car seat abroad

[Boblina]

Hi we are hoping to go to Italy in June with my 2 year old DD. Well he will be then. My parents have a place out there and will be joining us for part of our holiday. MAd as they are they are driving over but don't particularly want to take the car seat over is there anything we can use instead? As he only is 11 KG at the mo am I right in thinking that booster seats (you know the light little ones) are not ok? Help please. What can we use. Thanks x :0

Personally I would want to take my own carseat, after hiring one in Portugal for a 4mth old a few years ago and being given something made out of cotton-covered polystirene by the car hire company. Having lived in Italy, I can also say that some of the driving is scarey, and if you look up statistics for fatalities on the roads, Italy has a much higher rate than the UK.

Booster seats are not safe for children of this weight.

For up-to-date information about children in cars, contact the Road Safety officers at Essex In Car Safety Centre on Essex County Council. These women are working to inform parents about safety issues relating to car seats. The centre is open Tuesdays 12.30?15.00 and Fridays 10.30?15.00 and is situated at Lubards Farm, Hullbridge Road, Rayleigh, Essex, SS6 9QG. You can reach the centre on 01268 297593 (leave a message on the answer machine if there isn't anyone available to take your call). They can also answer queries via e-mail if you leave your details on their answerphone.

How will you be getting about? I would either take one, or rent one with a hire car.

At 2 they still need a proper car seat and i wouldn't be driving about without one.

Brilliant info.

If your parents are driving over why can't they bring your DD's carseat with them?! Its better than lugging one on the plane, which is what we did to Italy and have done all over Europe with no problems.

We are travelling with our 18mnth DS to New York and wondering if anyone can advise the best way to get to manhattan from Newark airport, we will not be bringing our child seat with us.