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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want to hire a car seat abroad?

54 replies

goldenslumbers1 · 03/09/2018 18:47

Afternoon,

Does anyone have any experience (positive and negative) of hiring a car seat abroad?

We fly later this week and my DH has booked a car seat as part of our car rental package. I have called the firm and they have confirmed that they do not have Isofix attachments, so the seat will just be buckled in but that they stock a range so if we are not happy with one, we can swap etc.

I feel nervous about this, because I'm worried we won't fit the seat well and also, we don't know the history of the seat etc and think we should just take our own, as we can check it in for free with our airline.

DH says we should hire, because the firm is reputable (according to online reviews) and baggage handlers might damage our car seat in transit, not to mention the faff of lugging it around etc.

I can see his point of view, but this is our first holiday abroad and I already feel very nervous; this is just adding to the anxiety.

Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:

NameChange30 · 03/09/2018 19:28

YANBU

We flew when DS was 6 months and took the infant car seat. They’re not that big or bulky, especially not if you buy a car seat travel bag. I suggest wrapping it up carefully in bubble wrap or similar to protect it.

We are a bit stuck now because he’s 18 months old and in the next seat (Group 1, 9-18kg) and the one we have is very big and heavy so it will be a faff to take it with us. We are probably going to take it anyway, though, because I want him to be rear-facing. I think most if not all of the group 1 seats you can hire are forward-facing only.

I think if you fly and hire cars a lot, it’s worth buying a spare seat just for travelling. The Britax Two Way Elite is a good option because it’s suitable up to 25kg (about 6 years old) and it’s relatively light and compact. It’s rear-facing (or forward facing if you want) and compatible with most cars. Some airlines even allow you to take it on the plane so the child can sit in it on their seat.

Ballsofmush · 03/09/2018 19:30

I have flown with a six month old type seat - took baby in infant carrier up to plane steps, remove baby, staff put seat on hold. Sometimes I got it back at the steps (you need to ask and hope) sometimes on the conveyor belt. The smaller the baby the more help you should get.
I wouldn’t have considered a holiday anywhere that my child wasn’t reasonably safe in the car. We drove abroad by Ferry or stayed in the uk, other than flights to visit family. I don’t need medication for wanting quality car seats for a tiny baby, I think that called good parenting!
Stick to your guns OP

NameChange30 · 03/09/2018 19:33

“I don’t need medication for wanting quality car seats for a tiny baby, I think that called good parenting!”

Well said

The medication comment was ridiculous

ChibiTotoro · 03/09/2018 19:33

If you're taking your own make sure it's in a bag that has a lot of padding. Having seen how much luggage gets chucked around by the baggage handlers you wouldn't want to risk it being damaged in transit.

BottleBeach · 03/09/2018 19:36

I would always take my own, after my last experience. I booked a car seat with the car hire company, but by the time I got through the airport and picked up my bags, and found the car kiosk and waited in the queue, and got taken to the car and found they hadn't got the seat, and someone had been sent off to fetch one, and they returned with it and it turned out the only option they had available was a basic booster seat, it was too late to get to a shop to buy my own. It cost me €12 a day, and the bloody thing would only have cost €20 to buy new. But by that point I was exhausted and hungry, and so was DS so I just put up with it. Fortunately he was just about old enough to be ok with a booster. I wouldn’t risk it with a 6month old.

Ragh · 03/09/2018 19:37

At 6 months we took our infant carrier in the hold but not the isofix base - was much happier with it belted in than chancing a rental. Once they were too big we got a very cheap seat for about £50 and left the good isofix at home. If it gets damaged in transit we don't really care plus is useful as a spare for days out

PirateMermaid · 03/09/2018 19:51

We always take them. I’ve heard to many stories of people arriving to find there isn’t one, or isn’t a suitable one.

Most recently we arrived and they saw we had children and said oh here are car seats if you need them - ancient plastic boosters stacked up (we had our own).

Currently our children are 2 and 6 and I don’t think we will take one for the six year old next time. If you wouldn’t risk it in the U.K. then why would you risk it overseas when you are often on unfamiliar roads where the driving might be quite different.

