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June 2006
Hi, I am wondering what I should do when I travel with my 14mos
old in Asia. If I don't purchase a plane ticket, he will not
need the car seat. But what about when we arrive in China,
Thailand, Malyasia, or Singapore? WE won't be driving
ourselves.
thanks for your input
Hi,
I am not sure of other countries, but in Singapore, whether it's you driving
or someone else driving, a babysit is required.
However, if you are taking cab/taxi, then you don't need. Michael
I say, bring the carseat.
If you don't bring it then you will need it and if you do bring it then
you will be prepared.
Better to be prepared than not. Think about the safety of your child
--Would have been a great Girlscout
We traveled to China when my oldest son was 18 months old. We bought
him a plane ticket, but did not take his carseat. There is no
regulation stating that you have to put a child in a carseat if they
have a seat on the plane. The space is simply good for playing, laying
him down, spreading out, etc. We took cabs and had a car with a driver
for our stay in China and never did we need a carseat. There is just no
time to install a carseat when you're hailing a cab and they don't
require it there. Just hold on to your baby and you'll be fine. Though
it seems extremely dangerous, because their driving habits are quite
different from ours, I have never seen a single traffic accident during
our multiple visits to China.
Have a great trip!
Kelly
My experience with travelling in Asia (Thailand, Vietnam and
Cambodia) is that the cars are often older models and feel like they're
falling apart...I would not want to take a taxi there, for instance,
without having my son in a car seat. Also, public transportation can be
somewhat limited; we relied on taxis/hired drivers a lot for transport
to and from airports and for day trips. Regardless of the laws, I would
bring it Nina
You may think about purchasing a sit and stroll carseat/stroller. It is
a travelling carseat that has wheels to expand to a stroller. It isn't
the best stroller but it sounds perfect for your trip. I'm actually
selling one on craigslist.
check it out if interested. It's used, but does the job. good luck
I have traveled with a two year old and I personally think you are
better off without a car seat because asia gives preference and are kind
to parents with children. They let board first. You need your arms free
when you get on and off the plane. You need to be able to concentrate
fully on your child rather than how to get the overhead bags etc plus a
car seat. I say no on car seat. I am sure there are some studies that
suggest in a major crash those who have their children in car seats
would be better off but its essential you be able to make it on and off
the planes, with your luggage. Is not easy so forget that car seat
lighter the better
I have two young children and have spent extensive time in Thailand. I
am pretty uptight about safety and car-seats in particular. What I've
come to realize is that car-seats are pretty much impractical in
Thailand unless you have your own car or are hiring the same car w/ the
same driver every day. Taxis do not have seat belts, hotel shuttle vans
often don't have seat belts or have funky seat belts, even a car for
hire may have funky seat-belts. If you do decide to bring your car-seat,
make sure you know how to do a seat-belt install. Cars in Thailand do
not have Latch. (Well, actually the Toyota Wish car does, but I haven't
seen any others with it.) Also, must seat-belts are ELR only and your
car-seat must have built in lock offs or you must use a locking clip.
(Please read your manual and practice first - you don't want to be
fuddling with a car-seat in tropical heat and crazy traffic.) Honestly
though, I think you'll find that the car-seat stays in your hotel room.
Risking it in Bangkok
Not sure if this will work, but can you buy one of those really small
booster seats (seat only, no back) meant for older kids?
Perhaps using that with a seat-belt (when the car you are in has
belts) would be better than nothing, and wouldn't be much for you to
carry around. You could check it for your flights, and they might be
quick to throw down in a cab or car (throw it down, put your kid on it
and fasten the seat belt over your kid). Just a thought...
Anon
Booster Seat for trip to Europe?
Dec 1999
We will be traveling to Europe this spring with our daughter who will
then be 5 y/o. For some reason I had been thinking that we could take this
trip without schlepping a car seat but I am now anxiously rethinking that
assumption. She is currently 43 1/2 " tall and 42 lbs. and we recently
began using the car seat/shoulder belt with her high-back booster seat but
the idea of lugging it with us is really oppressive. I have seen the backless
boosters and they seem infitnitely more portable. Does anyone have any
experience with them. Are they AS safe? What to do about the shoulder
belt?
