Child Car Seats and Rental Cars

[allie5]

Can anyone help me on this.

We are taking our 3 year old and our 9 month old baby this June. We got totally stitched up by Dollar last year with the child seat prices (only had the one child then!!). We have booked through Travel City, and got the "fully inclusive insurance" EXCEPT it doesnt include the car seats. We were told last year, that they were $5 a day....when DH got to the Dollar check in desk (one of his least favourite places in the whole world!!!!!) they told him it would be $7 a day, BUT the 7 seater vans had one built in, so they would "do a deal"........£300 later, we got the mini van, which DIDNT have the car seat built in (still ended up with the usual rubbish Dollar seat). We are determined not to get caught this year and are definately taking a booster seat of our own for the 3 year old (who is as big as a 5 year old) but dont know what to do about the baby. Has anyone taken a baby seat with them before?? IS it practical? Are the airlines OK with it? (We are going BA). Or is it worth cancelling the Travel City package and trying to find a better deal?

We are regular travellers to Florida and this is ALWAYS the biggest stumbling block of the holiday as we get ripped off everytime (except the year of our wedding when they let us have a huge Jeep for next to nothing!!).

I am tempted to try Alamo...anyone used them?

TIA
Allie.

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

We have always taken our own child seats with us to Orlando. The airlines have always been ok with it - even with the big awkward metal framed toddler seat - it just goes through with the luggage, usually with the outsize bags!! I can't remember if it got weighed and included in luggage allowance though, but we had 2 with us that year, only 10 months between my two DS's, so one was exactly one year old and the other was almost 2. And as far as I can remember there was no problem with it.

Last time we took one toddler seat and one booster for the then three year old, and we took the booster aboard and it went into the overhead locker.
This year, both DS's will be almost 4 and 5, prob take our own boosters again.

I assume your 9 month old is already in a forward facing seat? I felt more comfortable taking our own seats as I knew exactly how to fasten them and put them into the car correctly. I agree with you on the rental car company seats - they are appalling. Had the pleasure of renting one in California last year when attending a wedding, they did not look safe at all - they didn;t even show you how it worked!!!!! And at $5/6/7 per day, a bit of a rip off.

 

[matty624]

Allie,
Funnily enough we travelled with a 9 month and almost 2 yr old, then a year later, a year later and so on. So we are relatively expert in car seats, push chairs etc. for children up to 4 (dd's age now!)
As I've just said, we travelled when our ds (our youngest) was just 9 months. He is quite slight and just fit in a Stage 0 seat, one of those that fits o nto the top of a push chair. The seat it-self went into the fragile hold and he travelled in a sky cot.
The sky cot, which can only be had if you are in a bulk head seat, isn't brilliant, for a number of reasons. Firstly, a 9 month old only just fits, although they are supposed to be suitable for up to 12 months I believe. Secondly, the cabin crew are quick to point out to you that if the seat belt light comes on, the baby has to come out of the sky cot and be strapped to you, whether they've just fallen asleep or not. I understand that it's for safety reasons, no-one wants a baby missile hurtling down the plane, but it's still an absolute pain to wake them when they just fallen asleep for the first time in 6 hours!
We have always taken our own car seats, as we've heard stories about the car seats which car rental companies rent out at extortionate cost. In fact one year, BA decided that when our luggage changed planes at London (we flew from Manchester), that one of our car seats and push chairs wouldn't fly with us. They followed the next day. On that occasion Alamo were very helpful and lent us a car seat for the holiday, free of charge. It was horrible. But free. We returned it 2 days later, once our seat had been delivered by the airline. Incidentally, we were also conned that time into upgrading to a mini van, as all our stuff wouldn't fit a full size. We returned it at the same time, and got our money back (except for the 2 days understanably).
We now try to use Dollar, primarily because they were at the airport. Although Alamo is too now! We also book fully inclusive car rental with people like FloridaCarHire.com, who have been excellent and cheap! This year £210/week for a Premium car. Last year that size of car was up graded free to mini van, because I don't think Dollar have very many premium sized cars.
Sorry I've been so long winded!
Ian

 

[neo's white rabbit]

My only experience of renting a child car seat in the US was that it was a horrible and uncomfortable seat Our son was big for his age and the seat was on the small side and plastic with no liner. Not great if you are anywhere hot!

