Traveling to Miami with Our 3 Yr Old. Do I Have to Bring a Car Seat?

Fl law states a child 3 and under must be in a car seat in any type of motor vehicle excluding public buses. But a child 4-5 may use a car seat or just the seat belt. Most taxi cabs in FL carry car seats in their trunks. The law requires you use one but I have heard some taxi drivers have been known to "look the other way". Not that I would recommend this. If you feel comfortable using a car seat provided by the taxi company then I would go w/o it. It is less to carry.
I have never used a taxi with my daughter but my husband's family lives in Fl as well as many of his friends (and he lived there til he was 25) so we are familiar with how things work in central and south Florida. Hope this helps. Have fun in Miami (I just got home from there 2 days ago!)

Car seats are really rough to carry around the airport, but technically I dont think you need one in a taxi ... if you are using one in the plane they have to be certified for flight so they are smaller and easier to carry but not all car seats are. Look into the CARES restraint - for the flight its easy to use then to carry a bulky car seat around the airport.

Why would you want to not bring a car seat? For convenience? Your child can use the seat on the plane then easily trasfer it to the cab. I would think that your child's safety would be more important than convenience. Accidents can occur between the airport and hotel no matter how short the distance. If it is such an inconvenience to you, I would check with the cab company before you go to see if they can supply a car seat.

For the safety of your child and it is the law, PLEASE bring a car seat. It is the other drivers out there you have to be careful of.

I don't know the rules for plane rides, but I would bring one for the plane anyway. I wouldn't let any child ride without a carseat in a car....accidents can happen even on very short rides. Call the airport and ask about carseats. They might know the name of the taxi co and you can call and ask them if they have carseats for passengers to use. I bet they do.
Have a great vacation!

Iy's my understanding that you do not need a carseat for public transportation, but check Florida's DMV page, just to be sure! (I didn't need one when I took my daughter to Illinois in 2007.)

Hi P.,
I am actually taking my daughter to Georgia next week and do not plan on bringing her carseat with us...the car that we rented has a carseat....I dont believe they need carseats for the plane if they are in there own seat....As far as the taxi..Im not really sure...Have a great trip!!
Meg

P.,

Yes. Taxis get in accidents too. You won't be staying in the hotel the entire time you're there, will you?

Safety first, even if it is inconvenient.

There are ways to carry the car seat when you are moving - if you want to go to the expense they make a dolly specifically for the car seat - or even the car seat that has it's own dolly. You can also, VERY CAREFULLY, attach your carseat to a dolly yourself, just to get it into the hotel and such. Find out where the plane will stow the car seat if they are not making you use it for your child.

Good luck!
M.

Just curious what will your child be sitting in on the plane since he cannot sit on your lap at this age?

Many taxi services have car seats. Or ask hotel if they can send a cab w one. If not, bring and check onto plane so not carrying...

With a 3-year old I would not bring a car seat for the plane like some suggested. I brought one for my almost two year old and checked it to go to Florida as we rented a car and I was not comfortable using a rental car one. It was a huge pain to carry through the airport as it is big and bulky, but he did awesome in the seat himself. For take off and landing he has to be in his seat, but otherwise he sat on my lap and we watched a movie....In the shuttle to the rental car place, there wasn't even time to "install" it properly, so I had him on my lap with my parents on either side of me. Yes, not recommended, but worked out fine. I would also check with the cab company or better yet call a limo company for a town car which will provide you with a carseat for you child as someone else suggested. If it is a shuttle that the hotel provides, they may also have something you can use.

I lived in Florida for 20 years and I am not sure about the seat. Maybe you best bet would be to call the hotel where you will be staying and ask them about the Florida laws now as I no longer live there.

T. C.

You have to check with the individual state taxi laws. In New York, and I'm pretty sure New Jersey, a car seat is not required. It's a little nerve-wracking, but I've just buckled my girl in and sat close. You should be able to look it up on the internet fairly easily.

Hello P.,

When my daughter was 3, we traveled to Florida by plane and I took the car seat with me. She sat on it on the plane and we used it while down there on vacation. (the airline allows you to store it as well). Granted, we did rent a car, but I felt more comfortable having my own. With regard to the taxi supplying one, I wouldn't rely on that. You could hire a private car to drive you to the hotel, which is something we have done in the past as well. You can let them know in advance that you will require a car seat.
It may only be a short ride to the hotel, but its better to feel assured that you will have what you need when you get there.
Enjoy your trip!
C.

you can spend about 20 dollars or so for a travel car seat. i have one. it is a brace like back piece with straps that you use in rental cars and taxi cabs and use their sear belt in the car along with this unit..the plane you do not need the car seat..im sure you had to pay for a seat for him..that has a seat belt on it for him. i did take my own car seat on the plan and the base just barely fit into the seat. it was a pain.. i did feel safer with it there though. i know you wont be renting a car but in the future if you do..some of the rental companys have them to use..with using the hotel vans for travel..while i was in nashville. we used the hotel van to travel from spot to spot and did not need our car seat as long as we buckled her in..have fun on your trip..and be safe..dont forget to take snack and play things your little one likes while on the plane to keep busy with..

When we went to Disney we took a limo to and from the hotel. We asked the limo to bring a carseat and they did. We didn't need a seat on the plane or on the buses in Florida. It was 3 years ago but at that time it was cheaper to take a limo rather than a taxi from the airport, just a suggestion. Have a good trip!

absolutely bring the seat!!! 3 year olds can NOT sit on your lap in the car ever. unless you know for a fact a seat will be provided. god forbid the taxi has an accident....

Call the hotel you are staying at and ask them what the laws are in Miami for travel with a 3 yo in a taxi about car seats. I have never taken a taxi so have no idea but thats where I would start. A.
PS Do you know someone who has traveled even in NYC. They may be able to tell you what happens there about car seats.