Do I need a car seat?

[DizzyLaura]

I was wondering if I need to have a car seat for any of the excursions or taxis in St. John or St. Maarten. I have already arranged transportation to and from the airport with companies that have their own. I really don't want to lug mine around.

Thanks
Dizzy Laura

 

[MFan]

As far as I know and have seen, you will not be able to find car seat(s) on any excursion transportation or taxis on most islands. You can bring your own, but some of the vehicles may not even have seat belts to hold it down. So far, no one has been able to find a satisfactory solution to this problem yet.

 

[aprilgail2]

If you are flying the child really should be in a car seat during the flight for safety....they do make smaller lighter ones that you could use for the flight if you didn't want to ta ke a bulky one. I once watched a news special on what can happen to a unsecured child on a plane (not even talking crash, just turbulance!) and it was NOT a pretty thing..I would never drive my car without my child in a car seat so I certainly would never fly without them in one....just my opinion

 

[ReadyForDisney2003]

I have a 4 1/2 year old that only weighs 36 pounds and is still in a harnessed car seat. I am bringing it with me. She is used to using it on the plane and I can't imagine having her in a seat on the plane without her seat. They look so small in the regular seat belts on the plane.

Some of the harnessed boosters are very lightweight and very easy to travel with. Plus, I have heard horror stories of getting to a car rental place and the seats there are dirty, old, or just plain terrible. I would never trust a rental place for a carseat.

We also use the seat as a 'stroller' through the airport for her. I have some unattached wheels and I bungee the seat to the wheels and she sits in the seat 'indian' style and we just pull her along. Works great for us.

I won't book any excursions that are make me leary of carseats in a taxi. I can't imaging taking a taxi in Cozumel without a carseat! Yikes, makes me squeemish just thinking about it.

 

[dizmomof2]

We took a taxi in St Thomas and there was no place to put the car seat. No seat belts at all. They were open air taxis with benches for the seats. We only took the water farry in St Marten so I've no idea of the taxis there.

 

[DizzyLaura]

Thank you. I think you've convinced me to take my own. I found an add for a portable car seat. SO, I might look into this. Thanks for the advice.

Dizzy Laura

 

[ReadyForDisney2003]

Great! I'm sure you will be happy with bringing your own seat. I'm glad you are making this decision for the safety of your kid(s)

Sandra

 

[mobetsy]

Check carefully on those portable car seats! The portable ones I've seen are not approved for airline use (boosters aren't either), so it defeats that purpose. If your regular one is a really big seat, you might want to buy a 2nd one of a different type that's a bit lighter but still good for use everyday as well as on the airplane. I'm a big believer in car seats on airplanes also, for both safety and comfort! If you'd like suggestions on car seats that might work well for travel, I'd be glad to get some for you (I have a few friends who are certified car seat gurus )