Car Seat and Overseas Travel - both by plane and rental car

We plan on doing an overseas trip when DS is approx 5 months. I have been warned against relying on car seats supplied by car rental companies and am not sure what to do. Our Safe N Sound Unity capsule was professionally installed and is anchored to our car so I don't think that bringing it is an option. My sister (who lives in the US) insists that the US car seat she had when her boys were little had the option of being anchored into a car without the base unit and if I recall correctly, she brought it with her when she visited me here and it did what she said - meaning she was able to install a stand alone car seat in our car while visiting us...is something similar sold here in Aus (meaning something that has the option of using it without the base so that it's easy to install in various cars while traveling)? What have others done?

Also - if you are willing to buy an airplane seat for your little baby, with the intent of using a car seat in the airplane seat will they let you do this? I just don't see how the bassinet is safe - wouldn't a big hit of turbulence would bounce the baby right out of the bassinet?

Buliej, we took DD to the UK when she was 6 months old and whilst I can't answer your question about the car seat, I can tell you about the bassinet. You take your baby out of the bassinet when the seat belt sign goes on, so there is no worry of your DS bouncing out of it. I found it to be a complete PITA and DH and I said that we would buy our baby a seat again if we travel with her before she hits the age that you actually have to buy one. The bassinets are narrow, deep and just looked uncomfortable. We actually told them not to bother with it on the way back to Australia from the UK and she just sat with us and slept on me.

Others may have a different experience though.

The bassinets have strap cover things over them, they are as safe as the seat you are sitting in.
I wouldn't take your car seat on the plane, it wouldn't fit well and is a PITA.

Your capsule will come out of your car, anchored or not, the bolt remains in the car and there should be a clip thing that comes on and off.
Car seats here have a place so the sash seat belt goes through the back of them, as well as an actual strap to the anchor. So they are strapped in 2 different ways. You can use them without the anchor point if necessary.

I'm not exactly sure what you are meaning WRT to the sister's seat, but you will need a reversible car seat to do what I think you mean - which is be able to strap it in the car via the sash seat belt and not a bolt anchor point.
Your capsule will not anchor anywhere without the base unit, a car seat does not have a base unit.

Also, your capsule will not fit on an aeroplane seat.


HTH :)

Hi Lime Slice - I get what you are saying about using the Safe N Sound without the anchor - but I think either with or without the anchor, it needs to be used with the base unit (as you mention) - but my sister's car seat (an American car seat) had the option of being used without a base unit, thus when they traveled by plane, they'd check it and use it in any car they were in during their trip. So I think your description is accurate - that it is a reversible car seat - is there such a thing sold here - would you know the brand name so that I can research it?

Thanks for the info re: airplane - I think we may rely on our Ergo carrier.

Well pretty much all car seats tehse days are reversible, except for anything labelled as "Booster" seat. (menaing you can use them rearward facing for newborns and then as upright seats when they are old enough.)

Check out he britax website, they do Safe n Sound.

They don't sell such a thing here that I am aware as it doesn't pass the AUS safety standards. Why don't you get your sis to hire one for you? She will know what is safe.

I'm exploring having my sister hire one - the only issue is that we won't be spending the entire trip near her so we will either have to hire in multiple locations or purchase something. My family is in the US, so the idea of purchasing is OK as we will use it multiple times so long as it isn't only for infants. If it can't be purchased here, I will have to see what we can do about purchasing one that is there for us when we arrive.

If you are willing to buy your baby a seat on the plane - some airlines will let you bring a car seat (safe and sound have info about which ones are suitable for airplane travel but am sure the capsule isn't one of them) and will even let you drop off at check in and fit it for you (a friend did this for her one year old (trip to Europe) - can find out airline and seat used if you like? - I thought she was mad personally spending the money but each to their own).

I went to UK with DD when she was 5 months, MummaSue is correct everytime you hit turbulence and the seatbelt sign comes on you have to get your baby out of the bassinet which is a real pain. However I found it useful to have the bassinet especially on the leg I did on my own as meant I could pop her in while I stood up, re-organised had a stretch etc - personally I think looked as comfortable as most portacots which have only very thin bases too. Here is a pic of DD in hers (this was on Etihad). DD in bassinet. If there is two of you can pass bubs between you and may not use bassinet at all (you get more leg room in the bassinet seat so I would book one personally) - once they are old enough to pull up they can't go in bassinet anyway as is not safe (as illustrated by woman next to me who fell asleep on floor and her 1 year old was on the verge of climbing out and we had to stop him and wake her up) so if you travel closer to 9 months than 5 it may not be appropriate.

Car seats - in the UK my mum and dad bought one and put in their car which worked out about the same as hiring (we were there five weeks) but my MIL had one in her car that simply attached via the sash belt and could carry round easily (I saw people use these on a flight to Barcelona also) in my opinion not as safe as ones with anchor point (they are allowed to put them on front seat too) but really was fine and met all UK regulations. When we hired a car in Barcelona the hire company gave us the same seat - the difficulty there is they refuse to install it (seemed to be an insurance type thing they didn't want to be liable), and the car seat had no real instructions luckily because had used one before knew how they worked but still took us as long to sort that out as fly from UK - so car hire firms definitely don't have the best form with car seats. If you have a look on the Britax UK site (make safe and sound) at the Baby Safe range some of them can just be attached by seat belt, but some have a base which is either attached by seatbelt or the isofix attachment (which is built into car seat) and the seat can fit into this or be used on its own (sounds like what your sister is talking about - but I think are not available here because regulations stipulate anchor points, and due to this the isofix system is not common in vehicles yet here as isn't in the regulations although is a very good system).


