What to do about car seat for 4yo while visiting WDW?

[loracekim]

Hello,
I'll be visiting WDW in January 2010 with my 4yo and 2yo. We'll be bringing the 2yo's car seat with us on the plane, but don't want to haul the big huge one that the 4yo uses. We'll be staying offsite and renting a car, so... anyone have any advice as to what we should do? The 4yo is relatively small, so I'm not comfortable going without a car seat of some sort. Thanks!

 

[MrsNick]

Either rent one from your rental car company or buy a carseat in Florida.

 

[shburks]

Egads...don't rent one! You never know what you're going to get. They could be atrocious, dirty, past expiration, etc.

Consider a Safeguard Go (look at Elitecarseats.com) or even an inexpensive booster seat for use down there.

 

[snubie]

I would gate check the four year old's carseat. Or use it on the plane. That way you know you will have a clean and safe seat when you arrive in FL. I have heard horror stories from people that rented car seats.

 

[Chereya]

I'd just get a cheap booster seat from Target or Walmart. You can always use it as a backup for those random times you need to transport a friend. I've also used my car booster seat as a booster seat in restaurants or at home.

 

[WDWorBUST]

When I was in the same exact position (well not exactly - I only had the one child but was traveling by myself) I purchased a Safeguard Go seat. I wasn't ready for DD to just be in a booster, but I didn't want to haul her big seat. The Safeguard Go solved the problem. It was small enough I could take it as a carryon and KNOW I had a seat when we got there. The only negative is I had planned on using it in my dad's truck when we got home but his truck didn't have the rear anchor required to use it.....so I've been trying to sell it unsuccessfully since without much luck. So don't plan on reselling it to recoup your costs. (Maybe I need to try ebay....so far I've only tried Craigslist.)

 

[mmcphee]

I'd just get a cheap booster seat from Target or Walmart. You can always use it as a backup for those random times you need to transport a friend. I've also used my car booster seat as a booster seat in restaurants or at home.

I would buy a cheap booster if your child will sit properly in it, or an inexpensive light weight carseat. I want my kids in a car seat on the plane, not just in a car.

 

[Erica09M]

How tall is your child and how much does he/she weigh?

The Cosco Scenera is very light weight (great for traveling) and harnesses to 40 pounds, and only costs about $50. If your 4 year old is small, like you say, and weighs less than 40 pounds... I definitely would NOT put the child in a booster. He/she needs to be harnessed in the car.

Whatever you do, DO NOT rent a car seat. That's all kinds of scary!!!

I'd take a car seat with you to the airport, check it with the luggage, and then you'll have it when you get there. You can't buy one after you get there, because your little one will have to ride in the car without a car seat to the store for you to buy one.

 

[all4fun]

The GO is a good option as it is very easy to travel with. I bought a Ride Safer Travel vest for my ds since we can't really travel with his Britax Regent. Another lower cost option, if you don't want to bring your 4yr olds regular seat, is an Evenflo Chase which is fairly lightweight, airline approved seat. It only harnesses to 40# but it has taller top harness slots than the Cosco Scenera someone else mentioned, it is fairly narrow and lightweight and is airline approved with the harness. It does convert to a HBB but not a great one (doesn't position the lap belt low enough on the hips on most kids).

 

[Addicted2Disney:O)]

We travel with DS car seat (he is almost 4) & we have go go kidz travel wheels to help get it through the airport. I just strap DS in when we leave the house, take him out curbside at the airport & roll him through the airport. I LOVE THEM. I have rented a stroller before in Orlando from kidsgearhere
I think that company had rental car seats too bt I don't know if they meet you at the airport.

 

[stephie1012]

How tall is your child and how much does he/she weigh?

The Cosco Scenera is very light weight (great for traveling) and harnesses to 40 pounds, and only costs about $50. If your 4 year old is small, like you say, and weighs less than 40 pounds... I definitely would NOT put the child in a booster. He/she needs to be harnessed in the car.

Whatever you do, DO NOT rent a car seat. That's all kinds of scary!!!

I'd take a car seat with you to the airport, check it with the luggage, and then you'll have it when you get there. You can't buy one after you get there, because your little one will have to ride in the car without a car seat to the store for you to buy one.

ditto this. Dont put ur child in a booster in FL if they have never ridden in one before.

 

[minniem]

I agree with the other posters. I would just check your 4 year old's car seat with your luggage. Most airlines check the car seat with out counting it as one of your bags.

Then I would take the 2 year olds on the plane. It's a bit of a hassle but it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Good Luck!

