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Post by yelrohs on Apr 11, 2016 20:44:38 GMT 1
Hi everyone. We are going on our 1st holiday to Cavtat with our baby in August. She will be 8 months old. Does anyone have experience travelling with a baby? Do we need to bring a car seat? At home we use an iso fix base to fit the seat into our car. I do not imagine taxis have bases in their cars so is it acceptable to hold the car seat in the taxi? Do we need a car seat if taking the bus/boat?
We obviously want to be as safe as possible but are unsure how best to manage and are finding it hard to find solid information. Any info is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
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Post by Carol on Apr 12, 2016 8:29:45 GMT 1
You may find this sort of site useful when going abroad with your child until they've turned 13. Every country has its own rules, but by and large they all require an appropriate car seat until the child is either 12 or 1.5m tall. www.rac.co.uk/driving-abroad/croatiaThis is the relevant bit: Travelling with children: Children under 12 are not allowed to travel in the front seats. An exception is made for children less than 2 years of age who can travel in the front if they are placed in a restraint system adapted to their size, and if it is a rear facing seat, the airbag must be de-activated. A child up to 5 years must be placed in a seat adapted to his/her size on the rear seat. A child aged between 5 and 12 must travel on the back seat using a 3 point seat belt with booster seat if necessary for his/her height. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What the RAC doesn't explain that Croatia operates an informal law and a formal one. As you drive around, you will see children sitting on their parents knees in the front, or even standing up in the middle of the back seat looking out through the rear window. It doesn't make it legal - but its not at all unusual. The police turn a blind eye. However, the police tend to regard foreigners who don't comply with road laws during the summer months as an extra source of revenue. So, its best from a perspective of safety as well as avoiding fines to take a car seat and watch your speed. Most airlines let you take the car seat as extra luggage for free.
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Post by mm2 on Apr 12, 2016 9:12:42 GMT 1
Your car seat surely can be secured with a seatbelt too? Give it a practice in your own car before you go away so you know what to do in a taxi!
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Post by mm2 on Apr 12, 2016 9:15:02 GMT 1
Also, bus/boat - do you mean small local buses to go to Dubrovnik? Will you have a pram with you?
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Post by lostintheselo on Apr 12, 2016 16:30:40 GMT 1
Good for you for deciding to go on holiday to Croatia with your baby! I am one of the few trained car seat advisers in Croatia. We are volunteers through a non-profit group called RODA. We spread awareness on car seat safety and conduct free car seat checks to make sure seats are properly installed and used. To answer your question in short, yes, you need to secure your baby in a car seat when traveling in cars.
Croatian law states that children up to 150 cm tall need to be secured in a car seat or booster seat appropriate to their age/height/weight according to manufacturer directions. The car seat/booster seat needs to have an orange sticker that indicates the seat has either ECE R44/04 or iSize (R129) approval. In some cases ECE R44/03 stickers will still be valid but most of those seats are too old to be safely used. It is true than in practice, unfortunately, most police will not issue a fine for unsecured children. However, do not do as the locals do. Use a car seat no matter where you travel. It is always better to follow best practices.
It is not required to use car seats on buses. Most buses do not have belts and therefore you will not be able to secure a car seat in them. However, I do know of people who have found it helpful to use them anyways as it keeps the child in one spot. That is going to be a personal preference.
You should be able to bring the car seat you have on the airplane. You might find it helpful to pay for a seat for your baby for the extra space. Flights are generally very full to/from Croatia in August so I would not count on getting an empty seat next to you. Another benefit to paying for a seat for your baby is that most airlines will let you use your car seat on board. You have to make sure your seat is approved for airline travel though. Typically there will be a sticker on the side of the seat somewhere indicating that it is approved. If you don't bring your seat on board then most airlines allow car seats to be checked as baggage, sometimes for free. You want to be careful that you put your seat in some kind of bag or box, ideally with padding, to protect it from getting damaged during travel.
What kind of seat do you have? If it is an infant bucket style seat then you will be able to use it in most cars without using the ISOFIX base. I can help you find information on how to secure the seat without the base.
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Post by Carol on Apr 12, 2016 18:59:36 GMT 1
there's no spirit of adventure when it comes to a baby's safety. It would be irresponsible to suggest a 9 month old should play Russian Roulette.
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Post by fidobsa on Apr 13, 2016 17:40:51 GMT 1
there's no spirit of adventure when it comes to a baby's safety. It would be irresponsible to suggest a 9 month old should play Russian Roulette. Yes I grew up before child car seats were invented and I did get injured once in an accident when I was thrown from the back seat of a Morris Minor and hit my face on the metal dashboard. That car had no seat belts at all but the next few cars only had belts in the front.
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Post by lostintheselo on Apr 13, 2016 18:25:59 GMT 1
January, I really don't know how best to reply to your comments. The original poster asked for advice on how to bring and/or use a car seat while on vacation. I attempted to give her as much factual information and advice that I could within a short post in response to her request. No one has to follow rules or laws but they many times exist for a reason and not following them can lead to serious consequences. In this case, child car seat laws are intended to save lives and prevent serious injury. They exist because, unfortunately, most parents do not have common sense when it comes to this issue. Look at the majority of Croatians who let their children jump around unrestrained. Not much common sense there. Please stop mocking advice and information that has been offered and the laws that it is all based on. There is no joke when it comes to car safety, especially for children.
