Car seat rules in Florida ???

[riu girl]

What are the car seat rules in Florida? I have a DS4 who weighs under 40 lbs. By law, will he need a car seat in Florida? I assume he will and will bring ours with us. We will have a rental for two weeks and at 7US/day for a car seat I think it would be a lot more economical to bring his car seat.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Suzy V.

 

[mamatojon]

From http://www.inventiveparent.com/lawsreg4.htm#Florida

316.613 Child restraint requirements.--

(1)(a) Every operator of a motor vehicle as defined herein, while transporting a child in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall, if the child is 5 years of age or younger, provide for protection of the child by properly using a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device. For children aged through 3 years, such restraint device must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child seat. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a seat belt may be used.

It looks like you could get away with just a seat belt legally, but I wouldn't advise it. When my son was under 40 lbs there was no way the shoulder harness would have fit properly, he definitely needed a booster. In fact, he is almost five and I am bringing his booster along on this trip too. Have fun!

 

[toystorymom]

I agree, a 4 yo should definitely be in a carseat or booster. I'd save the money and bring your own. That way, you know he'll be comfortable in it and that it will be in good shape. You never know with a rental. We've travelled with 2 carseats before and it's not too much trouble. Have fun!

 

[mom22girls]

I have a 5 1/2 year old that is 50lbs and 46 inches tall and a 4 year old(12 days shy) that is 40 lbs and 41 inches tall. They both use booster seats at home in our van but we will be renting a midsize car while in Florida and wondered if we should bring the booster seats.

Would the 5 1/2 year old be too tall in a car with a booster seat or would she be ok in a seatbelt.

Also if we bring them on the plane, do we check them as luggage or bring them as a carryon. If we check them, what do we put them in and how do we mark them.

Thanks, This is the first time we have flown with kids and am finding it was always much easier with just me and my husband. Lots more to think about with the kids.

 

[the kabuki]

When we rented with Dollar (Jan 2005), we were able to get a mini-van that had an intergrated car seat. Basically, the back of a seat folds down which reveals the car seat with the harness already there. We've never drove a mini van and I didn't realize they had these. Hadn't expected it either, as I had requested a car seat rental.

The woman at the dollar counter was nice enough to point this out to me, thereby saving me the $7/perday rental fee.

 

[beattyfamily]

I have a 5 1/2 year old that is 50lbs and 46 inches tall and a 4 year old(12 days shy) that is 40 lbs and 41 inches tall. They both use booster seats at home in our van but we will be renting a midsize car while in Florida and wondered if we should bring the booster seats.

Would the 5 1/2 year old be too tall in a car with a booster seat or would she be ok in a seatbelt.

Also if we bring them on the plane, do we check them as luggage or bring them as a carryon. If we check them, what do we put them in and how do we mark them.

Thanks, This is the first time we have flown with kids and am finding it was always much easier with just me and my husband. Lots more to think about with the kids.

It's up to you whether or not to bring one for the 5 year old. It's a personal decision since it's legal but I think she won't be too tall for the midsize with a booster seat.

What I do is I have 2 small booster seats with no backs for my 2 DDs ages 5 & 8. I bought a carseat carrier bag at Babies R Us for about $20.00 and both booster seats fit in it with room to spare so we end up putting odd shaped things in there as well like blankets, once we put a sleeping bag in it, last year we put our costumes in it for WDW Halloween trip and also we put our winter coats in it on winter trips. It comes in very handy!

It's a Godsend to have the booster seats in this bag at the airport. It's easy to carry and then you just check it with the rest of your checked luggage and then you won't see it again until you go to baggage claim.

Good luck!