Moving overseas can be a wild ride! There are some things you don’t even think about until you need them. Sometimes moms may be too busy with the move to think about car seats overseas. This can be a challenge especially if you are not stationed near a military installation with an exchange. Even then the selection of car seats overseas is not anywhere near what is available stateside.
Below you’ll find some suggestions that will make purchasing a car seat easier as you gear up for your overseas move.
Car Seat Safety
Find a car seat that you can start using at birth. The Maxi Cosi Magellan Max 5 in 1 car seat you can use from newborn to age 10! Rear-facing is important for kids until they are 40lbs, and you’ll want a car seat that can accommodate that as well. Did you know that some countries overseas require children to be in car seats much longer than common in the US?
You’ll definitely want to find a car seat that’s easy to install. A car seat that allows you to adjust the headrest and not have to rethread the straps is a huge time saver. If you have more than one kid in a car seat, this extra time is almost unbelievably beneficial.
Related: 3 Tips for Car Seat Safety in Real Life
Traveling with Car Seats Overseas
Living overseas will be an adventure and you’re going to need to bring the car seat along for the fun. So consider the weight of the car seat you’re buying. You’ll want to find a car seat that’s lightweight and portable.
It’s recommended that car seats be used on airplanes, and since the military will buy a ticket for all children, you might as well bring yours! Plus, sending them as checked baggage is risky to the safety of your car seat. Car seats used on airplanes need to be FAA approved, so add that to your checklist, too.
A comfortable child is a happy child, and that’s what every parent needs in the car, train, or plain. Do yourself – and your child – a favor and get a comfortable, safe car seat.
The Extras
When you’ve found a seat with the required safety components, you can look for more of the “wants.” Things like cupholders can make a world of difference when traveling. Cupholders can act as toy, paci, and snack storage and in this case, more is always better.
Something else to consider is how easy the car seat is to clean. Car seats that are easy to take off, wash, and have little to no rules on how to wash them are a BIG win in the parenting book. The Maxi Cosi Magellan Max 5 in 1 car seat you can take the fabric off the car seat and not have to rethread the straps!
While the color of the car seat may not seem like not a big deal, it can be. Just like regular seats in the car, if you’re stationed in a country that gets hot you don’t want to have a dark-colored car seat.
Parents around the world balk when they have to fit three car seats across the back seat. Sometimes it prohibits travel by car overseas, and sometimes it requires a new car purchase. So if you’re planning to grow your family while overseas, make sure the car seats you are starting with will fit three across in your current vehicle.
As a mom all you want to do is ensure the safety of your child, you have our suggestions now go out and find the best car seat for your family! Good luck with your upcoming overseas move!
WANT TO READ MORE?
Check out this article on the new weight allotments for Japan
WANT TO READ MORE?
Check out this article on Packing for an OCONUS Move
CONNECT WITH DAILY MOM
💖 NEWSLETTER: DAILY READS IN YOUR INBOX 💖
Sign up to receive our picks for the best things to do, see and buy so you can relax and focus on more important tasks! Let us help you be the best version of yourself you can be!
BE SOCIAL WITH US
📌 LOVE IT? PIN IT!📌
Photo Credit:
