How to Plan a Transfer When Traveling with a Child Seat
Traveling with infants or young children requires a correctly fitted, legally appropriate child seat in the transfer vehicle. The requirements vary by country, child age and weight, and vehicle type — and the seat must be requested at booking, not arranged on arrival.
Child Seat Types by Age and Weight
Different child seat types serve different age and weight ranges. Using the wrong type is both unsafe and in many countries illegal. The three main categories are:
For children from birth to approximately 12 to 15 months, weight up to 13kg. Rear-facing only. Suitable for newborns and young infants.
For children approximately 9 months to 4 years, weight 9 to 18kg. Can be forward-facing. Must be secured with ISOFIX or vehicle belt.
For children approximately 3 to 12 years, weight 15 to 36kg. High-back boosters provide better side protection than cushion-only boosters.
Legal Requirements by Country
Child seat laws vary significantly across countries. In most of Europe, children under 135cm or under 12 years of age must travel in an approved child restraint. In some countries (e.g., Turkey, UAE, Spain), enforcement is strict and penalties for non-compliance apply to the vehicle operator.
Regardless of the local legal requirement, using an appropriate child seat in a transfer vehicle is the right decision for the child's safety. Do not assume that because a country has lower enforcement, the risk is lower. The relevant question is whether the seat is appropriate for the child's size — not whether there's a checkpoint nearby.
How Child Seat Requests Affect the Booking
A child seat is not a standard item in all transfer vehicles. Requesting one changes the booking in specific ways:
Child seats must be specified when the booking is made so the driver can bring the correct equipment. Requesting a child seat at the airport on arrival will typically not be accommodated.
This determines which seat type is required. Providing "a child seat" without age or weight details may result in the wrong seat type being brought, which is not usable. Specify: infant seat (0-12 months), forward-facing (1-4 years), or booster (4+ years).
A large infant seat installed in a sedan may leave insufficient room for passengers and luggage. For families with multiple bags and a child seat, an MPV or estate vehicle is often the correct vehicle category.
When the driver arrives, confirm that the child seat is fitted to the vehicle — not merely in the boot. Ask the driver to demonstrate the installation if you are unsure it is correctly secured.
Bringing Your Own Child Seat
Some families prefer to bring their own seat — the one the child is accustomed to, correctly sized, and already adjusted. This is a valid option. In this case, specify at booking that you will be bringing a child seat, as this takes up boot space and affects vehicle selection. Your own seat will need to be installed by the driver or by the passenger — confirm this process when booking.
What to Confirm Before Travel
- Child seat type required based on your child's age and weight
- Whether the transfer service provides this seat type in your destination country
- Whether you'll use a provided seat or bring your own
- Vehicle category is appropriately sized for your group plus luggage plus child seat
- That the seat confirmation appears in your booking documentation
Family travel with young children also tends to involve more luggage — strollers, carry cots, bags. This feeds directly into the guidance on oversized luggage in airport transfers and the importance of declaring all items accurately at the booking process stage.
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