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krashnburn
I am Batman!
Member since 5/05 4093 total posts
Name:
I'm Batman, I tell you!
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Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
I know I've seen comments about this on the past and I was wondering about why I should choose one over the other. TIA!
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Posted 1/27/09 8:35 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Faithx2
All good things in 2016!!
Member since 8/05 20181 total posts
Name:
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
I always bring mine. You never know what kind you will rent, if its current, dirty or has been in an accident. I am just a bit neurotic and feel more comfortable with my own 
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| Posted 1/27/09 8:45 AM |
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ARIELSMOM
Love my Babes
Member since 8/05 5889 total posts
Name:
MEREDITH
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
we rented one when we went to FL, it appeared to be new, and it worked out great. with the 2 kids and luggage, i was glad to not have the big seat to lug around.
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| Posted 1/27/09 8:51 AM |
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zeta1996
YUMMY!
Member since 9/06 2365 total posts
Name:
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
We are using a rental for when we go to FL this year. I figure we are not going to be in the car that much, and if it looks really bad, I will request another seat from them until I am satisfied...
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| Posted 1/27/09 8:53 AM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
I wouldn't rent a car seat for these reasons:
You don't know if it has been in an accident (even a minor one since it wasn't in your control).
You don't know if it has been recalled.
Most places don't give you instructions on installing it so unless you have it at home you might incorrectly install it (since you have to put it in yourself the car rental places don't put them in for you).
Overall you don't know the age and general safety of the seat.
From reading articles and talking to moms who have rented they have said they were giving old seats with no instructions on how to install them (remember some cars seats are safer in certain places than others) and generally they were dirty and disgusting.
Basically it is a luck of the draw type of thing. But for the cost of renting the seat you could buy a cheap one and just lug it with you.
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| Posted 1/27/09 9:10 AM |
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CrankyPants
I'm cranky
Member since 7/06 18178 total posts
Name:
Mama Cranky
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
We bring ours. I have concerns about the condition of the rental seat plus I don't know how to confirm it is up to safety standards.
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| Posted 1/27/09 9:18 AM |
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KateDevine
*
Member since 6/06 24950 total posts
Name:
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
I wouldn't rent one for two major reasons:
It is  like $10-$15 a day and you can BUY one for that much money!
And my SIL rented one with her 1 year old and it was a booster, and they told her that's all they had. She had to go buy one at Wal-Mart
We checked ours in a laundry bag with our last name written across it. Worked perfectly.
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| Posted 1/27/09 9:19 AM |
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MommyTeffi
Yummy!!!
Member since 2/06 1827 total posts
Name:
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
Posted by BlessedMommy
I always bring mine. You never know what kind you will rent, if its current, dirty or has been in an accident. I am just a bit neurotic and feel more comfortable with my own
ITA. My SIL rented one in Florida and it was awful. It was extremely outdated and dirty. I feel more comfortable bringing my own because I know how it sets up in the car. Makes for an easy install.
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| Posted 1/27/09 9:19 AM |
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KateDevine
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Member since 6/06 24950 total posts
Name:
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
Posted by zeta1996
We are using a rental for when we go to FL this year. I figure we are not going to be in the car that much, and if it looks really bad, I will request another seat from them until I am satisfied...
Just FYI, this is exactly what my SIL tried and it didn't work, they told her to take a hike
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| Posted 1/27/09 9:20 AM |
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SuzyQ
Mama to 3!?!?!?
Member since 7/06 8069 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
Posted by Lillykat
I wouldn't rent a car seat for these reasons:
You don't know if it has been in an accident (even a minor one since it wasn't in your control).
You don't know if it has been recalled.
Most places don't give you instructions on installing it so unless you have it at home you might incorrectly install it (since you have to put it in yourself the car rental places don't put them in for you).
Overall you don't know the age and general safety of the seat.
From reading articles and talking to moms who have rented they have said they were giving old seats with no instructions on how to install them (remember some cars seats are safer in certain places than others) and generally they were dirty and disgusting.
Basically it is a luck of the draw type of thing. But for the cost of renting the seat you could buy a cheap one and just lug it with you.