The only hassle is at the airport. Once it’s in the car on arrival it stays there.

Kintan · 03/09/2018 20:06

We just got an Urban Kanga portable car seat from Amazon. We took it onto a BA flight as hand luggage, so I assume ok for other airlines. We were pleased with it, and it conforms to all EU safety standards.

cad186 · 03/09/2018 20:13

I took my car seat but didn't wrap it well enough and it got damaged. I wouldn't like to hire one though for a baby they weren't great at all. Definitely take your own but wrap it in plenty of bubble wrap!

Beautifulblue · 03/09/2018 20:17

They gave us a forward facing seat for our 1 year old in Cyprus. I wasn't happy but they didn't have any rear facing seats? ANY?! So I went with it for a day, but I was so paranoid we'd have an accident & wouldn't forgive myself so we went & spent 100 euros on a rear facing seat on top of the 50 Euros for the rental 🙄... we're going to Spain in 2 weeks & we're taking our own seat.

Brummiegirl15 · 03/09/2018 20:19

We've taken our infant carrier for our babies several times. You mebtio. Isofix. But in order to fit isofix you would need to take the base with you as well. The infant seat (if it is separate from the base) will fasten in easily with seat belt and is as safe as isofix. Just YouTube tutorials and practice in your own car.

When we flew to the US we hired a car seat from Hertz for our toddler and asked them how to fit in. I may as well have been an alien. They didn't know and couldn't care less. Luckily we sorted it ourselves.

For a 6 month old? Buy a car seat bag for £20 off Amazon and take your own and tell DH tough luck, car seat is coming with you

gastropod · 03/09/2018 20:21

We bought the Trunki Boostapaks for our DDs and they were a great investment. Girls used them as their carry on backpacks on the plane (not huge capacity but enough for colouring books, teddy, etc.) and then were perfectly good as boosters in the hire car. Lasted really well, very good value for money.

pantosaurus · 03/09/2018 20:22

A good option is to buy spare car seats just for holidays. You can get group 1,2,3 seats that buckle in for £35-50 each for basic models of reputable brands.

The cost of hiring seats can easily be £10+ per day so it pays for itself for one hire. Most airlines will check it in for free.

Yes there is still the worry about damage in hold but I don't think it's as bad as the risk of a completely unknown car seat or worse, none. And you don't risk compromising your every day car seats that DC use 99% of the time.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 03/09/2018 20:23

We took our second (cheaper) stage 2-3 car seat for DD when we flew to France. Wrapped it up at the airport (we used it in the car to get there), covered it in Fragile tape and crossed our fingers. It was absolutely fine. I just didn't want to risk a problem and then having to find a hypermarche to buy one. TBH I wouldn't have know if the hired car seat was damaged so at least by taking ours, it definitely hadn't been in an accident, was definitely clean, definitely the right size and I knew how to fit it, and only would have been damaged on the flight.

Most modern cars have isofix now so I expect your hire car will have them. If not, at least you can practise fitting your own seat with a seatbelt in advance, not after a long flight with a fractious child/partner.

Now we have a Trunki backpack booster which is great for taxis and sitting on in restaurants etc.

pantosaurus · 03/09/2018 20:25

Ah I missed the update about DC being 6 months old. Does their car seat clip to a travel system? If so they get it tagged as a 2 piece stroller at check in and you can take it all the way to the gate. That minimises the handling it goes through at least. Or buy a spare infant seat from someone you know/trust to check in?

User467 · 03/09/2018 20:27

We always take our own. I had the same dilemma the possible damage by baggage handlers but I just don't trust the seats from the hire companies. Plus the prices to hire are ludicrous when you see the seats.

One trip we did to the states when our lo was 9months we had family local so actually bought one and they collected it for us. One of our relations was pregnant so we just left it for them. Seems extreme but actually wasn't much more than hiring one.

