Rental car carseats??

[KalamityJane]

They are aware of that fact and have a cleaning solution to fit the the procedure. The straps are never soaked to the point that it would weaken them. The safety of the children is a prime concern. Do you seriously believe they would do anything that could open them up to some sort of liablility? Dropping them does not harm them either, if it did, I would seriously wonder just how effective they would be in a crash. They are built to withstand a lot of "abuse". Now, if you dropped one from a third floor onto concrete, I would worry, but, a few feet, I would not worry. Icannot imagine a seat not being dropped one time or another by the owners.

I'm actually really interested in what cleaning solution they use. It would be nice to get some for my own use. Do you know what it is?

The thing with dropping them is that you honestly don't know if there was any damage done until they fail. I don't *think* it would be an issue, but I don't know. Personally, I'm not willing to take that risk.

 

[gmeh1]

I'm actually really interested in what cleaning solution they use. It would be nice to get some for my own use. Do you know what it is?

The thing with dropping them is that you honestly don't know if there was any damage done until they fail. I don't *think* it would be an issue, but I don't know. Personally, I'm not willing to take that risk.

No, I don't know what it is. Never was on car seat cleaning duty (yes, they do have an entire crew for that). Personally, I would follow the mfg. suggestions for cleaning.
The probability of the seat being damaged is minimal, however, I do understand your concern. What concerns me more is the fact that most people, around 80%, do not use them correctly.
I read this recently. "It is estimated that about 80% of car seats are misused, either because a child is in the wrong seat, the seat is installed wrong, or the child is not placed in the seat correctly."
As an aside, I had a customer once try to negotiate the rental price of two car seats for his children. I was not able to "bargain" with him and for some reason, negotiating for the rental struck me the wrong way. I just asked him how much the safety of his children was worth to him. That ended that conversation.

 

[KalamityJane]

No, I don't know what it is. Never was on car seat cleaning duty (yes, they do have an entire crew for that). Personally, I would follow the mfg. suggestions for cleaning.
The probability of the seat being damaged is minimal, however, I do understand your concern. What concerns me more is the fact that most people, around 80%, do not use them correctly.
I read this recently. "It is estimated that about 80% of car seats are misused, either because a child is in the wrong seat, the seat is installed wrong, or the child is not placed in the seat correctly."
As an aside, I had a customer once try to negotiate the rental price of two car seats for his children. I was not able to "bargain" with him and for some reason, negotiating for the rental struck me the wrong way. I just asked him how much the safety of his children was worth to him. That ended that conversation.

Agreed on using them correctly! Some of the car seats I have seen installed... yikes. The thing that made me really see how important car seats were was when I found out that (roughly) your child's weight x the car's speed when it was hit is about the amount of force that goes against the straps. So even in a low speed crash of 30mph, if your child weighs around 30 lbs, you are looking in the neighborhood of 900 lbs of force against the straps! I had no idea a crash generated that much force.

Nice comeback on your part as well. Thankfully, now there are cheap options to keep kids harnessed/boostered as long as they need to be and price isn't as much of an obstacle as it was before.

 

[gmeh1]

Agreed on using them correctly! Some of the car seats I have seen installed... yikes. The thing that made me really see how important car seats were was when I found out that (roughly) your child's weight x the car's speed when it was hit is about the amount of force that goes against the straps. So even in a low speed crash of 30mph, if your child weighs around 30 lbs, you are looking in the neighborhood of 900 lbs of force against the straps! I had no idea a crash generated that much force.

Nice comeback on your part as well. Thankfully, now there are cheap options to keep kids harnessed/boostered as long as they need to be and price isn't as much of an obstacle as it was before.

Yes the force is amazing. Have you read what the force of a lap baby on a plane is? Funny how coffee makers, books, peanuts, carry ons etc are secured during takeoff but, the same rules don't apply to a lap child. Rather ironic, don't you think? http://carseatblog.com/16971/lap-babies-on-airplane-a-warning-all-parents-must-see/

 

[KalamityJane]

Yes the force is amazing. Have you read what the force of a lap baby on a plane is? Funny how coffee makers, books, peanuts, carry ons etc are secured during takeoff but, the same rules don't apply to a lap child. Rather ironic, don't you think? http://carseatblog.com/16971/lap-babies-on-airplane-a-warning-all-parents-must-see/

It is - we always buy a seat for ours because of that (plus, then they have a place that they can't get out of and to sleep!). I always wondered why they didn't require a seat for everyone.

 

[gmeh1]

It is - we always buy a seat for ours because of that (plus, then they have a place that they can't get out of and to sleep!). I always wondered why they didn't require a seat for everyone.

