Oh really? You confirmed twice with the shuttle driver, in writing and over the phone, that he will have a car seat ready in the car for your little one? Oh, and he said “Yes, confirmed”? Oh, did he? And then showed up empty-freakin’-handed…?!?! Believe it. It happened on our first big trip from San Francisco to Rome with our then 6-month-old. We arrived in Rome at midnight after a day and a half of travel, missed flight connections, delayed flights, and lost stroller, and to top it all off, the shuttle driver – you guessed it – came with NO car seat! Well, here is everything you need to know before traveling with a car seat (or deciding not to bring one).
By the way, don’t let our travel hiccups deter you from traveling. Just expect the unexpected!
Especially as your child nears preschool age, deciding whether to bring a car seat is such a tough call – one that I cannot make for you.
But what I can do is tell you the pros and cons I have found traveling with a car seat versus traveling without one, so you can decide what’s best for you. Scroll to the bottom if you just want a smaller, foldable alternative to an actual car seat.
Side note: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from any purchase made using an Amazon link. This helps keep my site up and running, with no extra expense to you, whatsoever.
Okay. First and foremost is SAFETY!!! Well, obviously…
The FAA strongly urges using an FAA-approved child restraint system (CRS) or child harness device (CARES) when flying with children. See my travel gear post for links to both. This is what I’d recommend as well.
Severe, unexpected turbulence can cause injury and even death. In 2014 it was reported that a baby went flying from a mother’s arms during severe turbulence. This is rare, but good to be aware.
Another safety note: many parents report their car seat has been damaged from checking it when flying. It’s recommended to check it in its original box. We have never done this. We just use Big Red (our backpack car seat carrier). Our seats have been fine so far. But any car seat safety specialist will say that’s a big no-no.
If you are still trying to decide whether to bring a car seat or not, here are some things to consider:
The Big Sleep
You want baby to be as comfortable as possible, with the end goal being sleep, right?
A number of things can affect that: familiar smell, breathable material so baby isn’t hot, amount of cushion, angle, etc. Keep that in mind when choosing a travel car seat.
Consider how your baby may sleep best, especially if you have a long flight. Our little ones as babies slept best in their seats, but some babies are used to being held or in a carrier. When our oldest was three, we stopped using the seat on the flight and let him just lie down.
Will your toddler or preschooler feel better sprawling out on the seat with a FlyTot or make-shift bed and blanket tent? Or would they feel more secure and settled in a car seat they are familiar with?
The Unknown of NOT Traveling with a Car Seat
If you don’t bring a seat and you plan on relying on the rental car or shuttle’s seat, both of which we have done, you have to be ok with the element of surprise.
Cabo, Mexico – the seat was installed completely incorrectly even after I asked for it to be fixed. And the return shuttle… the car seat straps were broken. BROKEN!
The mystery car seat may also be filthy. It may have had its share of accidents. You just don’t know. All of our Europe rentals have been clean and seem brand new actually.
The Known – Traveling with a Car Seat
Your little one is already familiar with the car seat and what it entails, so they might be more settled and less likely to wiggle around. Our last long flight, the child in front of me kept standing on the seat, jumping, turning in circles, he was just nonstop. While some kids might need that freedom of movement, some might just get themselves more amped up unnecessarily.
If you have a child that just despises their car seat, for whatever reason (I’ve heard horror stories), then I’d check it at the gate. You know your child best.
The Airplane Logistics
We stopped bringing the car seat for our three-year-old when the year prior he was kicking the seat in front of him. Repeatedly. Ugh, I felt terrible. That’s when you hope that person likes to drink so you can buy ’em a round. Or two!
At that younger age, he also had a difficult time reaching the tray table from a car seat. But that depends on the seat and your child’s height a bit too. At 3, he can comfortably play and eat using the tray table. You could also get an activity tray to attach to the car seat if you wanted to lug another thing around.
The Installation When Traveling with a Car Seat
Speaking of installing, make sure you know how to install your travel car seat in whatever transportation vehicle you are using. After you’ve done it a few times, you get pretty good at it. But I definitely practice or at least look at the seat before we leave so I’m not fumbling too much with a rushed Uber driver. Especially if it’s a new travel seat that you haven’t used yet. But take your time. You do you! It’s your child’s safety we are talking about. Don’t rush it.
You don’t need to bring the base while traveling with an infant seat unless you want the “click” option to not wake the baby. Without the base, just loop the airplane or car seatbelt thru the standard belt path, buckle, and tighten. Don’t overthink it on the plane.
**A few side notes about Europe and the UK**
US seats aren’t legally allowed there. And vice versa. I did not know this for awhile, and we’ve never had an issue but I’m sure there is a safety reason! So do what’s safest.
Some people purchase or rent one when they arrive. Check out my resources page for equipment rental companies.
If you don’t bring your own: learn how to install a Euro one. They are much different and not every rental company will install it due to liability.
If you do bring your own: Many European cars don’t have the same seatbelt setup that cars typically have in the US. The belts don’t “lock” in, but rather they are loose to run through the seat freely. In that case, bring car seat clips. These actually come with some car seats but ask the car seat maker if you don’t see them.
The Destination
If you plan on using mainly trains, metros and buses at your destination, then bringing a seat isn’t necessary (unless you want them for the flight).
If you plan on using Uber, taxis, or something like FreeNow (Europe’s version of Uber), you’d likely want to bring your own seat and install it yourself. We did this in Paris with no issue. Again, make sure you’ve got the installation down. It’s a bit different after you’ve been juggling kids and no sleep for 24 hours.
