Car Seat laws in Orlando

[Stars In The Night]

Could I have a run-down of the current car seat laws in Orlando? We are looking at renting a car, so need to figure out carseats.
Also - can you rent carseats in Orlando? We are flying without them.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

I don't know about the car seat laws in Orlando, but AFAIK all car rental companies will rent out car seats. They are usually way overpriced, but I usually end up doing it anyway since I don't like lugging car seats across the country. I have only gotten convertible car seats thus far, they have always been Cosco Sceneras. The employees at the car rental places don't often know the difference between an infant car carrier vs. convertible vs. booster seat, so you may need to help them figure it out.

The other option I know if is to rent them from a place like Baby's Away, but you wouldn't have access to the seat to and from the airport.

Third option is to buy a new one while you are there. Cosco Sceneras are about $40 at Walmart. It's actually cheaper if you're there longer than 4-5 days. I've never done this, so I don't know what you would do with the thing after the trip though, maybe donate it to another DIS member.

 

[Gracie09]

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes...ute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.613.html

I would take your own and use them on the plane. That way you know they are safe and correctly fit your child. The laws concerning car seats may change state to state, but the laws of physics remain the same regardless of where you are in the US.

 

[aaarcher86]

You can also gate check your car seat for free.

 

[Bluegrrl]

Don't forget to buy a car seat bag! We check our seat with our luggage and use a cares harness. Since a cargo area of a plane is so dirty, no matter where you check your stuff, I feel like a bag protects my car seat from the dirt/scratches that it could get from rough handling. Ours is put together like a backpack, making it easy to haul around.

 

[Muskrat191]

A harnessed car seat can be used on the plane. This will ensure it is not damaged by baggage handlers (which would mean you would be stuck at the airport with no usable car seat for the rental car!) On our trip last month, my 4.5 year old and 2.5 year old used their car seats on the plane. We used bungee cords to attach the seats to a folding luggage cart to move the seats through the airport, and then stored the cart in the overhead bins. Installing on the plane was straightforward.

For kids under 40 lbs, the FAA does recommend (but doesn't require) a child restraint rather than the seatbelt alone.

 

[Stars In The Night]

We are flying from Canada, so it's $30 for the first bag, and $55 for each additional bag (per person). Do they charge for car seats and strollers?

 

[wilkeliza]

We are flying from Canada, so it's $30 for the first bag, and $55 for each additional bag (per person). Do they charge for car seats and strollers?

Check with your airline. Some do and some don't. Usually car seats and strollers don't count as long as the car seat and stroller bags only contain the car seat and stroller. Strollers are usually gate checked and thus free.

 

[msmama]

I've never flown an airline that considers carseats and/or strollers when counting for baggage fees. I pretty much fly SW and "above" so YMMV with discount airlines.

 

[kohlby]

We've only ever flown in the US. Every single airline we've flown does not charge for flying your carseats. Just make sure to tell them a carseat is in the bag if it's not obvious.

If your child is older but still needs a booster for safety, then we really liked the Bubble Bum for car travel. My 6 year old did slip a bit on it through, so I wouldn't recommend going any younger with that. (We had my 9 year old use it, but the 6 year old tried it out).

 

[pixie08]

They should not charge for carseats and strollers. We gate check our stroller and bring the carseat on the plane and use it. You can do this up to 4 years old I believe with no issue.I wouldn't gate check or carousel a car seat. Car seats can not tumble about they lose their integrity.

I wouldn't rent a carseat. Supposedly they get damaged from being stored and thrown around.