Car seat on plane for dd4

[MommaGinger]

Good morning. Car seat or no.....that is the question??

My DD will be a little over 4 when we fly down. She weighs about 35lbs and is 38 inches. Of course I want her to be safe as possible on the flight but she also needs to be somewhat comfortable. We are bringing the car seat anyway for the rental car. I was just wondering what others with children of this age/size have done in the past.

Thank you.

 

[Sprockie]

I haven't brought a car seat for my kids anytime after they were out of an infant seat. Sitting up colouring and having a drink of juice from the tray etc. is a fun experience - I expect a car seat would be cumbersome.

 

[1tufgt]

Well our daughter was 1 when we took her with her car seat and will be doing it again this year. She's 35" now and it wasn't a hassle to keep her in her car seat. Reason we bring a car seat on the plane is that she's more calm buckled into a car seat than she would be in a seat without one.

But as far as a hassle it's not that big of a hassle at all.

 

[candy0730]

The last time we flew my son was 5 and we brought his Britax Marathon on the plane. He was comfortable being in his usual seat and I think it is safer. The only problems we had was he couldn't use the tray table and it was much easier for him to kick the seat in front of him.

OP - just like you we bring it because while we are in Florida we rent a car to drive to Clearwater to visit family so we use it in the car also.

My son will be 6 next time we go to Disney. I don't think we will be using his car seat on the plane but we will need to figure out what to do when renting a car. I really don't want to check his car seat at the airport because I am afraid of damage so we may have to buy an inexpensive one while there.

OP do what you feel is right for you and your child.

 

[mom2brooke76]

I'm also one that hasn't used a car seat for my dd, who's now 6. She flies approximately 10 times a year and once she was past two didn't bother.

 

[pooh4evr]

We haven't brought seats for our kids on the plane either- partly because the older 2 were in boosters by the time they were 4, and as far as youngest DD we figured she would be fine sitting next to DH or I, buckled in- she has room to move a bit, she can use her tray comfortably and feel like a big kid. We brong a portable DVD player, DS, coloring books, and snacks- so far so good for us at least- but you know your child best and have to do whatever makes you comfortable

 

[CarolMN]

Assume you know that any car seat used on an airplane must be approved for that use by the FAA. For those that didn't know, here is a helpful link:

Child Safety on Airplanes - from FAA website

 

[GAGirlInVA]

If we need carseats when we land, the children sit in them on the plane. I don't gate check my carseats, ever.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I don't think we will be using his car seat on the plane but we will need to figure out what to do when renting a car.

When you reserve a rental car, ask if they have a car seat you can rent.

 

[bumbershoot]

I stopped bringing the seat on the plane when DS was just coming up on 4. He had been on many planes and was good about it, and frankly I was exhausted, I was getting onto a 3/4 full plane and just didn't WANT to tote that thing down the aisles trying not to bump into everyone... So when the gate agent asked me, again, if I would like to gate check it, I said yes. Never looked back!

I won't check-check a carseat, but I will and do gatecheck them. DS still uses a seat (the Nautilus) in the car, but he's nearly 7 and there's simply no way I'm going to put him in that on the plane.

So if you think your 4 year old will sit nicely and not take advantage of the relative freedom of a lapbelt, consider gate-checking it. If you think she would, then bring it onboard.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

if carseat needs shoulderbelt, will not be able to use on plane. seat must be approved for plane use. know my grandsons used booster type car seats at 4 and none are approved for planes, even highbacked ones.

 

[brenda1966]

My friend informed me that her car seat put her kid in the proper position to kick the back of the seat in front of her for the entire 3 hour flight. She said 'never again!'. So, one other thing to keep in mind.

I just checked the car seat with the luggage when we flew. Airlines don't charge you for it like they do a piece of luggage. No reason to cart it to the gate. And yes, be sure it's even FAA approved if you do decide to take it on the plane. We've been flying since DD was 2 and never brought a car seat on board.

