Car Seats /Booster seats

[tribus121]

Does any one out there know what the law in FL is regarding car seats /booster seats a link would be realy helpfull .

 

[sorul82?]

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/HighwaySafetyGrantProgram/hsgp/HSGPAreas_OccupantFAQ.htm#Florida's%20Child

 

[sorul82?]

I also found this:

Thus, under the Florida car seat law, children over 3 years old may ride in a vehicle using a standard adult safety belt. The problem with this according to advocates is that most children under 80 pounds are too small for an adult seat belt. Adult seat belts can actually be dangerous to children because the belt cuts directly across their neck instead of snug across the center of their shoulder. This can lead to serious injury or even death in the event of an accident.

Some vehicles may be exempt such as taxis and buses.

 

[tribus121]

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/H...sgp/HSGPAreas_OccupantFAQ.htm#Florida's Child

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/HighwaySafetyGrantProgram/hsgp/HSGPAreas_OccupantFAQ.htm#Florida's%20Childhttp://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/H...sgp/HSGPAreas_OccupantFAQ.htm#Florida's Child

Thank you sorul82?

 

[PoohHappens]

Wow not a very stringent law. Our state requires a booster until 8yrs ( i believe there is a size exception like 80lbs or something)

 

[all4fun]

I agree, very lax, IMO. Our state requires a booster until age 8 or 4'9".

If you don't want to bring a car seat or high back booster for your 4yr old then I recommend at least getting an inexpensive backless booster which will protect her from "seatbelt syndrome" in a car accident. I have seen them on sale recently at Target, Kmart, and Walmart for less than $15.

This is from Car-safety.org

When can my child be in a regular seatbelt without a booster?

Children are not ready to be in a regular lap/shoulder seatbelt until:

* They are tall enough so that their legs bend at the knees at the edge of the seat; and
* They are mature enough to remain seated with their backs flat against the back of the seat and not slouch; and
* The lap belt sits high on the thighs or low on the hips (NOT on their tummy!); and
* The shoulder belt crosses the shoulder and chest (NOT on their arms or neck!); and

Each passenger must have their own lap and shoulder belt! Never allow children to share a seatbelt.

Some organizations will also give limits like 80 or 100 pounds, 4'9" in height or 8 years old. These are rough guidelines, not absolute limits. The criteria above are most important.

The AAP car seat guide says essentially the same thing.

If she's under 40lbs though ideally, she should still be in a harnessed seat.

No Flames please. Just trying to inform.

 

[Stephres]

If you are renting a van, some come with seats that fold down into boosters with a harness.

I live here in Florida and the law (or lack thereof) is frustrating. My six year old has been called a baby by one of his friends for still riding in a booster. None of his friends still ride in them. Sorry to get off topic.

 

[becca011906]

That is SO SAD!!! I'm a car seat tech my kids (ages listed below) are all still in booster/car seats and will stay in them till they are all about 100 for thier own safty!!! I would be more worried about what is safest for my child vs what the FL state law is...

 

[PenguinWaiters]

Will my 2.5 year old need a car seat or booster if we are NOT renting a car? I am assuming that she doesn't need one to ride ME or the Disney buses.

That always seemed strange to me though - to have good strict rules about car seats in cars and then to not even have seatbelts on buses. Does anyone else find that strange? To be honest, I have not taken her on any buses yet because I feel odd not strapping her in!

Terri

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I agree, very lax, IMO. Our state requires a booster until age 8 or 4'9".

If you don't want to bring a car seat or high back booster for your 4yr old then I recommend at least getting an inexpensive backless booster which will protect her from "seatbelt syndrome" in a car accident. I have seen them on sale recently at Target, Kmart, and Walmart for less than $15.

This is from Car-safety.org


The AAP car seat guide says essentially the same thing.

If she's under 40lbs though ideally, she should still be in a harnessed seat.

No Flames please. Just trying to inform.

What about kids like my son (built like a linebacker -- it's all solid muscle not fat, but boy is he dense). I'm sure he'll be 100 lbs before he's 4'9" -- are there boosters that would accomodate him?

Right now he's 4' 2" and 69 lbs and rides in boosters that go up to 80 lbs so I have a year or so to shop!

 

[tribus121]

The reason that I started this thread was that I wanted to know how strict they where in FL because our car seat no longer has the tags and they wont let us use it on the plane and was wondering if we should try to borrow a newer one or a high back boster seat . My DD is tiny 36 in les than 26 lbs ( I think that she will require a car seat till she goes to high school ) we have a realy nice backless one I think that is what we may take with us we are only renting for two days .

 

[kathi29]

She's 4? I think a backless booster would be fine for the couple of days. Plus they are a lot easier to travel with. I take the arms off the turbobooster and pack it in a suitcase (making sure to take the armrests as they need to be reinstalled when we get there.) Check the weight requirement, though - backless boosters tend to start at 40 pounds.

