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Bella311
Me and my Boys
Member since 1/10 1400 total posts
Name:
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Traveling to Europe, carseat?
We are traveling to Europe in early Sept, DS will be 10 mos, I really didn't plan on bring the carseat. When we will be there we will NOT be renting a car, we'll be traveling mostly by rail, bus, trolley ect. Is this a bad decision? I'm thinking what if we need to take a taxi, what happens then?
eta: We're traveling to Poland and a couple of cities in Italy. I just want to travel "light" and know I will probably get a lot of flack from family there if I bring a lot of contraptions with me  Also he will be a lap child on the plane (they provide a cradle) and its a non-stop overnight flight.
Message edited 8/23/2010 11:44:28 AM.
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Posted 8/22/10 10:32 PM  |
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gck0708
She is love!
Member since 11/08 1863 total posts
Name:
Grace
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Re: Traveling to Europe, carseat?
IMO yes, it is a mistake not to bring your car seat.
I live in Europe, don't own a car, but NEVER travel without the car seat. On the bus, train, it's invaluable! Here's why: Even if you have DS in a stroller, many many times on a (city) bus they make you collapse the stroller as there is no room, and on a coach (for long bus trips) you'd definitely have to stow the stroller and sit with the baby in your lap, which I don't feel is safe. On a train, there will be very little space for you to keep the stroller open, if any, so you'd have to sit with the baby in your lap, again not so safe and uncomfortable for both of you. If you have to travel by taxi without a car seat you'll have to sit with DS in your lap and that isn't safe and in a lot of places the taxi won't even let you in without the baby in a car seat.
What kind of a stroller are you planning on taking? Does your car seat snap into your stroller? If so I'd highly recommend you bring it. On a recent trip to the States we brought our regular stroller seat (we have a bugaboo) and the car seat, and we checked the carseat (wrapped in garbage bags) as a piece of luggage. However, in retrospect we'd have left the regular seat at home and just brought the car seat.
Anyways I hope this helps - if you have any other questions please feel free to ask. Where are you going, btw? Have a great time!
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| Posted 8/23/10 4:36 AM |
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usuk2004
I'm ONE!
Member since 5/05 5150 total posts
Name:
Farah
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Re: Traveling to Europe, carseat?
Funny, but I would totally disagree with Grace, LOL!  I would not bring it. I live in London and we don't use the carseat much - really only if someone is picking us up from the train station or if we're going to take a taxi. I never have problems on public transportation with our stroller - in fact, I've only had to collapse it on a bus once. The buses here will usually take two strollers on them and frankly, if there isn't room, I just wait for the next bus. Trains aren't really much of an issue for us, and the tube, while cramped, is doable. I can't see that a carseat would save you much room.
we do use one when we're in a cab, although in London it's not a law that you need to have one. If you take a black cab, your stroller might fit in it without collapsing (we have a Bugaboo bee and ours does). Also, there's a cab firm called Addison Lee that has regular seats that fold down and have a carseat built into them. Probably not the safest for long trips, but doable for a short journey (they are forward facing, though and my 1 year old is a little small for it).
That's my 2 cents! Good luck!
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| Posted 8/23/10 4:44 AM |
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gck0708
She is love!
Member since 11/08 1863 total posts
Name:
Grace
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Re: Traveling to Europe, carseat?
I guess it really depends on where you're traveling to! I guess I was thinking longer-term bus and train journeys too - like between cities rather than within the same city. The public transport system in London is much better than in Dublin, where I live. Where are you traveling to?
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| Posted 8/23/10 4:57 AM |
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yankinmanc
Happy Days!
Member since 8/05 18208 total posts
Name:
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Re: Traveling to Europe, carseat?
I also say don't take it unless you have a car seat that snaps onto your stroller. I am visiting my parents and I have brought mine that snaps onto the frame of my Bugaboo Frog. Everyone comments about it..dunno why.
In a taxi, to be honest, like in NYC I wouldn't use a car seat, maybe just the baby in a carrier or, like the others said, even in Manchester I take mainly black taxis and you can pop your stroller in the back seat if need be.
I woud only take it if it snaps onto your stroller! Have a great time!
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| Posted 8/23/10 9:56 AM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Traveling to Europe, carseat?
I am taking my son to Italy, France, and Spain in October. we are leaving the day after his first birthday.
I am bringing his car seat for a few reasons, 1) I need it on the plane and 2) we are renting a car and driving.
if you are lapping your child, I guess you could go without it. but if your child has his/her own seat on the plane you will need it regardless.
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| Posted 8/23/10 10:04 AM |
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alisonggg
Cutie
Member since 3/06 4749 total posts
Name:
a
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Re: Traveling to Europe, carseat?
We rented a car seat from the car rental company and italy and I wish I had brought my own with me. The car seat they gave us was gross and it worked differently than the ones I was used to, so I was never 100% comfortable using it.
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| Posted 8/23/10 10:06 AM |
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Aga
hello baby Albert
Member since 9/05 7750 total posts
Name:
Aga
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Re: Traveling to Europe, carseat?
when I was travelling to Poland last year I purchased used sit'n'stroll on craigslist for $60.00 and then sold it when I came back linky
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| Posted 8/23/10 10:12 AM |
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Bella311
Me and my Boys
Member since 1/10 1400 total posts
Name:
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Re: Traveling to Europe, carseat?
Posted by gck0708
What kind of a stroller are you planning on taking?
Maclaren Volo
Does your car seat snap into your stroller?
I do have a snap and go stroller that the carseat can strap into but DS does not last long in there (unless its in a car). I wanted to avoid having to bring 2 strollers, and the seat is clumsy and awkward to bring around while we are visiting cities.
Where are you going, btw? We are going to Poland and Italy (Rome, Florence, Capri)
Sorry if this sounds ignorant but I can't fathom carrying the carseat into a bus, train ect...how does this work, do you put the carseat on a seat on the public transportation?
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| Posted 8/23/10 11:32 AM |
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Bella311
Me and my Boys
Member since 1/10 1400 total posts
Name:
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Re: Traveling to Europe, carseat?
Posted by Aga
when I was travelling to Poland last year I purchased used sit'n'stroll on craigslist for $60.00 and then sold it when I came back linky
This is where we are going, this sounds like a good option. How old was your child in this?
Did you put this into a cab? I just worry that this seat may be a little hot walking in the city esp when we go to Italy.
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| Posted 8/23/10 11:36 AM |
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Aga
hello baby Albert
Member since 9/05 7750 total posts
Name:
Aga
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Re: Traveling to Europe, carseat?
Posted by Bella311
Posted by Aga
when I was travelling to Poland last year I purchased used sit'n'stroll on craigslist for $60.00 and then sold it when I came back linky
This is where we are going, this sounds like a good option. How old was your child in this?
Did you put this into a cab? I just worry that this seat may be a little hot walking in the city esp when we go to Italy.
he was just under 2 years old...
I didn't use it in a cab but we used it in cars whenever someone picked me up; I just attached it with a seat belt... it was really convenient to have especially since not all family members have kids and therefore didn't have car seats....
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| Posted 8/23/10 12:56 PM |
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Re: Traveling to Europe, carseat?
Cat I would def bring it and you can always leave it at the hotels when you are taking trains and stuff. Don't you need it on the plan anyways?
Have a great time BTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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| Posted 8/23/10 12:58 PM |
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