Traveling, rental car, carseat?

RoninSirPuppyPup · September 2011

We will be traveling next month. The rental car will have an infant car seat in it. I'm just a little bit paranoid I guess. Is there any way for me to make sure the car seat hasn't been recalled or anything like that? Am I over thinking this? H told me I could always call ahead and get the model number. Then I realized he was joking. Sounds like a good idea though.

shaunna&chad · September 2011

I would check into it. I would hope with their insurance protocol and things that the seat would be "valid", but it never hurts to do your own research. It's your kid, not theirs, KWIM?

Can you take your own carseat along? You might feel safer that way.

RoninSirPuppyPup · September 2011

I'd really like to but it just seems like such a PITA. I was thinking if we get there and it seems unsafe for some reason H could leave us at the airport and go buy a convertible because we need one anyways. Sunshine kids fold up nicely so it wouldn't be as big of a PITA to take a foldable one home vs bulky infant carseat and base both ways. axz

catrinawaves · September 2011

I recently took a short plane ride from CT-FL with my 2 year-old, and I brought along his car seat. I'm not going to lie, it was a pain to lug it around in the airport, but a) he was secure for the plane ride and b) I didn't have to wonder about the carseat the rental company was going to give me.

The only info I've heard about renting carseats is from my boss, who told me that when she traveled with her daughter and 10-month-old grandson, they rented a carseat and it turned out to be a bit of a disaster. The carseat didn't come with any instructions, and the employees wouldn't help her install it due to liability concerns.

If you can bring your own, I'd recommend it.

hikerbeth · September 2011

I would bring your own. We have rented one a couple of times when we really had no other option and it wasn't a horrible experience, but not something I'm willing to risk a lot (we travel a lot).

There are great products out there for hefting your carseat through the airport.

And even though you can reserve a seat with a rental company, they can't guarantee they'll actually have the seat you need (ie: they might only have a forward facing seat when you need an infant seat).

And they can't help install the seat (for liability reasons) and it could be filthy.

Sinafey · September 2011

We always buy a seat for DD because of the FAA recommendations, so I bought a GoGo Kidz to wheel her convertible seat through the airport when I fly alone with her. If you don't have a seat for your LO you can check the carseat for free, it just has to be in some sort of bag.

Like PP said, the rental people won't guarantee that they'll have a seat at all and they won't help you install it. You mentioned having to bring the base too, I'd check to make sure it's necessary. With DD's infant bucket seat (Graco Snugride, IIRC) the base wasn't needed. You can usually secure the bucket seat directly into the car with seatbelts. Just don't forget the manual at home like we did!

frlcb · September 2011

Just bring yours. Chances are you don't need the base, and you can get a carseat bag and check it with the luggage, and it will be free. We have rented them before and while it was fine we also had issues with installation and no instructions, and they won't help you put it in.

RunningGal900 · September 2011

frlcb:
Just bring yours. Chances are you don't need the base, and you can get a carseat bag and check it with the luggage, and it will be free. We have rented them before and while it was fine we also had issues with installation and no instructions, and they won't help you put it in.

We are traveling for the first time by plane with DS and bringing the carseat. I dont trust the rental car company, even though I'm sure they aren't allowed to use recalled seats. I'm also bring our PNP because I don't trust the hotel crib. This is a new era of travel for me and DH. We traveled for a month last summer out of one carryon bag. Now we will be checking bags, plus tons of gear!

myself1nme · September 2011

We used a bungee cord to strap our car seat to our luggage and checked it in.

Meg&Jesse · September 2011

The few times we have flown and rented cars we brought our car seat and used it on the plane (DS had his own seat). We felt much safer having him in his car seat on the plane too. It was a bit of a pain to carry the car seat along, but IMO it was worth the hassle.

hikerbeth · September 2011

RunningGal900:
frlcb:
Just bring yours. Chances are you don't need the base, and you can get a carseat bag and check it with the luggage, and it will be free. We have rented them before and while it was fine we also had issues with installation and no instructions, and they won't help you put it in.
We are traveling for the first time by plane with DS and bringing the carseat. I dont trust the rental car company, even though I'm sure they aren't allowed to use recalled seats. I'm also bring our PNP because I don't trust the hotel crib. This is a new era of travel for me and DH. We traveled for a month last summer out of one carryon bag. Now we will be checking bags, plus tons of gear!

Just bring your own sheet and call it a day. Hotel cribs are generally pretty nice (we stay in Marriott and Hilton chains because of points). Last one even had a liner that covered the whole crib (and secured really well) so you knew there was a clean surface all around the baby.

EmmieB · September 2011

we *always* buy him a seat and we always bring the car seat. I got a luggage wheeler thingy and I bungee the carseat to the for rolling to/from the plane. I put Baz in the beco on my back and the diaper bag in the seat under the bungee and it works fine. The staff are always super helpful and having his own seat is a lifesaver. And we flew a *lot* last year (twice we flew from coast to coast.)

sweetpea2003 · September 2011

Just buy a carseat bag and check it. Or buy your child a seat and bring it on the plane. Don't bother with the base - all infant seats can safely go into a car without the base.

hikerbeth · September 2011

sweetpea2003:

Just buy a carseat bag and check it. Or buy your child a seat and bring it on the plane. Don't bother with the base - all infant seats can safely go into a car without the base.

I don't think this is true. I think there is at least one infant seat that requires the base.

shortstuff15 · September 2011

hikerbeth:
sweetpea2003:

Just buy a carseat bag and check it. Or buy your child a seat and bring it on the plane. Don't bother with the base - all infant seats can safely go into a car without the base.

I don't think this is true. I think there is at least one infant seat that requires the base.

My sister's now expired car seat that she used for her first 3 kids could not be used without the base, so i know there is at least one that requires a base. I also know that they still make that brand of car seat, so there is probably more then one type of seat that requires a base.

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