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Holiday back up if hire car company dont supply decent seat

7 replies

jollyma · 06/05/2010 21:14

When ds1 was little i was let down several times by hire car companies. Now ds2 is 14 months i want to have a back up in case this happens again this time. Does anyone have any suggestions for something i could pack that was better than nothing. I've seen a US travel vest mentioned on another thread, does anyone have any experience of one of these?

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castleonthehill · 07/05/2010 14:00

Looked at the travel vest they need to be three to use one www.healthchecksystems.com/product/index.cfm?product_id=19920
I would just buy a cheap seat your know how works and take it. or take your own you can sometimes take them on the plain then they don't count in luggage allowance.

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Loopymumsy · 07/05/2010 16:31

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jollyma · 07/05/2010 19:52

The trunki booster looks great. I'll buy one for ds1 for in the car and can use it as a high chair booster for ds2 for now until he's a bit bigger. I think the travel vest is recommended for age 3 plus but its from 30lb and he is big, about 28lb already. Thanks both of you.

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amidaiwish · 07/05/2010 19:57

wish the trunkibooster was ready in time for our hol in may..

there is this inflatable one, haven't seen it in the flesh, but don't think it will be ok for 14months
here

why not go to halfords and get the cheapest seat you can?

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narmada · 07/05/2010 20:04

I would really get a hard-shell one to take with me, there is no way at all I would ever ever use one of the fold-out ones discussed above, or inflatable ones. They just don't look at all safe to me, and I would be particularly worried about their ability to keep a child safe in a side-impact collision. The EC standards on car safety seats are not stringent enough as it is.

It is a worry, though, when you are reliant on hire companies to provide car seats. We have always had good service but I am sure that is just down to chance.

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amidaiwish · 07/05/2010 20:07

who is your travel company jollyma?

the car seats offered by the cheap hire companies do tend to be pretty crap - i can't see how the trunki one would be any worse.

but hertz/avis you should be fine.

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jollyma · 07/05/2010 21:05

Ds1 is 7 and i have a lightweight hard booster that i've been using for the last couple of years but the advantage of the trunki is that he can carry it himself and free me up to carry the baby stuff! I wouldn't happily use something so portable with ds2 for a few years yet.

We have family abroad in 3 countries so travel regularly and unfortunately have been let down by several hire car companies including avis and hertz. If i travel on my own w the kids i cant physically carry luggage and a decent car seat so just have to hope they deliver something suitable each time.