I just got a call from my daughter that I need a booster seat to pick them up at the airport tomorrow night. They are flying in for Thanksgiving. In previous years she was smaller and the baby carrier doubled as a car seat. But she just turned 4 years old and apparently needs a booster seat.
I’ll have to Google what it is. Apparently it is too big for them to bring one with them, or that would be a lot of trouble. I wonder if I can rent one?
If anyone knows anything about 4 year olds and booster seats 🙂 I’d appreciate the info. Maybe I can buy one and then donate it to…someplace. I spent 4hours today shopping for their arrival. Had I known earlier…oh well. Kids!
Hi Ardell,
Check with the rental car companies. If they are renting a car while they’re here, you can typically rent one at the same time.
Also, check craigslist.
Rental company car seats can be a little unpredictable, Ardell. Go to Target and get a Graco Turbobooter. It’s about 1/3 the price of high end seats (which we own too) and has gotten top ratings. My 5-year-old loves it.
For temporary use like this you can pick up a brand new one that uses your existing seat belt for under 50 bucks at a shop like Target. For daily use they recommend a seat with it’s own harness. They cost much more, I know we have one in each car at $250 a piece.
Ardell:
I have been a long time reader of Rain City blog and have never committed — just tried to soak up everyone’s knowledge.
However, booster seats are something I know a little about — I am the mother of four year old twins. It is highly, highly recommended that kids use a seat with a five-point harness for as long as possible. There is a foundation created by parents of a four year old, Kyle Miller, who was killed because his car seat-belt with his booster seat did not work. They provide free 5-point harness booster seats to families who cannot afford them. You can read more at: http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/.
We currently have two, brand-new, 5-point harness booster seats sitting in our outside office and you are welcome to borrow one (no charge — no strings.) We ordered them a couple of weeks ago and are waiting to install them when we get our new Prius in early January (they don’t fit securely in our current car because we do not have the latch system.)
I know it might seem like an odd offer because you don’t know me. But, it seems silly to have them sit unused while your family needs one for a short time. If you want, feel free to e-mail me and you can decide if you want to take me up on the offer.
Joan F.
oooh, Dad X2, It comes in “Dora the Explorer”. Wait a minute. My grand daughter’s on the speaker phone saying she wants the princess one.
They won’t be renting a car. We’re picking them up and they’ll be using Jacquie’s new car while they are here. I guess Peter’s been driving Jacquie to work now that she’s 8 months pregnant.
I hope everyone is getting into the holiday spirit! I have two turkeys! Tomorrow we’re making the Italian Soup with the little meatballs.
tj,
Just cross your fingers we don’t have to hit 5 different Targets to get the Princess one 🙂
the dora one will be fine as well mom
OK, Beanie. See you tomorrow.
Joan,
What a wonderful offer! I just saw your comment in my email. Sorry I missed it earlier. I’ll shoot you an email.
It’s really good to see among all this economic turbulence that exposes greedy crocks and thiefs allover the place that people like Joan is also around. Very nice offer especially since it’s about kids safety. The Kyle Miller story was what made us gladly fork out $500 for our seats, after all we come from a country(Sweden) that make cars with more airbags than HP 🙂
Some can be a bit tricky to install, most important if you don’t use latch be sure to fully extend the safety belt before tightening it up to secure the seat. You know you are doing it right if the belt makes a ticking sound when it retracts and can’t be pulled out again. I’m sure your mom already knows that though.
That should be “I’m sure mom already knows”, i.e your daughter.
And to be sure there is no misunderstanding in such an important matter, the tip applies when you attach a seat that has it’s own harness using the car’s seatbelt. A booster that uses the car seat belt to secure the child I have personally never used.
tj,
It’s been so long since I’ve had child safety seats in my life. My sister who lives here is gay, and while she’s a genius at many things, child safety seats is not one of them 🙂 My daughter Jacquie (and Peter) live in Redmond, but she’s just having her first child in January and all the things she has from her baby shower are infant things.
I’ll be sure to post a photo of my grand daughter in the booster seat 🙂 We are going to take Joan up on her offer. I say “my grand daughter” because her name is Xochitl pronounced So-Chee. When I type it I feel like I have my fingers on the wrong keys.
first, they’re super light, so if your daughter has one just tell her to bring it. if she really doesn’t want to bring one just buy it. i’ve seen them for $30 at costco. then you’ll have it for next time.
The airlines are charging for every bag and item these days! We borrowed Joan’s, which was a blessing.
It’s not even 2 p.m. of day one and I already have blue fingernails from finger painting at 7 a.m. We went to the store, made cookies, icing and sprinkles, changed clothes three times… Nana needs a NAP! 🙂
Try Big Lots…we had the same problem, and found one of our favorites for about $30.
Good Luck!