Can you buy a booster seat at MCO?

[PaulaMurf]

Is there a store at MCO where we could get a car booster seat?

TIA

Paula in CT

 

[Barb D]

If there is, it would surely be VERY expensive. I brought a really lightweight backless booster from home. (DH got it for free at some county event, but they probably sell similar ones at WalMart or Target.) It really was no hassle taking it on the plane. We just checked it at the curbside check-in.

 

[Cameo]

We packed our small backless booster seat in a duffle bag on the way down and then checked it on the way home, using the extra duffle bag space for the things we'd purchased and dirty laundry. It filled up the bag nicely on the way down and we had room for extra stuff on the way home.

 

[don8life]

I just purchased a 5 point harness carseat from one stepahead.com. Very cool folds up into the diaper bag. I should be getting it in a day or two.

 

[PaulaMurf]

We have one of those 5 point harnesses but DS almost 3 is wavering around the 40 lb mark which is the capacity for those. He is also 41 inches, so he is too tall for the regular car seat that we can use on the plane too.

For those of you using hte backless boosters - do you think they are as safe as the full seat ones? I was a little leary bc they just seem so small and most of the backless ones say for 4 and up, he will only be 3 yrs, 4 months, but is very tall already -


TIA

Paula in CT

 

[momofbuzzfan]

Quote: "For those of you using hte backless boosters - do you think theyare as safe as the full seat ones? I was a little leary bc they just seem so small and most of the backless ones say for 4 and up, he will only be 3 yrs, 4 months, but is very tall already "-




I have done my share of safety seat research and visiting a few car seat checks at local firestations and it is my understanding that the real purpose of a booster seat is to boost the child up so that the seatbelt is in the correct postion. So whether it is a high back or back less it is still doing its job. Many people purchase the high backs because many of these are convertible from a carseat to a booster. Also I THINK that I read that if the car's seat is high enough, there is no real need for a high back booster (ie. a bucket seat in a minivan), but if the seat is low in the back and the child's neck is above it then you may want a high back booster, to offer more support. We currently have one of each we use the backless in the van and the highback in my DH explorer where the seats are lower. I really think that safety seats go by weight and height versus age. Most of them say for over 40lbs.

 

[BevS97]

I prefer a highback as they position the shoulder belt correctly at the neck, otherwise the belt cuts across the neck which is painful, and then there is a tendency for the child to put the belt under the arm or behind them to be more comfortable.

Our highback also locks the belt off at the shoulder, so the belt can't be extended, whereas normally the belt would be extendable.

Personally, I am just more comfortable with the highback, and my dd is 6, I would definitely not be comfortable with a 3 year old in a backless booster.

Bev

 

[tjmw2727]

I like the highback booster seats as well because they have the adjustment clip to make sure that the seatbelt fits properly. I do have a lowback cosco booster that I got for about $15.00 at walmart and I use it for travel, nana's car etc. It does a good job of boosting dd enough so the seatbelt fits. My dd is now 7 but we have been using it since she was about 5. It fits great a in duffle and we check it through with the luggage.

To answer the OP - no there is no place to buy one at the airport and the nearest walmart is about 20 minutes. You can check your own seat through, gate check it, rent one with your rental car or request one for free if your using a town car company. If your using mears there are no seatbelts on the bus anyway so you won't need one.

TJ

 

[stacy6552]

Those harnesses arent safe if you child's knees dont bend porperly over the edge of the seat.

Get the backless booster. It will only run you about $20. Even if you dont use it regularly, its good to have a spare for carpooling or something in the future.

 

[CathyC]

Are you renting a Car? If so, the retal agency will have boosters to rent. If not, I would go with the backless booster. Consumer reports rates the Graco Turbo booster (backless)$20 and the Evenflo Right Fit (also backless) $25 the highest.

 

[kathi29]

For the car journey you are planning, I guess you would be okay with a belt-positioning booster. The problem with younger children in particular is not always the size of the child. The younger children tend to fall asleep more in the car and then slump forward in the seat - in that case you would be better off to gate check your regular car seat so you can use it when you get there.
I'll try to stay off my soapbox and just answer your questions. I find the high back booster works very well for us as it does the best job of correctly positioning the shoulder belt. The Graco TB is one of the better choices as it allows the shoulder belt portion of the seat belt to flow freely and work as it was intended. Many of the BPB's have guides at the top that restrict the proper movement of the shoulder belt... if the child leans forward, the belt may not retract properly and will be sagging in front of the child.
The backless version of the graco has a webbing strap that runs behind the child. You position the top holder at your child's shoulder level and feed the shoulder belt through. Not as nice or easy to use as the high back, but I have a backless that I keep in my car for when we have little guests, and it works just fine for occassional use. We have also shipped our high back graco by removing the back and packing into its original carton so we could check it with the luggage.