[Debs]

Hi there
Can anyone give us any tips on this one - we are heading over next month, shippers booked.
Dilema is - what do we do about our kids car seats ? Do we pack them (meaning we don't have them for the first couple of months!) or just buy new ones in NZ ?

Seems like a waste of money to buy new ones but we can't figure out a way around it !

Anyones thoughts would be great!

[willsken]

http://secure.dataview.co.nz/users/webco/earlyyears.co.nz/htdocs/hire.php?func=14&DPT=c&DCI=5&S=6fafb8ecb6f3b54860dc6343836003ce

Hire one! Would be cheaper than buying one, even second hand I would think. The above link is for Auckland but one below lets you search for anywhere in NZ.

http://www.hireitnow.co.nz/browse_region.php?search_string=74

[jackie m]

Hi
We brought ours with us, as singapore airlines don't include the weight of them with your allowance. Which was great when we picked up hire car we fitted them knowing they were good Britax ones. I find the car seats over here aren't as good as the UK ones so we are glad we did it that way. Hope this helps in your decision.
Jackie:nice1

[spudulike]

We brought ours too on SA and will be taking them back with Virgin. They're not included in your baggage allowance. :)

[Tia Maria]

We bought lightweight ones with us on the plane and packed our more sturdy ones in the container. We had a booster (about £15) that was fine for a 4 year old, and a lightweight one with a back (about £40) for the 2 year old.

We did this because we were travelling around NZ at first and didn't want to lug about suitcases and heavy car seats. Also with 3 kids I knew they would all get used (I had my 3rd child in NZ). My eldest often uses the lightweight ones when he rides in friends cars.

If you want to take them on the plane, but don't want to use them on the seat you will be asked to put them in an 'oversized baggage' area and they will be placed in the hold. In Heathrow the 'oversized baggage' area is a cage near the check in desk.

If you do want to use them with the airplane seat then check with the airline that they fit. I'd only do this if you are pretty sure that they will sleep/be happy in the seat as they give you a lot less flexibility.

We had a row of 4 seats on the plane and we could lift the armrests so the kids could lie down and sleep, obviously you couldn't do this if there is a car seat in the way. However, I don't think it makes a difference if you get bulk head seating as I don't think the armrests lift.

Hope that makes sense :)

Cheers

Tia

[Hannah]

You can usually rent them from Plunket (health visitors). Local fees here are $40 deposit and then $40 for 6 month rental. They are trained car seat fitters also so at least you know they are fitted properly. When you give them back you get your deposit back. $40 is not much,about fifteen quid, much cheaper than a car seat. MAybe they will do them even cheaper if you are only borrowing them for a couple of months?
good luck
hannah
PS you local Plunket will be in your yellow pages phone book when you arrive

[Park City Partner]

Plunket is great, go with them. You can also rent other items from them as well.