5-yr-olds and booster seats

[snickerboo]

Did you take a booster seat for a rental car for your five-year-old? I'm not renting one with the car because I can buy a cheap new one at the Walmart cheaper! (maybe we should start a booster seat share!) LOL I checked with AirTran and they say that infant seats can go on the plane but not boosters since they're not FAA regulated. I'm pretty sure the booster laws in FL are very different from here where it's til a minimum of 8, but I think if ds is in one here, he should be in one there. I might just pay for the extra checked luggage and take it.

Any advice? Hints on what you did?

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I would suggest getting a booster from your rental company. They have boosters available and then you wouldn't need to fly with yours. However, if you really want your seat, you wouldn't be charged for it as "extra luggage" because it's considered a necessity (double check that with your airlines but this is the policy of most airlines). I don't know about rental care driving but I know what Florida law does not require that children be in boosters at 5 in taxis (however, we still request one when we take a taxi on property).

 

[Astro Orbiter]

Florida law, condensed: (copied from my county's sherrif's website)

"Child Car Seat Requirements
Florida law requires children under 5 years of age to be properly restrained no matter where they are seated in the vehicle. Children through age 3 must be secured in a separate carrier (child safety seat) or in a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child safety seat. For children ages 4 - 5, a separate carrier, an integrated child safety seat, or a safety belt may be used. If a safety belt does not fit the child correctly, a booster set should be used to correctly position the lap and shoulder belts once they outgrow forward facing child safety seats (generally at about 40 pounds and 4 years old). Children from approximately 40-80 pounds and under 4'9" ion height should ride in a booster seat.

Infants must ride rear-facing until they are at least one year old and weigh 20 pounds or more. Rear-facing, the infant should be semi-upright at an angle or no more than 45 degrees. A forward-facing older child should ride sitting upright.

Never place a child in a child safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with a passenger air bag. Always use the back seat.

Violation of the child restraint law carries a fine of $60 and 3 points on the driving record."

There's a 5-point step for making sure your child fits into an adult seat belt, and many kids don't get there until they're 8-11; I doubt your 5 year old will pass that test.

I always carry a low-back booster on to the aircraft and stash it in an overhead bin. We've got a low-back booster that's only used for travel and leave the high-back in the car. This helps tremendously when at the airport as we don't have to put it in the car, just put it in the trunk.

Deb

 

[jodifla]

Here's what we do (DS is now 6)...I put a low-back booster in a duffle bag, and then all his clothes in the rest of the duffle bag then check it. I got a black one from army/navy. I have a big rolling bag, and just sling the duffle over the top so it's easy to wheel the two of them.

DS does not need to be in a booster in FL, but we normally have him in one because the seat belt in most cars fits better that way.

 

[ERMama]

we are bringing carseat for dd as she will be 13months. debating whether to bring or rent boosters for the boys. we have a tall/big 3.5 yo and a short/small 7.5 yr old.

im hoping we can get a backless booster in our luggage at least.

 

[jacksonsmommy]

I'm sorry - I'm truly not trying to be offensive, but why would you even question bringing one? This is your childs safety we are talking about...what a horrible vacation would it turn in to for him to be injured or worse, just for a slight inconvenience?

A 5 year old is still not tall enough to sit in a car without a booster (or better yet, a high weight harnessing car seat like a Britax Regent, Graco Nautilus, etc...)

Please bring one, or rent or buy one in FL - you won't regret keeping him safe, but you would definitely regret it if you did not do it and something happened.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I would get a low back booster (~$20..sometimes less on sale) and bring it ON the plane as a carry on (you can do this...it fits within the carry on restrictions).

This way it isn't lost or damaged w/ your checked luggage and you can be assured that it will arrive w/ you in FL.

It really doesn't matter what the Florida law states...it is all about if your child fits into a specific car's seat belt system (and yes when they get to be 8 or 9yo they will fit in some cars and not in others). If your child doesn't fit in the seat belt system then they need a booster seat.

The laws of physics supercede any state law...every time.

Oh and FWIW, all harnessed car seats can go on airplanes as long as they are FAA approved (not just infant seats). There are only 1 or 2 harnesses seats that are not FAA approved.

Child restraints that are combination seats (harnessed to a specific weight and then used as a booster seat) are also allowed to be used on aircraft when used in harnessed mode and are FAA approved.

HTH

 

[AuroraBeauty]

Absolutely DO NOT get one from the rental car company! First, even if you reserve one they may not have it so you'll be left trying to figure something out at the last minute. Second, there is no guarantee that the seats have not been in an accident. Whomever is working the desk will probably have no clue. Even though you'd think they'd get rid of the seat in the event a car is in an accident most do not.

Bring low-back booster and either take them on the plane and put them overhead or put them in a bag and gate check them.

OP is spot on in suggesting this shouldn't even be a question. If you put your child in a booster seat at home then you should put your child in a booster seat regardless of where you are. The child will be more comfortable and you'll feel better knowing that there is an ounce more safety.

Best Wishes!

 

[snickerboo]

I'm sorry - I'm truly not trying to be offensive, but why would you even question bringing one? This is your childs safety we are talking about...what a horrible vacation would it turn in to for him to be injured or worse, just for a slight inconvenience?

There's always one, isn't there?

I think if ds is in one here, he should be in one there

I did email AirTran and their response was yes to carseats free but no to boosters. The response said that boosters cannot be used during taxiing, take-off or landing, only during cruise at altitude and count against your carry-on. I think I will follow jodifla's advice-thanks.

BTW: I have always taken car seats and/or boosters for my kids. My dd was seven the last time we went and I took a booster for her. I plan to take a booster for ds somehow. My point in the original post was to ask if people are buying them there, paying for them as extra luggage, checking them as luggage, what? I was surprised AirTran wasn't allowing them as we have always gate checked them in the past.

 

[AQW]

I bring a Graco TurboBooster for my 51lb 6yo when we travel - it's lightweight and it breaks down into multiple pieces for easy packing. I pack it in my checked luggage.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I bring a Graco TurboBooster for my 51lb 6yo when we travel - it's lightweight and it breaks down into multiple pieces for easy packing. I pack it in my checked luggage.

A TurboBooster is ideal. You can break the seat down into the parts, place the back in your suitcase and then take the bottom on the plane as a carryon.

This way you can just pull the back out of your suitcase upon arrival and put the seat back together or you can use the bottom as a low back booster if your luggage is lost or damaged.

A low back booster fits easily into the overhead compartment as a carry on...I definitely wouldn't check any kind of car seat, harnessed or booster.

 

[java]

I am having a similar dilema. I come from the generation that was all shoved in the back of the station wagon- so car seats are a long way from that. We use Britax in our car at home for the 3 year old and the 5 year old is in one of those Graco convertible boosters.

We will be driving minimally. I am considering bringing the booster for my big 3 year old- and strapping the 5 year old between his brother and sister in the back of the minvan. I will probably end up bringing the Britax with us and checking it(on the plane it makes his feet right up against the seat in front of us and even just a little wiggle and he's kicking the seat.) But I am really beginning to think my 5 year old doesn't need it.

I get what you are saying op. I just keep thinking back to when I was a kid and we didn't even have to wear seatbelts in the back seat- there were not even seatbelts built in back there!