Does 4 year old need booster?

[Aggie89]

DS will be 4 in August and is around 44 inches and 40 pounds. He uses a booster at home (a lot of his friends don't) and we're debating whether we should take ours from home or not. We're flying and only renting a car for 4 days out of 10. National charges $6 per day to rent one which would cost almost as much as buying one. DH thinks he'll be fine without one, but I'm more cautious and would like to take one. Any opinions? If we check it in with our baggage, do we have to cover it with plastic or something? 9 more days!!!

 

[TravelSheryl]

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought it was a state law in Texas for any child under 4 to be seated in a car seat or a booster seat. Does anyone know what the law is in this regard in Florida?

 

[jel0511]

You DEFINATELY need to bring a booster seat. The current law in Florida is that anyone under the age of 5 should be restrained in some sort of car/booster seat. According to a post on the Disney for Family board, that law is changing as of July 1 to require anyone under the age of 9 to be restrained as such. It's the last post on the thread.

http://64.225.125.24/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40651

Also, if you do bring your own, I would cover it, to prevent damage. I haven't had to do that yet, since DD is 3 and still using the 5 point harness on her booster seat, and we can bring it on the plane for her. I have purchased car seat luggage just in case they won't let me bring it on the plane. Remember if you use just plastic, not something heavy duty like luggage, it probably will rip causing damage to your seat.

 

[Aggie89]

I didn't realize it was a law in Texas because I see so many children not restrained...they must not enforce it too much. But, yes we will definitely take one- it's not worth the risk for a little inconvenience. Someone told me that they put the carseats in bins if you check them in without "carseat luggage". Does anyone know about that?

 

[Wendy]

Actually, the law in Florida is anyone under 4 must be restrained in a car seat/booster seat. Children ages 4 & 5 must be in a booster seat, car seat, or seat belt. So, as long as your child is 4 before your trip, you aren't required to bring along the booster seat. If you'd like to read the current FL statute regarding car seat usage, here's a link:
FL car seat law

 

[beattyfamily]

Good because I was not going to bring a booster seat for my 5 year old. Only one for my 2 year old.

Thanks for the great info, Wendy

 

[shelby2001]

What about a three year old on the shuttle van to the hotel from the airport, and the buses around Disney, do they need a booster seat on these? The Floriday laws are very strange it mentioned only school buses and private buses that transport pupils?