 

[jodifla]

Will my 2.5 year old need a car seat or booster if we are NOT renting a car? I am assuming that she doesn't need one to ride ME or the Disney buses.

That always seemed strange to me though - to have good strict rules about car seats in cars and then to not even have seatbelts on buses. Does anyone else find that strange? To be honest, I have not taken her on any buses yet because I feel odd not strapping her in!

Terri

You can't use car seats on a bus. No seatbelts to strap them in. In fact, no public transportation uses seatbelts...Trains, buses, subways, trams, etc.

 

[FigmentsBiggestFan]

If you are renting a van, some come with seats that fold down into boosters with a harness.

I live here in Florida and the law (or lack thereof) is frustrating. My six year old has been called a baby by one of his friends for still riding in a booster. None of his friends still ride in them. Sorry to get off topic.

Yes, the law is pretty pathetic. I always thought they had to be something like 80 lbs. before they could get out of the booster seat, so my DS (5-1/2) has never really had a choice. We are lucky in that all his friends still use them. When they are riding together, they actually fight to see who gets to sit in the "cool" one. (Hmmm, they are all exactly the same!!)

Tell your son that his friends are just jealous because he gets to ride comfortably in the cool seat!

 

[jodifla]

Yes, the law is pretty pathetic. I always thought they had to be something like 80 lbs. before they could get out of the booster seat, so my DS (5-1/2) has never really had a choice. We are lucky in that all his friends still use them. When they are riding together, they actually fight to see who gets to sit in the "cool" one. (Hmmm, they are all exactly the same!!)

Tell your son that his friends are just jealous because he gets to ride comfortably in the cool seat!

Actually, I think the law is just right. THere's nothint preventing parents from using boosters until kids are 8, or beyond. BUt parents aren't turned unnecessarily into lawbreakers if they choose not to use them.
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The law is the same way in Michigan, and many other states.

 

[all4fun]

Actually, I think the law is just right. THere's nothint preventing parents from using boosters until kids are 8, or beyond. BUt parents aren't turned unnecessarily into lawbreakers if they choose not to use them.
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The law is the same way in Michigan, and many other states.

Yes, but laws everywhere are being beefed up because booster seats do save lives. They were just bumped up from 6 & 60lb to 8 or 4'9" where I live.

There's also a big push from the NHTSA for states to beef up their car seat laws:
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot2406.htm

Over the past two years, Mineta said less than 20 percent of kids who should be in booster seats are actually in them when they are riding in cars.

Maybe if everyone would just do what is right we wouldn't have to have laws. But that isn't realistic, unfortunately.

 

[jodifla]

Yes, but laws everywhere are being beefed up because booster seats do save lives. They were just bumped up from 6 & 60lb to 8 or 4'9" where I live.

There's also a big push from the NHTSA for states to beef up their car seat laws:
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot2406.htm



Maybe if everyone would just do what is right we wouldn't have to have laws. But that isn't realistic, unfortunately.

I get sick of the government .... or other do - gooders -- telling me how to raise my kid.

 

[PoohHappens]

I get sick of the government .... or other do - gooders -- telling me how to raise my kid.

Although I do agree that the government should not dictate how I rear my child ie... religious beliefs, discipline with in the spectrum of non abbusive, having my child miss an occasional day of school because I as the parent feel it is in their best interest and other similar areas. ....this is one I do not agree with you in. It is sad that it needs to be law, but without it being law so many are just not aware or do not bother to properly restrain their children. It is sad that a deterent of a ticket is what drives most to provide the safest riding conditions for their child in a vehicle, as opposed to concern for their childs safety. I have worked in L&D and Peds for years and I will tell you if it weren't for the law many would not use a car seat at all. This is a simple area where great protection for children can be provided and to me it does seem a "crime" to not follow it when we are given the knowledge.

Also I want to mention that I realize this was not the OPs intent and realize you were just asking a question? Sorry.

 

[sorul82?]

OP,

Did you get the answer to your question? If you are using public transportation, then you won't need a booster seat. If you rent a car, it's up to you. If your child is over 3, then you are good to go! You are supposed to follow Florida laws. However, if your child is seated (not bouncing around the car), and the driver isn't breaking any other laws, you won't be pulled over. And if you are pulled over, do you think that your child will have to step out of the vehicle to be weighed, measured, and asked for their id? I hope you were able to get the info you needed for your trip!!

 

[tribus121]

we are using public transportation for most of our trip but we are renting for 2 days I do know that

If you are using public transportation, then you won't need a booster seat

as I am a bus driver ( Have read hundreds of arguements about seatbelts on busses ) my DD is small so she may not look 3 but we will have ID for her as we are from canada and will nead it to cross the border .Thanks to all who posted .