Don't know what to do with flying and car seats

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We are going to America with DCs 6 (nearly 7), 5 and 2 (will turn 3 whilst we are away). Hiring car seats from the car hire company is not really an option because I don't trust that they've never been in an accident and it is really expensive ($200ish). I don't want to take their usual car seats with us as I don't trust the airport staff not to lob them about and youngest dc has a Britax extended rear facing massive thing with tethers and it is a right faff to move. I would be worried about fitting it in an unfamiliar car too. We also have a maxi cosi priori fix that is coming to the end of it's life that we use when we need to put youngest DC in other people's cars.

So I was going to buy cheap seats here and keep them in their original packaging and take those with us. I was going to get the boosters with arms on for the older 2. These seem much of a muchness and I think the cheapest ones (£8ish) will be ok because you just seem to pay extra for cup holders, nice materials, cartoon characters etc. I think I am ok with them having these and not high back boosters.

So I started looking at cheap group 1s for youngest dc and reviews say they move around in the car a lot, are light weight and rubbish. So now I don't know what to do. Can anyone recommend a decent (in terms of safety) group 1 car seat for around £50? Should I take the maxi cosi priorifix instead, and if so how the heck do I package it, it has a leg on it that doesn't stay folded under it. It is really heavy and that puts me off.

To complicate things I now see that some people take car seats on planes for an under 3, why do people do this? (Our DC will be 2 one way and 3 the other) I just thought youngest dc would sit on the normal seat and that would be more comfortable for her and I see that you can buy a restraint for plane seats for under 4s, should I be doing this??

Thank you for any help.

Not sure what to suggest here. Do you know anyone else who might have a good quality outgrown seat for your youngest that you could borrow (ie someone you would trust that it hasn't been in an accident)?

We did not take car seats when we went away this year, and the car seats that came with the hire car were rubbish, especially the one for the youngest. So I think it's a good idea to take your own. We were OK but I wish we had - I felt very bad about it.

Or I could get a group 1/2/3 and have a spare high back booster when we return? Have never looked at multi group seats before.

Wednesbury - thanks for your reply. Borrowing is not something that I had thought of, I shall ponder that but noone springs to mind at the mo.

Your experience with car seats from hire companies echos my fears. The travel agent said that most people bung the kids in the car with no car seats and drive to Wal Mart and buy one, not sure I fancy that either though (and I think it is illegal for an under 5 in the state we are going to).

Would it be possible to buy a car seat for your youngest in the US? Or do you need it as soon as you land?

I agree with your idea for the older 2.

Younger kids are hard on travel. We never took a seat for kids when going long haul. First time, we tried an airline booster for DS1, but it was as good as useless. The rest of the times, we've just used the seat - ideally with the arm rest up and them curled up sleeping together......
When out there, we used a family car seat, and then a booster for the oldest, but he went back in stage 2 when we got back to the UK.

x-posts!

Is it worth checking the rules for car seats where you'll be going as I'm sure my friend who lives there said they were a bit different!!

Although standard boosters are cheaper, one option for the older two might be these: www.trunki.com/Shop/BoostAPak/BoostApak-Green.html#sthash.6AVh4I65.dpbs I know someone whose daughter travels to the states regularly and uses one of these.

In the past I have taken my stage 1 car seat away, but we usually have access to family seats so use those. A few months ago I purchased a stage 123 seat, I find it cumbersome and quite annoying as the seat and back separate, but it sounds easier than the seat you currently have. I bought a mamas and papas one for about £60. I avoided Nania brand from kiddicare only because we previously had one and I didn't like how the straps adjusted.

Would the Britax eclipse work for you? Realy easy to fit. I think its approved for air travel as well if you wanted to use it in flight. Kiddicare have one for £65 http://www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplay0_10751_-1_204470_10001 here.

Sorry link faled. Try this

I would second the eclipse, we bought as spare seats (instead of our main maxi cosi with isofix which is massive) for holidays / relatives' cars and for use on plane and they do fit. As to why people use on planes, for us it wasn't a safety thing (as you say you can buy special child seat belts if this is a concern) but so that DDs would sleep on longhaul flights as they have proper head support and are used to sleeping in them. Must say this worked really well on night flight for us, although was admittedly a hassle carrying through airport...

carseats in the usa are different.
They prefer all children rear facing to around 3 and they have an extra clip at the chest to hold the child in more.
Just to keep in mind, dont know about the law but I have relatives there.
Wouldnt want you getting stopped for something so simple

Thanks exterminate, I did a google of the law and a 2 or 3 year old just needs a car seat.

I will check out the eclipse too and I will probably go down that route. Thanks for your help.

Eclipse ordered, thanks again.