Airplane carseat suggestions?

[JJ&JSMOM]

Thanks, he is cute when he's sleeping. He rides rfing in the car as well as it's safest for him since he's only 26# and his main seat rf to 33#. Here's a great video on it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmUWg7QrC8

I put him rfing for that flight b/c he had to sit alone and I didn't want him kicking the person in front of him. I let him ride ffing on the way home since he was next to DH.

Thanks for the tips. His seat looks nice & snug rfing. Good idea to deter the seat kicking. I checked our manual and DD2 will sit ffing - we'll be sitting beside her so we can hopefully stop her from kicking the seat in front of her. Shes a chunky 2 year old at 36lbs. I'll check out that link. Thanks again.

 

[tjmw2727]

Thanks for the tips. His seat looks nice & snug rfing. Good idea to deter the seat kicking. I checked our manual and DD2 will sit ffing - we'll be sitting beside her so we can hopefully stop her from kicking the seat in front of her. Shes a chunky 2 year old at 36lbs. I'll check out that link. Thanks again.

To help with seat kicking take off the shoes and if possible have a member of your party sit in front of the carseat. We are a family of 4 so when dd was little and more likely to kick I would book seats in 2/2 and dh or I would sit in front of her. If that isn't possible just try lots of fun distractions. Little rewards like stickers, fruit chews or pops for not kicking worked well for us.

TJ

 

[lkaanda]

Did you have any problems with the employees at the airlines for having a car seat? We have not had to travel with one for a while, but want to bring one for our 2 1/2 year old for Feb.. Last time we tried was in 2001 and they almost wouldn't let us even though we checked and it was FAA approved.

 

[thepeach80]

Did you have any problems with the employees at the airlines for having a car seat? We have not had to travel with one for a while, but want to bring one for our 2 1/2 year old for Feb.. Last time we tried was in 2001 and they almost wouldn't let us even though we checked and it was FAA approved.

Nope, we've never had a problem. We were asked on one flight if we bought a seat for Ilana b/c the flight was full (which we had), but that was it. I've flown several times w/ carseats and no one has ever asked to see if the seat was approved and no one has ever given me grief for it. In fact, I think most people appreciate it once they see how my kids behave on the plane vs other kids not in seats.

 

[NotUrsula]

The right to use a carseat in a paid-for seat on a commercial flight has been federal law in the US since at least 1985. You cannot be prevented from using the carseat if it is approved for aircraft use and you have purchased a space for it. There are restrictions on the locations of seats where it may be placed, but you are entitled to have them move other passengers if necessary to get you and your child into a "legal" seat position.

That said, employees of US carriers TRY to prevent the use of carseats all the time. Most of these don't know the law (which btw, is 14 CFR 121.311), and are concerned that boarding the carseat will slow down boarding, and that the passenger seated in front of it will complain about being unable to recline.

Edited to add for thePeach80: on US carriers, 14 CFR 121.311 prohibits a child in a carseat from sitting alone. FA's are allowed to insist that someone else move in order to put an adult of the same party next to any child in a carseat.

 

[thepeach80]

There were only 3 seats across the whole plane, so someone had to sit alone since there were 5 of us, we chose Evan. He was sitting in both an aisle seat and a window seat. Ilana and I were right across the aisle from him. Don't worry, he didn't have to sit next to a stranger.

 

[DreaGirl]

We have the Marathon and I used it in the rear-facing position on a NW flight. It fit fine.

 

[emmababy]

What about the CARES did he not like?

 

[javaj]

What about the CARES did he not like?

He was so fidgety in it. He cried and kept trying to get out of it. One of the above posters said that it may be better for big babies. I agree, he seemed to slouch down in the seat with the CARES on.

 

[thepeach80]

He was so fidgety in it. He cried and kept trying to get out of it. One of the above posters said that it may be better for big babies. I agree, he seemed to slouch down in the seat with the CARES on.

This is probably b/c his legs didn't fit to the edge of the seat and he was trying to get comfy. AJ was doing this on the way back when we didn't use his seat and I was always reminding him to scoot back.

 

[lori123]

I always used a car seat on the airplane with my kids. Never had a problem - or had airline employees try and convince me not too - that is if you have a paid seat for your child. They probably just worry when you are counting on an "open seat" next to you - since the odds aren't always great for that - and they have to then check the seat. I have however had them check to see that they are airplane approved. It was honestly the best way for me to travel! The kids were comfortable - and SLEPT most of the way. And they were perfectly content to sit since they figured it was just like the car and getting out wasn't an option. That worked until we potty trained . There are restrictions as too where they can be placed though. As per safety regulations they cannot be on the isle or middle seat if someone is seated on the window. I was told this was because of needing to exit in an emergency. I travelled with twins and was not allowed to sit inbetween them - they had to be in the window and middle seat. No biggie.
Lori

 

[NotUrsula]

Ilana and I were right across the aisle from him. Don't worry, he didn't have to sit next to a stranger.

Just so you know, the rule has nothing to do with sitting next to strangers. The reason for it is that if there is a fire and the plane must be evacuated in a hurry, someone needs to be right there to get the child out of the seat, probably with the cabin in darkness because of smoke. In that situation, you would have had to block the aisle, (or fight the traffic in the aisle) in order to get him unbuckled and off the plane.

 

[thepeach80]

Just so you know, the rule has nothing to do with sitting next to strangers. The reason for it is that if there is a fire and the plane must be evacuated in a hurry, someone needs to be right there to get the child out of the seat, probably with the cabin in darkness because of smoke. In that situation, you would have had to block the aisle, (or fight the traffic in the aisle) in order to get him unbuckled and off the plane.

That's silly b/c that pretty much means no one can fly w/ more kids than there are adults (at least those in seats), which is obviously not an option for us, especially since all 3 of my kids rode in carseats and not even my oldest can undo himself. The plane we were on only had 2 seats across so there was no way for this to work short of sitting one of my children next to a stranger who was willing to take responsibility for him in case of an emergency.

 

[2002Disneybride]

We just got back and used our marathon. Our daughter slept awesome on the plane, that carseat is so comfy. I wouldn't have used anything else. We just losen the straps and Daddy carries it as a back pack through out the airport. It's worth it.

We do the same! It is so much easier with them in a carseat!

 

[Texasmomof3]

Just a thought- An adult or someone responsible enough should be seated next to a child in case of emergency evacuation but also inflight in case of a decompression. If there is a decompression (and yes it happens - you just don't hear about it) someone needs to be there to put the oxygen mask on the child. The plane will descend rapidly so you won't be able to get up to do it. We are talking about seconds not minutes to save their lives as well as your own. Children old enough should always be taught what to do if the oxygen mask should drop, just in case.