I have often wondered that also. But, I cannot throw stones at my glass wall cause, before I knew better.....many years ago, I did the lap child thing.
Would I do it again...........NEVER.

 

[Alesia]

I always wondered why they didn't require a seat for everyone.

They tried that (very briefly.) I think it was in the late 80s or early 90s. The problem was that it caused more families to drive instead, and flying as a lap child is statistically much safer than riding in a car in a car seat. So allowing lap children does actually save lives.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

They tried that (very briefly.) I think it was in the late 80s or early 90s. The problem was that it caused more families to drive instead, and flying as a lap child is statistically much safer than riding in a car in a car seat. So allowing lap children does actually save lives.

And this is not really why they don't require you to buy your child a seat. The real reason is pressure and hysteria from the airline industry because they know you driving costs them money

 

[Alesia]

And this is not really why they don't require you to buy your child a seat. The real reason is pressure and hysteria from the airline industry because they know you driving costs them money

Oh, I have no doubt that money is a huge factor, but the fact remains that the risk of flying with a lap baby is still lower than driving with a baby in a car seat.

 

[gmeh1]

Oh, I have no doubt that money is a huge factor, but the fact remains that the risk of flying with a lap baby is still lower than driving with a baby in a car seat.

I love stats. however, they mean very little when you become one of them.

 

[gmeh1]

And this is not really why they don't require you to buy your child a seat. The real reason is pressure and hysteria from the airline industry because they know you driving costs them money

So, are you saying that the airlines are just being PC when they state that a keeping your child in your lap is not recommended?

 

[aubriee]

And this is not really why they don't require you to buy your child a seat. The real reason is pressure and hysteria from the airline industry because they know you driving costs them money

So, are you saying that the airlines are just being PC when they state that a keeping your child in your lap is not recommended?

I have a neighbor who is a pilot for Southwest. We got to talking about this one day. He says the only reason the airlines allow lap babies is because of money. If the parents were required to buy seats for infants, many would drive, saying they couldn't afford to fly. He says that in the event of severe turbulence or a crash that there is absolutely no way a parent could possibly hold onto that child. But for some reason most parents think they can, that their love/parental instinct/whatever will somehow give them super strength. He says no way. The child would become a projectile and very dangerous both for the child and also other passengers. He hates that airlines do not require a seat for every single passenger. It's one of his pet peeves.

 

[eangel12]

I have a neighbor who is a pilot for Southwest. We got to talking about this one day. He says the only reason the airlines allow lap babies is because of money. If the parents were required to buy seats for infants, many would drive, saying they couldn't afford to fly. He says that in the event of severe turbulence or a crash that there is absolutely no way a parent could possibly hold onto that child. But for some reason most parents think they can, that their love/parental instinct/whatever will somehow give them super strength. He says no way. The child would become a projectile and very dangerous both for the child and also other passengers. He hates that airlines do not require a seat for every single passenger. It's one of his pet peeves.

He is right!! Extremely dangerous for the infant. If you leave out the crash scenario, there are times of extreme turbulence where a child can/will get very seriously hurt. I'm always amazed at the parents who pick $$ over a child's safety. Every person, especially children/babies should have to have a seat! I also think about the fact that another person's unsecured child could injure my child by not being properly harnessed. So unsafe for everyone!!

 

[gmeh1]

I have a neighbor who is a pilot for Southwest. We got to talking about this one day. He says the only reason the airlines allow lap babies is because of money. If the parents were required to buy seats for infants, many would drive, saying they couldn't afford to fly. He says that in the event of severe turbulence or a crash that there is absolutely no way a parent could possibly hold onto that child. But for some reason most parents think they can, that their love/parental instinct/whatever will somehow give them super strength. He says no way. The child would become a projectile and very dangerous both for the child and also other passengers. He hates that airlines do not require a seat for every single passenger. It's one of his pet peeves.

I absolutely agree with that SWA pilot regarding safety. However, SWA recommends everyone have a seat and be securely "fastened". They do not recommend lap babies. Not sure about other airlines as I have not read their web sites. I find the issue of money rather amusing, only because if that lap child is 2 years and 1 day old, those that say they cannot afford to pay for said child's seat when they are under 2 somehow find the money to fly at 2 years and 1 day and forward. As I said before, I cannot throw rocks at my glass walls because, I did the same thing, a million years ago, but, after reading and applying some common sense, I would not do it again.

 

[gmeh1]

He is right!! Extremely dangerous for the infant. If you leave out the crash scenario, there are times of extreme turbulence where a child can/will get very seriously hurt. I'm always amazed at the parents who pick $$ over a child's safety. Every person, especially children/babies should have to have a seat! I also think about the fact that another person's unsecured child could injure my child by not being properly harnessed. So unsafe for everyone!!