Car seat concerns

[WanderlustNZ]

Hi everyone,

I will be travelling to Orlando during Sep next year to celebrate my son's 6th birthday.
We will not be hiring a car and will mostly be utilising Disney and Universal transportation. However, I predict we will need to use taxis for up to half a dozen one way trips so we can go to the outlet malls and get to our Universal hotel on the first night. We also will need to book a car or shuttle from Universal to Cape Canaveral (any suggestions of reliable companies would be great).

My worry is about how I'm going to transport my son safely during these infrequent taxi rides. I considered bringing our booster from home, but baggage excess costs from NZ will see that booster costing us close to $300. I also, thought about buying a cheap one while we're there and leaving it in the hotel when we fly home. But that doesn't solve the issue of getting to the shops to buy one in the first place. So I started wondering:

Firstly, do taxis provide booster seats? The bit of research I've done suggests they don't, but I'm hoping this may have changed. Similarly, what does the law state about car seats in taxis, shuttles etc? Do they have to adhere to the same law as cars?

Secondly, can someone please let me know if Florida law stipulates a particular age and/or height for booster seat use. From the research I've done, it seems all US states are different and I'm getting a bit confused. My son is in the top 2 percentile for height and is already wearing clothing suitable for 7-8 year old. Please don't judge me, as I'd hate this thread to turn into a debate, but if the law says he's okay, I might consider putting him in a taxi without a booster.

If your opinion is that he should travel in a booster regardless of the law, can you please provide me with a solution to my dilemma. I really do want what is best for my son.

Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[snoopy5386]

Most airlines allow car and booster seats as a "free" piece of luggage, either checked or as a carryon, aka they don't count towards your # of carryons.

Alternatively, do they sell this in NZ?
http://www.amazon.com/BubbleBum-Inflatable-Portable-Booster-Purple/dp/B003GQ0LQ8

 

[Halbleib1]

Florida Law when I looked it up online said that a car seat is required until age 4. Nothing about a booster seat being required. Therefore as far as the law is concerned a seat belt is enough. Also car seats are not required for some public transportation. I have read online that you can request a car seat be in the car when calling for a taxi. I have also read that if you are hiring a car and driver you can request a booster seat be in the car as well. They might charge you a small fee for it though.


Just found this: http://www.ehow.com/list_6554973_car-seats-laws-florida-dmv.html Apparantly as of 2010 the law has changed and a car seat is required for a child 3 and under. 4 and up can use a seatbelt. They have gone backwards from most states. Most states are requiring that a child stay in a car seat or booster seat until a much older age.

Here is the official site for the Florida DMV:http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes...ng=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.613.html

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Most airlines allow car and booster seats as a "free" piece of luggage, either checked or as a carryon, aka they don't count towards your # of carryons.

Alternatively, do they sell this in NZ?
http://www.amazon.com/BubbleBum-Inflatable-Portable-Booster-Purple/dp/B003GQ0LQ8

Oh my goodness - an inflatable booster seat! What a great idea! It also solves the dilemma of what to do with the car seat once you reach the shopping centre (simply deflate it and put it in your bag). I've never seen them in NZ, but I'll certainly be looking. Thanks so much.

I'll also double check Air NZ's baggage entitlements as you're probably correct. Would rather not lug our big booster around though if we can find an inflatable one.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Florida Law when I looked it up online said that a car seat is required until age 4. Nothing about a booster seat being required. Therefore as far as the law is concerned a seat belt is enough. Also car seats are not required for some public transportation. I have read online that you can request a car seat be in the car when calling for a taxi.

Just found this: http://www.ehow.com/list_6554973_car-seats-laws-florida-dmv.html Apparantly as of 2010 the law has changed and a car seat is required for a child 3 and under. 4 and up can use a seatbelt. They have gone backwards from most states. Most states are requiring that a child stay in a car seat or booster seat until a much older age.

Here is the official site for the Florida DMV:http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.613.html

Thank you so much for your help and those links! You're awesome.

Wow, a car seat required till only 3 years old. That seems young. I wouldn't even consider not using a car seat at 5-6 yrs old if my son wasn't so very tall for his age. Still, I'm no expert, so won't judge. I'm just grateful we now have options. Off to research inflatable car seats

 

[bumbershoot]

The Bubble Bum is really great.

Florida's law aside, my son doesn't yet fit the seatbelt of many cars, so he needs a booster for those vehicles still. And the BB has been terrific to bring him up just enough to fit the seatbelt so he wouldn't be a tragic story if we got into an accident.

http://www.bubblebum.co/nz/

 

[Halbleib1]

Thank you so much for your help and those links! You're awesome.

