What kind of driving will you be doing? A four year old is not any safer in a harnessed seat compared to a high back booster. A low back booster will provide the same safety as harnessed or HBB but downside is when child is asleep and will then be out of position. A four year old will also be a little more still in a HBB. Will you be doing long drives or just around the city?
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-01/esv/esv19/05-0330-O.pdf This is rear facing to booster, but it shows a decrease in injuries from four to five year olds in boosters. What studies do you have saying a four year old is safe, please? I'd like to see a link.
A US seat is illegal to use in Europe. Doesn't matter if it's for a day as a tourist or as resident. Personally I think it's great that parents plan ahead so please bring your infant seat. I don't understand what the big deal is about a locking clip? Anyone could place one in position in a minute or less unless extremely drunk.
The legality is hazy at best, but likely true. However, the issue with a locking clip is that we haven't used them here regularly in nearly 20 years. So North Americans don't know how to do them properly. So doing them in a car after a long trip? May as well be drunk.
I have travelled far more than anyone with small kids on an aircraft and recommend very strongly against bringing the seat on board for the little one. I did 60+ flight the first four years, lots of them long transatlantic flights.
The TC, FAA, NTSB, and AAP disagree with you.
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/108/5/1218.full
http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/children.html
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/air-passengers-children-564.htm
Sitting next to a child in a car seat must be avoided at all cost. I have never, not once, seen child in a car seat on board an aircraft which has not been anything than hysterical and out of control. Same with the parents.
You've never traveled with me. My kids have also traveled quite a bit trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific, trans-America (several times a year). They're the ones chilling in their seats, or up moving about somewhat when the seatbelt light is off. If you were on my flights with me from North Carolina, US to Shanghai, China when my older was 4.5 on the way there you would have seen her go to the bathroom 12 times, and on the way back sleep for seven hours straight in her Sunshine Kids Radian. Comfortable in a seat that fit her properly. When we stopped flying with her seat it took her three years to learn how to sleep comfortably in a seat too big for her.
All research, mainly by FAA, show extremely clearly that traveling with a car seat on an aircraft is completely irrelevant for safety. Most parents feel, think and believe it's safer but that is incorrect.
Links, please? We ask you every.single.time you make this claim to see a link. I've provided you with the links to the FAA, AAP, NTSB, and TC stating a child is safer restrained. If *I* need a seatbelt, what in the world means my child doesn't?? Please, provide your links! I don't care what language they're in. At this point, if you don't have any, stop saying this.
Cars in general are a bit smaller and far more economical in Europe than US although there are exceptions. A huge advantage is that front passenger airbag can usually be turned off. This is the safest place in the car for a rear facing child and very practical for space. I'm aware that airbags aren't allowed to be turned off in US but that is because the country is at least 30 years behind in car seat safety.
Hardly. We recommend rear facing until four now and booster to 12. Remind you of any other country you love?
European cars can have the airbag turned off. It is true. As for the rest, here are some studies.
http://www.carseatsite.com/statistics.htm
Renting a seat is rarely a good idea. Especially in Croatia where car seats are barely used.
This I completely and utterly agree with. Bring your seats.
Contact Chicco Canada and see if they're ok with a locking clip on the seat baseless. If you bring a SureRide you may have an issue with front to back space, but likely you can make it work. I had a First Years True Fit Premier rear facing for six months in eight different German cars. Even in the small car (they made a mistake one month) I was able to install the seat far enough back (literally standing behind it and wiggling it toward the trunk) so my 5'11" husband could drive in front. So I think it's doable with a SureRide, but you might need to work at it a bit more than a Keyfit baseless. But contact Chicco Canada (or Chicco USA, either way).
Wendy