ITA. Especially with the instructions part. I have enough trouble installing my own. I'd hate to have to figure another one out. Plus I'd worry that we didn;t install it correctly. And we use ours on the plane since DD gets her own seat and I really dont think she'd sit still or nap if we didn't have her in the carseat in her seat.
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| Posted 1/27/09 9:37 AM |
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zeta1996
YUMMY!
Member since 9/06 2365 total posts
Name:
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
Posted by KateDevine
Posted by zeta1996
We are using a rental for when we go to FL this year. I figure we are not going to be in the car that much, and if it looks really bad, I will request another seat from them until I am satisfied...
Just FYI, this is exactly what my SIL tried and it didn't work, they told her to take a hike
Thank you for the heads up! We fortunately will be staying at my parents Condo so if we need to purchase a cheap seat, there are tons of stores around there!! My parents are actually getting the seat with their rental for free, so if it doesnt work, we wont really be out money....
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| Posted 1/27/09 9:42 AM |
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KateDevine
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Member since 6/06 24950 total posts
Name:
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
Posted by zeta1996
Posted by KateDevine
Posted by zeta1996
We are using a rental for when we go to FL this year. I figure we are not going to be in the car that much, and if it looks really bad, I will request another seat from them until I am satisfied...
Just FYI, this is exactly what my SIL tried and it didn't work, they told her to take a hike
Thank you for the heads up! We fortunately will be staying at my parents Condo so if we need to purchase a cheap seat, there are tons of stores around there!! My parents are actually getting the seat with their rental for free, so if it doesnt work, we wont really be out money....
That's actually what my SIL did, she went to Wal-Mart and bought one...
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| Posted 1/27/09 9:47 AM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
Also just a heads up - I know someone who was going to rent and she got down there and they were OUT of seats. She was told that they don't guarantee that they will have one. So if you rent make sure you have an alternate plan in case something like that happens.
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| Posted 1/27/09 9:55 AM |
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JavaJunkie
Someday, Somehow
Member since 6/05 5857 total posts
Name:
Lois
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
Posted by Lillykat
I wouldn't rent a car seat for these reasons:
You don't know if it has been in an accident (even a minor one since it wasn't in your control).
You don't know if it has been recalled.
Most places don't give you instructions on installing it so unless you have it at home you might incorrectly install it (since you have to put it in yourself the car rental places don't put them in for you).
Overall you don't know the age and general safety of the seat.
From reading articles and talking to moms who have rented they have said they were giving old seats with no instructions on how to install them (remember some cars seats are safer in certain places than others) and generally they were dirty and disgusting.
Basically it is a luck of the draw type of thing. But for the cost of renting the seat you could buy a cheap one and just lug it with you.
I agree. I check mine at the gate
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| Posted 1/27/09 10:01 AM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
Ive always brought mine. I put both of my arms through the car seat loops and where it like a backpack...its not bad at all. I just HATE the security part of putting it through their machine with all the rest of my cr@p but carring it has not been a problem.
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| Posted 1/27/09 10:47 AM |
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JChia
Mom of 2 Princesses
Member since 9/07 2540 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
We just went to FL and brought ours. I bought a bag at BRU for $30 that was a backpack with wheels. We decided to check at the gate b/c I was worried about luggage carriers banging it around, but it worked out for us b/c the flight was not full, so we asked if we could just use it in a free seat for DD and they said yes - DD was much more comfortable and so were Me and DH - DD is a real wiggle worm, so I think we were all happier...
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| Posted 1/27/09 10:59 AM |
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KPtoys
I'm getting old
Member since 5/05 8688 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
we are bringing ours tomorrow
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| Posted 1/27/09 11:15 AM |
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krashnburn
I am Batman!
Member since 5/05 4093 total posts
Name:
I'm Batman, I tell you!
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
Thanks ladies! There were lots of good ideas here.
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| Posted 1/27/09 2:01 PM |
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yankinmanc
Happy Days!
Member since 8/05 18208 total posts
Name:
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Re: Renting a car seat vs bring your own on vacation?
We are going to Florida next month and I am going to lug my booster seat all the way from England with us. I could buy one there, but the exchange rate is so poor for me now. I am just going to bring mine.
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| Posted 1/27/09 2:51 PM |
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