Some cities have Uber and taxis that allow you to reserve a car seat online in advance with your car-hire. But I haven’t found anything lately that’s widespread and reliable. Research it in advance to make sure it’s a reliable option in your destination.
If you are renting a car, you could go either way –
1) Rent seats through the car rental, although this adds up quickly (there is usually a cap, like $80, on the seats we’ve rented in Europe)
2) Bring your own seats so you know what you’re getting
The Lugging Around Traveling with a Car Seat
Yes. It’s one more bulky thing to carry.
But there are easy ways to transport it – use a travel stroller system with the infant car seat you are already using (no brainer). If you’re beyond the infant car seat, wipe your tears, and then try one of these options:
- attach it to your suitcase with a luggage belt
- set it in the stroller (even if it’s not a “system” you might be able to set it inside and strap it together using a luggage strap)
- throw it on top of the stroller
- put it in a car seat backpack (we fit two car seats and diapers in the big red backpack on Jeff’s back in the photo above; don’t forget to bring a pack mule though!)
- try attaching it to the back of stroller using a luggage strap and putting it through the car seat belt slots
- hang it from the stroller using the handle or the seat straps (see below)
More info and links to these items can be found in my baby travel gear post if needed.
The Alternative to Traveling with a Car Seat
*If you don’t want to lug around a bulky seat there are other options*
Reserve the bulkhead seats (I recommend window ones, not aisle or middle section) and use the bassinet if your baby is still tiny. Our 6-month-old didn’t fit comfortably – it was practically a shoebox on the British Airways flight, and they offer one of the biggest! You just have to hold your baby at take-off, landing, and during turbulence, so it can be a bit disrupting if baby is sleeping soundly. Side note: Read my other blog post for airline details as well as which ones offer family discounts and freebies!
There is also a foldable, (yes foldable!) 5-point harness travel car seat from WAYB. It weighs 8 pounds, folds down to 11.6″x 14.5″ x18.9″ and comes with a carrying bag. I like that it fits in the overhead bin so if your child absolutely hates it you can just bail on it mid-flight. Double check with your airline whether this is allowed. It had better do all that and more with that hefty price tag. I’ve never used it, so I can’t tell you anything firsthand, but I can tell you that the reviews are pretty darn good. They claim it can be used for children 22-50 lbs., 30-45″. They also claim that it is approved for air and road travel by the FAA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. I’d fact check that one if I were you.
If your child is booster seat ready, there are inflatable options. What will they think of next?
We just got this one from Hiccapop – it is for ages four and up, 40-100 pounds, and 40-57″ tall. Just wow. Now that our kiddo is old enough, it’s a great option. What a game-changer. Travel families love it.
They are supposedly approved but not recommended by certified car seat inspectors. Whichever seat you choose, I’d definitely recommend having it inspected to ensure it is safe and that you know how to properly install it.
For the flight only, the CARES system is the best safe option to use for older toddlers instead of a full car seat. Check the height and weight restrictions because it tends to fit smaller children only. You can get more info on baby travel gear page. It is FAA approved and something you’d supply yourself (available on Amazon). The airline does not supply this.
Some international airlines make you wear an additional belt that attaches to your belt and your baby. The airline supplies this.
If you have a preschooler or older, they may be more comfortable just lying flat in the seat (still buckled, yes!). I used to create my own footrest for him using his kids’ carry-on suitcase with a pillow over it and then a blanket over that, pulled tight and tucket. For safety, I only put it in the window seat.
We finally used this inflatable footrest on our last flight to Europe, and I’m bummed I hadn’t used it sooner! They are both tall and slept better being able to stretch out on it. Just know that some airlines don’t allow them. I didn’t even use the pump because I didn’t want to deal with the hassle. I blew it up and set it up in under 2 minutes, same for deflating it and squishing it back into the tiny bag.
This ride-on JetKids suitcase/footrest (ride on) has mixed reviews. Some love it, some say the quality is inconsistent with the price. They now have a mattress for the plane that is not part of a suitcase. It has pretty bad reviews though.
The Answer?
Couldn’t tell ya.
Personally, we prefer car seats on the plane for our baby and toddler stages, and then check the car seat for ages ~2 to 3 and up. We still bring both seats (checking the oldest child’s seat at check-in).
Since we didn’t use seats on the plane for our last trip (both were 3 years old and up), we just rented seats from our car rental so we were abiding by Europe’s laws. It was about $160 for 2 seats for 2 weeks.
I also used the infant car seat as long as I could while our youngest was still under the requirements. She slept great in that because it’s more reclined. And it’s only 7 pounds!
Sorry, I have to stay it again – just a reminder, the FAA strongly advises to use a car seat or CARES harness on the flight.
To Sum It Allllll Up
- Remember the safety tips and FAA’s advice
- If you reserve one with a shuttle or car, be okay not knowing what you’ll get and that they may not help install it (if they even show up with one!)
- Consider what your child prefers, hmm… who would’ve thought?
- Do what you feel is best for you and your child
- If you bring it, figure out how to carry it easily
- Have your seat and installation skills inspected by a car seat inspector
- If you do bring one, use a light travel car seat, not your 40lb Britax Boulevard (I don’t know how much they really weigh, but it sure feels like it)
So, what’d you decide?
Do you have any questions or experiences to add?
