Car Hire & Booster Seat

[nevanddonna]

We are off to Orlando in September and my son turns 3 whilst we are out there. He's a big lad, so we are going to start using a booster seat in the next few weeks for him at home....

We have just started looking at car hire, there's a few of us going so want a 7-seater, but I'm not sure what to do about a booster seat? I have 3 options:

1), take one from the UK and put it in his suitcase.
2), hire one from the place we hire a car from (but at £5-ish a day this is going to be £70-ish)....which leads me on to option 3:
3), buy one from Walmart etc as soon as we arrive.

What are the laws on Florida on booster seats, age, size, height etc? I wonder what other people have done in my situation?

Whilst people are replying, if anyone know's of any good deals on car hire specifically for a 7-seater with 3 drivers over 30 that would be appreciated (and all insurance etc paid).

Look forward to your replies....really not sure what to do about child/booster seats....

 

[chmurf]

here's what the law says

316.613 Child restraint requirements.—
(1)(a) Every operator of a motor vehicle as defined herein, while transporting a child in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall, if the child is 5 years of age or younger, provide for protection of the child by properly using a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device. For children aged through 3 years, such restraint device must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a seat belt may be used.

so you need a booster seat.

1- you can take it from the UK, your child is too old to have the airline accept the booster seat free of charge as a piece of carry on.
It definitely takes a huge space in your suitcase

2- Many car companies will limit the amount paid for a booster seat to $60 per rental.
Lots of people will warn you that rented booster seats might not be in the best shape and cleanliness. Some DISers here won't even consider that option

3- If you get stopped by FHP or any other law enforcement agency on your way to the walmart, you're toast.

Some have considered the option of taking an inflatable booster seat. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bubblebum-Inflatable-Car-Booster-Seat/dp/B003GQ0LQ8

ETA : I rent a booster seat for my 4yr old.
If your kid is tall enough to wear a seatbelt correctly, you might also take the risk. If he looks tall enough and the seatbelt fits correctly and he looks older than he is, you shouldn't have any problem (but that'd be a real tall 3yr old lol) I wouldn't take that risk though. US cops love to do it by the book

 

[tink18]

the car hire company wont let you out of the airport without a car seat. we have been before and put one in the suitcase, that was no problem. Many times I have also seen booster seats just going around the luggage collection not in anything but i dont know anything more than that.

I went on holiday with my BF's family and his sister had one of these, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trunki-Boos...QJFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341170213&sr=8-1 she loved it and we saw many kids using them. it means they can have their own special hand luggage, sit on it during the plan, which was especially useful and small kids can not always see the tv screens.

 

[RDP]

the car hire company wont let you out of the airport without a car seat. we have been before and put one in the suitcase, that was no problem. Many times I have also seen booster seats just going around the luggage collection not in anything but i dont know anything more than that.

I went on holiday with my BF's family and his sister had one of these, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trunki-BoostApak-Travel-Pack-Booster/dp/B003HKQJFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341170213&sr=8-1 she loved it and we saw many kids using them. it means they can have their own special hand luggage, sit on it during the plan, which was especially useful and small kids can not always see the tv screens.

I second this post! We have 2 for our upcoming trip!

 

[catrinuk]

we travelled out last aug when our youngest was three we took a pushchair and a car seat for her in addition to her luggage - flew with virgin never questioned.

 

[LauraDaveCharlie]

Hi. Took booster seat twice when son was 3 and 4. First time with US Airways - who were brilliant when we left it in Philadelphia instead of collecting it for our connection! They lent us one of theirs and then delivered ours to the villa the next day. The following year we took one when we flew with Continental. Both times we were not charged as extra - maybe it depends who you fly with.

 

[gbaz44]

We have 2 bubble bum ones for our trip for a 4 and a 5 year old. We didn't wanna have to make room for 2 carseats in luggage, risk losing 1 or both as luggage as we're not flying direct. These 2 are in kids trunki cases (hand luggage) that we already had which is why we didn't get trunki backpacks which also look good. Got them off eBay and have already done test drive with them - either backpack or bubble bum cheaper than hire and can be used next holiday or if you need to give child's friends or young relatives a lift!

 

[Tink78]

So if my boys will be almost 3 and almost 6 when we travel, what will I need?