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Post by lostintheselo on Apr 13, 2016 18:27:50 GMT 1
Yelrohs,
If you give me the brand and model number of your car seat I can help you find directions on how to install it without the base. Also, you might want to contact the store where you bought it, or any store that has it in stock.
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Post by crojoe on Apr 13, 2016 18:58:08 GMT 1
January, I really don't know how best to reply to your comments. The original poster asked for advice on how to bring and/or use a car seat while on vacation. I attempted to give her as much factual information and advice that I could within a short post in response to her request. No one has to follow rules or laws but they many times exist for a reason and not following them can lead to serious consequences. In this case, child car seat laws are intended to save lives and prevent serious injury. They exist because, unfortunately, most parents do not have common sense when it comes to this issue. Look at the majority of Croatians who let their children jump around unrestrained. Not much common sense there. Please stop mocking advice and information that has been offered and the laws that it is all based on. There is no joke when it comes to car safety, especially for children. I agree kids need to be in car seats and as a parent I am responsible for the care and well being of my kids (not the government). That said, parents in most countries know all about car child seats, wearing seat belts, driving carefully etc. The problem is some people just think they are invincible. Yesterday a young dude in Zagreb in a fancy car was from all accounts tearing down the road and ran into pedestrians killing one and hurting others and tried to do a runner (I dare say he thought himself invincible). People don't figure a car can be a weapon of mass destruction. Why do people drink and drive, use their mobiles, smoke and so forth (it's pretty wide spread in Croatia). We all know the rules of the road. I say this as I frequently travel via Austria, Slovenia and Croatia. In Austria I notice Croat drivers drive on their best behavior, but as soon as they reach Slovenia both on the highway and that last bad stretch from end of Maribor highway to the Croatian border all hell breaks loose.Those lovely bad habits surface and it becomes every driver for themselves (no indicators, swerving in and out of traffic, overtaking on blind corners, tail gating). Maybe it's more a false sense of being. It's a bad cultural thing, just like smoking. I do think they need more TV adverts to get the point across. I have noticed they have installed some speed cameras in Zagreb, but no idea if they work as people still zip along past them.
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Post by yelrohs on Apr 13, 2016 23:56:16 GMT 1
Hi everyone. Thank you all so much for all the very helpful information. It is really useful.
We use a Maxicosi Cabriofix seat. From memory when we first bought the seat I think it can be belted in without the base so this should be an option when we get to Croatia. Let's hope the airline do not have a problem with bringing the cat seat and our stroller!!!
I really do appreciate all your replies.
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Post by lostintheselo on Apr 14, 2016 7:04:37 GMT 1
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Post by crojoe on Apr 14, 2016 9:38:36 GMT 1
Hi everyone. Thank you all so much for all the very helpful information. It is really useful. We use a Maxicosi Cabriofix seat. From memory when we first bought the seat I think it can be belted in without the base so this should be an option when we get to Croatia. Let's hope the airline do not have a problem with bringing the cat seat and our stroller!!! I really do appreciate all your replies. I gather this is your first child. Don't worry, with a kid you'll get to board the plane first, a fold able stroller can be used up to the door of the plane then they will take it from you and stow it in cargo hold then give it back to you at the other end. If you are flying from UK might just be best to hold the baby in your arms (the airlines will give you an infant belt that hooks onto your belt). They do this stuff all the time, so you need not worry. By the way, Croatia isn't a stone age place... that's reserved primarily for the government (they take a millennium to do anything). Whatever you do in your country for your child will be enough here. If you get a plane seat for your kid then you can bring along the carry-on car seat (depends on how long your flight is). At 8 months your kid is or will be a wiggly worm, so holding the child in your arms will be your best bet. I'm not to sure how patient Croatian taxi drivers will be if you need to fiddle about installing a car seat. Anyway, you should do just fine here. Don't be shocked to see Croatian strangers just walk up to your child and start talking to it, playing or even handing a little treat. Croats love kids (in a positive way) and spoil them rotten. Just relax and enjoy your holiday here!
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Post by Carol on Apr 14, 2016 11:00:28 GMT 1
Sorry, January, I misunderstood you. I thought you meant parents shouldn't use child car seats, not that the govt should butt out and let people learn to use their heads instead.
I agree with the sentiment, and if Croatia is taking the obsessive health and safety route, then I regret that.
I think it actually does harm to over-regulate. Its not just that its annoying (which it is), its that it stops people using their brains to navigate life.
When we first moved to Croatia, we we taken to a viewpoint on an old fort (or castle?) high above one of the islands. There were no handrails, the steps were uneven and some of them were rotten. Having just moved from the UK, I remember thinking that it was very dangerous and being amazed that we were allowed to climb up there without any warning signs or the area being roped off. Then it hit me, I was expected to be accountable for my own safety! I got used to using my head after that, whether it was about taking care in dangerous places or not relying on food labels to tell me if something was safe to eat! Now that I have grown used to living in the UK again though, I hope I haven't forgotten it all and have gone back to walking around like a zombie expecting the govt to do my thinking for me!
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Post by Carol on Apr 14, 2016 11:06:04 GMT 1
Where you get the foldable stroller back depends upon which ground agent the airline uses. I remember once getting off a flight with a sleeping three year old and a non-walking baby and loads of hand luggage (pre the one bag days) and being told to walk for what felt like half a mile to the baggage collection point at Gatwick to get the buggy back. When I asked why, the person directing us said it was a health and safety issue for the baggage handlers as they might hurt their back lifting the (lightweight) buggy.
I think was called inter air or int service or something like that - it was one of the big ones.
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