Wow, a car seat required till only 3 years old. That seems young. I wouldn't even consider not using a car seat at 5-6 yrs old if my son wasn't so very tall for his age. Still, I'm no expert, so won't judge. I'm just grateful we now have options. Off to research inflatable car seats

Your welcome. I provided the links for you to make your own informed decision. The safety of your child is entirely up to you. When my son was 2.5 we flew down to Florida and used only Disney transportation so I didn't have to worry about a car seat at that time. However when he was 5 we flew down and met up with my inlaws and borrowed their van for a day. We sent down a $12.00 booster seat with them for that even though it was not required under the law. My son is on the small side for his age though.

I agree 4 years old is way to young for a child not to be in a car seat. Probably has to do with all the tourism in the state. Here in Pennsylvania a booster is required until age 8.

I had not heard of an inflatable car seat until now either.
The only problem with an inflatable car seat is that it might get a hole in it depending on how durable it is made esp. if you are deflating and reinflating it often.

 

[Julie711]

I'm also wondering what we are going to do with ds who is 12 months old when we use the shuttle to go to universal ?? We aren't bringing seat for him from home, I did call and they do transport without a seat, but that's not safe for me just holding him? Think I'll call mears transportation and ask if they provide carseats!

 

[Halbleib1]

I'm also wondering what we are going to do with ds who is 12 months old when we use the shuttle to go to universal ?? We aren't bringing seat for him from home, I did call and they do transport without a seat, but that's not safe for me just holding him? Think I'll call mears transportation and ask if they provide carseats!

I know for the Disney Magical Express you can not use a car seat- they must be stowed underneath the bus as there are not even belts to restrain a car seat. I don't see this being any different for Universal if they also use Mears. Florida law does not require a car seat for buses.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

The Bubble Bum is really great.

Florida's law aside, my son doesn't yet fit the seatbelt of many cars, so he needs a booster for those vehicles still. And the BB has been terrific to bring him up just enough to fit the seatbelt so he wouldn't be a tragic story if we got into an accident.

http://www.bubblebum.co/nz/

Fabulous, a NZ version of the website. Thanks for the link!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Your welcome. I provided the links for you to make your own informed decision. The safety of your child is entirely up to you. When my son was 2.5 we flew down to Florida and used only Disney transportation so I didn't have to worry about a car seat at that time. However when he was 5 we flew down and met up with my inlaws and borrowed their van for a day. We sent down a $12.00 booster seat with them for that even though it was not required under the law. My son is on the small side for his age though.

I agree 4 years old is way to young for a child not to be in a car seat. Probably has to do with all the tourism in the state. Here in Pennsylvania a booster is required until age 8.

I had not heard of an inflatable car seat until now either.
The only problem with an inflatable car seat is that it might get a hole in it depending on how durable it is made esp. if you are deflating and reinflating it often.

Wow, just $12 for a booster. That's a bargain by NZ standards.

I agree that durability might be an issue. Although it seems from Amazon they get good reviews, and realistically, I can't imagine spending any more than a total of about 3hrs in a car/taxi during the whole 3 week trip. I would hope one could last at least this long.

 

[scottish mum]

When we have been before we have just asked the hotel to phone for a taxi for us and asked that they request one with a booster seat/car seat. We have always got one with a suitable seat, it sometimes meant we had to wait a few extra minutes as not all taxis have them. Disney use Mears as the taxi firm

 

[SweetMissy]

I wish all states were the same and I wish they would go by safety...not the law. Just because something is a law, doesn't mean it's the safest option. My older kids (almost 9 and 6) are still in a 5 point harness. Is it the law for them to be? No, but it's safest. I don't understand how taxi companies allow babies/kids to just ride with nothing but their parents lap. Scary!

 

[kohlby]

The inflatable one sounds like a great option! I've managed to fit a cheap backless booster in my regular suitcase before. (Our cheap one also ended up costing about $12. It was buy one get one free and under $25 for the two that way). I realize I could have checked it for free, but I wanted one less thing to worry about it since I was flying without my husband that time. If you get a cheap one and can fit it in your luggage, then you could always leave it behind on the way back so you have more room for souvenirs!

 

[tanyaandallie]

Florida has one of the worst child passenger safety laws in the country.

I just would not count on a taxi to have a booster seat available for your child. If you can spend them money, the bumble bum is a great option for what you are looking for. Easily transportable so you can take it with you shopping, to the parks if you needed to, etc. It would be far different than lugging a backless booster with you. Otherwise, I'd order a cheap booster (Harmony Literider is cheap and works great) and have it delivered to the hotel.

 

[ban26ana]

I'm glad the Bubble Bum was mentioned. My dh is a CPST, and he is suggesting them to everyone we know. They really are a great idea for those spur of the moment times when you need something.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Florida has one of the worst child passenger safety laws in the country.

Seriously! Nj's law is kids should be in something until 8 yrs old or 80 lbs or 4'9"! I thought that was for everywhere.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Thanks everyone for your input. It's sounding more and more like the Bubblebum is the way to go