4 y/o in plane seat

[bugbugmom]

Hi, my DS4 will be flying for the 1st time in Sept. My question for anyone who has a toddler flying. Are they comfortable and safe in the airline seat. He is 40 pounds. I saw on several airline website about 40 pound child is comfortable/safe in the airline seat. Anyone with any experiences.

 

[hulabird]

My niece first flew when she was 2 years old and she loved it and was very secure in her seat, in fact she wanted her own seat and never wanted to sit on her mom's lap at all. I think a 4 yo will do just fine and be totally secure and safe. It is required that a child over, I believe, age 2 have their own seat anyway, so I would think the airlines make sure the seats accomodate even the smallest passenger occupying a paid seat.

 

[Esmerelda]

Both of my boys were 3 the first time they flew and we headed off to Disney. My youngest son was not very big for his age and he did just fine back then in the airline seat. As a matter of fact , that same child, now 9yrs old, still says he wants to be a pilot and fly F-14's!! They both did great at age 3..just take activities for them and lots of gum for those tender ears....

I don't think you will have any problems and you can always gate check the car seat so you will have it in Orlando.


happy planning!
Esmerelda

 

[disneyfor3]

My son used his car seat on the plane until his last visit a few months ago when he was 3 and 1/2. He is big for his age and is 40 pounds also. He was much more comfortable without the car seat. He enjoyed sitting in the seat and buckled in fine. When they get to a certain size they can get uncomfortable in the car seat as they don't have much leg room between them and the seat in front of them on the plane. If your son is 40 pounds, he should do fine without the car seat. I just baggage checked ours. I also let me son pack his Thomas backpack/rolling suitcase with his favorite toys and threw in a few surprises.

 

[Mainebound]

My 4 year old boy flew without a carseat inMarch and was fine and comfortable. He started flying without a carseat at 3 1/2. He's tall for his age but not huge.

 

[Lexxiefern]

My DD has flown numerous times since she was 1. That first trip (she was 12 months) I held her on my lap. That was awful!

Now she always has her own seat. Currently she weighs 27 lbs and is 3 1/2 and loves having her own seat. No problems at all.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by disneyfor3
...much more comfortable without the car seat. He enjoyed sitting in the seat and buckled in fine. When they get to a certain size they can get uncomfortable in the car seat as they don't have much leg room between them and the seat in front of them on the plane...

After about age 3, I believe there is significant professional opinion leaning toward leaving the child in a standard airline seat, and simply checking the carseat thru (to MCO in this case). We kept DD in a carseat when she was just 3, but by the time she was 3 1/2 she was ready to be in the regular seat, which also made it easier to navigate the airport (not having to lug the carseat around, having checked it curbside).

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

A Question for all you experienced flyers.....

I have a 4.5yo who is currently 43lbs... we are going to take his booster seat with us to Florida (from Toronto Canada) b/c we will need it in the airport limo we are taking to the airport anyway and that way I know it's my child's cookie crumbs and such in it rather then using a rented one. Can you gate check the booster seat?? I'm worried that if I check it with the baggage it will end up damaged due to the rough treatment??

 

[Jacksmom99]

I've checked my son's carseat and stroller several times. We never had a problem with damage. DH also has checked his golf clubs w/o a problem (I was hoping to lose those ) At one airport, we were watching the bags being loaded onto the plane and noticed the baggage cart driving to the plane with our carseat and DH's golf clubs on top to avoid getting crushed in the luggage. If you are really concerned about the carseat, I know they sell bags for them, check out Babies 'R Us, or One-Step-Ahead.

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

Originally posted by BitsnBearsMom
A Question for all you experienced flyers.....

I have a 4.5yo who is currently 43lbs... we are going to take his booster seat with us to Florida (from Toronto Canada) b/c we will need it in the airport limo we are taking to the airport anyway and that way I know it's my child's cookie crumbs and such in it rather then using a rented one. Can you gate check the booster seat?? I'm worried that if I check it with the baggage it will end up damaged due to the rough treatment??

On Tuesday I gate checked our double stroller and 2 car seats. Not a problem! Today on our return trip I gate checked the stroller but brought the car seats on the plane (you can't bring a booster). DD is 4 but only weighs 33 pounds. I was hoping she would nap if I brought her seat on but she didn't. She didn't seem any more or any less comfortable with or without her car seat on the airplane. DS is 2, on the way to Orlando he kept unbuckling the airplane seat belt. On the way home I used his car seat and he slept for 1/2 the flight.

 

[frstimer128]

Can you bring the backless booster seats on the plane?

 

[cart-mom]

I also highly recommend gate check for strollers and car seats. It really saved us from having to carry my 1yr old son through the airport with his sister and two brothers and our carry on stuff. Just way too much to carry IMO.

frstimer128 - check the tag on your booster seat. It will tell you if it is approved by the FAA. If it's not on there anymore or not legible, then check the website for the manufacturer. They should have the information listed for your model. If it's not FAA approved, they will make you check it.

 

[bray]

My family doesn't fly often but when we do it is from TX to IL or TX to AZ and therefore at least a 2 1/2 hour flight. My daughter was 10 wks old when we first had to fly with her and has made at least two trips per year since then. She is now 8.

She LOVES flying and thinks everyone has to get on a plane to go see grandma. Since she was always thin for her age, I used a car seat forever. We would gate check the car seat/booster seat if it was not FAA approved. Look on the sticker or in the owners manual. We also did this for when she needed the booster for the rental car but not for the airplane. I only had a problem one time with damage to a booster seat. Continental was very cooperative and gave me a voucher for a replacement seat. I could either replace it when I got home or when I got to my destination.

 

[NotUrsula]

The FAA recommendation for carseat use on aircraft is based on weight, not age or height. A child who is over 40 lbs. will be safest using just the aircraft seat, with the lap belt.

A backless booster may be carried onto the plane as carryon luggage *if* it fits into the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you--it may NOT be actually used for seating on the aircraft. All carseats that are being used for seating *must* have an integral upper-body harness (and if sold in the US, will have a mfr. sticker stating their suitability for aircraft use.)

I always gate-check carseats of any kind if they will not be used on the aircraft. Not only are they less likely to end up under a mountain of heavy luggage; but gate-checked baggage can be retrieved in the event that a connecting flight is missed or cancelled, which is not always the case with regular checked baggage. You don't want to take the risk of having a carseat sent onto the wrong flight, as you need it to leave the airport once you reach your destination.