Car Seats in CA

[markmcalear]

We are flying from UK to LA and then onto Aulani over Xmas. On the way back we are stopping at DL for a couple of nights.

Do we need to supply car seats in taxis? We have 5 kids (9,7,6,2,1) and will be bringing a car seat for the flight for the 1 year old.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

We are flying from UK to LA and then onto Aulani over Xmas. On the way back we are stopping at DL for a couple of nights.

Do we need to supply car seats in taxis? We have 5 kids (9,7,6,2,1) and will be bringing a car seat for the flight for the 1 year old.

Yes, you will. You will need 5 pt harness seats for the 1 & 2 yr olds and booster seats for the 6 & 7 yr olds.

 

[DisneylandPlanner]

Check out these booster seats they are great for travel
http://www.bubblebum.co/us/booster-seat/

 

[markmcalear]

Thanks.

Does a 3 year old need a 5 point harness or a booster seat?

I ask as my 2 year old turns 3 while we are at Aulani and he uses a booster seat now in UK (one of the ones with the back section on).

 

[DisneylandPlanner]

The rule for boosters is age 4 OR 40 lbs. So it depends, but most likely a 5 pt.

 

[corinne76]

Thanks.

Does a 3 year old need a 5 point harness or a booster seat?

I ask as my 2 year old turns 3 while we are at Aulani and he uses a booster seat now in UK (one of the ones with the back section on).

Hawaii law is that kids between 4 and 7 must ride in a booster or similar. There is a fine and a mandatory class if caught without. So at 3, your child will need a harness if you plan on driving.

 

[bumbershoot]

http://www.chp.ca.gov/community/safeseat.html

California Law (Effective 01/01/2012):

Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat.

Children under the age of 8 who are 4' 9" or taller may be secured by a safety belt in the back seat.

Children who are 8 years and over shall be properly secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint system or safety belt.

I'm actually surprised that the 2 year old is legal to be in a high back booster in the UK. My impression has been that Europe and Canada are MUCH more safe and stringent than even the most safe and stringent state in the US, so I'm pretty shocked!


Taxis won't have carseats or boosters. You will want the kids safe. So you'll need to provide them.


The link for Hawaii is here.

 

[markmcalear]

http://www.chp.ca.gov/community/safeseat.html




I'm actually surprised that the 2 year old is legal to be in a high back booster in the UK. My impression has been that Europe and Canada are MUCH more safe and stringent than even the most safe and stringent state in the US, so I'm pretty shocked!


Taxis won't have carseats or boosters. You will want the kids safe. So you'll need to provide them.


The link for Hawaii is here.

He is really tall and the shoulder straps in the 5 point seat were getting too tight on him. We only recently put him into a high back booster

 

[starshine514]

He is really tall and the shoulder straps in the 5 point seat were getting too tight on him. We only recently put him into a high back booster

Does he sit properly in a booster, all the time? I just look at my 2 yr old nephew and can't imagine him sitting properly in a booster! In the US, there are seats available with higher slots than your typical convertible seat. For example, in my car, we need to sit 3 kids across in the back. My oldest (10, 4' 7" - not quite tall enough to 5 step there yet) still uses a booster outboard, I have the baby outboard in her infant bucket on the opposite side, and my 7 year old (48") is still harnessed in the middle in a Britax Frontier. She's 7. She's old enough to sit fine in a booster, but the harnessed seat is much more convenient, since the buckles are hard to reach when having them three across.

