Car seats - getting to Port of Miami

[pandy1024]

Hello everyone! Long time lurker, first time poster, first time cruiser!

We're leaving in a few weeks for a cruise on Magic departing from Miami.

We are staying at the hotel at the airport and need to get to the port. We had not planned on bringing car seats for the 3 and 6 year old. But I have Googled the snot out of the internet and everything is telling me that I will need car seats for both kids in cabs, shuttles, limos, etc. The only thing that doesn't require car seats are buses. I spoke to the hotel concierge and he said that even if we took the bus/public transit, we'd still need to take a cab from the bus stop to the actual port.
(my home province doesn't require car seats in cabs, which still freak me out, but it's still lawful - and I understand that being lawful doesn't always mean safest)

Can anyone offer suggestions as how to get to the port without having to lug our giant car seats around?
Bonus points if you've BTDT with kids the same age.

TIA!

 

[chloe77]

We have Bubble Bum travel booster seats for our 5 and 6 year olds. Don't know if that would work for your 3 year old, though.

 

[wanderlust7]

We stayed at Comfort Inn Miami North. The free shuttle from the airport to the hotel was a 12 passenger van and the also free shuttle from hotel to port was a shuttle bus. Kids are 3 and 7 (do I still get bonus points? ) and no problems with not using a car seat. I did have them though since we were doing a post cruise stay. I had a Bubble Bum for my 7 year old. The minimum weight is 40 lbs, so my 3 years old was too light for it. I got a Harmony booster seat for her (minimum weight 30 lbs, minimum height 34 inches). It's nowhere as compact as the Bubble Bum, but super light, so I just put it in a big beach bag and carried it on the flight.

 

[pandy1024]

We stayed at Comfort Inn Miami North. The free shuttle from the airport to the hotel was a 12 passenger van and the also free shuttle from hotel to port was a shuttle bus. Kids are 3 and 7 (do I still get bonus points? ) and no problems with not using a car seat. I did have them though since we were doing a post cruise stay. I had a Bubble Bum for my 7 year old. The minimum weight is 40 lbs, so my 3 years old was too light for it. I got a Harmony booster seat for her (minimum weight 30 lbs, minimum height 34 inches). It's nowhere as compact as the Bubble Bum, but super light, so I just put it in a big beach bag and carried it on the flight.

Thanks! I did check Comfort Inn Miami North (I think it was suggested on Mouse Savers) and they didn't have any rooms available.
I've never heard of bubble bum seats. Both kids are over 40lbs so maybe it's an option. I have a feeling that this isn't popular in Canada... I could be wrong.

I'll gladly take suggestions on hotels that will offer free shuttle buses! I can cancel the hotel reservation that I currently have.

 

[PriorPrincess]

Is a Florida thing because when we were just in Orlando we had our 2 and 4 year olds on our lap in a taxi and uber?

 

[pandy1024]

Is a Florida thing because when we were just in Orlando we had our 2 and 4 year olds on our lap in a taxi and uber?

From what I googled, yes. The state of Florida tightened up their car seat laws. When I called the hotel to ask about it, he said that if I'm lucky, I'll find a cabbie who will take them without their car seat.

I appreciate everyone's replies! I have managed to change my hotel. I found a hotel that offers free shuttles from the airport and to the Port. I called the hotel and she said that it's a shuttle bus (their buses do not require car seats) and she has only seen infant in their bucket seats and never a booster seat installed on their shuttles. I feel much better!

FWIW - the hotel is Runway Inn.

Thank you everyone!

 

[PriorPrincess]

Well we had no clue and both the cab driver and uber driver had no problem. We traveled 12/13-12/17.

 

[princessmommyx3]

I love the Bubble Bum, that is what we use whenever we travel. You can buy them on Amazon.

 

[2-pointdoe]

Have you tried calling a cab company to see what they say?

 

[Macmaro]

x4 on the Bubble Bum for a booster but I doubt it would be sufficient for the 3yo unless the child is over 40 lbs. If you do have to take along a car seat at least you can usually check it for free with most (if not all) airlines.

 

[2-pointdoe]

x4 on the Bubble Bum for a booster but I doubt it would be sufficient for the 3yo unless the child is over 40 lbs. If you do have to take along a car seat at least you can usually check it for free with most (if not all) airlines.

I would not actually check a carseat if you take one. The baggage handlers are not very gentle with luggage and can cause unseen damage. If you take it, I would use it on the plane (good for a car seat but not a booster) or if you absolutely have to, gate check it. My dd is 8 and last month was the first time she has flown with out her car seat. We did take the booster with out the back and put it in the over head bin. They make a really cool strap system that allows you to attach a car seat to your rolling carry on bag that makes it really easy to get through the airport. Look up "traveling toddler car seat" on amazon, they are $14.99. DD has been flying several times a year since she was 3 months old so we have lots of tricks.

