Car Seats

[Inside Ball]

We are travelling with a 3mnth old and don't know whether to use a car rental car seat or to bring our own.Would my seat from the UK fit ok ? Any opinions would be great Thanks

 

[Colinsmom]

Just an FYI - if you arrange for a car seat rental from the rental car companies, they do NOT guarantee that they will have the seat for you when you arrive. It is a reservation, not a guarantee. Plus, they could have the wrong type of seat to keep your tiny one safe, or the seat could be old and disgusting. That's just not a chance that I would ever take.

I'd suggest bringing your own - from my understanding, it should work fine in the cars here.

 

[Dani&Pao'sMom]

my 2 cents... I agree with Colinsmom... we did get one from the rental company a couple of years ago and it was the most cheap one, and yucky! I wouldn't take the risk with a 3 month old... if it were me, I'd bring my own. Even with the hassle at the airport etc.

 

[stacy6552]

Bring it! Put your baby in it on the plane. Even if you cant somehow afford the price of the ticket, if there is an empty seat the airline will let you use it for the baby.

 

[swilshire]

Bring your own. After your long flight, it will be SO nice to have the straps already adjusted just right for your child.

When my older kids were small, they didn't have them, but by my last one they had invented the car seats that are a carrier, car seat, and stroller. There is one part that you strap the child into and it can be used alone or snapped into the car seat base or stroller base. Definitely my favorite baby equipment!

With the older kids, we were always waking them up to move them from stroller to car seat or vice versa. With the combo, you just unsnapped them from one and moved them to the other. They slept right through. If they were sleeping when we got home, we'd just leave them in the comfy carrier inside until they woke up. They outgrown them relatively quickly, but they are still worth every dollar.

You might check to see if something similar is available where you live. If not, it would be worth ordering from overseas IMHO.

Sheila

 

[Inside Ball]

Thanks for all your opinions I think I will take my own we do have a travel system that is quite bulky but I think we'll take it now. We were considering all our options as there is so much equipment we need and just trying to reduce some of it but not if it is risking safety, Thanks

 

[abacobaby]

Do you have a travel system where the infant carrier is also a car seat? The carrier also snaps into the stroller? We had a travel system like this for our DD and I really found it easy to use. You can just put the infant carrier in the taxi and use the seatbelt to strap it in. Then when you get out of the taxi, you just snap the carrier into the stroller. I found it much easier to travel with DD when she was a baby. Now that she is 2 years old I have to carry a stroller and a seperate carseat and that is just annoying, in my opinion.

 

[safetymom]

The start of your vacation is not the time to be figuring out how to use the rental car seat correctly. Bring your own.

 

[nicolagriffin]

if i was you i would take my own we did and my son is 7

 

[las3888]

Just as an FYI, I don't think the airlines allow the "carrier" seats onboard if you were going to use it on the plane. You have to have a full-size convertible car seat.

We are going to bring our full size converble seat...we bought DS a ticket for the plane and the airlines charge so much per day to use their seats so we decided we may as well bring our car seat, use it on the plane (maybe DS will even sleep on the flight) and then use it while on the trip.

Good luck figuring it out!

Lisa

 

[las3888]

Sorry - I meant to say the car rental agencies - not the airlines, charge so much per day to use a car seat....

 

[las3888]

Sorry - I meant to say the car rental agencies - not the airlines, charge so much per day to use a car seat....

Wow, am I tongue tied tonight...car rental agencies charge so much per day to use THEIR car seats!!!! You probably knew what I was talking about but just in case!!!!

 

[NotUrsula]

Just as an FYI, I don't think the airlines allow the "carrier" seats onboard if you were going to use it on the plane. You have to have a full-size convertible car seat.

Not true of US-based airlines; they are required by Federal law to let you use any approved-for-aircraft carseat as long as you have purchased a seat to place it in.

The OP is from the UK, and the rules there are quite different, if it is a UK-based airline. The CAA leaves it up to each airline to make rules re: what sort of seat can be used on board, and if they can be used at all. Most UK airlines that do allow personal child seats to be used will ONLY allow the use of infant seats, and ban toddler seats altogether. BA & Virgin provide a limited number of child seats, but they are for older kids; for a child this age both of those airlines will suggest that you go with a bulkhead-mounted bassinet. The trick about bassinets is that you must take the child out and hold her in your lap for takeoff and landing (they will supply a seatbelt loop for you to use.) Bottom line is, call your airline; they may not allow it, or may have special restrictions.

FYI re: your UK infant seat: It may not fit easily in a US rental car, not because of the contour of the seats, but because of the length of the cars' seatbelts. US rear-facing infant seats don't mount with the seatbelt wrapped round the back of the seat shell, (the mount works with the lap-belt part of the strap only) so there is no incentive for US carmakers to put extra-length belts in the rear seats. I know of one UK poster here who got very frustrated trying to install her infant seat a couple of years ago; she had to try several different rental cars before she found one that had belts that were sufficiently long.

 

[Inside Ball]

Thanks las3888 I did get what you meant didn't notice the mistake until you pointed it out.
Notursula thanks for the tip I have problems with the seatbelts in my car here and have had to swap cars with my hubby because the seat belt wouldn't fit round the seat I might give the rental agency a ring. We have requested a sky cot for the flight but we won't know if we have one until check in.
thanks all this advice is really helpful.

 

[mjh8955]

We rented a car seat only once. It was yucky. The straps were hard to use, it was TOTALLY different than what my daughter was used to and parts of it were sticky.

 

[rickdeni]

What is a sky cot? Is it like a small baby bed. I remember seeing something like that on Aer Lingus (sp?). I didn't think it looked too safe for takeoffs and landings. Just curious.

 

[kileybeth]

not sure if your 3 month old is used to being held a lot or not or if you are nursing but I found when traveling with my newborn (not much weight there!) she was happiest in my arms or hubbies.. she actually slept entire time both flights she's been on. (We leave for Disney next week, she'll be 5 months then but is still small)

that said, we took her infant seat (even though she did not have a ticket)and because we did not have a full flight we were permitted and even encouraged to just bring it on and put it in an empty seat between us just in case. also it is so very convenient not to have to lug a baby and your luggage around the airport.

We also have a travel system that the infant seat locks right into. The stroller part is big and bulky though so when traveling we use our snap and go stroller frame. this is the best way to go imho.

The "Snap and Go" has a huge basket underneath, a cup and stuff holder and folds up so quick, so flat and so light that it is a wonderful thing when you are already lugging that heavy infant seat around. www.Babiesrus.com sells them on line. There are two differnet brands available now.

Most American airlines also allow you to "gate check" your stroller and car seat so that makes it extra convenient. No need to take baby out until you are stepping into the plane and then when you disembark they are ready and waiting for you right at the plane door!

Hope this helps.

 

[Inside Ball]

rickdeni a sky cot is just like a box really but somewhere for baby to sleep but have to take baby out on take off landing and if there is any turbulance.
Kileybeth thanks for the tips I think our flight is probably going to be full it is the beginning of school holidays but i haven't heard of the snap and go so i am going to have a look now she is generally happier in her car seat than in the pram Thanks

 

[MazdaUK]

I once used a car rental seat and it was cheap, dirty and goodness knows what it had been through! With your own you know the history and you know your baby likes it. And I would resent paying all that money when you can buy one there for less - but of course you need it to get from the airport .

Good luck and have a lovely holiday

 

[Inside Ball]

Sorry can't find them what should i look under ? thanks