Hire/ loan a car seat?

[user78322796]

Will be travelling to Newcastle for 4 days and wondered if anyone had ever hired a car seat away from home?

DC is almost 4 and rear faces so bringing her car seat on a plane would be a hassle.

We did once and never again. The seat was tatty and not she suitable despite them insisting it was.

DS almost 4 and,still rear facing is taking a trip with DH and I'm insisting his big seat go. It'll be a pain in the arse, but he can't go forward facing because He's too heavy for the 5 point harness,but not old enough for the 3 point seatbelt.

Sorry!

Sorry, Not age suitable. Although I guess it was legal, forward facing at 15 months. But I was tense putting him in it

Just check it on the plane?

How much driving will you do when you get there? If not much driving I'd buy something like a trunki Boostapak or a folding high back booster to take (and use in future for travel/spare). But if doing a lot of driving i probably would hire something more substantial. The problem is you can't guarantee it'll be a decent seat in decent condition.

If you are staying in Newcastle centre and not travelling further out than the coast/north Durham, you won't need a car as its all well serviced by bus/metro, so no car seat required.

Thanks for the replies.

I used to live in Newcastle so know about the metro/ bus etc. But we will be going in a family member's car so ideally would like a car seat.

I'm hesitant about checking it in on the plane as will be taking public transport to and from the airport and DC's car seat is 15kg.

Annoying that the car seats weren't in good condition that people hired.

Think I'll just have to do without.

Thanks again.

I’d ask someone local to pick one up off Facebook for you for before you get there. We got ours for £15 and there were loads to choose from

Unless she's tiny you won't be able to hire an ERF seat I don't think.

What about buying a high backed booster to take? Something like Joie trillo LX?

Or order it to family member's address?

If they keep the box it comes in, you can protect it in the box for the way back.

If you have family and friends there, could you ask if anyone has a car seat you can borrow?

Otherwise I'd do as Bertie suggests, buy a HBB and get it delivered to your family. Either a cheap one that you leave with them or a folding one that you take home with you for future use.

You can take car seats for free on the plane you just need to check them in as over sized baggage it's really straight forward we used to do it lots flying between Newcastle and Exeter.

Ahh just read the bit about the public transport. So we had cheaper lighter ones for travel. You could do that and check it in

Thanks all.

I wouldn't put dc in a high back booster at home so paying for one would be money down the drain.

Have bought an Axkid which is lighter than current car seat but I'm thinking it's still to heavy for me to carry along with carting DC, two suitcases etc.

Was going to say if money no object, then look at Britax two way elite? It's rear facing to 25kg but quite a bit lighter than other car seats. Someone once put a pic up on a forum of their DH wearing it with the tether straps like backpack straps in an airport! It fits within a standard plane seat, used the forward facing belt path on the plane and their DC sat in it.

Might be too late if you've already bought the Axkid.

Or if your child is small for their age Joie steadi?

They'll use a HBB eventually so it's not money down the drain at all. However, if you don't want to use one yet, fair enough.

If you want a seat that's ERF then get the Britax Two Way Elite, it's one of the lightest and most compact ERF seats, suitable up to 25kg, compatible with most cars, and not too expensive. It's the one we have for travel and as a spare.

Does anyone know what the height limit is for the Britax two way elite? And how much it weighs?

She'll use the axkid till at least 6 so wouldn't have the space for the hbb. Unless I get the Britax and send the minikid back (hasn't arrived yet

Are you planning to use the Minikid as your main seat? It's a good seat (although we have the Max Way Plus as we preferred it) but too big/heavy for travel.

The Two Way Elite weighs 7kg. There's no height limit as such because it depends on the child's torso and head height (they could have long legs and a short body). Of the 25kg seats it's one of the tallest.

As NameChange said. It fits until approx the same height as Minikid.

What seat is she using at the moment?

The Axkid is plus tested whereas the Britway isn't. Dc is tall but very slim.

Britway?
I dont think the Britax two way elite is plus tested, because it can be used FF.
The Britax Max Way Plus is plus tested but that's not the one we're recommending for travel. It's not as compact or versatile (compatible with most cars) as the TWE.

I got my parents to buy a cheap 2nd hand car seat to use at their house when we visited occasionally. My child was being legally transported. It might not have been the 100% safest transport but any road travel carries risks. If you’re willing to take your DC a in a car then you have to accept an element of risk. That’s the reality.

Now don’t give it another thought and enjoy your trip. The chances of something bad happening are absolutely tiny, and the alternative is you stay at home and don’t see anybody.

Yes but she only wants a 25kg plus tested seat and you don't tend to find those on second hand sites. Nor rental sites.

I'm baffled as to how doing without (no car seat at all?) is safer than a booster, but anyway.

Just ask family member if they know anyone who has a high back booster available to borrow for the week. I loan mine out loads to friends.