who was nearly 4 at the time, but I didn't feel it necessary to defend myself at the time - nor should I feel it necessary now, but such a sweeping statement just bothers me a bit) was more than appropriately seated in my car in my "booster" - with a back on it - which was a fully separate and installed seat in our car. Thanks for the concern, but we visited our fire station regularly and ensure our kids are properly restrained, not only in accordance with our state law, but also iaw safety standards regardless of the law.

Please don't judge based on your interpretation of what I meant by "booster".

I admit, my interpretation of "booster" does not include a 5 point harness, so in my opinion, no 3 or 4 year old should be in any "booster". You didn't mention if your booster has a point harness, but if it doesn't, I stand by my statement. Regardless of a child's size or your state's laws or what the fire station says, a 5 point harness is the best way to protect your child. I don't let other people (lawmakers, firemen, or my child) make decisions about her safety. She'll be in a carseat until I am comfortable with her moving to something else. In my opinion, just because a carseat or booster meets the safety standards does not mean its the safest option for the child.

I know this is a heated topic, and I'm sorry you felt the need to defend yourself. I know serveral car rental companies and town car services suggest a booster is fine for kids 3 years old, so I was simply stating to the OP that I (personally) would not put my 3 y.o. in a booster, as I'm sure the "boosters" that they offer are not a 5 point harness design.

 

[professorandmom]

No booster seats can be used on planes (the crew will not/should not let you) because they are designed to make sure the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder and not the neck - since airplanes only have lap belts, there is no need for a booster seat.

Most airlines inspect the seat to make sure it has the sticker which states approval for aircraft. This is necessary because not all seats will work with lap belts only.

Good luck
Barb

 

[Heather98012]

Ok, so it's a bit off my original posting, but here's a funny fact:

In some European countries, children up to the age of 9 must ride REAR FACING in a car seat. Seriously...how is that even physically possible?!

 

[mjkacmom]

I admit, my interpretation of "booster" does not include a 5 point harness, so in my opinion, no 3 or 4 year old should be in any "booster". You didn't mention if your booster has a point harness, but if it doesn't, I stand by my statement. Regardless of a child's size or your state's laws or what the fire station says, a 5 point harness is the best way to protect your child. I don't let other people (lawmakers, firemen, or my child) make decisions about her safety. She'll be in a carseat until I am comfortable with her moving to something else. In my opinion, just because a carseat or booster meets the safety standards does not mean its the safest option for the child.

I know this is a heated topic, and I'm sorry you felt the need to defend yourself. I know serveral car rental companies and town car services suggest a booster is fine for kids 3 years old, so I was simply stating to the OP that I (personally) would not put my 3 y.o. in a booster, as I'm sure the "boosters" that they offer are not a 5 point harness design.

It's great to have the option of a 5 point harness if you only have 1 child. However, for the many of us who have more than one children (in my case, 5), switching to a booster means that it is feasible to carpool with other parents. Not only can I easily remove boosters for carpools involving my 9 and 11 year olds, I can easily remove boosters and put them in other vehicles for my 6 year old, or 4 year old twins (and with 5, I do need to do this frequently). I'd rather have the little ones in booster (and they know to sit still and not move the belts, plus they're tall), than have to put them into other vehicles without a booster, because I didn't have them. Different families have different needs.

 

[aprilgail2]

It will fit just fine in the closet. I have put it in the closet and other times I have left it in the parking lot in the rental car but we always had it on the plane. Even at 5 years old she was in the 5 point harness on the airplane.