to go on holiday without 2 year old's car seat

[coffeeforone]

We are going to Portugal next week, and will get a taxi from the airport yo the apartment. Is it common to sit 2 year old on lap for the transfer or do people usually take their own car seats?

We are already taking a buggy and travel cot as the two items of 'free' baby luggage allowed by the airline, but i think its probably ok to pay to check in a third item. Our car seat is the Joie spin 360, so i think we'd probably need to buy a new lightweight one if we need to carry it around airports. Or do people just generally go without if the car journeys are few and short?

We've never taken a car seat on holiday

We just used to book a transfer that supplied a car seat.

We take trunks backpacks that work as booster seats, but my children are older.

You can buy inflatable seats, that's what we did after airline misplaced our car seat the first time around

Whatever you do, do NOT put the child on your lap. That’s more dangerous than no car seat.

I always take a car seat on holiday; it’s not worth the risk. I can’t understand why people wouldn’t. You can get a lightweight one cheaply which will be ok as a one-off.

Whatever you do, do NOT put the child on your lap. That’s more dangerous than no car seat.

I always take a car seat on holiday; it’s not worth the risk. I can’t understand why people wouldn’t. You can get a lightweight one cheaply which will be ok as a one-off.

We take a trunki backpack which is category 3 and 4 so depends on the size of your child. Counts as the child's hand luggage.

There aren’t any car accidents in Portugal, so should be fine 🤔

We had coach transfers so no car seat needed. They just say on the seat with a lap belt on

I'd take a car seat before a travel cot for a 2 year old, surely they can provide a bed or cot where you are staying?

We always had coach transfers so no car seat needed. They sat in their own seat with their lap belt on

We always take a car seat, even for our 5 year old - and I wouldn’t take an inflatable or trunk I style one until they are much, much older - mine wouldn’t go in one until 8 at least. Other JOIE car seats, such as the stages, are often good lightweight options.

What would you do if you had to take a taxi into town with your toddler here in the UK? Would you take your car seat?

Inflatable seat isna good idea.

Please don't put them on your lap. That's so dangerous. Their own seat with just a belt os better than on a lap.

I would take a car seat rather than a travel cot. If there’s a bed, I’d push it against the wall and put chairs/other furniture on other side to stop them falling out or mattress on floor or in bed with me, etc.

I honestly wouldn’t chance no car seat in a taxi.

You can get some good lightweight seats and buy a car seat travel bag.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've just now been looking at pre-booking a transfer where it seems possible to add on a car seat. I might do that.

I'd take a car seat before a travel cot for a 2 year old, surely they can provide a bed or cot where you are staying?

We are definitely taking the travel cot as the apartment we are staying doesn't have one. He will sleep soundly in a cot/travel cot. He thinks normal beds are trampolines no matter what time it is and refuses to co-sleep! Need to transition to a normal bed but don't want to do it on holiday. He's just turned 2.

Portugal has really strict car seat laws. Our bus transfer had booster seats stored and we were given one for her to use. This year we have a private transfer and have booked car seats for no extra cost. If you are flying to Faro, I can recommend A22 transfers.

Op, I brought up 5 children in the days when you just opened the car door and they all piled in but now Im much older and I have loads of grandchildren I hate to think of how I (everyone) it was back then. There are times when I could cry and hang my head in shame at the things we considered to be ok.

I would say if you can't afford to take a car seat with you or buy/hire one when you are there, you shouldn't be going on holiday.

I would always put my child in a car seat here, so I would always put them in a car seat abroad. It’s not like there are less car accidents abroad.

We also have a Trunki boostapak which has been used quite a bit including at the pantomime. Ideal as it's also a backpack so the kids can wear it and pop some activities in. It has a strap to hold the seatbelt closer down to their shoulder too, so seems reasonably secure and definitely better than nothing (which is why we have it for these sorts of occasions).

What would you do if you had to take a taxi into town with your toddler here in the UK? Would you take your car seat?

We've never actually done this, so never considered it! I suppose I would ask the taxi company if they could provide a car seat.

If it was an emergency I'd go without.

In the past, we have occasionally travelled with DS on lap in areas of India where taxis generally don't have seat belts, so using a car seat isn't possible.

Call the hotel/resort directly and ask if they can reserve you a travel cot and then take the seat?

So two adults and a child of 2. Would that not be 3 full fare tickets so a piece of baby equipment with each ticket?

Thanks again all! I'm going to pre-book a private transfer and add the car seat on (didn't realise you could do this when I first posted, as I originally had in mind just getting a cab from outside the airport.