If you can take your own do. We bought a booster for our daughter while we were there on that particular trip as they are very cheap in big stores, we did bring it back in it's box as checked luggage.

If your younger child is very small are you still booking a seat for them? I know I've seen people who do that and use the car seat in the aircraft seat.

 

[TraceyL]

We used a rental one the first time we went as it was included in teh price with the Virgin insurance but weren't very impressed with it. I have travelled with our own carseat (with BA) since - DD2 was only 11 weeks old and her baby seat went in the outsize luggage checkin.

Last time we went to Florida we rented one at Alamo, drove to Walmart and bought one and then returned the hired seat the following morning at one of the local offices which worked out a lot cheaper than the rented one and a lot nicer !! It also meant we had a brand new, next stage carseat for DD2 as we took it home with us. We used the Downtown Disney check in that year & it was checked it with the pushchair at the gate with Virgin.

 

[vernon]

It's been a while, but I was so disgusted with the hired carseat that I went to the Florida Mall and bought one. We used it for about three years I guess, both in the UK and for holidays. It cost slightly less than renting one from the hire company for one trip.

 

[BevS97]

we always take our own, it and the pushchair are both carried free of charge and they do not count towards your luggage allowance. I point blank refuse to pay $7/day for a dodgy carseat when I have a nice one at home.

if you have a younger child, then you MAY be able to use the carseat on the plane, if either you have paid for a seat for the baby, or there is a spare one. In practice, it seems to depend on the airline and the style of seat. On our flight out we were told under no circumstances could we use our carseat (even though we had paid for my dd's seat as she was over 2), but on the return flight we were positively encouraged to use the same carseat.

Turned out my dd was not keen to use the carseat on the return flight, as she remembered that she hadn't been strapped in on the way out, and so she fought tooth and nail not to go into it, and I really wished we had checked it.

 

[harry the spider]

would one of those kiddie seats you get that are made of polysterene and uses the seat belt to keep them in be acceptable or are these not appropriate? you can get them with a removable back so you can make it into a booster seat as well.
i think they cost around £20 to buy.
i'm just wondering if i can use this as it would be a heck of a lot lighter to carry with us, especially as we have to get 2 trains to get to gatwick airport let alone taking it on the plane.
lin

 

[allie5]

Thanks for all the replies.

We have bought a new seat for DD, which is the sort that has a back and removeable booster. Its not polystyrene though, but a proper hard plastic (BRITAX TRIO). It can be used with either its own harness or an adult seatbelt. We intend to take this to Florida for the baby, (it is suitable from 9m which is what he will be in June!!) and DD will just have a polystyrene booster seat with seatbelt adjustor. I just hope the airline doesnt make a fuss. I will ring them as soon as I have my tickets to make sure and post here what they say.

LIN - In my experience ANY seat bought from home will be far superior to the rubbish that the car rental companies provide. They are old, dont fit and very uncomfortable. As long as your child is the appropriate age/weight for the polystyrene seat, then there wont be a problem. All the US rental cars we have ever had are fitted with side impact bars and are very safe.

 

[BevS97]

you can't use a highback booster for the 9month old, unless it has integral straps. (It looks like the trio works in both modes, so you should be ok)

Apart from the fact that imho they are not safe with just the seatbelt, even though they are approved for use in the UK at 9months, they aren't legal in Florida for under 4s.

Bev

 

[harry the spider]

thanks for all the advice.
i will get a seat with the integrel straps.
as long as the lightweight ones are ok with u.s law then i don't mind what it will cost as long as it is safe.
the baby will be 15 months old when we go but he is really big (not overweight!!) for his 5 months now.

he is already wearing 6-9 month old clothes now
i have heard really bad things about the hire company seats and had already ruled out wasting good money on rubbish.
thanx again
lin xxxxxxxxxx










:

 

[allie5]

LOL..Lin......my 5 month old wears 6-9m clothes...actually just bought him some 9-12m in the Disney store (SALE!!!)..and they fit too! He is meant to be OK in his stage 0 car seat till 15m, but wont fit in it at all now!

The Trio is a good seat, as it has its own internal harness, so it is appropriate for a 9m old. He doesnt use this seat yet at home, even though it fits him!! DD uses it and he has her previous seat, a Club Class Extra, which is just TOO heavy to take to Florida.

