If you’ve ever doomscrolled Reddit at midnight the night before your first trip with your baby, wondering if it’s worth lugging a 35-pound car seat across the world, you’re in good company. Every parent eventually asks: do I bring the car seat, or do I leave it at home and hope for the best?
The answer, annoying as it sounds, is: it depends. Car seat laws vary dramatically from place to place, and what feels non-negotiable in the U.S. might not even be legal, or necessary, abroad. The good news? Once you know your options, you can make a plan that keeps your baby safe without losing your sanity.
Taxis, Rideshares, and Local Apps
In most Western countries, taxis are exempt from car seat laws. That means you can legally hop in without one, as long as your child rides in the back. Rideshares like Uber or Lyft, though, are usually held to stricter standards, even when taxis aren’t.
Then there are local quirks. In Taipei, families often rely on Uber without car seats because it’s both legal and widely accepted. In Dubai, the Careem app has a “Kids” option that lets you book a car with a seat installed–a game changer when you’re planning your trip around air conditioned spaces. In Lisbon, for instance, Bolt offers a child seat option but it’s limited to booster seats, not infants.
Bottom line: there’s no universal “Uber for babies.” Each city has its own rules and workarounds, which is why a little research before you land and assessing your personal comfort level before your travel makes life infinitely easier.
Planes: Under 2? Lap Infant.
The FAA doesn’t require car seats on planes, and most airlines let children under two fly as lap infants for a fraction of the cost. Although if you Google it, safety experts recommend FAA-approved car seats, but in practice, bringing one onboard is more hassle than help. Seats must be installed in a window seat, you’ll be the one to install it, and let’s be real, most babies don’t sit still the entire flight anyway.
If you do bring one, check your airline’s rules carefully and make sure your seat is labeled for aircraft use. Otherwise, prepare for aisle laps, snacks, fidget toys, and the occasional meltdown–it’s all part of the airborne parenting package.
Pro tip: feed your baby during takeoff and landing. It helps relieve their ear pressure and often combined with the engine rumble will put your little one right to sleep.
Rental Cars: YouTube is Your Friend
On paper, rentals seem like the easiest fix. Big companies like Avis, Budget, and Sixt offer infant, convertible, or booster seats when you reserve. In reality, the seats are often missing manuals, locking clips, or come with staff who don’t know how to install them properly.
If you go this route, assume you’ll need to double-check (or completely reinstall) the seat yourself. It might seem tricky, but at least it’s not rocket science. A quick YouTube tutorial can be a lifesaver here.
Public Transportation: Your Easiest Out
One perk of trains, subways, and buses? No car seat required. In cities like Lisbon, the metro, buses, and trams are not only clean and stroller-friendly, they’re often faster than trying to drive through narrow streets. In Dubai, women-and-children-only cabins on the metro add an extra layer of safety and comfort.
If your itinerary allows, public transport can save you the headache of car seats entirely.
Private Transfers & Travel Advisors: What Parents Need to Know
Private transfers can be a lifesaver when traveling with a baby: no taxi lines, vetted drivers, bags handled. But luxury doesn’t always mean family-ready. Even premium services don’t consistently provide the right car seat.
That’s not negligence; it’s focus. Transfer companies and destination management companies (DMCs) are experts at curating luxury cars and smooth itineraries, but baby safety isn’t generally a specialty. Which means parents (and their advisors) need to bridge that gap (hint: that’s why we created Trimester Abroad).
Some cities do it well: Kidmoto in New York guarantees pre-installed car seats, and London’s Premium Transfers vets drivers with families in mind. But these require advance booking.
If you’re working with a travel advisor, remember, they outsource transfers to DMCs like Queen of Clubs or Balder Expert. These partners shine at luxury details and local “insider” knowledge, but the majority of their clients aren’t new or expecting parents. To avoid surprises, give your advisor your child’s age, weight, and seat type (infant, convertible, booster) for the time of travel (make an estimate if you’re booking months/years out) and ask them to reconfirm the details a week and 24 hours before pickup.
This isn’t about calling anyone out, it’s about partnership. Advisors and DMCs excel at luxury, but parents know their kids best. When both sides do their part, you get what every family wants: safe, seamless, stress-free travel.
The Toddler Factor
Even when everything lines up, there’s one constant: most kids hate car seats. Long rides mean protests. That’s where a distraction kit comes in: snacks (banana chips, jerky, cereal), fidget toys, pop-its, and small books with music buttons. The more you can keep little hands busy, the less your little one will inform you that they feel like they’re strapped in a straightjacket.
How to Decide
- Research local laws: Start with your destination. Are car seats required in taxis? Rideshares?
- Weigh your comfort level: Some parents won’t risk a car without a seat. Others prioritize lighter luggage. Neither is wrong.
- Plan your airport transfer: Decide before you land whether you’re taking a taxi, booking a service like Careem or Kidmoto, or relying on public transit.
- Be flexible: What works in Lisbon may not work in Dubai. What works in Taipei may not work in NYC.
The Bottom Line
There’s no universal rule. Sometimes bringing your car seat is worth the peace of mind. Sometimes it’s not. What matters most is that you’ve asked the question before you’re standing on the curb with a tired baby and no safe ride in sight.
Traveling with a baby is never about perfection, it’s about preparation and flexibility. With a little research and the right expectations, you’ll find a system that keeps your baby safe and lets you enjoy the ride.
