Car seat on plane or no?

[mom2alix]

Should I bring DS's car seat for the plane ride or have one less thing to carry/store? He just turned 2 so it's no longer required. We have a non-stop flight and we're using ME so no need for car seat at WDW? I really hadn't considered NOT taking the car seat (didn't occur to me) until DH mentioned that a car seat isn't required on the plane for kids over 2. What do you think?

 

[Livin'4Disney]

Take the car seat....
It is peace of mind to have the child in their own seat and comfortable. They will have to sit by the window (regulations, etc.).
When I flew with my 2y.o. to NY I decided to take his seat and I was so glad I did. Plus, it is much safer for the child on the plane to be in their carseat with a five point harness.
Just my 2cents

 

[Mickster]

My DD used the carseat on the plane and she was over 2. It was nice to have her strapped in! Not climbing all over me or the people around us. Hard to keep a 2 year seated for 10 minutes, let alone 2.5 hours, in my experience. It is a little annoying in the airport and stuff, but she sat in it while waiting for our flight. It was her throne! My DD (age 5) was soooo jealous that he didn't have a throne! Who would have thought...

 

[amarberry]

I'm flying ALONE (yikes!) with my 2 yo DD next month and I'm still planning to lug her carseat (alone with the stroller, carry on's, etc.) on the plane. Besides the safety reasons, she's used to it and knows she once she is in, she's not getting out. She usually falls asleep too. I know that she wouldn't do that if she wasn't in her carseat. On our last trip to Orlando in Sept., there was a little girl who was around the same age as my DD in front of us and the parents were having a heck of a time keeping her in her seat. By the end of the flight, the entire family was grumpy and the mom, after seeing my DD comfortable and well behaved in her carseat, told me she wished that they had brought there's.

 

[sydally9367]

When my DD's were younger (they are 5 and 9 now), I used to always bring their car seats on the plane with us. I just found it was easier to keep them entertained while they were strapped in, where they are normally comfortable and more often than not, they would nod off and sleep most of the flight. My youngest DD liked to run around and create havoc, so it definitely helped keep her under control!

 

[tjmw2727]

It isn't required so it's up to you. Both the AAP and the FAA recommend using a carseat until the 40lb mark on the aircraft. We did use one for my dd's until they were around 3 1/2.

TJ

 

[all4fun]

We also still use ours on the plane, mostly for the reason the pp stated. I know my ds wouldn't want to stay seated when the seatbelt light is on and when you're flying cross country, that can be quite frequent because of turbulence. One time we were coming in to our home airport to land and on decent the pilot warned us about severe turbulence ahead of time. I wasn't worried about ds flying out of his seat because he was strapped into his car seat (and it was a pretty rough decent, as predicted). He was only 30lbs at the time (and still only 33# at 3-1/2yrs, so this next trip we will be using the seat again.) The times it's given me peace of mind and also allowed me to relax because ds wasn't trying to escape his seatbelt have been worth the extra effort of lugging it through the airport. jmho. hth.

 

[lil mermaid]

We still use the carseat on the plane with DD. It really is recommended until the child reaches at least 40 lbs., and as others have stated, things are much easier if the are strapped in and can't get out!

Another option is a CARES harness. You can get one at this site http://www.kidsflysafe.com/ It is approved by the FAA and would be much easier to carry around than a carseat! It is somewhat pricey at $75, but if you travel often and your son has just turned 2, it may be worth it.

 

[disneydancer1969]

get a booster seat. it can be easily stored and u should bring it just incase.

 

[tjmw2727]

get a booster seat. it can be easily stored and u should bring it just incase.

Unfortunately this won't work.

Booster seats aren't allowed on the aircraft, the OP dosen't need one for ground transportation as they are using ME and Disney Transportation and a booster is not an appropriate CRS for a 2yo.

TJ

 

[mom2alix]

It isn't required so it's up to you. Both the AAP and the FAA recommend using a carseat until the 40lb mark on the aircraft. We did use one for my dd's until they were around 3 1/2.

TJ

That's what I needed to know. DH really just didn't want to deal with the seat, but I think DS will do much better strapped in. I'll just tell him (DH) it's the FAA and AAP recommendation so we're going to do it. I really didn't want to spend the flight fighting with DS over the seat belt and you guys have given me a good argument to convince DH. Thanks!

 

[all4fun]

That's what I needed to know. DH really just didn't want to deal with the seat, but I think DS will do much better strapped in. I'll just tell him (DH) it's the FAA and AAP recommendation so we're going to do it. I really didn't want to spend the flight fighting with DS over the seat belt and you guys have given me a good argument to convince DH. Thanks!

Well why didn't you say so! LOL. Here's a link to the FAA site should you feel the need to show something "official" to your dh: http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/ Hth!

 

[mom2alix]

Well why didn't you say so! LOL. Here's a link to the FAA site should you feel the need to show something "official" to your dh: http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/ Hth!

Thanks for the link!!!

 

[DisneyPhD]

I wouldn't, and don't normally. Not if you don't need it later in the trip.

However you won't get a lot of this advice on Dis because flying with out a car seat is very looked down on. It has a history of being a hot seat topic around here.

Have a good trip.

 

[wrldpossibility]

I had a similar question a few weeks ago. I know exactly how your DH feels...I was excited at the prospect of not lugging the seat all over three airports for once. But we've decided to take the carseat for our barely 2 yo. It will be worth it on the plane.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I am another vote for no carseat. My kids would never sit in it if we brought it because a plane doesn't feel like it's moving. Sort of like being in a carseat while sitting on the couch. I know alot of people say they bring them, but in my experience the people with no carseats have outnumbered those with them. I think it's a personal choice, but we don't bring them.

 

[mdhkitten]

I'm leaving in a couple of weeks with my dd who will be almost 30 months at the time, and I'm not taking her carseat. I won't have a use for it the rest of the time, and all she would do in her carseat is kick the seat in front of her (or at least try to!). I seriously considered getting a CARES harness to use, but since I'm not sure that we'll be flying again before she would outgrow it, I decided against it. Maybe we should start a CARES harness "swap"! LOL

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

Flying down in January. DS will be 29 months, but he's going in the carseat. He's no where near 40lbs yet.

The extra hassle is worth the peace of mind.