What is to stop the booster from sliding out from under the child in
the event of an accident or sudden stop? Any recommendations for
brands/purchasing locales?? Any advice on how to deal with the issue of
car safety with a young child in this 'in- between size' while traveling??
Thanks in advance for all replies!
We were in a car accident with a seat-only (no back) booster seat. IT
was the kind with an arm that folded over the lap. The shoulder belt then
held the seat and arm in place, and gave some shoulder protection. My
child was 4 at the time. HIs younger sister was in a regular car
seat. The driver (not me!) fell asleep, and the car rolled over at freeway
speeds. My daughter was completely uninjured as was her car seat. My
son had a large bump on his head, where his head hit the window. The
booster seat was completely twisted out of shape, and unusable afterwards.
I'm sure the booster seat saved my son's life, but we put him back in a
large standard car seat until he totally outgrew it at 5 (and he went
willingly). When our younger son was ready for a booster seat, we got
the one that has a back, too. Fortunately, we never crash tested that one!
I've traveled about 6 times with my son to Texas and Minnesota - these
trips last about 3.5 hours since I always book the non-stop direct
flights because my son is sometimes very active and squirmy (always has been).
Most recently I traveled alone with him. I took my fanny pack (with
valuables), a backpack for diapers, toys, etc, a lightweight stroller
that I checked at the plane door and his booster style Century One-Step
carseat (I sling it over my shoulder by one of the straps - it's not elegant,
but it works just fine). My son (who is an active 2 year old) stayed in the
carseat for about 3 hours and toward the very end he got restless and I
let him stand up in it for awhile and crawl in my lap - but soon we were
descending and I strapped him in again. I was relieved that he didn't
put up a fuss about being in the carseat.
However, when my husband has traveled with us, he sits in the middle
seat instead of the window seat and seems to get more restless about the
carseat. I think the window seat was more secure and had more plane
noise to lull him to sleep.
Also, now that he can understand my request that he stay in his carseat,
it's easier. And finally, I had to fight my own urge to let him out in
order to hold him. It was best for my son not to let him out of the
carseat so he got used to it.
Good luck and have a great trip!
To booster carseat in Europe. I used the backless kind this summer with
my daughter who is as tall but skinnier than your child. I felt she was
much safer than with a regular seatbelt, but less safe than a regular
carseat. The seat does slip out into weird positions, In fact once it kind
of lay down and she slept lying down in the car but still strapped in...not
sure about the safety implications of that!! As to taxis-in Europe many taxis
dont have any working seatbelts at all so you just need to hold the kid
in your lap and hope for the best. (The seatbelts are there but still
tucked inside and by the time you even begin to pull it out you have reached
your destination.) We usually rent a car from Hertz with our triple A
discount before we leave and get excellent rates (rates once in europe are
outrageous), we take her car seat (or you can reserve one but don't
count on it being there) and that way she is always strapped in. (Parking and
driving in the cities can be a nightmare though-London parking rates are
outrageous for example-much better to only get the car when you will be
going out into the country/towns). Also, a booster seat isn't that
expensive, you could just use the portable/ backless till you get there
(from the airport) and pick up the booster at any big store there to use
during your trip. (What's 30 bucks or so to feel safe?).
July 2001
We will be traveling in Greece for 2 weeks this summer. Although we
don't anticipate spending much time in cars I think we need to bring a
car seat for our 20 month old daughter. She weighs approx. 28 lbs. We
are desperately trying to pack lightly so any ideas/alternatives are
welcome.
Phyllis
We travel with our 2 year old at least once a month and we have since she
was 6 weeks old. I recommend getting the Sit N Stroll
Car Seat Stroller ... (see the full review on the Sit N Stroll page).
We own a Sit N Stroll ... It is easy to strap into cars and
the airplane ...
(see the full review on the Sit N Stroll page).
We recently returned from three weeks in Greece with our 27-mo-old.
We brought her Century car seat to use on the airplane and in various
cars (friends' and rental). We also took several taxis, none of
which even had seat belts in the back seat, so I wouldn't recommend
dragging around a car seat if that is the only form of auto transport
you'll be using. The rental agency we used on the island of Santorini
had car seats available but I don't know if that's common. We saw many
kids being held on laps in cars, and we almost always received strange
looks when we insisted in going through the car seat ritual.
Janet
Also see recommendations for
Stroller/Backpack combinations
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