Many people wonder what type of travel car seat to use when traveling with kids. It depends on how and where you travel, how old your kids are, and how light you want to travel. This article will only focus on portable booster seats since it’s not worth packing a high-back car seat on a plane. When renting a car abroad with a baby or young child, you should rent an appropriate car seat. It is expensive and bulky to pack car seats for that age group while renting one isn’t that expensive. Traveling with older kids who can use a booster car seat is exactly the opposite. You can buy the best travel booster seats for cheap, take them with you, and rent them for more money. I recommend that you read the practical tips and advice that should help you choose the right travel booster seat for your child.
Car Seats – Our Experience
We have traveled overseas with our three kids since they were born. Kids’ car seats were always rented when they were young. We could not imagine adding a big car seat to our luggage, let alone three of them. With young kids, traveling light is the best option. When our oldest was almost 5, we went to Australia for five weeks. The twins were 3 years old at the time. Three young children, multiple flights, and portable car seats just weren’t feasible. When we booked our rental car, we reserved car seats for the twins.
These two car seats cost us a small fortune with multiple rental cars in Australia. Two more travel boosters have been bought for our twins. The booster seats we used in the past are still in use today. In the years since then, we’ve used them every day at home and on every trip. I consider buying a travel booster car seat to be the best investment I’ve ever made.
Booster Seat Requirements
Kids can use booster seats as early as 4 years of age when they are no longer required to use a 5-point harness car seat. When you rent a car or take a taxi away from home, a portable travel booster seat ensures your child’s safety. The rules for using booster seats and car seats differ significantly between countries. To ensure that your child has the right car seat for the country that you are traveling to, consult an official source. Below is more information. Many parts of Asia and northern Africa don’t have any laws requiring car seats or boosters. However, I still recommend you rent or bring one.
Local Laws
When traveling abroad, check the booster seat laws of the country you’re visiting. Links to the car seats and booster seat rules for a variety of destinations are provided below. Keep in mind, however, that car seat laws change constantly, so research the latest situation for the country you’re visiting. In some countries, travel booster seats must carry specific labels to be legal to use, so read the regulations carefully.
Travel booster seat considerations
Other factors to consider when choosing a booster car seat for travel include local laws and regulations. Try it!
Safety
In a side-impact crash, high-backed booster seats with wings provide the best protection for your child’s head and neck. Unfortunately, this type of seat isn’t always possible to carry if you’re traveling long distances. It’s important to remember that any approved booster seat is better than none.
Weight and Size
Choosing the right (booster) car seat depends mostly on weight and size. While some travel booster seats are ideal for local trips, others are more suited to longer journeys with limited luggage capacity. If you take your own booster seat, you might find that the extra baggage charge is less than hiring one at your destination. In addition, a portable booster seat will be handy in the future!
Important Tips
Always sit with your child when using a backless booster, as it is easier for them to wriggle into an unsafe position. If appropriate, place your travel booster seat in the middle back seat. Car safety experts say this is the best position. Booster seats need to be fitted before traveling. Most boosters are straightforward, but some may require more knowledge!
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