Car Seat and Stroller Issues

[matdamom]

We are leaving next week for our first family trip to Disney World with our two DD (3 & 5). The oldest child is big enough to use the regular seat belt in the rental car, but we will need a car seat for the younger girl. What are everyone's thoughts on this? I'm having a real dilemma with this and the stroller issue. Should we try to lug the car seat onto the plane for a 1 1/2 hour trip, or check it as luggage, or just rent one from abbf? As for strollers, both our girls would probably use one at the park, so should I just rent a double from abbf, rent at the park, or buy two umbrella strollers and check them at the gate? Whew - I knew there would be a lot of planning for this trip, but I didn't know exactly how much. LOL Thanks!

 

[safetymom]

I would take your own car seat because you are familiar with it. You also know the history of the seat. I would gate check the car seat. I vote for the umbrella strollers and check them also at the gate.

 

[Stimpy]

If you flying to Orlando, bring your own car seat. If it's a regular child seat, it's much safer and more convenient to use it on the plane. Your kids are familiar with it and it contains them in the seat a little better. If it's a booster you can check it, if it's a backless one, it will fit in the overhead.

Also, you didn't mention this as an option, but personally I would not rent one from the rental company. I worked many years for one of the major 3 companies and can tell you it's not a good idea to use their seats.

 

[swilshire]

You may want to check Florida laws. I know in Tennessee, some sort of safety seat is required up to age 8 (I think it is). I'm not sure the 5yo would be OK in a regular seatbelt. We use a highback booster for our 5yo.

Sheila

 

[SnowBound]

Here is a link to the ABBF website concerning Florida car seat law:
http://abbf.com/faq.html#ans17

Each State is different, and I hear Florida is tough on enforcement.

Hope this helps.

 

[Schmeck]

Aren't there certain guidelines about what carseats they'll let you use on an airplane? I'd check with the airline before I'd haul a nice carseat to the airport, only to be told it won't be allowed in a seat on the plane!

 

[safetymom]

The seat has to have a sticker stating that it is FAA approved. If it isn't approved you can always get check the car seat.

 

[matdamom]

Thanks so much for all of your replies. We live on the VA/TN border so I know that TN has much stricter car seat laws. I did check the FL laws before reserving the rental car, so I know my oldest can use the seat belt - she will be 6 in March. (Sorry, I should have put that in my original post) The seats we have for our younger daughter are the convertible seats that can be used as high-back boosters, as well as having the 5-pt harnesses. So, I guess we'll bring her seat and maybe check it at the gate. It's a pretty big seat and most airplane seats are pretty narrow (if memory serves), so I wasn't sure the seat would fit comfortably. Both of the ones we have do have the FAA approval sticker on them.

Also, the replies clinched my decision to purchase two umbrella strollers and just check them at the gate.

 

[Kae]

I have a great car seat carrier I check in with my luggage & A booster seat fits in it also(I put both in it together) I got it thru EBags.com I do not know if they still have them?

My oldest is 7 & he still rides in a booster seat. I know each law has each own rules, but if you can take one or rent for your oldest I would. The traffic in Orlando is heavy. And alot of drivers are on Vacation & drive like "no offence" crap.

Kae

 

[matdamom]

Thanks for the tip - I was just researching the car seat carriers. I found one for about $30 that has wheels. If it is big enough I could put my older daughters' booster in with the car seat, it would be great. Normally, she does ride in a booster - even though "legally" she doesn't have to.

 

[Ambassador]

We have found our own carseat useful also, especially when we take cabs between Resorts for dinner in the evening. We use the seat on the flight, and gate-check the stroller. We check most all the luggage, and carry-on a few essentials, snacks and toys.

 

[siennacrew]

Has anyone used a large garbage bag for their stroller? I'm just thinking we don't travel that often & I'm not sure it's worth buying the stroller bag.
Thanks for any advice.

 

[NotUrsula]

You could use a garbage bag for a carseat, but the airline will supply a large clear bag if you check the carseat as luggage. If you plan to gate-check, get the bag from the main baggage counter; they don't usually have them at the gates. The main advantage of a real carseat satchel is that they have backpack straps, so that you can carry your carseat hands-free through the terminal. Remember that if you are pulling a rolling bag through the terminal, that hand will not be free to hold the hand of a child.

