Portable car seat?

Question

have a 3 yr old toddler and I am traveling via airplane and I would like to bring a car seat for him. I use to have a portable car seat but now I have no idea where it is and I found it online by luck. Now I am searching for a new one and the only one I can find is the eddie bauer portable car seat which I like but I would like to look at more options. I was wondering if anyone would know of any, what they are called, by who and what site. I want a foldable car seat not a full size. I am already bringing one full size for the younger child, a playpen, a suitcase, a stroller, etc. So just foldable Thanks

Answer 1

I wanted to answer, even though you likely won't like my answer. :(

Those are not safe to use. Yes, it is a massive pain in the rear to take a full size car seat for your child - but absolutely worth it when you think of it like this: would you rather have a convenient to fold portable car seat and a dead child or full size inconvenient seat and a live one? That's honestly what it comes down to. They market these as the perfect solution to traveling with a child, but like many things, just b/c its sold doesn't mean its safe.

This is a last resort restraint - only to be used if there is absolutely nothing else available. Marginally safer than a child using just a lap belt which is unsafe. Those tote 'n go seats, all made by Cosco/Dorel/Safety1st/Eddie Bauer, they're all the same just different patterns, are incredibly difficult to use correctly. If you thought it was easy - it probably wasn't in right. ;) Offers NO side impact protection, and the child's body is still thrown forward in an accident in many installations. Here's the experts (car seat techs) opinions:

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t...

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t...

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t...

the Sunshine Kids Radian65 is a foldable seat, but its still heavy. You can use it on the plane, but can be difficult to install in some vehicles, so something to keep in mind. It is a great seat though.

There are much better options. Are you taking a double stroller? If so, you can likely fit whatever car seat the 3 year old already has in one of the seats. He may not be able to sit in it, but it would give you somewhere to put it while walking through the airport. Or, if the stroller is a single stroller, buy a cheap luggage cart. You can strap his car seat on it, and he can ride on it through the airport and then you can use his seat on the plane. Children should always use their car seat on the plane, from birth.

You aren't required to, but its a really good idea to take one. Kids do better when they have their seat on the plane, same as in the car. They are less likely to want to run around and such since they are used to being put in a car seat whenever traveling.  And believe it are not, they are safer. Should turbulence happen, they are less likely to be injured or scared.

Another thing to consider: will you be doing any traveling by car once you get to your destination? Then you will need the car seat anyway, or you will have to purchase one when you get there. Do not rely on a car seat from a rental company! Its dangerous. Car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture, and are not safe if not taken care of properly. It must never have been in a wreck, never dropped, include all the original pieces and manual, and be installed correctly, something the rental staff will not help you with. On that note, remember too, that it is better NOT to check car seats as luggage. Think of how your luggage gets banged around - well, if your car seat gets banged around, it is no longer safe to use. A car seat is only made to withstand being dropped/in an accident once! And if it gets dropped and you don't know about it, you unwittingly put your child in danger. Better all around to take the seat on the plane.

And the airline is very unlikely to replace the seat if they do damage it. Just check to make sure that your car seat is FAA approved for aircraft use, should say so somewhere on a label on the seat.

Also - if you are planning on having your baby as a lap baby, you should know the truth of what can really happen, check the links below. Flight attendants refer to lap babies as MISSILES!!!! That's right, b/c missiles is what they become when there is heavy turbulence or other problems or rough flights. They give the count as "127 pax (passengers) and 3 missiles". Is a missile what you want your baby to be?