I still don't know what to do ref car seat

[shellbell]

Hello

I've posted about this before but it was ages ago. I don't know whether to higher one from dollar then go and buy from Wal-mart. This then means having to make our way back to a dollar rental place and handing back the car seat.

The other option is to buy from home (i work in mothercare so i can get one with discount). But i don't know if i could get one without a back, just a normal booster or would it have to be a highback booster. DD will be 3 next tuesday and weighs about 30 lbs.

I will be leaving there as i don't want it to eat up my baggage allowance.

I know this is a reallt common post but i am stuck

Thanks michelle

 

[feistyblue]

Hi there Michelle

At that age American law requires a child to be in a high backed booster like a Britax Super Cruiser. Thats what I took for my not quite 6 year old last December as USA law requires that until 6 years.

A booster without a back wouldn't be suitable for your dd in any country anyway - her spine, head and neck need the support in event of a crash. I assume your car seat in this country is a second stage type with harness and thats why you don't want to take it?

The car seat is carried free by all airlines - it isn't included in your baggage allowance.

Also be aware that if you do buy a car seat out there, US safety standards on car seats aren't quote as high as ours.

HTH

Claire

 

[allie5]

Shellbell, we have the Britax Trio, which is the style which is a two part seat...back and booster with its own integral harness. Its a very robust seat, without being too heavy. It has survived a couple of trips and still looks as good as new (apart from the mashed banana on the cover ). Its good value as it can be used from 9m to 11 years. You WILL have to have a proper restraint for your 3 year old (i.e not just a booster). This is a requirement of Florida law through age 4. After 4, they can use a booster with a properly fitted seatbelt (and only in the rear seats).

Wal-Mart sell a Graco seat which is similar, but not as heavy, so this would be another option (but you would have to take the rental car one for a day). Personally, I would take your own. Its not much hassle at all.

Allie

 

[Shugmac]

Hi Michelle,

Last year i was having the same dilemma as DS was 3 and would be turning 4 when we were out i did'nt want to take a car seat with me as had enough to carry and remember as we had connecting flights we had a car booked through Dollar but were hoping to bargin with the person at the desk to upgrade to the minivan as DH prefers to drive them, some of the minivans we also knew had built in seats it is an insert in the main seat and has harness straps i thought at the worst i could take Dollar car seat and if not any good get another out there at Walmart as i have heard some people saying the car seats were not very clean we did get the minivan and with our luck it did'nt have car seat insert so we asked the guys where we collected the car for a car seat it was one like you would put a baby in not a 3 year old DS was starring at the ceiling and not liking this we asked the guy if he had any others he just shrugged and said no thats what you get so we got rid of it, it was'nt that great looking either a bit tattered as it was the minivan it was great the seats are higher up and the seat belts were fine as i had also taken one of those things the two bits of belt are put into that keeps belt away from the neck i'm sure mothercare do them so you might know what i mean he was able to sit on the normal seat and be ok but he was quite tall for his age, i hope this helps a little in your decission.

Sharon.

 

[MizzPrincezz]

Hi Michelle

We are in the same boat I have two dd's aged 2 & 4 so we will need two car seats (or one car seat & one booster seat) not sure wether to take ours with us as they could be quite a weight if they were taken as part of our baggage allowance. Must call the airline (thomas Cook) and cjeck if its counted or not. If it is then we intend to hire ones from Dollar for one day then go and purchase ones at Walmart for $30. I believe the hire charge from dollar is $7 or $8 a day. for two seats that would soon mount up

 

[lucy_love_]

urm

i never thought about a car seat. my dd5 uses a booster here. what do i need by law for her over there also where can i get one and how much are they. eeeeeeks why didnt i think of this?

love

lucy

 

[MizzPrincezz]

HI there by law you need a booster seat for children aged 4 -6 years i believe. You can take your own or hire one there (or purchase) If you choose to purchase one then you would have to hire one for a day as the car hire places willnot let you hire a car without the proper child seat

 

[feistyblue]

I can't believe that some people would put their childrens lives at risk by just using an adult seat belt! It is totally illegal both in the US and here. I am really shocked.

Florida Statute 316.613 requires that all children 5 years and under must be properly restrained in a child restraint (car seat). Children aged 3 years and under must be in a car seat with a harness.

 

[MizzPrincezz]

It is a requirement under Florida Statute 316.613 that your child be
PROPERLY secured in a child restraint device that meets Federal Motor
Vehicle Standard 213 (see fine print on the side of your car seat that would
state that it meets this criteria). If your child is over 40 pounds, a full
back or backless booster will be an appropriate choice. The term "proper" in
our law requires you to use the car seat as directed by the respective car
seat manufacturer.

I think it is a wise thought to bring your own car seat, as long as it meets
the previously mentioned requirement. If it is a Britax, it should meet both
European and US safety standards.

I hope this was helpful. I will be out of the office until July 15th, but if
you have any further questions please feel free to contact me
and I will assist you with any other questions.

Kay Fortinberry
Occupant Protection Specialist
Orange County Sheriff's Office
2500 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32804

This was posted by poohstix last year and basically clarifies all the points we have been discussing. it obviously depends on the childs weight as to what type of seat you use for your child for safety.

 

[pauldolling]

Originally posted by feistyblue
I can't believe that some people would put their childrens lives at risk by just using an adult seat belt! It is totally illegal both in the US and here. I am really shocked.

