Help with car seats.

[offtheice]

Just booked my flight last night and was trying to figure out the best solution that we are going to need two car seats for a 3 yr old and my new infant that is expected in dec.. We are planning to rent a car only for the first 5 days because we are going to universal to start off . Has anyone ever ups or fedex a carseat to there resort or anyone have any other ideas. Most rental car places charge an arm and leg for a car seat.

 

[Wislodgers]

I think you can send a car seat through checked baggaged on the plane. You could check your infant car seat and take your 3 year-old's on the plane.

When we flew and our youngest was 3 we took his seat on the plane. I also bought one of those foldable luggage carts (about $20) I set the car seat on it and strapped it on, it worked just like a stroller, and fit down the plane aisle. I waited until all the people were off the plane, opened up the luggage cart and set the seat on it and wheeled away! It was great!

Have a fun trip!

 

[lurontravel]

If your 3 y/o is mature enough at that time, I'd suggest that you get a belt positioner booster type for him/her, and bring that and your infant seat (that attaches to a stroller, I hope?!) and put them both in a carseat carrier bag (cist around $20 new at Babies R Us) and put them under the plane (you can't use a booster seat on the plane for the 3 y/o, and I never used a seat for my kids when they were infants b/c they bf a lot during the flights).

I know that this will mean an extra bag, but I feel it's definitly worth it!

I'd never rent a carseat if I could possible help it(b/c of the $ as well as the inconsistent quality, and possibly not having a seat that fits your child well and that you are not accustomed to using and adjusting, etc., etc.).

I am wondering how you'll manage w/o your carseats at home while they are being shipped down?

 

[disneymom3]

I would check the three year old's carseat and have the baby's carseat on the plane. (Does baby have a seat? Please say yes.) While you may spend quite a bit of time holding the baby, it is really good to have that carseat in case of turbulence or anything worse. Or simply to free your hands to help the older one out once in awhile.

It will be easier for the three year old to not be in their carseat in the plane if they will sit with the seatbelt on. That way they can be anywhere in your row--instead of having to be by the window--and can get the tray table down to color, eat, etc.

 

[2minnies]

You may also want to check what manufacturer and model car you'll be renting. Some carseats just don't fit properly and safely in all cars. We drove over to the local National rental and tried our seats in the cars there before our trip.

Don't forget to pack your locking clips.

 

[chipscinderelly]

National car rental has a LARGE selection of car seats and they seemed very clean and comfortable for my God baby last November. We didn't have any problems with it and had it noted on our reservation.

 

[offtheice]

Originally posted by chipscinderelly
National car rental has a LARGE selection of car seats and they seemed very clean and comfortable for my God baby last November. We didn't have any problems with it and had it noted on our reservation.

How much did they charge you

 

[mobetsy]

I'm not quite sure why you wouldn't use both kids' car seats on the plane. That's the safest option, and also the most straightforward. If for some reason you won't be using both on the plane, carry them to the gate and gate check one or both; that way they are put in the luggage compartment by hand and taken off the same way (for you to claim at the gate/jetway as you get off). Much preferable to the potential bumps and bangs of the checked luggage process. Also, you'll need both seats as soon as you get off the plane, for whatever mode of transportation you choose from airport to resort, so you'll need to have them with you immediately.

A car seat from a rental company is better than no seat at all, but cleanliness is not the primary issue, even though a dirty one would be yucky. The critical thing is that a car seat that's ever been in an accident, no matter how small, should be destroyed; many car rental places may not know this, and even if they do they might not do it (hey, it still looks okay!). You have no way to know the history of the seat you are getting.

On the locking clips, it is always a good idea to have them, but I think that by now most rental cars will have the LATCH system, so if your car seats have that, you'll be in great shape.

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by offtheice
How much did they charge you

My sister has rented a car seat from National and said she'd never do it again. She'd bring her own, since it was older, and dirty. They charged her $10 per day for the car seat. Also, just so you know, National doesn't have any infant seats, they only have car seats, so if you have an infant that still needs to be rear-facing, you'll definately need to bring your own car seat.

 

[justhat]

Delta gave my SIL a large plastic bag for my 2.5yo niece's carseat to be gate checked. So even if you don't have a carseat bag, they'll have something for you to put the seat in if you ask.

I would, however, definitely recommend putting them in the carseats on the plane. Maybe not the 3yo if he'll stay in a seat, but definitely for the infant. We flew from Myrtle Beach to Charlotte on July 4th with my then 4 month old daughter and we had a very, very turbulent landing in Charlotte due to bad weather. The plane was literally jumping and dropping hundreds of feet at a time and turning side to side so much that all you could see was sky out of half the plane and land out of the other, and we were not making a turn! It was so bad that the pilot had to abort the landing and fly back to Columbia, SC to wait out the storm. I really thought we were going to crash, and was so relieved, like the rest of the plane, when the pilot started going back up. Luckily we had a seat for my daughter and she was safely strapped into her carseat and slept through everything. I know if I had been holding her I would have been terrified because as tight as I think I can hold her, when the plane suddenly drops, you're not prepared to hold them as tight as necessary and they could easily get hurt. I'm not even talking about flying out of your arms, though I know it's a possibility, but simply hitting their head on an armrest, tray table, etc. My daughter is also breastfed and nursed on every flight she's been on (which is 8 now), but I also bring a bottle of pumped milk so that she can suck during the landing and not have ear pain.

So aside from the safety during the flight, you also don't have to worry about renting seats at your destination, the condition of their seats, and also you'll have seats you and your kids are familiar with.

 

[AspiringCindy]

We did the same thing last month on a flight!...and we will be taking our 3 years olds carseat on the plane to WDW next week! The carts work great! We wheeled it down the aisle, hooked up the seat and threw the cart in the overhead! Not only was it easy, but my DD felt comfortable in her OWN seat!

Originally posted by Wislodgers
I think you can send a car seat through checked baggaged on the plane. You could check your infant car seat and take your 3 year-old's on the plane.

When we flew and our youngest was 3 we took his seat on the plane. I also bought one of those foldable luggage carts (about $20) I set the car seat on it and strapped it on, it worked just like a stroller, and fit down the plane aisle. I waited until all the people were off the plane, opened up the luggage cart and set the seat on it and wheeled away! It was great!

Have a fun trip!

 

[tinker925]

I would strongly recommend bringing your own car seats. They charge around $8 per day for renting and tax on top of that. You can use the seat on the plane, however I found that my seats didn't fit in the plane seats so they had to put it in with the luggage. For the teenie baby definitely take the infant seat. If the baby has his/her own seat on the plane strap in the infant seat if you're holding baby, check the infant seat. It is a pain to carry the seat from the car to check it and then from luggage pick up to your rental but it saves you lots of $$, you know its safe and clean and that your 3yr old is comfortable in it. My now 5 yr old has had 5 trips already and we tried renting once or twice too, I now take his seat. Another thing we try is renting a mini-van and waiting for one with an intergrated car seat, not guaranteed when renting but one is always there (for my 3 yr old) and then bringing the booster for the 5 year old. Have a great trip.