Car seat on plane for 2 year old?

[JJ&JSMOM]

I'm sure theres a thread for this but the search function was busy. We are traveling on my dd's 2nd b-day to WDW. Not sure whether to bring a car seat and buy her her own seat or to hold her. I'm thinking for the comfort of both of us probably her own seat would be better and I've read articles on the turbulence factor - hard to hold on to little ones during severe turbulence.

Just wondering what others do - TIA for your input.

 

[beattyfamily]

Regardless of carseat, I'd definitely buy her a seat. The carseat, on the other hand, can be a tough decision, if you dont need to carseat for anything else on your trip.

I always bring one but I also always rent a car so we need it even after the flight.

It would be good to have one for the comfort of your child (feeling like she's in a car and probably taking a nap) and for possible turbulance but if you don't need it for a car, it can be a pain to lug around.

I left mine home when I didn't need the carseat for anything else (when we went to Paris) but it was a battle to keep her in her seat at age 2.

We stopped using carseats on the plane by age 3 and my girls did fine so we just checked it with our luggage and had it for our rental car.

Its a decision you'll have to make based on your comfort level and how you think your 2 year old will be with just a lap belt or a carseat.

 

[gonemousin']

We have always purchased a seat for our little ones. I'm not a big fan of lap sitting - my DD's have always enjoyed their own space. If your DD is turning two the day you leave for your trip, then I believe you have no choice but to purchase her an airline ticket of her own. I think the FAA rule is that only children UNDER the age of two can lapsit. As for the carseat - I personally think, with a newly minted two year old, she would be more comfortable in her carseat. It's something she's probably accustomed to being confined in for long periods of time, so she'll be more content. Like beattyfamily mentioned - our rule of thumb is typically to bring the carseat until age three...when they're more apt to sit still and easier to reason with!

Good luck with your decision!!

 

[DADof2Princesses40]

Yes, there are other threads on this. I posted the below message on one
of them earlier. From what I have read, opinions are 50/50 for using a car seat.

.......................

From the posts so far, its 50/50 as to use or not use a car seat.
I think you need to use the extra factors to decide...
1. renting a car? (as someone has already said)
2. already bogged down with too many other things.
3. how figity is your child (mine won't sit still for 10 seconds )
They'll probably want out half the time.
And I'm sure there are others.

We have flown about 5 times with our 2 kids (each 2 at one time or another), and we never used car seats except the one time we were renting a car, and needed it.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[taximomfor4]

I would certainly purchase the seat for your child. As for the carseat, opinions vary. I would think about how far your child's feet stick out with the carseat. It is VERY, EXTREMELY uncomfortable and annoying to have a child kicking off the back of my seat nonstop for hours. It has happened more than once, and made me quite stern with my own kids on flights. I spent a whole flight with my hand on my ds's feet once, because his feet just happened to stick out to inches from the back of the seat in front of him. Every time my ds moved, he slightly pushed off the poor man in front's seatback. I felt bad, apologized, and kept my hand on ds's feet for the next 2 hours. If I'd brought his carseat, his legs would have bent at the knees, making his feet hang DOWN instead of ACROSS to the seatback in front.

 

[o2bacelt]

We always have our carseat with us on the plane since we usually use it at the other end. Leaving safety factors aside, it gives your child a comfortable familiar place in a very unfamiliar place. It works for us, we actually considered not bringing it for our upcoming trip as we were planning on using DME and not a car but after talking about having the freedom to not have to wait for a bus when it's time for a break, we decided to bring the seat with us.

Our DD always takes a nap on the flight so that helps with napping, I don't know how comfortable she'd be with out it and I know in the car seat she can't get herself out and want to wander the plane.

 

[LuvTinkBell]

I am a flight attendant. If your child has reached their second birthday they must have their own seat. And you may be asked to show proof of age, if there is any question.

After my girls were 2, I have rarely brought their carseats onboard. It is up to you, yes it is safest, your child will probably sit better.

However, the tray table may not go down all the way, and this irritated my littlest DD to no end.

 

[surfgirl]

warning: this thread will bring out extremely strong responses with

1) 'I do everything safest way' camp appalled that someone would not bring a car seat on a plane. You will get safety statistics and doom and gloom from them.

