Car Seat Rental??

[Tinks1984]

Hey all,

Car seats...do I rent one from the car hire place? Or, ideally I'd like to go buy a cheap one from Walmart if that's a better option on price?

But, how do you get them from the airport to Walmart? I have a Trunki booster which will be her hand luggage, but I just read I need an actual seat as she'll only be age 3 when we arrive.

Any opinions? Thanks

 

[chmurf]

Florida Law requires your child to be seated in an approved booster seat.

Even if you're okay with driving up to the nearest walmart with your kid not properly or safely restrained (I'm not judging) there is a possibility that the attendant at the rental station will not let you leave the premises without proper equipment for the child. And even if you're let through, you take the risk of being stopped by any law enforcement you might cross paths with.
Long story short, unsafe and possibly more expensive than renting the booster seat if you get a ticket.

I will never pay the kind of money the car rental agencies ask for a child seat, prices are ridiculous.
But I always pack a Bumble Bum (inflatable booster seat) that takes virtually no space in the luggage. http://www.bubblebum.co.uk/

you can also choose to pack your own booster seat. Most airlines will let you check it on top of the kid's luggage allowance. Check with your airline.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We took our own car seat, not sure if that is an option with your airline.

If you are staying on site then you and dd could take ME and let your driver take the car and pick up a seat from Walmart on the way.

 

[pickers1982]

Found the seat with Alamo good quality

 

[Tinks1984]

I would never drive with her unrestrained as you say, I value her more than anything in the world. The fine & 3 points wouldn't bother me, her safety would!

I have the Trunki booster as I say, which will be her hand luggage, so I'll assess nearer the time if that would be ok and if not look at leaving her at the airport with my Mum and then taking the short trip to Walmart and getting one and returning to collect them again

Big difference in rental prices and actually purchasing one. It's not a free add on with our package, we've asked this evening.

 

[KalamityJane]

I'm guessing she has a seat on the plane since she is 3, the Trunki booster requires children to be at least 4. You could take whatever seat she is using in your car currently or get a travel seat like the Titan65 which is highly recommended on all the car seat groups I'm in, as it harnesses for a long time. It's also around 10 lbs so nice and light and you can get it at Burlington Coat Factory for 60 bucks. Boosters are not allowed to be used on the plane but car seats are. You could strap the seat to a hand luggage cart and it becomes a makeshift stroller so easier through the airport.

 

[KalamityJane]

Oh I just realized you are from the UK. I would either bring her current seat, or have one parent run out to Walmart for a seat when you get there (if you have 2 adults going) while you wait at the airport.
Eta, bubble bum says you need to be 4 and 40 lbs to use.

You could do the ride safer travel vest 2 if she meets the weight requirements.

http://safetrafficsystem.com/ver4/products/how-to-choose/

 

[Laurafoster]

I'm guessing she has a seat on the plane since she is 3, the Trunki booster requires children to be at least 4. You could take whatever seat she is using in your car currently or get a travel seat like the Titan65 which is highly recommended on all the car seat groups I'm in, as it harnesses for a long time. It's also around 10 lbs so nice and light and you can get it at Burlington Coat Factory for 60 bucks. Boosters are not allowed to be used on the plane but car seats are. You could strap the seat to a hand luggage cart and it becomes a makeshift stroller so easier through the airport.

Can I ask where you read about Trunki requiring children to be 4? As far as I aware they have to meet certain weight (and height) requirements. Age isn't really a factor in UK car seats until they get older so I wasn't sure if this was a US rule.



Anyway we ended up buying a cheaper seat from asda during one of their baby events last time. I think the one we got was £25 so we used it for the holiday and then bought it home to be used as a spare seat for Grandparents. Mothercare have a Graco high backed booster for £25 instore at the moment.