I am a little concerned that the law for car seats apply to under 4s...DD is 3 but is the size and weight of a 4/5 year old. Do you think I will have a problem??

Allie.

 

[BevS97]

looking at the website, it actually says <a href="http://www11.myflorida.com/safety/HighwaySafetyGrantProgram/hsgp/HSGPAreas_OccupantFAQ.htm#Florida's%20Child">MyFlorida.Com</a>

4. What is Florida's Child Restraint Law?

All children under 5 years of age or younger must be properly restrained no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle. Children through age 3 must be secured in a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child safety seat. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child safety seat, or a safety belt may be used. (FL Statute 316.613).



6. If the safety belt does not fit my child correctly should the shoulder belt be placed under the child's arm for a better fit?

Never put the shoulder belt under a child's arm or behind the back, as this increases the risk of severe injury in a crash. Use a booster seat to correctly position the lap and shoulder belts for children once they outgrow forward facing child safety seats at about 40 pounds and around 4 years old. Children from approximately 40-80 pounds and 4'9" should ride in a belt positioning booster seat.

Everything I've read refers to a 'federally approved car seat for 3 and under' I think this is where I have the idea that it must have straps, but I can't find a definition of federally approved anywhere.

The quote says "At around 4 years old", so I guess if she is a tall/large child then you should be ok. To be honest, noone has ever even looked at our carseat.

And, I should also add that we have taken our pretty heavy Klippan carseat with us - it was not a big deal at all, we just took it out of the car and put it on the luggage trolley, wheeled it to checkin with our luggage, we actually had to take it to a special items desk, but still not a big hassle. Then we collected it at the other end with the luggage, back on the trolley and straight into the hire car where it never moved for the entire trip.


Bev

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

To be honest, noone has ever even looked at our carseat.

I would ditto that Bev, on our very first trip I was under the impression that the car rental company would make sure that children were in the appropriate safety seat before you were allowed to leave - but that has never been the case.

They did tell me once though to 'buckle up' before they lifted the barrier for me after checking the paperwork -



Cath

 

[twinmomplus2]

We always bring our own car seats. The one time we did not the car seat from alamo was filthy, Beyond filthy.... I myself would not recommend alamo. We used them twice both times waited once more than an hour in the hot sun. Than the next time 2 hours. I am told they have taken measures to rectify the dreaded shuttle from hell and the wait, I however will never give them my bussiness again.

 

[harry the spider]

HI EVERYONE.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO BUY THE LIGHTWEIGHT CAR SEATS WITH THE INTEGREL STRAPS?


ALLIE-
CAN'T REALLY GIVE YOU MY OPINION ON SEATS FOR THE UNDER 4'S AS MY YOUNGEST WAS 5 WHEN HE WENT.
I MADE A MISTAKE AND DID NOT REALISE THAT HE HAD TO HAVE A SEAT AGED 5 AND UNDER ., I THOUGHT IT WAS 4 YRS AND HE TRAVELLED IN THE CAR WITH JUST AN ORSINARY SEAT BELT ON.
NO-ONE QUESTIONED ME BUT THERE AGAIN, HE IS BIG FOR HIS AGE.
LIN XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

[BevS97]

try
Britax Elite

or
Argos

I think the Argos one will be lighter

Bev

 

[harry the spider]

Thanks Bev,
I will get the Argos book out tonight and have a look for one.
Y'know I'm doing all this scouting around for the seat etc and this isn't even my baby!!!

That's what I get for taking lots of Florida Virgins with me! .
Still I don't mind, it just makes the whole holiday seem really exciting even though it is a long time to wait.
Best Wishes
Lin xxxxxxxxxxx

 

[BevS97]

LOL Lin,

I just scouted that out for you, and I don't even know you - but I do it because that's half the fun! I am not going to Orlando until December and that seems like a lifetime away right now, so anything to keep the excitement going is fun for me!

Bev

 

[harry the spider]

HI Bev

I get sooooooooooo excited when i think of going and that's not until January !!
I have been in December a couple of times before and I think it's a great time to go.
All those christmas lights and lots of gifts to bring back, I can smell that aroma of cinnamon right now.
Do you know if there is January sales like over here?
It is amazing what i have managed to bring back over the years!
mind you the giant punchbowl set was a bit tricky to squeeze between my feet for take off!!
Oh and the Santa train set for the bottom of the christmas tree was a bit of a bind:
Lin