2) the 'I'm overwhelmed with xxx kids and cannot physically carry a carseat' or 'my kids screams bloody murder in it' or 'another reason' camp that gives you the pragmatic reasons why they would *like* to do it, but can't for some reason and have accepted it.

both sides will flame each other. it will become a multiple page thread. there will be unkind words stated and even SHOUTED about it.

I recommend using the search function and reading through some threads... probably go back a few pages and you will find another thread if the search function isn't working.

do what you are comfortable with doing. Don't be bullied into not doing it or doing it because of others.

My experience? when I had one child, we brought it on board. It was a hassle and she wanted to sit 'like a big kid' (who was across the aisle). It was a hassle to carry even with the carseat carrying bags. When we wanted to take it out, it was difficult to fit into the overhead compartment.

We now travel with 3 children (5,4,2 last time) ... and between sippies, snacks, coloring books, toys, Daddy's laptop, my camera, changes of clothes for all of us (I was thrown up on a flight once by a kid - VERY thankful for the extra clothes I had brought), diapers, wipes, etc. I just physically can't do it. I've learned my limits and a car seat is not within them. Plus, my kids end up switching seats halfway through the flight, which wouldn't work it a car seat was there.

Figure out what you are comfortable doing...

btw, I personally *hate* the rental carseats... maybe I had a bad experience, but the two times I've done it, they've been installed incorrectly and were very uncomfortable for the kids (one was the big bar that came over her head and she kept sliding around in it). For safety and comfort's sake, I will always check my own car seats and boosters... that is my concession to safety...

 

[belle&beast]

We took carseats for our DS who turned 2 on our trip and for DD4 and used them on the plane. (DD is still in a 5 pt harness- boosters are not allowed.) It was the best thing we could have done for our 2yo and everyone around him. When he is in his carseat, he knows he has to sit and it eliminated him wanting to run around the plane. He also fell asleep in his carseat and I don't think he would have been able to in just a seatbelt. To me it is a simple way to keep them comfortable on a plane. Have a great trip!

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

warning: this thread will bring out extremely strong responses with


both sides will flame each other. it will become a multiple page thread. there will be unkind words stated and even SHOUTED about it.]


This thread was asking for information - not trying to start anything. I certainly hope it won't become a shouting match - theres no need of that. Since I've never flown with children I was curious as to what others do and I will take their experiences/opinions and my opinions and make a decision I am comfortable with. Thanks again for everyone's opinions!

 

[imp&pixie]

We have always puchased the kids their own seat in the plane, no matter what age. When we travel somewhere that we will be driving in cars at our destination we always bring the carseat because it is the most comfortable way for the child to ride and we need it on the other end. On our upcoming Disney trip we are not going to bring the carseat for our two year old because we will be using Disney transportation exclusively and they don't allow carseats on the busses. I just don't want to have to haul that thing around our whole trip for just the plane rides.

 

[surfgirl]

JJ&JSMom, I was just giving you a heads-up...

there are a few hot buttons on this board that gets debate going. and often turns ugly. makes me sad.

car seat on airplane is one of them. tourguidemike is another. crying kids in the park is another.

Hopefully this won't turn ugly, but when you have time, I would use the search function. There have been many threads - some informative, some not so much, but lots of info out there.

 

[las3888]

We just flew back from KC (only 1 hour flight for us) today as a matter of fact. My DS is younger than yours, but he is a large 15 month old. He did have his car seat. My DS is the type who can't sit on my lap for too long. We have always bought a seat for this reason not even so much for safety. As far as the kicking of the seat in front of us, it will happen either way. DS kicked the whole flight and as PP did, I held his feet much of the flight and this was WITH his car seat. I did apologize to the lady in front of us and she said she didn't even notice. Alot of it depends on who is sitting around with you. We have found that alot of people are more agreeable being around us than I expected, at least alot more agreeable than I was b4 I had kids

You will always get those who will scowl at you and everybody will just have to grin and bear the flight as best as possible. I would recommend the car seat if your child does well in the car with it, i.e. it helps to get DS to sleep etc.

Good luck and have a great time!

