Car Seat questions????

[Suzanne74]

Okay we are taking a last minute trip to Disney next week since DH will be doing business there. DH will be flying in from Vegas after a convention so my 3 yr old dd and I are flying by ourselves to meet him the following day. Last time we brought her Britax Roundabout and it was nice to have but this time, it will be just me with DD and between her unbrellla stroller and our carryon and watching her I am concerned with bringing the carseat. Plus she is really over the height limit by 1/2 inch (she is 40.5 inches) and should be in a booster (Bad mommy hasn't purshased it yet.) My other main concern is that I have never been good at getting a good carseat fixed the right way, DH always has to come and tighten it up. He did it on the airport as well.

I am thinking of just renting one with the rental car but I am concerned that I won't be able to install it correctly, esp since it is one I am not familiar with. Then I thought since one of us has to use a towncar to arrive to the hotel (we are arriving the day before, he is taking a red eye and arriving at 6AM) that maybe I should just use the towncar or shuttle and then he can worry about the car and carseat the next day.

DD is very good at staying still and that won't be an issue on the plane if she isn't in a carseat. I guess I am nervous about safety but really she is past the height requirement for any airplane carseat anyway.

Okay I rambled and I am sorry - any advice???

 

[cbrfan]

Do they let you use boosters on airplanes? Either way, your DD needs a new seat. I'm always afraid that if a carseat isn't being used properly it could do more harm than good in a crash. I look at it this way.....the only time your child actually NEEDS a carseat at all is if you're in an accident. And if that happens you really want the right one.
I think in your case you should use a towncar and let your DH get the rental. That way you can relax after juggling your carryon, stroller and DD.

 

[tbelfonti]

The FAA does not allow Boosters to be used on airplanes.

 

[Suzanne74]

Well dd was 39 inches in October and her last doctor appointment on Monday had her at 40.5. I will be getting her a booster seat, it isn't like I am waiting around forever. Since I can not use a booster seat on board, it looks like we will be doing a towncar - I guess it will be easier.

 

[Colinsmom]

At three years old, she's really too young for a booster seat. In order to use a booster properly, she has to sit still and stay in position - no leaning over, and definitely no falling asleep and slumping. Most 3 years olds cannot do that. The Marathon and Wizard (and Decathalon, too) are good for older toddlers who need to be harnessed but are too big for a Roundabout. Those can all be used on the airplanes, too.

That said, renting a seat isn't a good option IMO - you are NOT guaranteed a seat, so you could get there and have a car but no car seat. Yikes!!!

 

[Nicolepa]

Well dd was 39 inches in October and her last doctor appointment on Monday had her at 40.5. I will be getting her a booster seat, it isn't like I am waiting around forever. Since I can not use a booster seat on board, it looks like we will be doing a towncar - I guess it will be easier.

First off with a booster you don't need to install it, just buckle them in and be on your way. Much easier.

For a towncar you will still need a booster or carseat. I doubt you will find a towncar that has carseats. You might be able to get one if you are using a shuttle service.

If you check your booster with your luggage then you don't need to worry about it until you get to Orlando. Not a big deal. I personally would never use a carseat who's history I don't know.

 

[Suzanne74]

Thanks all - DH is picking up the car and dd and I are taking a towncar just one way to disney. We paid an additional $5 for a carseat but the peace of mind of a car picking us up and taking us directly there is nice, esp since DH won't be with us on our first leg journey. He is picking up a carseat for the rental when he arrives the next day

Also - even though dd is very old acting for her age and sits very well and NEVER falls asleep in her carseat (darn), I did end up buying the britax marathon yesterday. I just think she is too small to only have a seat belt. We won't bring it though - I am just too scared to have that, a stroller, a carry on and my daughter's hand. Our airport is crazy, esp in the AM when we are going

 

[jennypenny]

Actually, we just flew in February and my son used a booster seat. He is only 2 (not even 2 1/2 yet) and he is already 42 inches without shoes . He is not heavy but not exactly skinny either. He does not fit in traditional car seats for his age. BUT, there is no way I'd let him loose on an airplane, so we bring his usual booster seat on the plane.

If you can't get it fastened properly (I hate that job myself) I'm sure there would be other "dads" on a flight to florida who would be happy to help you.

I like bringing my kids' own carseats--they sleep on the plane easier because they are used to sleeping in their own seats.

Jenny

 

[Suzanne74]

I would bring a booster seat but Southwest does not allow them. Only air certified car seats.

 

[Colinsmom]

Actually, we just flew in February and my son used a booster seat. He is only 2 (not even 2 1/2 yet) and he is already 42 inches without shoes . He is not heavy but not exactly skinny either. He does not fit in traditional car seats for his age. BUT, there is no way I'd let him loose on an airplane, so we bring his usual booster seat on the plane.

If you can't get it fastened properly (I hate that job myself) I'm sure there would be other "dads" on a flight to florida who would be happy to help you.

I like bringing my kids' own carseats--they sleep on the plane easier because they are used to sleeping in their own seats.

Jenny

Booster seats are NOT allowed on airplanes because children can't be fastened in them properly without a shoulder belt. The FAs probably weren't paying attention that time, but most will not let you use a booster (and they are right).

At 2 years old, he's really much too young to safely ride in a booster at any time. Check out the Britax Husky, Marathon, Decathalon and Wizard to keep a bigger child safely contained in a car. The Husky goes to 80lbs and the others go to 65lbs.

 

[jax100]

Car seat iss ue aside. We returned in march from a two week stay in orlando. We took virgin's platinum insurance package which included carseats. I wanted 2 - having 2 children and under the impression that the law in america stated that they must be in an actual car seat and not a booster. the car company showed me how to fit the first seat, and as i fitted the seat they installed the second seat although they were not obliged to do this - it is my responsibility. The seat was a brittax so similar to the one i have back home. The seat however was tight on my daughter i had to really squeeze her in the seat.

Discussing it with the reps, and checking the rules i discovered that my dd who was 4.5 could have got away with no seat as she was over the recommended height and weight, but as my son was in a car seat she continued to sit in the car seat.

Next year when we go out my dd will be 5.5 and my ds 4.5 both will be to tall and heavy for the recommended car seat, so i am contemplating taking my booster seats( i use the graco boosters which i have done for a few years now) providing virgin will let me carry them free.

One thing to bare in mind though that although the company were helpful enough to show me how it fitted, they didnt say oh by the way your dd is too big which would have saved her being squashed. i have rambled here, and probably not made much sense or answered your initial query but i would say car seat is the best way to go. The kids can see out the car that way and makes for easier transportation.