Carseats

[SandraLee]

baileybaby . . . To answer your original questions:

1. I would NEVER allow my child to go from the airport to the port without a booster. I wouldn't take her for an hour drive at home without one, so why would I do that on vacation? The $20 backless boosters at Target are great.

2. If your child is still in a harnessed carseat, bring it on the airplane and use it on the airplane.

3. I took an extra canvas bag and put my boosters in the bag and put a Disney luggage tag on it. When I pulled the rental car up to the curb, I took the kids and the boosters out of the car. The boosters went in the extra bag and the next I saw of it was in my stateroom. The kids stayed with me while DH returned the rental car.

Bring the carseats. Keep your kids safe. Get an extra bag and use your luggage tags to get the boosters to your cabin.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[baileybaby]

Originally posted by SandraLee
baileybaby . . . To answer your original questions:
3. I took an extra canvas bag and put my boosters in the bag and put a Disney luggage tag on it. When I pulled the rental car up to the curb, I took the kids and the boosters out of the car. The boosters went in the extra bag and the next I saw of it was in my stateroom. The kids stayed with me while DH returned the rental car.

Thank You Thank You Thank You! That is exactly what I needed to know. My girls are 6 and 8 and I still wouldn't let them ride in a car without a booster seat. The car seat belt doesn't fit right without it. What kind of canvas bag did you put them in? We do have the backless seats so at least they are not as big.

 

[vossjemi]

What is a backless booster seat? I've never heard of such a thing. My kids are only 4 and 2 right now so all we've got is the big bulky car seat, one is an Eddie Bauer and the other a Costco. I'd love to not have to drag them along next year if there is something lighter and easier to take. Please advise.

 

[Zandy595]

 

[vossjemi]

Thanks zandy!!! Those do look easily transportable. I'll have to look for some before our trip!

 

[SandraLee]

vossjemi . . . Please be careful. Your 2 year old is NO WHERE NEAR ready for a booster-only carseat. Every child should be in a harnessed carseat until at least 40 pounds. The boosters *may* begin at 30 pounds, but I would still take the full-size seat for an under 40 pound child.

Here is another tip for the 2 year old. We ALWAYS took our full size, harnessed carseats on the plane. Yes, carrying them through the airport could be a bit much. We got a fold-up luggage carrier with wheels and a couple of bungee cords. We strapped the carseat to the luggage carrier and put my DD in the carseat. That way, we just pulled her and the carseat through the airport. She sat crosslegged on the seat and we just pulled her backward. You should have seen the looks we got. But, she was safe ON the plane and IN our car. I loved it.

baileybaby . . . I don't have a picture of the bag I used. But, it was more like a duffle bag than a suitcase. I have also used regular kitchen garbage bags with the tie top. I stuff a few of them in my stuff and put the seats in that. Just tape the luggage tag to the outside.

 

[imsayin]

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only parent who is pro-booster. I actually have a petite 10 year old that is still in a booster. We always get comments when other kids come in the car, but too bad. She actually prefers the booster beacause it is comfortable, and she can see out the window.

 

[dis4me]

Originally posted by SandraLee
vossjemi . . . Please be careful. Your 2 year old is NO WHERE NEAR ready for a booster-only carseat. Every child should be in a harnessed carseat until at least 40 pounds. The boosters *may* begin at 30 pounds, but I would still take the full-size seat for an under 40 pound child.

My son is over 40lbs and is just 2. he does fine in a booster seat. Although he is in the Edie Bauer full car seat at home. Some car seats only go up to 40 lbs so it really depends more on your childs size not age. Now when my dds were 2 they were barely 20lbs so they were in a full size car seat until they were 4. Just use good judgement and you will be fine.



ALSO as a side note; You can't use car seat in any of the taxis on the islands as most don't even have seat belts. Also if you have to take a shuttle the car seats my not be able to be properly installed either.

 

[vossjemi]

Thanks guys. Our cruise isn't unti 9/05. So, although my DS is 2 1/2 now, he'll be 3 1/2 when we go and my daughter will be 5 1/2. Both are petite children, so we'll have to see about the weight thing as the time nears, but you have given me some very useful ideas. Part of the reason we waited this long to take them anywhere was the hassle of carseats/diapers/bottles, etc...it seemed like more work than enjoyment to me. But, I am actually very excited about a trip we take in 2 weeks with them. Its a driving trip down to Galveston for my cousin's wedding. We got a condo on the beach and will stay there for the week. I can't wait for my kids to see the ocean. My daughter is so excited and keeps asking about making sand castles. We've rented a minivan so as not to put all those miles on our car (we live in Missouri), but will be using our full size car seats for the trip. It'll be about a 12 hour drive, but the tv/dvd strap in system we bought should help!