 

[Ella's Mom]

I have flown twice with my daughter (age 2 in March) this spring. I needed a car seat at my destination for one of the trips so I put my daughter in the car seat on the first leg of our trip. It was so crowded for her that I gate checked the car seat for the next flight. Her legs were jammed in the seat in front of her and she wanted to keep kicking the seat.

I would say leave the car seat at home if you don't need it at WDW.

Whatever you do, don't ever check your car seat when you check in the rest of your luggage. I would recommend gate checking the car seat. If you need your car seat at your destination and it gets lost or delayed, you are stuck at the airport until the car seat arrives, or someone goes and buys a new one.

 

[MissMagnolia]

We just got back from a plane trip and we brought the car seat because we were renting a car. Was fine on the plane - I am REALLY good at not taking a lot of carry-ons so carrying the car seat was no big deal. However, I agree with a previous poster about if you are not going to use it at WDW, don't bring it. We are flying to WDW in August and I am not bringing the seat then. We will be using WDW transportation and so I don't want the extra stuff to carry. It really is something you have to mull over. If you will be stressed because you think your child won't be safe on the plane without it - then bring it. If it is one more thing to carry and you've already got enough stuff to lug around, don't. I have to say that my DH and I flew almost every weekend for 2+ years (he worked for AA and we really reaped the travel benefits! ) and I don't remember one instance of turbulence that would have had a child safer in a car seat than buckled up with the lap belt - I am sure there may be times, but not in my experience.

 

[KJF]

I'm the type really into safety. So, in my mind I'm already debating what to do about whether or not to bring the seat for my DS for our Dec trip. We won't need it at WDW & I really hate the idea of lugging it, strollers, carry-ons along w/ our DD (4) in addition to our DS. I asked DH just this morning what we should do & his response was - "I think if we have an accident there's more to worry about than whether or not he's in a car seat". Good point!! Guess we're not bringing it! But of course he'll remain w/ the seatbelt on the whole time!

 

[Mrsduck101]

We are flying in Sept. and my ds will be a couple weeks before his second birthday. Right now at 20 months he is 29lbs and 34" - a big boy for his age. We bought him a seat but we are leaving the car seat at home. I hope to sit him in between myself and his big sister and will keep him buckled and occupied the best we can. I think the novelty of sitting like the big kids will be a big hit with him.

 

[cukak6]

We flew last year with my DS who was 3 at the time. We tried to use a car seat onboard and were told absolutely not by the flight attendant. She then took it from us and stored it until the end of the flight. I was shocked because I had heard of other people using car seats to make their children more comfortable. I would call the airline to see what their policy is. Otherwise, it was nice to have once we got to Florida since we rented a car. We didn't have to worry about renting one or buying it once we got there. We could just pick up the car and go.

 

[gonemousin']

We flew last year with my DS who was 3 at the time. We tried to use a car seat onboard and were told absolutely not by the flight attendant. She then took it from us and stored it until the end of the flight. I was shocked because I had heard of other people using car seats to make their children more comfortable. I would call the airline to see what their policy is. Otherwise, it was nice to have once we got to Florida since we rented a car. We didn't have to worry about renting one or buying it once we got there. We could just pick up the car and go.

You may have been forced to gate check your car seat for one of two possible reasons (that I can think of). Were you trying to use a booster seat (like a car seat, but with no harness straps). If so, then I believe those are not approved for use on the aircraft, since they're really just seatbelt positioners. Or, it's possible that your particular brand of car seat was not FAA approved for flying and/or too large for the airplane seats (arm rests must be able to go down). I have heard of a few folks on this board being forced to check their car seats for some of these reasons. Very frustrating I'm sure!!

 

[KristinU]

I'm of the "always travel with our car seat" camp...but there have been plenty of responses already on the pros and cons.

I did want to add an "it worked for me" thing though. I noted a lot of posts mentioning the kids kicking the seats in front of them. On a recent trip I realized that my DS (2) had grown since the last flight and now could kick the seat in front of him...so I explained (and fibbed) to him that the person in front of him didn't feel good and needed to rest so we needed to be quiet and not kick their seat. I only had to remind him once or twice per flight and he even reminded me once Logic and explanation seems to work better with my DS than a plain old "don't do that" (at least for the moment anyway!)

Cheers!