 

[KalamityJane]

Can I ask where you read about Trunki requiring children to be 4? As far as I aware they have to meet certain weight (and height) requirements. Age isn't really a factor in UK car seats until they get older so I wasn't sure if this was a US rule. Anyway we ended up buying a cheaper seat from asda during one of their baby events last time. I think the one we got was £25 so we used it for the holiday and then bought it home to be used as a spare seat for Grandparents. Mothercare have a Graco high backed booster for £25 instore at the moment.

http://www.boostapak.com/home.html

Says it on the front page, •For ages 4 -12 yrs (15-36 KG or upto 135cm)

 

[Laurafoster]

http://www.boostapak.com/home.html Says it on the front page, •For ages 4 -12 yrs (15-36 KG or upto 135cm)

Quite misleading looking at that. But it also clearly states that it is a group 2 seat which is for weights of 15kg or over (which is also what their documentation says). So as per UK law if a 3 year old meets that weight requirement then they can use it (atleast in the UK they can) And to be fair my DD has been over that weight for a little while and isn't yet 4.


I just wasn't sure if the US were slightly different, as I remember they are with infant car seats (needing to be rearward facing until 1yr as opposed to our 9months/weight requirements).

 

[KalamityJane]

Quite misleading looking at that. But it also clearly states that it is a group 2 seat which is for weights of 15kg or over (which is also what their documentation says). So as per UK law if a 3 year old meets that weight requirement then they can use it (atleast in the UK they can) And to be fair my DD has been over that weight for a little while and isn't yet 4. I just wasn't sure if the US were slightly different, as I remember they are with infant car seats (needing to be rearward facing until 1yr as opposed to our 9months/weight requirements).

Regardless , Florida laws state that 3 year olds must be in a car seat.

http://www.dmv.org/fl-florida/safety-laws.php

 

[Elise79]

Florida Law requires 3 year olds to be in a proper car seat - not just a booster.

I would always take one with you

 

[Laurafoster]

Regardless , Florida laws state that 3 year olds must be in a car seat. http://www.dmv.org/fl-florida/safety-laws.php

Thank you, thats what i was looking for.

I just wanted to know because i have a friend who is going soon with their DS who is almost 4 and they were taking their trunki as they use it in the UK so now i can tell them not too.

 

[Button]

We booked the car seat for 1 day then dropped it off after buying from Walmart. (We online ordered before we left to ensure had in stock). We just dropped the rental one back to local depot. I think it was Alamo which had an office at hotel on 192.

 

[Tinks1984]

I'll have enough adults spare for me to go purchase a seat from Walmart and go back if I don't decide to take ours from home.

But looking into it with others I can buy a car seat cover and then put it into 'larger luggage' at the airport

Either way, she's going into a seat then...change of plan for the hand luggage

Thanks all

 

[orangetiggs]

We always take our own, last year girls were four and in stage two seats and we took them, they are not over 15kg yet so cant be in boosters alone so we will be taking our own car seats again this year, kiddicare do a fab bag that we will be using too

 

[irisheyes123]

If you are planning on buying one in Walmart you can do site to store with it before you go that way it's ready in the store when you arrive. I did this for my twins in December my hubby went to the nearest walmart to MCO less than 10 minutes drive and picked them up. We just paid through paypal so no need to que at tills just picked it up in the layaway part . We paid just under $50 each for them.

 

[Tinks1984]

If you are planning on buying one in Walmart you can do site to store with it before you go that way it's ready in the store when you arrive. I did this for my twins in December my hubby went to the nearest walmart to MCO less than 10 minutes drive and picked them up. We just paid through paypal so no need to que at tills just picked it up in the layaway part . We paid just under $50 each for them.

Fab, thanks for this information

I've managed to order a travel bag for our car seat, so I can look at either option nearer the time and decide what's the easiest option

 

[PJB71]

We use the same transport company every year (www.floridatransport.com) who offer an airport & car hire service. They meet you at the airport with a carseat alread fitted into there taxi minibus (you just tell them what size seat you need) and then they take you along with all of your luggage to your accommodation (we rent a villa in a Davenport) and they also stop enrpute for a quick supermarket shop.

A few weeks before we go I pre order a seat from the local Walmart for instore collection which DH picks up after he collects the rental car from Floridatransport the next morning.

 

[Tinks1984]

We use the same transport company every year (www.floridatransport.com) who offer an airport & car hire service. They meet you at the airport with a carseat alread fitted into there taxi minibus (you just tell them what size seat you need) and then they take you along with all of your luggage to your accommodation (we rent a villa in a Davenport) and they also stop enrpute for a quick supermarket shop.

A few weeks before we go I pre order a seat from the local Walmart for instore collection which DH picks up after he collects the rental car from Floridatransport the next morning.

Thank-you