 

[Zandy595]

Here is another tip for the 2 year old. We ALWAYS took our full size, harnessed carseats on the plane. Yes, carrying them through the airport could be a bit much. We got a fold-up luggage carrier with wheels and a couple of bungee cords. We strapped the carseat to the luggage carrier and put my DD in the carseat. That way, we just pulled her and the carseat through the airport. She sat crosslegged on the seat and we just pulled her backward. You should have seen the looks we got. But, she was safe ON the plane and IN our car. I loved it.

We did the same thing when we flew to NY when DS was 2. Worked great.

 

[clori]

my dd is 4 and 31 pounds. She is in a harnessed booster seat. for the cruise when she is 4 1/2 I thought about getting a backless booster and started looking around a bit. One thing I learned was that many boosters that convert from full back to backless say they start at 30 pounds but the weight limit with no back is 40 pounds. We will most likely take our harnessed booster and use it on the plane.

 

[ptlycloudy]

Has anyone had any experience with this carseat. I thought it might be an option for my DD 3.5yrs. I believe it has back support and converts the seatbelt to a 5 point harness. I was wondering if anyone who has used it has an opion.

 

[joycepa]

What do you do if you are using Disney transfers?? Can you use a car seat or booster seat on the bus?

 

[SandraLee]

Carseats or boosters cannot be used on the bus. Generally, you just put them on and pray there is not an accident.

I have never read anything positive about the Tote-N-Go. I'm not a car seat certified technician, but I wouldn't use one. Here is some interesting info...
http://www.carseatdata.org/TNG.html

 

[vossjemi]

I happened to be in Walmart tonight and saw the backless booster seats everyone is talking about. The Cosco was 14.83 and the Evenflo was 24.85. They both said they hold children weighing 30-100 lbs. They both had retractable drink holders, but the evenflo had one on both sides. The Evenflo looked a little sturdier and had a nicer seat cover, which was detachable for washing purposes. I am definitely going to have to get a couple of these for our trip!

Also, did I understand right? You can use these backless boosters on the plane?

 

[SandraLee]

No, you cannot use the backless boosters on the plane. You will have to just use the regular seat belt on the plane.

The only carseats you can use on the plane are carseats with a harness.

Booster seats are designed to be used with the shoulder strap -- Obviously, there is not one of these on the plane.

The job of the booster is to 'boost' up the child to fit into the shoulder / seat belt in the car.

 

[justcruisin]

To add to what SandraLee posted ...

I want to reaffirm the backless boosters must be used with a shoulder belt, there it a little piggy tale on the backless booster into which you thread the shoulder portion of the seatbelt so it fits properly over the childs shoulder. (It is NEVER shown on the pics).

For this reason you cannot use it on a plane. God Forbid anything happen, the child would be folded in 1/2 over the lap portion of belt, as there would be nothing holding the upper body against the back of the seat. (a much bigger deal in kids than in adults)

I love this thread! Drives me NUTS to see unproperly restrained kids in cars.

We bought a BIG BIG duffle from LL Bean to lug the carseat.

 

[vossjemi]

Darn. I was hoping the backless boosters had solved my dilemma. I could use them for the car, but would need the biguns for the plane. Do most people use a carseat on the plane? For kids ages 3 1/2 & 5 1/2?

 

[SandraLee]

How much does your 3 1/2 year old weigh? If he is still under 40 pounds and still fits in the full-size seat, I'd bring the full-size one and just get the luggage carrier and pull him and the seat through the airport and use it on the plane. I'd get the fold-up luggage carrier and put the seat on the carrier and DS in the seat and pull them through the airport. My DD was small and I had her in a full-size seat until nearly her 5th birthday.

For your older child, I'd bring a backless booster. I would check this and not carry it at all.

I am so glad to hear how important the carseat is for your family.

 

[justcruisin]

If you're bringing a stroller to check it at the gate, it comes in to push the carseat through the airport.

I agree with Sandralee's assesment.

Good luck!