 

[pandy1024]

x4 on the Bubble Bum for a booster but I doubt it would be sufficient for the 3yo unless the child is over 40 lbs. If you do have to take along a car seat at least you can usually check it for free with most (if not all) airlines.

As crazy as this is - my 3yo is 40+ lbs! He's a big kid! LOL!

 

[wanderlust7]

FWIW - the hotel is Runway Inn.
Thank you everyone!

I think the Runway Inn shares the airport shuttle with Comfort Suites. The shuttle dropped someone off there before going to Comfort Suites. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but FWIW, it didn't look that nice from the outside. I should also mention that we waited maybe 30 minutes for the airport shuttle and had to wait outside. We passed a group at another terminal (maybe international) who said they had been waiting for 45 minutes, but we couldn't take them since the shuttle was already full. I think it just depends if a lot of flights are arriving at the same time.

Here's a list of hotels with free port shuttles that I looked at when I was planning:
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/hotels-shuttle-port-miami-miami-airport-105612.html

I think the Florida law only applies to kids 5 and under? So if you decide to bring a car seat instead, you would only need it for your 3 year old. The Bubble Bum is inflatable, so when deflated, it rolls up into the included pouch and is only about the size of a rolled up bath towel.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Is a Florida thing because when we were just in Orlando we had our 2 and 4 year olds on our lap in a taxi and uber?

Well we had no clue and both the cab driver and uber driver had no problem. We traveled 12/13-12/17.

You were lucky. Although I'd not be sure the Uber driver cares one way or the other, the taxi driver should know better.

Here's what it says on the Florida DMV website:
Summary of Mandatory Seat Belt Laws

• Seat belt laws apply to all cars, pickup trucks, and vans operated on Florida roads.
• All passengers in the front seat must wear a seat belt.
• All passengers under 18 must wear a seat belt

Florida Child Restraint Requirements

• Children 3 and younger must be secured in a federally approved child-restraint seat.
• Children 4 through 5 must be secured by either a federally approved child restraint seat or safety belt.
• The Driver is responsible for buckling up the child.

http://www.dmvflorida.org/seat-belt-laws.shtml

 

[JMHDisney]

Not to hijack your thread, but since many people have mentioned the Bubblebum, have you all found a way to keep it from sliding all over the place? I have one that I have been using for my son when we go on cruises and it's fine on a 5 minute cab ride to the port but on longer trips in ports it tends to slide out from under him and pretty soon it's totally useless. I am on the verge of bringing a regular booster because the bubble bum seems so worthless. Any suggestions?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Not to hijack your thread, but since many people have mentioned the Bubblebum, have you all found a way to keep it from sliding all over the place? I have one that I have been using for my son when we go on cruises and it's fine on a 5 minute cab ride to the port but on longer trips in ports it tends to slide out from under him and pretty soon it's totally useless. I am on the verge of bringing a regular booster because the bubble bum seems so worthless. Any suggestions?

Can you affix some adhesive velco strips? The rough side could create enough friction to hold it in place.

 

[JMHDisney]

Can you affix some adhesive velco strips? The rough side could create enough friction to hold it in place.

That's an interesting idea! I'm not sure how well they would stay on with the constant inflating and deflating of the seat, but it's worth a try! Thanks!

 

[houseofduck]

Not to hijack your thread, but since many people have mentioned the Bubblebum, have you all found a way to keep it from sliding all over the place? I have one that I have been using for my son when we go on cruises and it's fine on a 5 minute cab ride to the port but on longer trips in ports it tends to slide out from under him and pretty soon it's totally useless. I am on the verge of bringing a regular booster because the bubble bum seems so worthless. Any suggestions?

I haven't used a Bubblebum (we use the Rider Safer travel vests). Maybe you could put a piece of a grip shelf liner underneath it.

 

[2-pointdoe]

Oh good lord, I would never trust a cab driver to know how to properly install and buckle in my child. Most parents do it incorrectly too.

You were lucky. Although I'd not be sure the Uber driver cares one way or the other, the taxi driver should know better.

Here's what it says on the Florida DMV website:
Summary of Mandatory Seat Belt Laws

• Seat belt laws apply to all cars, pickup trucks, and vans operated on Florida roads.
• All passengers in the front seat must wear a seat belt.
• All passengers under 18 must wear a seat belt

Florida Child Restraint Requirements

• Children 3 and younger must be secured in a federally approved child-restraint seat.
• Children 4 through 5 must be secured by either a federally approved child restraint seat or safety belt.
• The Driver is responsible for buckling up the child.

http://www.dmvflorida.org/seat-belt-laws.shtml

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Oh good lord, I would never trust a cab driver to know how to properly install and buckle in my child. Most parents do it incorrectly too.

I understand that. But, legally, the driver is "responsible" for buckling up his/her passengers. Now, if the driver lets the parent actually attach the seat, that's still being responsible to see that it's done.

And it would seem to me that a taxi driver that allows kids who should be in car seats ride without them, is going to have employment issues if stopped by the police.