Child seat question

[Nii Lamptey]

Hello,

Just after a bit of advice re child seats please, we're visiting in October and have booked a car & child seat through Dollar. We've booked a Chrysler 300 and I was wondering whether anyone would know if they have an integrated car seat which we could use rather than hiring one ? Our daughter is 5 so I think I'm right in saying she could be even ok with a booster style seat anyway.

I was thinking now that rather than bringing a full carseat we could put a booster seat in our luggage and then if we need to buy a proper carseat at Walmart - I'm just unsure what the law is on types of carseats children have to use.

thanks for your help,

 

[tanyaandallie]

Does your child have a seat she uses now? If so, why not just bring it with you? I would not rent a carseat. You just do not know what you are going to get when you rent a seat. Esp. for a 5 year old!!! How much does your dd weigh? Is she in a booster or 5 pt harness? Honestly, I would bring your seat from home.

 

[Nii Lamptey]

Thanks for the reply, after I posted my DH and I decided that we'll just bring the base of our carseat as it works as a booster too. She'll have just turned 5 when we travel so is still a little 'un !

Thats as long as boosters are ok in the US - we're in the UK so I'm not totally sure of the laws regarding child seats.

 

[tinkandpan]

Florida actually has really lax laws regarding booster seats. That being said- I am from NJ and am a car seat demon and don't let my kids go without. I have rented a booster from there and it was totally fine- i would not do this with an infant carseat but with a booster, all you are doing is getting a bump up to hold the seatbelt through. I am not sure if you have what we have here, but last time I took the back off our booster seat and just brought the bottom part.

 

[Hannathy]

If you are only driving in Florida with a 5 yr old it is up to you because they don't need it in Florida. A 5 yr old does not need to be in a booster for Florida.
Only children 3 and under need to be in a seat.


To be honest if you are flying from England I wouldn't bring it. If you feel like you want to use one I would go to Walmart after getting your car and buy a cheap booster, they are inexpensive, rather than taking up luggage space with one.

 

[all4fun]

As the pp stated the car seat laws in FL are very lax and a 5yr old is not required to be in one, however it would be safer for her to be in at least a booster, minimum, at this age. Walmart is a good place to go for something like this, and probably cheaper than renting one from the car rental agency. Backless boosters are are usually $15-20 and high back boosters, which also offer side impact protection, can be had for $40 and up.

In addition, (for anyone who may be interested) here's the Booster Seat 5-Step Test recommended by car safety experts:

Answer these five questions to find out if your child still requires an automobile booster seat.
Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
If you answered “No” to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to ride safely in the car.

hth

 

[Nii Lamptey]

Thanks for your replies, I think we've decided that we'll take a backless booster with us. I'd rather have her in a booster and if she's ok to be in a backless one it seems the easiest thing.

Julie

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Hi there,

DD is 3.5 years old and is 40 inches tall and weights 39 lbs. Does she need a car seat in florida or is a booster ok? We are flying and I would prefer to take a booster (at home we always use a car seat) but for travelling booster is easier (booster is from older kids).

 

[tanyaandallie]

If your child is only 3.5, he needs to be in a 5pt harness. There is absolutely no reason so sacrifice safety while you are on vacation, even if laws in FL are different than laws in your state.

 

[all4fun]

If your child is only 3.5, he needs to be in a 5pt harness. There is absolutely no reason so sacrifice safety while you are on vacation, even if laws in FL are different than laws in your state.

I totally agree. My ds is 4yrs but only 34lbs and we will be using a 5pt harness at least until he meets the bare minimum recommendation for moving up to a booster (4ys AND 40lbs), even while on vacation. I actually hope to keep him in a 5pt harness much longer because its so much safer.

 

[lemonsours]

I have a similar question: We will be traveling in October with DD2 (turning 3 at Disney) and will be taking the Magic Express bus. Will she need her carseat for the bus? We will be exclusively on site and taking resort transportation, so otherwise we probably wouldn't bring it. Thanks.
Marce

 

[eebadeeba]

I have a similar question: We will be traveling in October with DD2 (turning 3 at Disney) and will be taking the Magic Express bus. Will she need her carseat for the bus? We will be exclusively on site and taking resort transportation, so otherwise we probably wouldn't bring it. Thanks.
Marce

There are no seatbelts on ME and you are not able to use your carseat.

 

[tanyaandallie]

If you are only using Disney transport (ME) then you don't need any car seats unless you want to bring one to use on the plane.

 

[Wendi2000]

Wow!!! Is anyone else as shocked as I am that FL only requires a carseat for children 3 and under??? That is insane... most states are 8 years old and 80 pounds and some are 6 years and 60 pounds... that is a huge difference fro a 3 year old.