We are taking a trip in a few months and I want to make sure I take what I need for my lil one without over packing. I've seen a few others posts and have some ideas but my main concern is traveling. Meaning, when we fly, she will be sitting in our lap, we are also taking a train ride where she again will sit in our lap. But what about a taxi from airport to hotel.... will they let us get in if she doesn't have a car seat? Do I bag check car seat or buy cheap one when we get there? Also, the train will take us to another destination where we will then rent a car, do rental places provide car seats? Weight wise, she is way to small for just a booster...anyone been in this situation who can provide some insight? Would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Edit - I figured it was illegal in all states for child to be in car without car seat, but my hubs assures me it will be ok....I don't want to get there and be stuck cause we can't go anywhere since we don't have a car seat......sounds like bag check is the option...thanks to ladies who have answered
At the end of last year my family did quite a bit of airline travel, we took our carseat with us. I called the airlines and they all let us bag check the carseat at no cost (even the airlines that charged to check bags didn't charge for the carseat)
I think, as a safetly measure, I wouldn't want to ride in a taxi with my baby not in a carseat, since taxi drivers are notorious for wreckless driving...
Enjoy your vacation
I would suggest taking your carseat. I don't believe that car rental companies rent carseats and even if they did you have no way of knowing what kind of condition it is actually is. Most airlines will let you bag check a carseat at no charge. I have no idea if a Taxi will let you in without a carseat...I woudn't think so since in most, if not all, states it is illegal for a child that small to not be in a carseat. Also, if you bought one there (not sure that I know of a "cheap" carseat that would work for a 1 year old) what would you do with it when you came home?
If it was me, I would take your carseat and just bag check it. Like I said, most airlines will not charge you to bag check a carseat.
Hope you have a great trip.
Some airlines will let you take the car seat and stroller right onto the plane with you even if you are lapping it. We are taking our 2 mo. old on Delta Airlines and they allow it. Check online for what your airline will allow.
The only way to be sure would be to call the car rental and see.
As I understand it, as long as it is a commercial driver (bus, taxi, hired car, shuttle, whatever) the child doesn't have to be in a seat. However, if you are renting a car, you have to have a seat. And yes, many will rent a car seat for another $15-25ish for the week. Just call and ask places if they have them. Otherwise, it's considered a "service item" and is free to check at the ticket counter or at the gate.
You need to bring your car seat. Online and in stores you can buy bags with handles that should make it easier to carry when your daughter isn't in it, but I wouldn't rely on being able to rent one if only since you have no idea what condition the seat will be in or if it's been in any accidents. Some taxi drivers will let you in their cab w/out a car seat for your child, but it is illegal and unless you're willing to put your daughters safety at risk, I wouldn't chance it.
We have flown countless times w/ our child and I haven't had any trouble checking or car seat and gate checking our stroller. The only thing you won't be able to do is curb side check your car seat - at least not on Delta.
Have a great trip!
We've been traveling with my son since he was about 3-months-old, and there are new tricks we learn every time to make it easier. The best advice I can give you is to relax -- and bring things to entertain your child! We now travel with a portable DVD player, but when my son was younger (he's now almost 3), I made sure to pack a few (new) books, and a few (new) toys -- things he hadn't seen before that would capture his interest. I also brought a sippy cup (you can bring an empty one through security without a problem and fill it with bottled water on the other side), and snack containers (goldfish crackers, etc. are usually available for purchase once you're past security as well).
We started buying my son his own seat on the plane when he was about 15 months old -- it was just easier on us to have him strapped in his carseat than it was to try to keep him contained on our laps. But before we started doing this, we always gate checked his car seat -- it doesn't count against your checked luggage limit and you simply need to get a tag for it when you reach the gate for your flight (you can do the same thing with a stroller). I would definitely bring his seat because while you probably won't need one for taxis (it's not ideal but it's also virtually impossible to install a car seat quickly -- or occasionally at all -- in many cabs), you'll definitely want your car seat for when you rent a car. Some places will rent car seats, but in my experience, it's easier and more comforting to just bring your own, which you and your child are already familiar with.
Hi J. - I am planning my own trip and just posted a question about air travel this last week.
We're flying Continental and they allow one extra "infant article" to carry on and also to check (for free). You could bring a stroller on board and check your carseat or vice versa. If you bring your carseat on as carry on luggage and there are empty seats, they will let you put your carseat in. That way you might have the option to let her sit in her own seat for awhile. Our son is two and so we had to buy a seat for him - we figured we might as well bring the carseat since he's used to sitting (and sleeping) in it on long car rides.
Something else we're doing - putting some bungie cords or belts in checked luggage so we can strap the carseat and stroller and such to a cart OR to my husband who has promised to be a packhorse on our trip.
We've traveled a lot with our son--we've done some taxi rides without a car seat, but I felt really, really awkward about it--I was just terrified that we would get in an accident as they weaved through traffic. And then, we once got down to a restaurant and tried to get a taxi back to our hotel and the driver told us he wouldn't take us because we didn't have a car seat--and then lectured us about how dangerous it was and how he could get a big fine (and then he took us back anyway). So, we've managed to never need on in a cab, but I wouldn't advise it.
