If you are traveling with young kids, you have to give some thought on how you will be transporting your children safely. If you’re driving your own car, then it’s a non-issue: You’ll simply strap them into their car seats as you normally would, and you’ll be on your way! If you are flying and renting a car once you get to your destination, however, you suddenly have to decide how you will approach it in the most sensible way. In some cases, carrying car seats makes sense, but sometimes it just doesn’t. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when traveling with young children:
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Think long and hard before you have a “lap-baby.” Most airlines allow you to hold your child in your arms (and in your seat) if she is under the age of two, but safety experts say that this is not the best way to travel. Not only will you likely get tired of holding a squirming little one, but if there is sudden turbulence during the flight, you risk dropping your baby or having him or her otherwise injured. If it’s a short flight and you can’t afford a seat, though, it is an option to think about.
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Bring along your child’s car seat. Check the label to be sure that it is FAA-certified, and just bring it right onto the plane. You’ll be able to install it in your child’s seat, so it will keep him safe during any turbulence. Another advantage to doing this is that you won’t have to worry about the seat getting lost or damaged while in the underbelly of the plane. A couple of caveats: You need to let the airline know that you’ll be bringing a car seat, because it needs to be installed in a window seat. This is so that it doesn’t impede anyone from leaving their seat during an emergency. If you have more than one car seat, then you’ll most likely need more than one adult, so that each of you can keep track of one window-seated child. Also, measure the seat and ask the airline how wide the airplane seats are. Some car seats, though FAA-approved, won’t fit in narrow airline seats.
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Check your child’s booster seat. Unfortunately, booster seats (the kind without harnesses) are not FAA-approved and are not allowed to be used on the plane. These will need to be checked. Some airlines will allow you to check yours at the gate so that it will be waiting for you on the tarmac when you disembark the plane. This greatly reduces the chance of the seat getting lost or misdirected. You can ask the airline for a bag to pack the seat in if you choose to check it with the rest of your luggage.
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Rent one at your destination. Most car rental agencies will have a selection of car seats and booster seats available. Make sure that you call first to reserve one; in some cases, they’re simply first-come-first-served, and you don’t want to chance not having one available. Also, be specific: If you want your preschooler in a five-point harness, make sure that the rental agency has a seat that will hold your child’s weight in a harness. If you want a high-back booster seat, then specify that as well. If you will be relying on a taxicab to take you from the airport to your hotel, you can usually request a child safety seat. Just call ahead to be sure.
While it might seem like a hassle to be sure that your child has the appropriate restraint available while on vacation, just remember that in the case of an accident, it will be well worth the extra work involved. You aren’t immune to car accidents just because you are on vacation, and your diligence could end up saving your child’s life if you were to be involved in a wreck. Don’t even consider skipping the child safety seats while you’re on vacation; the potential pitfalls aren’t worth it.
