child car seats

[supersal]

our holiday package includes car hire from Dollar. Can we use our own baby car seat or do we need to hire theirs?

 

[Cinderella2006]

u can bring your own, i wish we had. Cost us a fortune, in the end we upgraded our car to have a car seat built in.

 

[PoppyAnna]

Our DD19mo used the built in 5 point one in the 7 seater van we had.
We checked in a booster cushion for our DD4 which I bought in a sale especially for the trip (£20) and it's great because now we're back home I have a spare booster to ferry her friends around

 

[Alibaba]

Hiya
When we go in Oct 08, we are going with a 7, 5, and 14month old, so we will have to check in 2 boosters, and 1 babyseat, will we get charged for this, will it come off our allowance, or will we be better booking them with the travel company? ( we have got a 12 seater car/bus thing)
Any Help would be appreciated
Ali

 

[T16GEM]

We have the same issue at the moment and I have asked in previous posts about car seats etc, I will be taking two seats for ds 11 months and and dd 2. As far as I know they don't charge you any extra for checking them in at the gate. Best to check with your travel company though.

I have decided to take our own based on other people saying that although they were safe the seats that you hire were rather grubby etc. At least I know how to put mine in the car etc too.


HTH

 

[Donnababe]

This is according to the Florida Dept. of Transport:

What is Florida's Child Restraint Law?

All children 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).

So, only children three and under are required to have a car seat. At least, that's how I understand it.


We will buy a booster for DD5 once we've arrived.

 

[PoppyAnna]

This is according to the Florida Dept. of Transport:

What is Florida's Child Restraint Law?

All children 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).

So, only children three and under are required to have a car seat. At least, that's how I understand it.


We will buy a booster for DD5 once we've arrived.

I understand it as that too, but I'm glad we took a backless booster for our DD4 - the seat belt fitted better and I think she would have faired better in any accident we could have had.
Saw buggies in our local Publix but didn't see any boosters for sale - probably have to go to a Walmart for those.
We went with Virgin and were not charged for checking in the booster. I saw at the airport and have heard from other DISers that they checked in their forward facing (9mth-4yr) car seat - not sure if they were charged though. Somebody said on here you can use it in the airplane seat as a booster when you fly then at least you know how it's being treated and not getting thown around and damaged - but you should check this with your carrier.
Obviously you have to have purchased a seat for your child and this could benefit you if your child settles well in their own car seat.
Good luck.

 

[T16GEM]

I have just emailed our carrier (Continental) to ask them where they stand with this. Hopefully they will reply promptly. I would rather take Harley and Shelby's own car seats as we know what we are doing with them and I don't fancy messing about with an unfamiliar seat after a long tiring flight!

 

[aaronandterri]

hi i just got back i checked in my carseat forward facing one with virgin on top of my baggage at no extra cost, they will not let u use it on planes though, they provide there own infant care chair.

 

[T16GEM]

hi i just got back i checked in my carseat forward facing one with virgin on top of my baggage at no extra cost, they will not let u use it on planes though, they provide there own infant care chair.

Did you also check a buggy at no extra cost?

I have just received an email from Continental that says that basically they will accept one or the other as free allowance - so I either have to buy new buggies or new car seats - or rent them at huge cost too! Can't win really. I guess I could try acting dumb on the day an hope that they are all in the Christmas Spirit as we fly Xmas day!

 

[PoppyAnna]

I checked in two lightweight buggies (strollers) and a booster cushion FOC with virgin.
You can purchase lightweight buggies for around $25 at most supermarkets, I think if it were me I would like the use of my own car seat for safety so that would be my choice of check-in item. You COULD be taking a risk banking on the christmas spirit thing and the excess baggage could cost you lots more than a cheap lightweight stroller (if suitable for your child?) from a supermarket.
JMHO.

 

[T16GEM]

Poppyanna - for sure I would take the car seats for safety, I have a maclaren Quattro Tour which is really heavy and cumbersome really so I might just take the one stroller and then buy another small one from walmart or something!