 

[DSLRuser]

At 4. No way. There is being safe and there is being obsesive. Florida law only requires a child under 3 be in a car seat. Children 4-5 must be in a rear seat and buckled in with a seat belt.

I am all for keeping my kids safe, but there is a point where you have to use common sense.

We all grew up in the 70's and 80's with zero car seat laws and we are not dead.

Sit her in her plane seat and she wil be fine. Seat her in the back of the rental car with a seat belt and she will be fine. If you want check a car seat on the flight for the rental car.

Seriously. As morbid as it sounds. If the plane crashes. A car seat won't make much difference.

 

[laughinplace199]

My oldest two kids were in boosters by the time they were 4, so we checked their boosters (we always rent a car) and they just sat in the regular plane seat and used the seatblet.

My youngest is super tiny. He will be 5 the next time we fly. I'm pretty sure he'll still be using a carseat in the car at that point. However, for our WDW trip, he will not use the carseat for the plane ride - we will gate check it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The only problems we had was he couldn't use the tray table and it was much easier for him to kick the seat in front of him.

My friend informed me that her car seat put her kid in the proper position to kick the back of the seat in front of her for the entire 3 hour flight

One great tip when bringing a car seat on the plane for a larger child is to seat a member of your own party directly in front of that child. Not always possible, sure - but whenever it is, it's an excellent way to take responsibility for your own party and not inconvenience any other passenger.

 

[candy0730]

At 4. No way. There is being safe and there is being obsesive. Florida law only requires a child under 3 be in a car seat. Children 4-5 must be in a rear seat and buckled in with a seat belt.

Personally I don't care that Florida law says my child can ride in the rear seat with just a seat belt. That does not mean it is the safest for my child. It is only safe to only use a seat belt if the belt is positioned correctly across the childs lap and chest. That may be ok for some younger children but not all.

I am all for keeping my kids safe, but there is a point where you have to use common sense.

We all grew up in the 70's and 80's with zero car seat laws and we are not dead.

Of course the chances of an accident are small but I don't see how your comparison to the 70's and 80's is relevant. We now know it is safer to use a safety seat for children so why not do it? I am sure there are too many parents who wish they had these types of seats back then.

Sit her in her plane seat and she wil be fine. Seat her in the back of the rental car with a seat belt and she will be fine. If you want check a car seat on the flight for the rental car.

Seriously. As morbid as it sounds. If the plane crashes. A car seat won't make much difference.

But a safety seat will be better protection if you hit alot of turbulence or have an emergency landing.

I do not find it obsessive to use a car seat for a 4 year old child but that is just my opinion. All anyone can do is what they think is best for their child.

 

[WicketsMom]

I do not find it obsessive to use a car seat for a 4 year old child but that is just my opinion. All anyone can do is what they think is best for their child.

I agree 100%. My son is four and we always carry his car seat on the plane. It raises him up to where he can see out the window. I remove his shoes to keep him from accidentally kicking the seat in front of him, and he has flown so many times that he knows not to do it on purpose.

As far as Florida law, he is required by ME to be in a car seat still because he is much safer. A former employee of my husband had a wreck with his 4-year old daughter in the back seat in a seat belt only and she died (no one else was injured). The car seat would have saved her life.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I agree that I would not take a car seat on the plane for a 4 year old. It would be an enormous hassle and not needed.

 

[sorul82?]

Florida law only requires a child under 3 be in a car seat. Children 4-5 must be in a rear seat and buckled in with a seat belt.

The Hertz locations in FL says under 5 must be in a car seat.

We all grew up in the 70's and 80's with zero car seat laws and we are not dead.

While you and I aren't dead, obviously enough children have died to warrant current laws.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We all grew up in the 70's and 80's with zero car seat laws and we are not dead.

We all certainly did not grow up in the 70s and 80s - why would you assume that? My kids were born in the 80s and I can assure you that there were car seat laws then.

Seat her in the back of the rental car with a seat belt and she will be fine.

This is terrible advice. A four year old will not be protected in a car using only a seat belt. They are too small.