Traveling to India (Delhi) from USA (Houston) with < 1 year old and car seat
We're planning to travel to India to visit family in a couple of weeks (still haven't booked the airfare) and I haven't been able to get good information about what to expect with using a car seat on international flights (probably Emirates or Qatar Air) or in Indian vehicles. We'll be using my husband's family's car (an older small Maruti sedan, maybe the 800) when we arrive.
I'm not sure if we should go through the headache of bringing the car seat on the plane since I've heard of flight attendants not allowing passengers to install them correctly (even when they are installing per the company and FAA policy) and it's unlikely our baby will sleep for long in the car seat. If we don't use the car seat on the plane, then we will check the seat in its original box. This leads me to my first questions; does anyone have experience with either option for the flight with a car seat? Is it likely the car seat will even make it to the final destination? Can you gate check a car seat on international flights (to reduce chances of it being lost in transit)?
Then there's the concern of using the car seat in the family vehicle with unknown seatbelt locks. If we travel anywhere outside the home area then we will probably hire an Innova minivan + driver for more space. Are automatic locking retractors common in India or will I definitely need to use a seatbelt locking clip?
I just want to add that I know there are no requirements to use car seats on airplanes or in India, and it is incredibly uncommon to see one used, but I think this contributes to my trouble with finding answers so I can better prepare for the trip. Thanks for your help!
Best Answer
First of all congratulations on your bravery in taking your baby overseas. We did a similar trip except to Europe 9H flight. We slept maybe 2H. You will be first to board after first class and last to disembark due to all the stuff you’re carrying.
My recommendation is Do not bring car seat at all.
Not worth the hassle.
Bring a baby carrier and ask your relatives in India to either buy/rent a car seat for use there. Typically taxi drivers will, all of a sudden, become safe drivers when you get in with a baby in baby carrier. You will feel unsafe by American standards but try to get taxi vans or suvs Just in case.
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Does a 1 year old need a car seat on a plane?
While kids under 2 who have their own seat on a plane are often required to use a car seat, kids over 2 aren't required to use one. However, it's strongly recommended to use a car seat to keep your child safe through runway incidents or extreme turbulence.Is baby car seat mandatory in India?
Though there are no laws regarding the mandatory use of child safety seats in India, using one goes a long way in ensuring the safety of your child. Children, with all their pent up energy, rarely sit still. As a result they are more prone to injuries in a moving vehicle.Is baby car seat allowed in flight?
Not only can you bring your child's car seat on the plane, it's strongly encouraged that you do so. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommend that all babies and young children travel in an FAA-approved car seat or airplane harness device.Do they use carseats in India?
Many budget cars in India have started offering the ISOFIX hooks as standard. Even the standard hooks cannot get many to buy the child seats, which are of utter importance to the safety of children.USA to India Travel ✈️ l Flying with 8 months baby| Air India| Hindi Vlog
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