USVI-On-Line

Here is another question - something I thought about while I was trying to get my 8 month old back to sleep at 3:30 this morning.

We are renting a car seat in St. John - do we need to have a car seat in the cab/van from the airport to the ferry? Do they allow you to just carry the little one on your lap?

Thanks!!

I carried, but that was 10 years ago.....

They didn't require one for us. I believe taxis, buses, etc. are exempt.

I know alot of people will disagree but I brought my sons with us. I used on the plane (purchased a seat) in the taxi and again in the rental car. I know you can rent them but I knew his was clean and it was his, so he was comfortable in it. I did have a flight attendant fight me for it once thinking I was carrying it on, she followed us to our seats and when I buckled it in the seat she finally understood, I guess she didn't have kids! I have seen people with children on their lap though but I don't know the law maybe Pia can help with that.

We rented one on island. The cab ride to ferry she travelled on our lap, no issue. What was really useful was the Bumbo. Made a great place to have her seated on the beach under an umbrella. Also, she always wore a little hat, not just for sun protection of her head but helped shade her eyes.

Like Traveller we always took our son's carseat and still do 3 years later.

The only negative I remember hearing about renting a carseat was someone posted (maybe not on this board) about renting a carseat and when it was presented, it was actually a backless boaster seat like a 5 or 6 year old would use.

If it is the law, it is not enforced at all. It is very common for infants to travel in a car in a lap. It is even common to see it done in a front seat! I always used a car seat for my son (I just felt a lot better). I was encouraged NOT to use it by some taxi drivers because they could squeeze in another adult fare if I had him sit in my lap.
Something else I noticed the other day in regards to infants... I bought some Similac Sensitive formula for my godson the other day at Dolphin Market. It was $35.99!!!! The same stuff was $26.99 at Pine Peace Mini Mart.

The three times Emma has been down to the islands she was still in the infant car seat so we kept her strapped in at all times(9 weeks, 15 weeks and 6 months). When we go in three weeks (20 months old)we are renting a car seat through Paris car rental on St. John and we will just put her on our lap in the taxi. There is a seat belt adapter I saw online that connects the seat belt you are wearing to a toddler seat belt. I was going to get her one so we could also use it on the airplane but found out that USAirways doesn't allow them. Didn't get an explanation why.

For a number of years (ago) we brought our car seat...would recommend.

Each time we've gone (and again this time) we've brought our car seat. Didn't use it in the taxis to/from the car rental place though ... from what I remember, there's no real place to strap them in (no seat belts), at least on the ones with red seats that run along the sides (I'm sure there's a term for this that escapes me now). Also no car seat on the Caneel tram.

It may help to keep in mind that it's legal and common to have children ride in cabs and buses in New York City without car seats. I said legal, not safe.

Brought our own carseat -- strapped her in on the plane, then had her on our lap on the taxi to Red Hook, then strapped it back in our rental car. My daughter napped for a lot of the plane ride, and I think having her strapped in her carseat made her comfortable and able to do that.

Also, that's interesting news about USAir not allowing carseats. We just took a trip on Continental (not to St. John unfortunately!) and they allowed the carseat (Britax - rated for airline travel), last time we went to St. John it was on AA, and they allowed the seat too.

If they do not allow the carseat, or you don't want to use it on the plane but still want to take it, they should be able to check it at the gate (like they do with strollers) so that you leave it right before you board, and it's there for you right away (so you don't run the risk of losing it in baggage). If you connect, you'll have to haul it through the airport, but it beats showing up on St. John with no seat!

I looked up USAir's policy on carseats, and it looks like they are allowed, as long as they're the type approved for air travel. Here's the link:
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/tr ... ldren.aspx

PSUWethr wrote: There is a seat belt adapter I saw online that connects the seat belt you are wearing to a toddler seat belt. I was going to get her one so we could also use it on the airplane but found out that USAirways doesn't allow them. Didn't get an explanation why.

There a few versions of what is described above. I do believe the CARES is FAA approved.

As it relates to car seats, I would estimate 50% of the time, either the gate agent or the flight attendant checked or asked us if our seat was FAA approved.

When our son was an infant, the gate agent checking us in educated me to this.

If you read USAir's website, it looks like you can use other restraints only when cruising - not takeoff or landing. So the rules are a little complicated.