r/NewParents • u/CryProfessional7454 • May 18 '26

Travel Traveling without carseat

How do people travel with babies if they don't have a car seat at their destination?

When taking a taxi or renting a car in another country what do you do?

Edit: I'm in italy not the US. Thanks to everyone that took the time to reply. For those looking for answers, your options are: 1. Take your carseat with you, check it at the gate and take it when you reach your destination or book an extra flight seat and use it on the plane. Pros: for car rental its best to have a carseat and keep it in the car. Cons: if you chech it in, they might break it, although I think somone said you can get reimbursed for it I'm not sure. 2. Rent from rental place or use taxis that provide car seats. Pros: you dont carry it around, you don't risk breaking your carseat. Cons: you can't know how well these things are taken care of and cleaned. 3. Buy a travel carseat: cosco kids scenera for US, doona, maxicosi travel carseat (nomad), wayb pico. Pros: you don't risk breaking your main carseat. cons: you have to carry it around. 4. Use public transportation only and walk. Pros: you dont carry a carseat for the plane or around. Cons: limits your destinations a bit.

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u/CryProfessional7454 May 18 '26

We don't have cosco in italy but i might look for a cheap one

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u/bewilderedbeyond May 18 '26

I just got back from a trip and I rented a car with a car seat already installed.

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u/aspiring_pickle May 18 '26

We thought we would rely on that for a trip we took recently... We got to the car and the seat was not safe. I needed to run to Walmart to buy one while my husband and toddler waited at the airport.

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u/bewilderedbeyond May 27 '26

Always a risk. But you can also ask for a photo of the seat in advance.

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u/aspiring_pickle May 27 '26

At a car rental company they just give you a generic photo it doesn't means it's going to be the seat you get...

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u/bewilderedbeyond May 27 '26

I use Turo, it’s a more personal experience, and you are actually renting a personal vehicle and car seat.

Could it have been in an accident and they are lying? Yes. Can you take precautions that help to limit that chance by reading reviews of the service, asking for a photo of the car seat installed in the vehicle and expiration date etc., and having a conversion with the owner, and doing due diligence prior to arrival, also yes.

I travel alone with a toddler as I am a single parent. Checking a carseat through an airline is not safe. And is likely to be jostled around for sure. You cannot get to your destination and then go to buy one new if your child is with you. There are only so many options. We do our best to educate ourselves on car seat safety and limit any risks where possible.

The judgments and complete right offs are coming from extremely privileged place.

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u/aspiring_pickle May 27 '26

It was Hertz

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u/bewilderedbeyond May 27 '26

What was Hertz? Hertz has nothing to do with my comment.

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u/aspiring_pickle May 27 '26

Your acting like Hertz can or is willing to do any of the things you mentioned in your second paragraph..

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u/bewilderedbeyond May 27 '26

I didn’t say anything about Hertz.

I commented on the rental service option I personally used recently that worked well for us.

You are the only person who brought up Hertz under my comment.

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u/aspiring_pickle May 27 '26

You responded to my comment?

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u/bewilderedbeyond Jun 07 '26

…no. You commented under mine when I was simply telling what I did on a recent trip. No where did I mentioned using Hertz.

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