What to do on train trip?

lamazemama · Feb 20, 2007

We are taking a train cross country with our 4 1/2 and 2 year olds.

We will be renting a car for a week once we arrive at our destination.

What in the world do we do about carseats? I have been stressing about this.

If we bring them with us, will they get banged around and potentially damaged?

Do car rental companies rent carseats? If so, that carries another set of worries because I won't know how those seats have been treated.

Opinions?

MagnificentMama · Feb 20, 2007

I'd take the carseats if at all possible. I wouldn't trust car seats from a rental car place at all!

Maybe someone else has some tips on where to safely store carseats on a train. I've taken communter trains many many times but never took a car seat on one.

bensmom · Feb 20, 2007

I agree. I would not rent a seat from a rental car company (plus, for the price they'd charge for a week, you're better off just buying some seats for travel).

How much do your kids weigh? Would the 4.5 year old wear a RideSafer Travel Vest? That would be really easy to take with you. What about a SafeGuard Go?

Post back with weights and heights and we'll try to help with some "easy" travel seats.

Victorious4 · Feb 20, 2007

Take your carseat: kiddo will be most comfortable & you know how to install it

There's plenty of space on trains -- I saw a bunch of carseats (sadly, most expired) on the shelves inside with tags ... where passengers walk through to get to their seats

wendytthomas · Feb 20, 2007

Definitely take the seats. I've rented seats when Piper was an infant, and I will never do it again. She was 10 weeks old, we told them we needed a child seat, and they brought us a FFing only seat. The infant seat they brought us was baseless and probably expired. Gross gross gross.

Wendy

tiggercat · Feb 20, 2007

When I took the train with my daughter I brought her carseat, and was able to set it on the seat in a "rearfacing" position securely. Obviously I couldn't install it with no belts, but she was able to sleep in it, and I felt like it might provide her with a little bit of protection if we got bumped around a bit. I was also sure that it didn't get knocked around since I was the only one to touch it!

nisi · Feb 20, 2007

About 8 years ago (pre-kids) dh and I took Amtrak from Chicago to Seattle to San Fran then back to Chicago. On that trip, we were the only ones handling our luggage. We carried it on the train and stowed it, and we took it off the train at our destination. No worries about rough baggage handlers. It's just stacked on shelves in one of the cars, so I guess it could shift around in transit. But unless it's an emergency stop or something, I can't imagine it would be enough to do any damage. Of course, the downside to carrying all your own luggage is that you have to carry all your own luggage

So just like plane travel, you'll want something small and light.

Things might have changed since 9/11 and the tighter security everywhere, but that was our experience.

Have fun on your trip! Dh and I loved that trip, and we want to do it again with the kids some day.

Victorious4 · Feb 20, 2007

Security does not seem to be much tighter if at all -- if you check baggage then they read your stub against the label on the bag, but if you carry it all on (no restrictions like FAA) then it's all on you: no Xray, etc....

lamazemama · Feb 20, 2007

Wow, this board is a wealth of information!

Thank you all so much. I feel better about bringing the seats now.

What to do on train trip?

lamazemama

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MagnificentMama

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bensmom

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Victorious4

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wendytthomas

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tiggercat

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nisi

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Victorious4

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lamazemama

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