Car Seat Questions

[TexasGirl]

How are car seats used? We are flying so I am clear I can use it on the plane and that it is recommended. Can you also use them on the Disney bus that takes you from airport and back and forth from resorts? If not, do you just hold the baby in your arms?

Background: DS is in an infant car seat. He is 4 months old and 11 pounds. We leave in 5 days.

Also, what about Taxis? Can you hold the baby or does he need to be in carseat. Many taxies I've been don't even have backseat seat belts.

I want him to be safe but have no idea how carseats fit in with the various transportation options.

 

[traci]

I want to know too!

 

[SHSFire]

When we flew 4 years ago DS was 3 and we took my son's carseat they checked for a label to see that it was approved for airplanes. Luckily I had read about this requirement somewhere and took the one that said it was approved.

We are flying with my sister and her family in December. We looked at their carseats and only one had a sticker approving it for airplanes. Still debating about whether we are going to take the seat on the plane or just check it so we have it for the car. My nephew will be 3 1/2 when we travel.

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

Julie

 

[JennsBabySky]

You definitely need the carseat on the taxi. If there are no belts, find a different taxi!

Most busses keep occupants safe by their shear size, driver training and compartmentalization. If you want a carseat for all transportation, it might be easier to rent a car, so you can leave the seat in there. Personally, I'd use the Disney bus to get to the parks, so that you can bring a stroller or front carrier and skip the infant car seat carrier. That would be a problem at the park, since it isn't great for infants to spend extra time in the carseat (time in the seat in the car is fine, but not while strolling WDW for extended lengths of time).

 

[Rowlf]

Under Florida law, you don't need to use a car seat in a taxi. That said, when we went with 15-month-old DS, I took our Britax Marathon on the plane and then just put it in the rental car. We'll do the same this year, when he'll be 27 months.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Under Florida law, you don't need to use a car seat in a taxi. That said, when we went with 15-month-old DS, I took our Britax Marathon on the plane and then just put it in the rental car. We'll do the same this year, when he'll be 27 months.

We just got back three weeks ago. We carried DD22mo's Britax through the airport and preboarded via Southwest. DH strapped her seat onto the planeseat by the window using the lapbelt, secured it tightly and we put her in it. She was very comfortable, although her legs were just the right height to kick and push the seat in front of her, which was annoying to that poor lady. We took her shoes and socks off to deter that and it helped.

Upon arrival, we unsnapped her seatbelt and pulled both DD and the seat off the plane and carried it through MCO. We got our rental car and strapped it in just like normal. We did the same thing upon return.

You do not need a carseat for the busses.

 

[PatricenPete]

I don't use my carset on a plane either. Frankly, I don't see the difference between not using one on a bus and not using one a plane. (no flaming, please!) I just flew to Boston by myself with DS, we had a whole row to ourselves - I thought that it was SO much better than if I had had the carseat. DS was much happier. He even sat in his own seat for a bit and played with his hokey pokey Ernie

Okay, I think that I am getting off the beaten path..... You don't need a carseat in a Taxi in Florida oro n the Disney buses. You can just hold them in your lap.

 

[TexasGirl]

Will they let you use the carseat on the bus? It seems to me I vaguely recall last year on one of the Mears busses that there was a little girl happily asleep on the bus tucked in her carseat and they made the parents get her out due to some rule. Not sure if that is correct or not. Anyone know?

 

[PatricenPete]

I think that, just like a plane, you would actually have to pay for a ticket on Mears in order to definitely use your carseat. They have a certain # of tickets that they sell for each van/bus and your carseat would take up one spot.

 

[JennsBabySky]

Statistically busses and planes are much safer than taxis. Bus drivers have more training and are large, plus they keep occupantants safe by compartmentalization. So, I would risk keeping the baby in my arms for a bus or plane ride (although I do use a carseat on the plane so that I'm not holding my baby for 4 hours straight). Personally, it is just too high of a risk to not use a carseat in a taxi, law or not. Taxis are just not as safe as a bus or plane. But you need to do what is best for you and your situation. These decisions are always tough, because there is rarely one option that jumps out as best, I hate making these.

Good luck on your trip,
Jennifer

 

[safetymom]

The large buses that DME use don't have any way to secure a car seat. For a taxi yes you should use your car seat. The seat belts in the taxi may be tucked under the seat but they are required to be in the car.

 

[TexasGirl]

Thanks. It looks like I won't need it for very many situations. I doubt the baby is in a taxi. We'll be on a bus or a ferry. I'm not even positive I should bring it at this point. I'll prob hold him in the plane. It is handy to have a seat for the baby to hang out in around the cabin or by the pool maybe. He can't sit up yet.Thanks again.