Florida Statute 316.613 requires that all children 5 years and under must be properly restrained in a child restraint (car seat). Children aged 3 years and under must be in a car seat with a harness.

I don't think anyone here is saying that they want to put their child's safety at risk! People are just asking if they can use their existing booster seat over in florida. I don't see anyone saying they want to just plonk they child onto the seat and use the adult belt alone.

 

[pauldolling]

Originally posted by feistyblue
Hi there Michelle


The car seat is carried free by all airlines - it isn't included in your baggage allowance.


Claire

By the way, just for your information, I just called Brittania and they will count the car seat as part of your 20 KG limit with NO exceptions. Alot of other airlines also take this stance.

 

[MizzPrincezz]

Originally posted by pauldolling
By the way, just for your information, I just called Brittania and they will count the car seat as part of your 20 KG limit with NO exceptions. Alot of other airlines also take this stance.

I just called Thomas Cook Airlines and they will not count it towards my 20KG baggage allowance, thankfully

Originally posted by feistyblue
I can't believe that some people would put their childrens lives at risk by just using an adult seat belt! It is totally illegal both in the US and here. I am really shocked.

Florida Statute 316.613 requires that all children 5 years and under must be properly restrained in a child restraint (car seat). Children aged 3 years and under must be in a car seat with a harness.

I agree with you sentiments Pauldolling people are jusy trying to clarify wether they need to take their own child seats or what type of seat is required by law in florida

 

[feistyblue]

"By the way, just for your information, I just called Brittania and they will count the car seat as part of your 20 KG limit with NO exceptions. Alot of other airlines also take this stance."

They are breaking IATA regulations then and should be reported. I have never seen a car seat weighed at check in. I flew by that airline last summer for the first time ever to Europe and they didn't weigh the car seat. In addition to that it states on the back of the ticket that they will carry it for free. As they will buggys/prams too.

Never ever seen a scheduled airline count it as part of baggage limit either. I've flown Virgin, BA, Cyprus Airways, BMI, Austrian Airlines, Quantas, Cathy Pacific, Emirates, Concorde, Air Canada, Air Portugal, and others I can't remember with car seats and never once had it weighed. Car seats have to go to over sized baggage anyway.

Also, someone did post that they had taken the hire seat out and just put their under age child on the seat.

 

[lucy_love_]

hi

another question

if i decide to take my own (which might be a good idea as i have two anyway and only 1 dd who needs it) how do a carry it? in luggage (its huge) or in a seperate bag or other?

love

lucy

 

[MizzPrincezz]

We are having the same prob Lucy.

I think we will label it and perhaps put it in a bag of some sort I am thinking perhaps a very good quality thick refuse sack and CLEARLY label it as I wouldnt want it going *missing*



Perhaps we dont need to place it in anything Im not sure

 

[shellbell]

Feistyblue the reason why i started this post was to make my DD as safe as possible!!! Not to make my journey as easy or my not eat into my baggage allowance (which i have rang Virgin atlantic and the car seat does get included in my allowance) I think i speak for all of us with children that they are the most important people on a big trip like this and making them as comfy and as safe as we can is top priority

The car seats that i have at home are the Britax Eclipse and the Britax Elite. The first is a 2nd stage big heavy thing and the 2nd one i have i had to purchase when DH went out and part exd my fiesta for a sports car. The eclipse wouldn't fit safely which we had only bought a year before casting £120 so we had to buy the elite £90 the only one that fits our car. The seats are both too big and heavy.

I think we will go to a few shops today and have a look at the seats.

Thanks for the the help

Michelle

 

[lucy_love_]

Originally posted by MizzPrincezz
We are having the same prob Lucy.

I think we will label it and perhaps put it in a bag of some sort I am thinking perhaps a very good quality thick refuse sack and CLEARLY label it as I wouldnt want it going *missing*



Perhaps we dont need to place it in anything Im not sure

thats a good idea. if i think of anything i will let you know. i did look on the walmart website and they have a booster for as little as $14. im flying virgin too but to get to gatwick im flying with BA.

love

lucy

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Can I check iv'e interpreted this correctly...... A child under four "has" to have a harnessed seatbelt ?
My daughter of 3 1/2 uses a Britax booster type seat with a full fixed back to it...the adult seat belt goes through slots above the shoulder and at lap level to keep her secure.
I did plan to take that seat with us, but by the sounds of it this would be illegal ?

 

[DisneyBB]

When I went last October, my daughter was 3 and was tall for her age and weighed nearly 3 stone. I used my britex car seat that uses the adult seat belt. It sounds the same type as Tron. We had no problems and felt She was very secure it that seat. I would worry about taking seats that have to be fitted as they do not always fit the car. As long as the child is in a suitable seat and you feel that they are secure then it should be fine. I would not put my daughter at risk. Since she is nearly 4 now and taller than most 5 year olds I feel really comfortable putting her in a boaster on holiday this Feb. The arilines will provide a large strong clear bag for you to put the car seat in. Well at least VA did. You then take it to the special baggage place to be put on the plane. Don't do what we did and forgot that we then have to drive the car to the hotel/parking! So we had to retrieve it to use in the car. Well the next morning we relised we had left in the car in the car park!! So a quick trip on the bus for DH at 7am to retrieve it!!

 

[shellbell]

Thanks for all your help

Michelle