I used an Ergo all round the airports, and you can use on the plane but I know I was told was not allowed for take off or landing even though is much safer than the silly lap belt they make you put on.

We've just gotten back from a trip to the US with DS who is 18 months. We didn't buy a seat for him on the plane, but were able to get the bulk head with the bassinet on the long flights. I think because your LO will be so small you'd be fine with the bassinet and no seat for them. We rented cars in CA and GA and both times the car seats were fine, clean, good quality and easy to fit. I think if you go with one of the big name car hire co's you're pretty much assured of getting a good quality seat, so personally I wouldn't bother taking one with you and buying a plane seat for your LO. You end up having so much luggage when you travel with a baby that having to also lug around a car seat is just an extra hassle you don't need iykwim.

Oh I meant to add, the car hire co's charged $10 a day for the car seat. If I had of known that before we left I would've bought one online in the states to use and leave in GA co's we were there for 2 weeks and you can buy them quite cheaply there. If you will be going back at some stage in the future and have someone who can store it for you that could also be worth thinking about.

I also bought a portacot online to keep with DHs family for less than $100 which was cheaper than renting it and will mean we have it there in the future.

Thanks wysiwyg and miss e -

Wysiwyg - I am interested in what airlines/car seat your friend used - we may not go this route, but it would be handy to know.

Are the bassinets in the plane clean (the one in your photo looks fine).

Miss e - that's what I'm thinking - buy the car seat online and have it waiting for us at our first destination as this won't be a one time trip to the US.

Hi there,

We bought one each time we went to Canada when DD was small as it is cheap as dirt to buy one over there. Trust me, taking one with you will be nothing but a hassle. As you have family there though sure they can arrange it for you. : )

Btw the bassinet was awesome for us when we first came to Aus and dd was 3 months but not going to request one when we travel over to Canada or Vietnam as this one will be 7 months old. If anything I would request one and then if you do not need it, don't use it but at least the option is there.

Good luck and happy travels. I love love love to hear about people taking their young ones travelling. You will have a ball. xx

We flew qantas and air new zealand and on both occassions the bassinets were really clean and looked very comfy. Even though DS is too long for them, he's small for his age so fell within the weight guidelines. Once he fell asleep I popped him in there, his legs were curled up (they normally are though), but he was still comfy at 18 months.

We have travelled to the US and round Europe with our kids. Definitely request a bassinet (check in early!) and as a PP said, you have the option to use it if you want to. If nothing else, you will have additional room at the bulkhead to organise nappy bags and such. We requested the bassinet when DS was small enough and definitely used it. We always found them clean and comfortable for DS. I did pack a sheet to put over the mattress, it reassured me that he was lying on something clean and it smelt like home! You can certainly buy a plane seat for your bub if you want to, but I reckon it would be throwing money away!! Be aware that not all airlines will allow you to take a seat or capsule on board even if it can be fitted adequately to the seat. I think it has to do with liability and with the seat becoming a projectile in turbulence should it not be installed properly.

When we visited my sister in the US I purchased an appropriate car seat from a store on ebay (brand new) and had it delivered to her place for her to fit prior to our arrival. Just make sure there is a bolt installed in the vehicle you will be using. We have found the bolts difficult to purchase in Europe so I usually pack a couple when we travel. Most vehicles in Europe and the US have the capacity for a bolt even if they are not used by the local population. Maybe because cars are generally designed for an international market?? Don't know... but make sure you will be traveling in a car which will take a bolt.

Enjoy the trip!

Oh, the car seat I purchased was a Britax which, as a PP stated, is Safe 'n' Sound. I think I paid $99 for it including delivery, much cheaper than here. It was a great seat and I was very happy with it.

Btw just out of curious why do some countries such as the US not have mandatory bolts and but Aus does? I remember when I arrived someone told me it had something to do with 80% of Australians do not actually install their seats correctly? Sounds like too big of a percentage to me. Hmmmm. When DD was in Canada we never had a bolt but that was ages ago so things could of changed..

buliej, we took DS to Canada when he was 10 weeks old. We had requested the bassinet on the plane but didn't get it (some airlines allocate specific seats at the time of booking the ticket so just make sure you check with the airline if you do want it) so DS was in our arms the entire time which was actually okay (it's a 15hr flight to Vancouver...!). My SIL borrowed a capsule for half of our trip and we also hired cars with a car seat. I think it was about $10 extra per day but we certainly didn't have any trouble getting one, and they were all fine (we hired a car/seat on 4 separate occasions).

Can I ask why you have been advised not to rely on car seats supplied by car rental companies?

hi lise - it's just something my sister mentioned and not because she had bad first hand experience with rental car seats - only that some of her friends did. It's good to hear that your experience was fine.