If I took car seat with me from home for the nearly 3 year old, would a seat belt be enough for the almost 6 year old?
It says kids 4 through to 5 could use a seat belt alone? Am I reading that right?
Or will I also need something for my almost 6 year old?

I like the look of the trunki thing but my youngest son won't be 3 until a month after we return.
Do you think the trunki would be ok for him? He's quite big for his age.
Would the poilce/car hire place accept that as a suitable seat for him?

Or we could take the car seat we are using now for my eldest son, who is currently 4 1/2.

 

[chmurf]

this thread got me thinking.

I've just ordered a bubble bum for DS over the internet.
No delivery fee (it's gonna be delivered at a shop at the shopping mall less than one mile from home)

I paid 29.99 euros in all (amazon US price is $39.99 plus s&h)

I thought it was such a good price that I bought it in a heartbeat

 

[Danibelle]

So if my boys will be almost 3 and almost 6 when we travel, what will I need?

If I took car seat with me from home for the nearly 3 year old, would a seat belt be enough for the almost 6 year old?
It says kids 4 through to 5 could use a seat belt alone? Am I reading that right?
Or will I also need something for my almost 6 year old?

I like the look of the trunki thing but my youngest son won't be 3 until a month after we return.
Do you think the trunki would be ok for him? He's quite big for his age.
Would the poilce/car hire place accept that as a suitable seat for him?

Or we could take the car seat we are using now for my eldest son, who is currently 4 1/2.

Your 5 YO can use a seatbelt. Your 2 YO will need a carseat. I am not familiar with the trunki.

 

[Elise79]

I would take a high back booster for the youngest- better safe than sorry. General rule is use there what you would here.

DD is tall and just turned 4 however we still took her proper high back booster.

 

[gbaz44]

For your 5 year old, from what I understand, it is more down to the height of the child and therefore how the seatbelt sits on him. ie small 5 year old the seatbelt won't sit right so would be unsafe.

Thats why there are a few options as it depends on the child.

 

[nevanddonna]

Wow, thanks for all the replies - such a helpful place

I think the bubble bum is probably what we'll go for which we'll use from the airport to the villa. My son has a 'bumble bee' Trunki so it looks like it'll fit inside that and I'm sure to carry that and I'm no doubt will want to try it out on the plane!

I dare say we'll probably buy something a little more robust when we actually get there - Walmart seem to have more meaty booster seats for $20 and we'll just leave it at the Villa after we leave and hopefully someone else will get some use out of it assume the management company doesn't swipe it.

Happy days. Just bought our Disney Tickets and we are just over 9 weeks away from travel!

 

[Clare D]

I was toying with the idea of a basic booster but as we are also going on a cruise and dropping the car off back at the car rental supplier before picking another one up after the cruise I need something that won't take too much room. I think this Bubble Bum its the bill. It is still much cheaper than hiring on.

Also check out what your car rental company say as we are hiring from Alamo and their insurers have told them that children under 6 require a booster Dollar looks like under 5.

 

[Constant]

We have 2 trunki back packs which we used last year for son 4 and daughter 6 they slid under the seat on the plane or even made a good footstool! I liked them over the inflatables we looked at as there were pop up 'wings' which hold the lap belt over their hips and a clip which goes round the back of the child and attaches to the seat belt and is fully adjustable to make sure it sits perfectly on their shoulder. This year is the 3rd trip with them and we use them in my car for the short trips at the weekend so they have paid for themselves in offsetting hire costs more or less.

Downside with them is that if our son falls asleep he flops to the side and needs sitting up which a booster with a back holds them in place otherwise there is a risk he might slip out but still better than hire booster which doesn't have the shoulder clip.

 

[chmurf]

Just to let you know

My Bubble Bum was delivered this morning.
My son fell in love with it, litteraly at first sight (great colors and design)

We actually had to cruise around for a while so that he could enjoy his new booster seat to his heart's content.

Only downside is the second safety buckle that will require a bit of getting used to for my son (he's a bit clumsy)

All in all it's money well spent, and once deflated and folded it takes little to no space in the carry on bag.
(no, this is not an advertisement, and I do not hold shares in the bubble bum business )