By Meghan Oaks
Deciding whether or not the travel with your child’s car seat is one of the most hotly debated topics in family travel. There are some people who always travel with their own car seat, regardless of their destination. And then there are those who never travel with one. But I think most people, including my family, fall somewhere in between: sometimes traveling with it, sometimes opting to leave it at home. And each time we make that decision, we carefully weigh a whole host of considerations. Here are some points to consider to help you decide: Should we take the car seat with us, or leave it at home?
When thinking about car seats, consider…
1) Do you need it at our destination? Most of the time in Europe, public transit can be used exclusively, especially in cities, thus eliminating the need for car seats. When we travel to Europe, we generally leave ours at home. But, in the US, we usually end up traveling more by car. So it’s necessary (and a legal requirement) to have a car seat. In this case, there are two options: travel with your own or rent one from a rental agency.
2) How long is the flight, and how many legs do you have? Does your child have his or her own seat? For a single, long-haul flight with a young child who has their own seat, it may be worth the hassle of getting it through the airport. They know their car seat, are used to being strapped in to it, and sleeping may be a bit easier. But if you have two or more flights, it might be worth reconsidering it, as you then have to board with it, install it, uninstall it, and then deplane with it on each leg of your journey. Big, heavy car seats can be cumbersome. But there are some great lightweight options on the market that can make this process easier.
3) Is your car seat aircraft compliant? Not all car seats are. Before you decide to take it or not, check that it has a sticker on it somewhere that says something like “Certified for use in aircraft,” or “FAA certified.” The flight crew will check and could deny its use on board if it does not have this sticker on it. You’ll also want to make sure that it actually fits in the seats! Budget airlines often have slimmer seats than legacy airlines. Make sure you measure your car seat’s width and compare it against the seat specifications from the airline.
4) How do you plan to get the car seat through the airport? Carrying them can be difficult. Trolleys can be an added expense, and more bags may make getting through security and the airport a hassle. There are hacks for strapping them to travel strollers which can make the whole process easier. Alternatively, most airlines allow you to check a car seat for free – either at the ticket counter with the rest of the baggage or at the gate to be claimed when the flight lands. Doing either does present some risks. Baggage handlers can be rough and may damage it, or the car seat could be lost. Each person has a different level of risk they are willing to assume – you’ll need to decide what yours is.
5) How long is your trip? For short trips or city breaks, it can be significantly easier to leave it at home, either renting one at your destination if you need it or relying on public transportation. For longer trips, it’s usually cheaper to take your own over renting one. One other option for long trips is to order a new one on Amazon, have it delivered to the place your staying (hotels will often accept packages for guests), and then leave it there when you return home. There are many people that swear by the Cosco Scenera car seat. It’s usually around $50 on Amazon and for that price, it doesn’t hurt too badly to leave it behind. And it is certainly cheaper than a week long rental! We have definitely considered this in the past and calculated that the breakeven point is about 4 days of rental fees.
So?
Deciding to either bring the car seat or leave it at home is never an easy one. Ask 10 people and you’ll get 10 different opinions, with 10 different reasons for their choice. Your decision will be based on your comfort level, how much work you’re willing and able to devote, and what your needs are for each particular trip.
