Italy - what are car seat requirements?

[Uwila]

I am flying to Rome with a 3 1/2 yr old and 18 month old on Friday. And it has just occurred to me that I don't know what I need to do (if anything) about organising car seats for the ride from the airport to the hotel. Can anyone tell me what the car seat requirements are if we get in a taxi? What if we get in a private (friend's) car?

bump

i don't know but I always go on what OUR laws are. ie, over here i would never consider not using a child seat for my dd, 3.5, so why would i abroad?? When we went to NZ recently i compromised and took a high backed booster seat rather than the big hefty car seat. I appreciate it's harder with 2 children, but that's what I think i would do even if we had another one.

But, how on Earth will I get through thte airport with two car seats and two children. One doesn't walk very far, and the other whilst capable of alking can't be trusted not to run off if I upset her -- which isn't a difficult.

And, the 18 month old does not have his own seat on the plane, so I couldn't bring him a car seat if I wanted to.

I don't suppose taxis come with child restraints in Italy??? (I know, stupid question) But, really I can't be the first person to travel to Rome with two small children. What have other people done?

waaah i can see the problem. we struggled with dh and i loking after all our luggage (huge amounts ), along with dd who is prone to strops when annoyed (as you say, not difficult!).

DO i gather you're seeing friends who LIVE there? ask them to hire/borrow one or more???

we took our own last year but we were hiring a car.Could you take a booster for 3.5 yr old and carseat for 18mo.Check the seats in and collect with a trolley.

You can check car seats in on flights - have done it.

Car seat requirements in Italy should be same at UK as it is all EU.

Not sure about checking seats (or the cost). We are on a budget, and so flying Easyjet.

We flew Easyjet to Rome with a 2 and 3 year old last year - we took a high backed booster and seat booster together in a bag and checked them in.

Thanks clayhead. Did you have to pay extra to check the car seat in?

No, the baggage allowance covered ours - we checked before we went.