You can bag your stroller as well, but be aware that this is a little more awkward to do, because you will not be able to roll it down the jetway to the plane if it is in a plastic bag. My solution to this problem is a fabric sleeve made from rip-stop nylon, it goes around the folded stroller and fastens on with velcro. This home-made sleeve protects the upholstery from the elements and from grease in the aircraft hold, but it allows me to pull the folded stroller down the jetway behind me, rolling on the exposed wheels. Fleece would probably actually work nearly as well as rip-stop, as it does repel moisture, and it also has a bit of stretch that would make it easier to get a snug and secure fit.

I prefer to gate-check strollers AND carseats, because if the carseat goes astray, you will have to take time to go put in a luggage claim, and will not be able to drive away from the airport until the airline arranges a loaner seat for you. Not that it is likely to go astray, but I prefer not to risk it.

 

[ujpest_doza]

We rented a car seat from Alamo last May.
It cost us $4.99 + tax per day for a 14 night stay. Bit pricey!

Anyhow, it was pretty grotty with stains etc and only had minimal instructions on the side of the seat as to how it was to be fitted and used.
The rental company would not help me make sure it fitted in case of litigation and just pointed to the vague instructions on the seat.
After a 10.5 hour flight with an infant i just had to get on with things.

I am bringing my own next month, as i know its history, it is grubby but i know that any grubbiness is of her own making, and i also know how it fits and operates. It does not use up any of your baggage allowance and can be checked in along with your stroller which also does not take up any baggage allowance.

 

[PLUTO2]

I will be traveling with a 13 month old and would like to use the car seat on the plane. Any recommendations on car seat carriers would be much appreciated, especially one with wheels. Thanks

 

[SylviaL]

We bring our carseat on the plane with us. In the past, we have used a Lionheart backpack carseat carrier. It completely covers the carseat. But, DH didn't like it b/c the straps weren't comfortable and there wasn't a waistbelt. Since we're almost always seated in the back of the plane and board late (we're usually in the last group--I wish they would let people with young children board first)--DH was always hitting people as he went down the aisle. We recently bought a new carseat/booster seat carrier that looks much better. It's called The Pac Back and we ordered it from buy.com. It has shoulder straps and a waist strap but no cover for the carseat. Can't wait to use it on our next trip!

 

[jenlek]

I travel quite a bit with my now three year old. We bought the sit n' stroll combination car seat and stroller and it has been wonderful! I would just wheel it down the jetway and fold it up for the airline seat (It is FAA approved). Now that she is in a booster, I bought a car seat travel bag at TJ Maxx for five bucks. It is much more sturdy than the airline bags and it has handles. Also, the car seat travel bag is LARGE and I can always stuff more things in it than just the booster seat. After researching the stroller options at WDW, I decided to purchase a more sturdy umbrella stroller--the Chicco Caddy. It has it's own carry bag and a strap--it's great to transport on and off buses and monorails.

 

[PLUTO2]

I travel quite a bit with my now three year old. We bought the sit n' stroll combination car seat and stroller and it has been wonderful! I would just wheel it down the jetway and fold it up for the airline seat (It is FAA approved).

Where did you purchase the sit n stroll?

 

[lovesdumbo]

Here's a link to the Pac Back. Pac Back It is so much easier to use than a car seat bag. It sits nice and tight on your back. I was able to put my older child's backless booster seat in the seat of the younger one's car seat. I used the car seat on the plane and put the booster in the overhead bin.

On our last trip we used a limo service and they provided a booster for the older child and I was able to put a daypack on the seat of the car seat.

The only "problem" is that we had to unstrap it all to get through security.

 

[jenlek]

Just run a google search for sit n' stroll. I bought it online after accosting another mother in the airport to find out where she got hers! It's a little pricey--between $180 and $200 but I use it more than any other stroller. I have the Britax Marathon car seat and the sit n stroll makes for an excellent second car seat.