Have you ever rented a car seat when you rented a car on vacation? What was your experience like?
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We have done this twice and have had good experiences both times. DD was forward facing at the time. We rented from Hertz and the seat was in a plastic bag in the back seat, we had to install it ourselves but it was clean and in good shape by looks.
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Every CPST I've chatted with has not advised them for the same reasons we don't buy used seats:
1. The history of the seat is unknown - visual inspection cannot see if it's been in an accident, or if it has been washed incorrectly (submerging the straps compromises the integrity of them)
2. They could be missing needed equipment for a proper install (ie. locking clips & or manuals)
3. some have been expired which says alot about being able to trust the agency or could have been recalled which you would be unaware of.
4. if you're flying your seat should actually be used on the plane. -
We rented one- it was fine. It was in good shape, clean and not expired.
@runsyellowlites: if you're flying with a child younger than 2, they actually can be in your lap, ie, you wouldn't need the car seat on the plane...You can check items like car seats and strollers for free, so you might do that as long as its not a total PITA to drag your car seat to the airport.
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@Pink Champagne: I know that you *can* take them as a lap child, but for safety purposes (like turbulence) are advised to be in a properly installed child safety seat.
http://www.thecarseatlady.com/airplanes/airplanes.htmlChecking seats also isn't advised by techs as the history becomes "unknown" and b/c luggage isn't always handled properly & could compromise the safety of the seat.
I've actually seen some great set up from techs to make taking them really easy! Almost just like luggage that rolls..... some of their kids will even ride in the seat through the airport as it rolls behind mom or dad! Here's a link for one:
http://www.amazon.com/BRICA-Roll-Car-Seat-Transporter/dp/B0074JKQ0YETA: I'm not trying to step on any toes or anything, promise. There were alot of things I didn't know about child passenger safety when G was younger (ie. how dangerous it is for a 3 y/o to be in a backless booster.. yea I did that) that I know now & just try to implement so we can all be safer.
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What I always recall with the lap child discussion on planes is that those regulations were made when cars didn't have seat belts, so just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
I have flown with my son as a lap child and it isn't fun for either of us, lol.
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@runsyellowlites: Good points!
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Thanks everyone. I'm not really looking forward to this short weekend trip since we won't have any gear at our destination unless we bring our own. To make it easiest on us, I think we will just bring our car seats, double snap n go, and gate check them since we will have them on our laps. We haven't used our snap n go since they were 4 months old (they will be 7 months when we take our trip) so this should be interesting.
@runsyellowlites: that link for the rolly thing is cool! If we still didn't need a stroller at our location that would be a great option.
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I have both travelled with one and also not, when life just didn't make it possible. We had one great experience renting, one terrible experience renting (ie: we showed up, no car seat in hand...and they didn't have one for us!). Would I do it again? Yes. Not as a first choice, but I would.
We also have chosen to fly with our kids in our laps. I know that it isn't the safest possible, but it actually makes it possible for us to afford to travel. Soooo yeah....
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@WALLAROO: Yea, I want one & we rarely travel! Lol.
I think it's pretty common for techs to still check their strollers & other gear though since the safety integrity isn't quite as important.... For future excursions.
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@woodentulip: I agree. If I could afford to buy seats for the twins even at 7 months, I totally would! Thanks for sharing your experiences. When you brought your own car seat did you also bring a stroller? If so, what kind (ie. stroller frame or umbrella)
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@WALLAROO: Actually the time we air traveled I took our umbrella stroller but that was it! (We were going to see my sick grandfather so site seeing wasn't something we were really doing). G was about 2.5 & I didn't know ANYTHING about child passenger safety.
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@WALLAROO: We did still bring a stroller-that we gate checked. When we travel, we travel with a small one (the Peg Perego Pliko Mini). We have also travelled with our big stroller, but it is just too bulky and with our kids getting bigger, we hardly need that 'much' stroller anymore!
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