Travel Car Seats - need 2nd, 3rd opinions please....

[babaganoush73]

We will be travelling with a 3 1/2 year old & a 3 month old later this year & still undecided as to what to do about car seat hire. Husband doesn't want to risk it as we have had disasters in the past with car hire seats but really don't want to be lugging them through the airport with all the other paraphernalia. He wants to hire a seat for the toddler on arrival but take the baby seat - i think checking in a baby car seat which will get bashed around in transit is the equivalent of it being in an accident - no?

Opinions please

Depends on where you are going and if your car seat will be legal to use in that country.

France - any ideas?

have you looked at the trunki booster seat backpacks for your eldest? Not sure what the minimim weight is for them but might be worth a look. Do you have a travel system with car seat for your youngest you could take then you could take the car seat to the gate. you can get travel bags to put the car seat in if you're checking it or get a box to check it in.

What about the BubbleBum booster seat? This is an inflatable booster seat which means it will be easy to transport. It is padded so is comfy to sit on. My friend has one and her daughter prefers to sit on this than her standard booster seat.

Hope this is useful.

I've checked all manner of carseats on longhaul and shorthaul flights and only once had a problem (they lost the seat of a highback booster which separated). We try to take a large, light duffel bag to protect the seat from dirt and dust and to keep all the bits together (ie, the back of highback boosters) - just show the agent your seat at check-in then pop it into the duffel. They'll mark it fragile (ask if they don't!). At destination you can just fold up the duffel into your regular luggage.

You can also probably carry baby carseat/carrier to the gate if you prefer. But if you do ask where you will collect it - some airports/airlines send it out to luggage claim and others have it for you at the arrival gate.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for your responses - i contacted Trunki (service was great & very prompt) but the booster seat if from age 4 only.