Air travel with car seat and rental car

[BadgerGirl84]

We are considering a trip when DD is four months old. We do not plan on buying her an airline seat. Not looking for a debate on that decision--thank you.

Is it recommended to buy an inexpensive infant car seat to use for travel (bring to airport, hopefully get a spare seat but otherwise gate check it)...or should we just get a travel bag for our own car seat and bring that. We have the Britax b safe...not a super expensive seat, but not cheap to replace either.

 

[andigomeep]

If you absolutely will not buy a seat I would buy a "throw away" seat.

 

[Autumnslight]

I agree. If you're possibly checking the seat, I'd buy an inexpensive one to take along, rather than risk your primary one. Even if the seat comes out looking fine, you never know how the seat was handled, what types of temperatures it was exposed to, etc.

 

[timandjanl]

Are you renting a car? Why not just rent a carseat from the rental company?

 

[travelgirl06]

When DD was in her infant seat we checked that with no issues (I think we usually gate-checked it since we'd use it with the stroller in the airport). Had a graco, so a little less-fancy and it may have gotten a tad bit dirty, but nothing worry some.

Now we check her "basic" car seat (that we use in our second car) rather than her primary car seat. Our basic seat is a Scenera that is low cost and lightweight, but still has good safety reviews, we'd rather get this one beat up than the "nicer" car seat

We usually just out the seat in a giant trash bag and check it, but a carseat bag would probably be better. I wouldn't want to mess with trying to install a carseat I am not used to from the rental company, if we could avoid it. (Plus a lot of people mention not knowing what happens to the carseat when you check it, but you also don't know what a rental car seat has been through...not trying to start a debate, just saying).

On a side note, we've flown with DD as a lap child several times and its been quite manageable. My mom is a flight attendant, so I did run it by her (not an "expert" persay, but she is on a lot of flights and sees a lot!) and she didn't have concerns about us flying with her as a lap child. There are risks, of course, but three are risks with everything and we all have to determine which risks we are comfortable with.

 

[Syrreal]

We've checked our britax in the past (including a 10+ hour international flight) no issue at all. A bag for the seat is MUCH cheaper than a new seat plus you'll have the seat your baby is used to.

If you do buy a bag, make sure to check the dimensions to make sure that the britax will fit since they are rather large seats. I forget which one we have off the top of my head but can check if you'd like. Just let me know. We had another bag and it was SO HARD to get the Britax in and this one I can get it done in under a minute.

 

[DCbride]

Since our Britax was so heavy we did purchase a light weight seat. We would gate check it. And we just bought a big laundry bag (like dorm size) and slid it in to help keep it clean. Just make sure the seat is approved for flight.

 

[tms295psu]

Buy a cosco seat that rear/forward faces. Make it your "travel seat". They are $40 at walmart. You don't know how a seat is handled when checked (gate is rumor safer but still risky). At least if the seat gets dirty or gets unseen damage your not risking your kids safety everyday. It's an assumed risk a few days a year while traveling.

 

[makclair]

If you absolutely will not buy a seat I would buy a "throw away" seat.

Yes this.