Car seat rules - confusion over ages

[MazdaUK]

Me again!!!

I've read in Simon's excellent Brit Guide that car seats are compulsory for under 4's, and 4's and 5's have to use either a seat belt or fitted car seat. However my holiday brocure says car seats are compulsory for age 6 and under. Is this just to try to get $5/day out of unwary brits?

I was planning on taking one of those triangular things which hold the saetbelt safely and comfortably for small children (which is the purpose of a booster), with the option of buying a cheap booster in Walmart if DS(5) complained of being uncomfortable.

I'm reluctant to buy a booster seat here (my car has built-in boosters) but equally reluctant to hire one!

Can anyone clear this up?

On a different topic, what is the UK name for moleskin and where can you get it?

 

[Goofyish]

Can't help with the car rental and child seats but you can get the equivalent of mole skin from Boots - it's a Dr. Schol product

 

[Celestine]

We had a similar predicament. The law is under 5 & DD was 5. We had the platinum insurance, so car seat (if req'd) is included. Dollar found us a sort of booster seat which had a clip thing to bring the shoulder bit down so didn't cut into the neck. It was called a car seat as the term "booster seat" was meant with blank expressions! DD is fairly petite, but a chunkier 5 year old would have found a squished back side quite possible in this type of seat. You can pick up booster seats (new) for uner £10 over here & next time that's what we're going to do.

 

[Bexx]

According to the Florida Department of Transportation you should be fine with the seat belt thing.

 

[MazdaUK]

Thank you all for this.

DS is tall for his age and would refuse a "baby" seat!

 

[TinkTatoo]

We were told by Dollar when we collected our car that car seats were compulsory for 5 and under.

DD was 6 when we went and we brought her booster sear with us (this was more so she could see out of the car windows) You should be fine with the seat belt thing but a booster seat might give her a better view (You can pick them up in Wal-mart for about $10)