Car seat needed for a 6 year old?

[Miller1412]

We're planning to fly into Orlando and use Tiffany Town Car service. My DD will be 6, and my DS will be 4. Tiffany TC says they will provide one booster seat.

Will DD be ok out of a car seat? What exactly is Florida Law on this? Has anyone ever gotten more than one car seat from Tiffany Town Car?

I'd would really LOVE to not have to cart our car seat through the airport this time!
Thanks!

 

[Lynn4Mel]

I would go on the FL DMV website and see what their rules are. I know here in Massachusetts they just raised the weight minimum not too long ago. Several of DD8's friends had to go back into boosters because of their size.

 

[JujiD]

We used Florida Town Cars a couple years ago. The driver told me the car services are considered taxis, so carseats are not required by law. We used a carseat for our almost 3yr old but not for our 5 yr old. It just depends how comfortable you are without using one. Is she tall enough so the seat belt doesn't cut across her too high? You could bring one of those things that adjusts the seat belt so that it won't cut across her neck. OR...

Ask if Tiffany will provide an extra booster ( for an extra charge) if you really think DD needs one. A little extra $ is worth not having to carry a carseat around an airport.

 

[beattyfamily]

4 and up are not required to use a carseat in Florida. I'm not on my computer so I cannot provide you with the actual written law on it but I've provided it so many times in threads that I know the age limits by heart!

If I get on my computer tonight, I'll post the exact law as it is written for you.

 

[tlbwriter]

Florida's law is irrelevant compared to the laws of physics. Either your child is large enough to use a seatbelt safely, or she's not. You can tell by using this 5-step test:

The 5-Step Test.
1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to make both the shoulder belt and the lap belt fit right for the best crash protection. Your child will be more comfortable, too!

If your child can't meet every one of these steps, she's really too small to safely use an adult seatbelt. Knowing that riding unsafely was legal will not be much comfort if something happens, kwim? Also, a booster will lift her up so she can see all those wonderful sights out the window, as well as reinforcing the rule that she uses a booster all the time, and not just when it's convenient.