Most kids aren't mature enough to sit in a booster until they are at least four. However, I think as long as they meet the requirements for the seat you are using (height/weight restrictions, plus any age restrictions on the seat itself), then it is legal for him to use it in many states. It looks like Hawaii wrote the age 4 minimum for boosters into their laws, though. Kids in most US states must be in a car seat or booster until they are 8 years old. I know the minimums on my daughter's old booster (destroyed by the airline - never check a car seat, not even a booster) was 3 years and 30 lbs.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Many taxi shuttle companies do have booster seats and carseats that they can provide if you book the reservation in advance and make clear that you need the seats. You don't need carseats on shuttle buses, but you would in a van or standard taxi. Here is a link to a great summary of the rules and options for finding boosters/carseats from TripAdvisor:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g...Car.Seats.For.Children.Under.8.Years.Old.html

 

[disneychrista]

FYI. If you are traveling on a shuttle buses (either from hotel to parks or Toy Story lot to park) you will NOT need to use the car seats or booster seats. There are no seat belts on the shuttles.

 

[YukonMommy]

On shuttle buses like a previous poster said there are no seatbelts so no car seats needed.
If you are renting a car in Hawaii you can rent car seats/booster seats from most companies, so check that out when you book.
If you are just using a shuttle in Hawaii they have no seat belts either (in my experience) so no car seats there either.

Have a magical holiday!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I may be alone in this, but I would never "rent" boosters/car seats from taxis, shuttle services, car rental, etc. You don't know their history - have they been in accident, are they expired, have the belts been washed (a big no-no, btw). All of those things make a seat very unsafe. Not to mention the possible ick factor if they haven't been cleaned well/properly.

I also won't check our car seats with our luggage because having huge bags tossed on them could cause unnoticeable, but serious fractures in the plastic, therefore compromising the integrity of the the seat. If you can't bring it onboard with you, gate check it.

That's my opinion anyway.

 

[markmcalear]

Yes he does sit well in the booster seat. This took a little work (wife sitting in the back of the car with him) but we got there in the end.

Given that there are 7 of us, bringing a car seat and 3 boosters is probably not possible. We will look at renting for the taxi journey from LAX to DL.

We are renting a car in Hawaii so we will just rent the seats from the car hire company.

Edit: I have just found the Bubblebum seats for sale in UK. Will buy 3 of them.

 

[DisneylandPlanner]

Yes he does sit well in the booster seat. This took a little work (wife sitting in the back of the car with him) but we got there in the end. Given that there are 7 of us, bringing a car seat and 3 boosters is probably not possible. We will look at renting for the taxi journey from LAX to DL. We are renting a car in Hawaii so we will just rent the seats from the car hire company. Edit: I have just found the Bubblebum seats for sale in UK. Will buy 3 of them.

Have a fabulous trip! Glad the bubblegum info was helpful

 

[SMD]

Have you looked around to see if there are cab companies with vehicles that will hold 7 people? Most will only accommodate 6 passengers and some have a policy to only take 5. You might want to avoid the problem and just use the DL Express bus or hire a livery service that will provide the extra 5 point harness seat.

 

[disneychrista]

Are those "Bubblegum" seat really inflatable?

They may work for the 6 & 7 year old but the 1 & 2 year old will still need a 5-point harness car seat.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Yes he does sit well in the booster seat. This took a little work (wife sitting in the back of the car with him) but we got there in the end. Given that there are 7 of us, bringing a car seat and 3 boosters is probably not possible. We will look at renting for the taxi journey from LAX to DL. We are renting a car in Hawaii so we will just rent the seats from the car hire company. Edit: I have just found the Bubblebum seats for sale in UK. Will buy 3 of them.

Be aware, just because your 2 yr old sits in a booster in the UK, it absolutely is NOT legal here. He/She has to be in a 5 pt harness.

 

[darlenesmommy]

CA state car seat use law is proper use, and any child 8 years or younger must be in a car seat. Means you must go by car seat manufactures rules for weight, height and age limits.


That being said if you don't mind bringing your car seats on your trip you can use them over here since your on vacation. This as long as you can install with a seat belt. I'm not sure if some seats over there only use isofix.

 

[darlenesmommy]

Are those "Bubblegum" seat really inflatable?

They may work for the 6 & 7 year old but the 1 & 2 year old will still need a 5-point harness car seat.

They are really inflatable. They are pretty good no back boosters as well.