Travelling by car with a 5 year old

[andantecantabile]

Hello, I don't have any children yet and have a few questions regarding child car seats. My niece is going to be visiting from a different country soon and we will he getting a rental car to drive around. I can rent a car seat from the car hire company but the fee will be around £120, so was wondering if it might be cheaper to buy one? Happy to buy new but I've heard second hand car seats are a no-no?

Also, say for example we want to take a taxi with her, do we need to bring a car seat, or tell them in advance we are travelling with a child?

Sorry if all of this sounds clueless. I have no idea and any help would be most welcome. To add, her parents are coming with her but it's not an option to bring her car seat on two long haul flights. I know I could ask them but I'd rather not trouble them at the moment as they are busy with work and I would love to be efficient and get it done myself. TIA

At that age you just need a high back booster seat, which the ordinary seatbelt straps over. We have the previous version of this one. Reputable make, great price

www.mothercare.com/highback-boosters-without-harness-group-2-3/britax-r%C3%B6mer-adventure-car-seat---cosmos-black/211832.html?cgid=car_hbb_withoutharness#start=9

And the law on taxis....

I’d get one of these Trunki booster seats:

www.trunki.co.uk/collections/boostapak?gclid=Cj0KCQiArenfBRCoARIsAFc1FqdiW_QcC2G4NsuriR9aOuqfq3gwp-rObu88lHqVnAwJJWzVKoQjbjwaAi9VEALw_wcB

Get her a trunk if you don't mind if she gets hurt in an accident. Otherwise a high back booster is the way to go. Sub £50 in Halfords etc will be worth it. Or borrow from a friend

Ah brilliant thank you! That booster seat looks great, the trunki ones are cute too!

You rarely see kids where I live on just boosters at five. It's much safer to have them in a five point if they still fit or at least a booster with a high back.

What carseat is she in at home? I'd get a similar one.

For a 5yo you want a high back booster as an absolute minimum for safety. Something like a joie trillo would be good (about £40). You can get cheaper ones, but carseat safety us not something I'd compromise on.

And whilst its legal for a 5yo to be in a taxi without a carseat it is not safe.

Thank you everyone. A high backed booster seat seems the best idea, thank you to those who have suggested possible ones to purchase. They are a lot more reasonable than I was expecting! A year ago when I saw her she had one similar, but the straps were attached to the seat rather than using the seat belt.