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Original poster

Booster seats for holiday hire cars WWYD?

37 replies

LostOrFound · 12/04/2022 16:05

Planning trip abroad with 5 and 7yo DCs who have high backed booster car seats normally. I don’t want to risk our everyday ££ seats to the airport baggage handlers, so was looking to buy/acquire some booster seats for the holiday (renting them with the car hire is a ridiculous sum).

Will be taking public transport to/from airport etc so carting about two high backed boosters will be a bit challenging.

OR I could just buy booster seats without high backs.

OR just use the bubblebum inflatable cushions we already have for occasional emergency ferrying of extra kids in the car.

We’ll be doing quite a lot of driving so part of me wants the safety of a high back booster, but a bit of me thinks it’s going to be really hard work to carry them along with luggage etc.

What would you do, wise mumsnetters?

OP posts:
Cao77 · 12/04/2022 16:12

We had this a couple of years ago. Managed to find this Trunki travel backpack which doubles as a car booster seat www.trunki.co.uk/collections/boostapak
It's not high back but our little one was 5 at the time and it is quite a substantial booster seat, which was way better than hiring one of the ropey car seats from the car hire company!!

furballfun · 12/04/2022 16:16

Where are you going, and what child seat requirements does that country have?

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 12/04/2022 16:18

I took a high back booster with me last time and bought a special bag for it, wore it like a backpack. Checked it in with luggage, it was fine. Was free to take with easyJet for an under 5 as well. I need to check how much it's going to cost me to take it this year now he will be 6! I'm not over keen on hiring one as like you say they're super expensive. Considering a backless one but still unsure what to do.

Lavender2021 · 12/04/2022 16:26

@Getyourarseofffthequattro

I took a high back booster with me last time and bought a special bag for it, wore it like a backpack. Checked it in with luggage, it was fine. Was free to take with easyJet for an under 5 as well. I need to check how much it's going to cost me to take it this year now he will be 6! I'm not over keen on hiring one as like you say they're super expensive. Considering a backless one but still unsure what to do.
I think it's still free. As I read the easyjet website they mentioned under 5 for early bordering but just children for car seats and other items with no age.
Getyourarseofffthequattro · 12/04/2022 16:36

Oh thanks @Lavender2021 I had it in my head it wasn't. Well that's saved me some cash!

Lavender2021 · 12/04/2022 17:01

www.easyjet.com/en/help/boarding-and-flying/flying-with-children
It's worth double checking just to make sure before you fly.

angelsandinsects · 12/04/2022 17:17

If you do take trunkis, then we have learned to take a travel pillow too so that, if they fall asleep, they have some neck support. If you have packed their favourite toys or snacks or anything in the trunki, remove them before you set off on your long journey with them still in the trunki!

Madcats · 12/04/2022 17:50

At that sort of age, we bought a Trunki. It was DD's carry on luggage and it taught her to pack light!

northerngoldilocks · 12/04/2022 17:52

We used the bubble bums for ours at the same age. They're much lighter than the trunki ones and still position the lap part of the strap and hold down the shoulder bit. They're pretty good if your kids know to sit up properly in them.

Original poster
LostOrFound · 12/04/2022 18:01

@furballfun

Where are you going, and what child seat requirements does that country have?
Italy- aren’t the requirements the same across the EU?
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Original poster
LostOrFound · 12/04/2022 18:16

@northerngoldilocks

We used the bubble bums for ours at the same age. They're much lighter than the trunki ones and still position the lap part of the strap and hold down the shoulder bit. They're pretty good if your kids know to sit up properly in them.
I’ve not been wildly impressed by the bubblebums myself - I feel like they’re better than nothing but just don’t have much confidence they’d make much difference in the event of a crash. But then I’m comparing with our top-of-the-range isofix HBBs and I’m not going be taking anything like that - best case scenario I’ll be taking cheapo HBBs.
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Original poster
LostOrFound · 12/04/2022 18:17

@Madcats

At that sort of age, we bought a Trunki. It was DD's carry on luggage and it taught her to pack light!
Are they ok as carry on for budget airlines that insist you must be able to tuck your bags under the seat in front?
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Original poster
LostOrFound · 12/04/2022 18:21

I think it's still free. As I read the easyjet website they mentioned under 5 for early bordering but just children for car seats and other items with no age.

Yes my reading of standard airline rules is that you can take a car seat in the hold free of charge for children under 12.

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Getyourarseofffthequattro · 12/04/2022 18:22

Oh excellent! Very glad I read this thread now!

BertieBotts · 12/04/2022 18:30

You check them straight in at the airport so not much carrying them about.

I'd get cheap ones like Joie trillo or Britax adventure and check them in. Package them together and pad with big beach towels. Saves space in your luggage.

BertieBotts · 12/04/2022 18:31

Not the Graco junior maxi, Graco affix looks ok. The junior maxi is so flimsy and doesn't go up high enough for older children.

Original poster
LostOrFound · 12/04/2022 18:33

I took a high back booster with me last time and bought a special bag for it, wore it like a backpack.

We’ve previously used bungee cords to tie them onto our wheelie suitcases. But this was when the kids were younger and needed seats with a 5 point harness rather than a HBB, so the option of a booster cushion wasn’t there.

For this holiday it’s particularly inconvenient to take HBBs as we’re not hiring a car for the full duration of the holiday so there’s a fair bit of schlepping about on public transport at both ends of the journey rather than it just being getting them through the airport.

I think I’m talking myself into the trunki option here.

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Original poster
LostOrFound · 12/04/2022 18:39

@BertieBotts - sorry x-posted. We’re tagging a city break onto the start of the holiday before we hire a car as well as travelling to the airport on public transport so there’s various trains, buses etc we’ll need to negotiate.

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Original poster
LostOrFound · 12/04/2022 18:40

Joie trillo

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Annexlife · 12/04/2022 19:31

Another vote for trunki, kids use them for their hand luggage on the plane and mean on arrival they can get straight in the car. No additional baggage charges etc. Used them from age 5 up when airlines start charging typically.

Oriunda · 12/04/2022 23:06

We use the Trunki - works fine as a booster and as son’s carry on baggage. Sits under seat on plane. Fine for Italy (in our part most of kids don’t use their car seats; we’re the outlier in that I insist son goes in his).

BookwormButNoTime · 13/04/2022 08:33

Do you only need them for the hire car? If so, why not just book them as an extra with the car?

Original poster
LostOrFound · 13/04/2022 08:35

@BookwormButNoTime

Do you only need them for the hire car? If so, why not just book them as an extra with the car?
It is SO expensive to do it that way. 40EUR per seat per day!! Shock
OP posts:
LIZS · 13/04/2022 08:39

We used a bubblebum in those circumstances but agree not great quality. Check the local rules, some will require a full back seat.

LIZS · 13/04/2022 08:40

If you have time first is it cheaper to buy them there to use rather than hire?