 

[loracekim]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions! I really like the Safeguard GO idea, but am not wild about paying full price for one (wish someone on MY local Craigslist was selling one! I'll keep checking though...). I'm not comfortable with her (the 4yo) being in a backless booster yet, either - she's only 34 pounds right now and I don't expect her to be more than a couple pounds heavier in January. I'll look into whether the airline would charge us for checking her regular seat - I assumed we would be charged an arm and a leg now with all the stupid fees they keep inventing - but maybe we'll get lucky!

As for the plane, we have a CARES system (google it, they won't let me post a link cuz I'm too new to this board) for the 4yo. We used it several times when she was 2 (before #2 was born) and LOVE IT!!! We haven't flown since and this was before checked baggage fees and we would check her car seat. Would love to just get another one of those for the younger one to use and check two car seats, but between the fees for checking the two seats (if applicable) and the extra expense for another CARES system, DS is going to have a conniption! I'm also trying to join a stroller swap to avoid the checked luggage fees and hauling issues there too. (Yes, I'm a penny pincher, but still concerned about quality and safety!).

I actually found a Go Go Kidz TravelMate at a local thrift store for only $8 (!!) so that will make it easy to bring along the 2yo's car seat on the plane and avoid the check fee (if applicable) AND avoid the expense of buying another CARES. I'd really rather NOT have to drag two car seats through the airport and we already have the CARES for the 4yo, so...

We're down to the worst case scenario of just checking our existing big car seat for the 4yo or the best case scenario of finding a cheap Safeguard GO seat with a carry bag that we can just take on the plane as a carry on.

Thanks again! Your suggestions were all really helpful!!

 

[Chereya]

No, there's no charge for checking your car seats as baggage.

 

[tanyaandallie]

What seats do your kids ride in at home?

Your 4 year old is tiny. I would not put a 4 year old under 40 lbs in a booster. Since the child is under 40 lbs you could look at the Evenflo Chase. Very lightweight seat, easy to travel with.

But, if 2 year old has a seat the 4 year old fits in you could also get the 2 year old a light weight seat and take the bigger seat for the 4 year old.

 

[mom2aredhead]

What about the Compass folding booster?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10463751&findingMethod=rr

It fits in the overhead on the plane if you want to store it, has height adjustment and headwings, and is easier to carry around since it folds. Granted its a belt positioning booster and not a harnessed seat, but if your child is ready, its a great seat.

They have 2 versions - I purchased the regular one first and returned it and spent the extra $20 on the Ultra because I liked the extra padding.

 

[natnelliesmom]

Call your car rental company- we've gone with 2 different ones (twice with Hertz in Orlando) and each time received a brand new car seat. We even had to open the factory sealed box and install it ourselves. Which we would want to do anyway!
Friends of ours went to FL and rented through Avis. They also received a brand new car seat for their child.
They were your standard cheap car seats- but met safety guidelines. I think they are the ones that Walmart sells for about $40.00. 5-Pt harness. My DH was satisfied with the way they installed.
Perfectly fine for a week's vacation.
Don't ask me what they do with the seats afterwards- but again- we've always had brand new seats!
-Sarah

 

[natnelliesmom]

What about the Compass folding booster?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10463751&findingMethod=rr

It fits in the overhead on the plane if you want to store it, has height adjustment and headwings, and is easier to carry around since it folds. Granted its a belt positioning booster and not a harnessed seat, but if your child is ready, its a great seat.

They have 2 versions - I purchased the regular one first and returned it and spent the extra $20 on the Ultra because I liked the extra padding.

Nation wide SafeKids cars eat installation experts do not like these seats. They say they are not safe in an accident and are impossible to install correctly even by experts.
-Sarah

 

[Erica09M]

Nation wide SafeKids cars eat installation experts do not like these seats. They say they are not safe in an accident and are impossible to install correctly even by experts.
-Sarah

Ditto this. Since 80% of car seats are installed wrong, or not used properly... I definitely wouldn't recommend a seat that is difficult to install, especially for a vacation.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Nation wide SafeKids cars eat installation experts do not like these seats. They say they are not safe in an accident and are impossible to install correctly even by experts.
-Sarah

Ditto this. Since 80% of car seats are installed wrong, or not used properly... I definitely wouldn't recommend a seat that is difficult to install, especially for a vacation.

That's interesting.
Car-seat.org and consumer reports both gave it acceptable ratings.

And it's a belt positioning booster, so I'm not sure why "installation" would be an issue?