Trip to Scandinavia

[papooses]

I'm taking Leila to Denmark in the Spring to visit a friend of mine (named Laila, LOL) ... I soooo need a vacation - luckilly, I won't have to pay for anything but the plane tickets! By then my kiddo will be 4 yrs old & she's already 41", but she certainly won't be 40# yet. I know the FAA says kids over 40# should use the regular lap belt & kids under 3 should use a carseat on the plane - I also know that Denmark only requires kids under 4 to use carseats in vehicles (my friend's 4 y.o. niece uses a booster, though). So, technically I'm sure we could "get away with" simply bringing the backless SRC, but I believe that using a carseat on the plane would keep her more comfortable & me less stressed out about keeping her still :o So, I've pretty much decided we'll bring a carseat, but I'm not sure which one to bring: the Wizard or the CarGo? My friend doesn't know what I meant when I asked her to pull the seatbelt all the way out to see if it locks in the retractor & she has no idea what ISOFIX/LATCH is ... so I'm hoping someone here might know how to help me figure out whether or not vehicles there generally have either ALR or ISOFIX? If not then I'll bring the Wizard for it's built-in lock-offs, but since Leila is FF now anyway I was hoping to bring the CarGo simply because it's so much lighter! Wait ... hmmm, I think my cousin took the LATCH straps off the CarGo - so I guess that means I'll only bring it if the belts are ALR (I'm no good at using the switchable buckle plates - I can never get them to lock, let alone stay locked). Man, please don't tell me I'll be lugging the Wizard again - over seas nontheless?! :rolleyes: :p I will have a cart this time, but was really hoping to have the lighter weight seat, especially since we'll be taking the bus sometimes anyway.... THANKS

[papooses]

Just clarifying: kids 3 & under must be in carseats in Denmark, RF - can't find info on FF, though....

[uccomama]

It is unlikely that your friend's car will have either LATCH (ISOFIX) or ALR seat belts. Why don't you pick yourself up a Britax Two way plus while you're there. That's the Swedish Britax seat that RF to 55 lbs. I know it is available in Denmark!

[papooses]

Oooooh, dangit! Now that's just pure evil - you knowing my carseat obsession :p Hadn't thought of that ... but I wouldn't be able to use it here int states would I :confused:

[KeikiHula]

See, I've never understood that. If a seat is safe in one country, it would be safe in another country. I realize that different countries have different safety standards that their seats must pass, but in the grand scheme of things, Britax isn't going to make an inferior seat just b/c it's in Denmark. And I seriously doubt a cop here who might pull you over is going to care or know the difference between a European seat and an American seat. Heck, they barely care if your kid is in a carseat, they're not going to care where it came from!

If I could get my hands on a carseat like that, and I liked it and felt it was safe, I would use it. Just b/c you cross a boarder doesn't mean your carseat suddenly won't work. ~shrug~ But then if I was in Canada where there doesn't seem to be many options, I think I would get an American carseat and use it.

[uccomama]

Oooooh, dangit! Now that's just pure evil - you knowing my carseat obsession :p Hadn't thought of that ... but I wouldn't be able to use it here int states would I :confused:

Well, technically no...... ;)

[papooses]

& yet how likely would it be that I'd get a ticket for using it :rolleyes: ;)

I would soooooo love to get my hands on 1!!!!! :p

[Dreaming_of_Speed]

See, I've never understood that. If a seat is safe in one country, it would be safe in another country. I realize that different countries have different safety standards that their seats must pass, but in the grand scheme of things, Britax isn't going to make an inferior seat just b/c it's in Denmark. And I seriously doubt a cop here who might pull you over is going to care or know the difference between a European seat and an American seat. Heck, they barely care if your kid is in a carseat, they're not going to care where it came from!

If I could get my hands on a carseat like that, and I liked it and felt it was safe, I would use it. Just b/c you cross a boarder doesn't mean your carseat suddenly won't work. ~shrug~ But then if I was in Canada where there doesn't seem to be many options, I think I would get an American carseat and use it.
I've wondered than myself, esp. when other countries have higher standards. Though i have seen some foreign seats on the OEAMTC i wouldn't use for my child that they allow for use.

I'd worry that a cop would see you with a kid that big RFing and pull you over for extended RFing foreign seat or not! Cop around here wouldn't know its a foreign seat but i bet they would freak that the kid was too old or unsafe b/c of their size.

If it were me I'd be bring one home and tinting my windows very very dark. (Yes i know a certain level is considered illegal but we had a van for years with the darkest tint I've ever seen and no problems!) We all know RFing is safest and if the seat does well on their tests (and you can figure out how to install it with nonenglish instructions!) I'd use it. Just b/c its foreign doesn't mean its less safe than an American seat (how do we know their safe anyway)

[KeikiHula]

You can't even see in the back of my Durango and it's just the factory tint. We have always had dark tinted windows. I got pulled over on the way home from WA a couple weekends ago and Morgan (in the 3rd row in his BG) had unbuckled himself and was standing in the backseat. The cop didn't even question it. :rolleyes: I think WA has fairly strict carseat laws (8 yrs/80 lbs), but I see kids all the time either not properly buckled in or just in a seatbelt when they should be in a booster. I would have absolutly no problem using a foreign made carseat as long as it passed as good or better than US standards. Is there any reason not to?

[papooses]

Hey, man, if there's no reason other than a possible ticket for me not to get & use the 2 Way + here & I somehow manage to afford the vehicle I have :confused: then I'm so getting that seat! In NY only the front windows cannot be tinted past a certain darkness ... my back ones are already tinted & I have more cut to size self stick shade I can put up just in case ;)