We recently flew and took out two large isofix high backed boosters. I bought an airline car seat bag. Was bright yellow and clearly labelled fragile etc. It was huge and we managed to fit both seats in so if you have one small seat there would be plenty of space to put extras in including padding. Would def recommend

user1471426142 · 03/09/2018 20:39

Depends where you’re going. I took one this year and I was much happier with the seat than I would have been with a rental which would have been a bit ropey as no car seat required for stage 1 where we went. But, it was a massive pain in arse carrying the box through the airport. I would put up with the hassle though for future years.

eurochick · 03/09/2018 20:42

We've rented one in the past but were not happy with the quality. We prefer to take our own. Most airlines carry them for free (even the current massive bulky Group 1 seat with a big base).

DrWhy · 03/09/2018 20:55

Never occurred to me to rent one as most of DSs early flights were down to the south of England to see family so we were in a family car, not renting one. We had a maxi cosi pebble, which was isofix at home but used the belt while we were away. As someone else said I used to take it as part of a 2 part buggy and get it checked at the aircraft door. I always tried asking if there was space to bring it on board, if there was a free seat next to me I was sometimes allowed but it depends on the airline - some airlines insist it’s fitted forward facing when the car seat instructions clearly show that on a plane it should tear face as it does in a car. We ended up once with the steward showing me the plane manual while I showed him the car seat one - we agreed that the instructions were fundementally incompatible and whole he was happy for the car seat to stay on board, baby had to be on my lap - this was for frequently half empty commuter flights though.
Taking our own car seat has just continued though, we chose the Britax 2 way elite as our next stage as it is light and easy (ish) to travel with and currently have it on holiday with us. Next year will be a whole extra level of luggage hell through with 2 car seats and a double buggy!

Fablesfairytales · 03/09/2018 21:02

Check with your airline it maybe included in your little ones luggage. Can't think who I'm flying with but my little one gets 10kg hand luggage and can take 3 out of 4 of the following pram car seat cot and something else but I can't remember. I didn't have to pay extra. I know seems like a lot of mawling but defo worth it safety wise xx

Original poster

goldenslumbers1 · 03/09/2018 22:03

Thanks all for your responses and input.

Our airline carrier would allow us to check the car seat in as part of our allowance if we chose. The car hire firm includes the car seat in the price of the hire, we’re not paying a ridiculous daily surcharge.

I think my DH is feeling stressed at the thought of managing all the luggage and tbf, I won’t be any help as I will have Baby in the buggy.

I will try one last time to persuade him, but if not, will just accept it as a blow out argument at this stage will not help anyone, nor get the holiday off to a good start.

OP posts:

NameChange30 · 03/09/2018 22:11

You can buy a car seat travel bag with straps so you carry it like a rucksack.

That way you could carry it on your back and push the pushchair.

Assuming you are driving to the airport, you will only have to carry it from the car to the check in desk, and then from the luggage belt to the hire car. It’s not that bad.

I don’t think you should persuade him, just tell him you’re taking it and it’s not up for discussion.

NameChange30 · 03/09/2018 22:13

When we did it we just got a massive luggage trolley to cart everything around, anyway.

And DS was in the ergobaby which was easy.

December11 · 03/09/2018 22:21

I travelled with DD and other family members to Slovakia last year. I brought a booster for DD who was 8 at the time so was fine. My nephew & niece (5 & 3) were in rental seats that were disgustingly dirty.
We're travelling to the US in November with a 9 month old who looks like he'll have outgrown his maxi cosi pebble by then so not sure what we'll do re car seat

DrWhy · 04/09/2018 20:34

I’d be pretty surprised if a 9 month old had managed to outgrow their pebble, if they have, the two way elite is nice and light for travelling, still rear faces and it’s wedges against the seat in front so largely allows you to set the incline so it reclines more for a younger baby.
To the OP, you’ll be amazed at what you can get on a luggage trolley! And I’d its a bit of a way to the car hire pick up or requires a shuttle bus or other faff you just send DP to pick up the car and he leaves you with the baby and luggage in the drop off/pick up zone at the airport and brings the car round to pick you all up.

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