Car seat on plane?

[kwoo]

We are going to Dsiney World next month with our kids. We will be flying and our youngest is 2 years 8 months. Do we need to take a car seat for the plane or can he just use the lap belt on the plane?

Kristin

 

[akraeger]

Last year we had the same question for our 2 yr old and we were so happy we took the car seat. He slept the entire trip down ( 3 hour flight ) and Mommy and Daddy could relax in our own seats. Hope this helps!

Have fun!!

 

[pooh4evr]

We too our 4 and almost 2 yr old DD in May no carseats and we were fine! No you do not "need" a carseat. We did not need one for a car because we took shuttles everywhere. Alli sat fine in her seat with the lap belt (she is a big girl- 36 inches and 32 lbs) we brought small toys color and sticker books along with juice and starbursts (to help with ear popping) and they did great! I think one of the main reasons we did not take it was because we did no want to drag it through the airports along with all our other bags and 2 kids, I don't think she would have been comfortable with her car seat either because her legs are so long that she would not have had room to move or put her tray down for anything. But this is just our opinion!

 

[Dizneydaz]

For my DD first trip-she was 2 and 9 months, we did not take the car seat into the plane. We brought it for the rental car and checked it with our luggage. We have done this on every trip since. (This time we're planning on bringing just a booster seat-she's turning 6 but she's still too small to ride without a seat. 42", 36#)

I'm glad we didn't bring the seat on board since I was seated next to her and the large car seat would have made it uncomfortable for both of us. She did nap on the plane, she was seat belted in and I had her lay her head on my lap. Also, since she wanted to move between myself, my mom, and my adult niece, we didn't have to contend with undoing the 5 point harness everytime. Another thought, the tray table wouldn't have worked due to the height of the car seat and I brought her along a special goody bag filled with things to do on board. Stamping, stickers, markers, etc. Our total flight time was over 5 hours (with one stop) and I don't think she would have be as happy in the car sear for so long-plus we would have had to lug it around when changing planes. She loved her first trip and is now a seasoned flier.

Just my thoughts, have a great trip!

40 days and counting!

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Is it possible to check your car seat? I think DD2 would be more comfortable using the lap belt, plus her legs are at PRIME kicking level for the seat in front of her -- she spent our whole trip down in June PUSHING the seat in front of her. We finally took her shoes and socks off to alleviate the pressure on the poor woman in front of her.

If she sits normally, she won't have enough leg room to do that on this trip in September. But we'll be renting a vehicle, so I'll need to have one when we arrive.

 

[Chereya]

This April, we took our son to Hawaii for a month long trip to visit my family. He was just about 18 months at the time but we got him his own seat. We had a direct flight from Philly to LA then from LA to Honolulu. We were bringing the car seat anyway and being the safe mom that I am, I wanted him to sit in it on the plane.

My husband was against the idea from the get go. Why? Because he didn't want to have to lug it around the airport with our carry ons and the stroller plus the boy.

Well, let's just say that my husbands instincts were more correct in this case. The first leg was horrible, especially during take off and landing. Not because of ear popping problems but because he DID NOT want to be strapped into his seat! Not when there were a million and one new things to explore and poke at. So I felt really badly for the people around us who I subjected to listening to him scream because he wanted to be out of the car seat. They probably thought we were bad parents because of the ear thing as we let him out of the seat during the bulk of the flight. That was also a hassle because the car seat took us so much room that it was difficult to wrangle him in the already narrow airline seats. We changed his diapers with him standing up on the car seat - no way I was gonna try to wrestle with him in the "interesting", nasty and tiny lavatory.

One other thing we noticed while he was thankfully out of the seat is that the potential exists to get their legs smashed by the seat in front if the tray table is down. If your child is sitting in the car seat with the tray table open and the person in front suddenly reclines, the tray table could smash into their legs.

Anyhow, I learned my lesson and my hubby got to say "I told you so" (he pretty much only gets one per year, lol). We lugged the car seat to the next gate and had it checked. My son sat in the regular seat with the regular seat belt with much less hassle and struggle.

Chereya

 

[kwoo]

Thank you sooo much everyone-you guys are the best!! You all had the answer I was hoping for. I was hoping we didn't have to take a car seat. Our flight is only 2 hours-direct on the way there, one stop on the way home and I didn't want to have to deal with a car seat. We are using the Disney magical express service and staying on Disney property, so we will only be riding shuttle busses. I didn't want to have to drag a car seat just for the short plane ride. So happy to hear your experiences. Our older son is 4.5 and I don't think him or our 2.5 year old will have any troubles. They are soo excited to ride on a plane!

Kristin

 

[loveswdw]

I thought they had to be in a car seat until they were 2 if they weren't lap babies? That's great if they don't. We are flying in Oct. DS will be 22 months then.

We took DS in his car seat in March but also needed it for the rental car. This time we are doing ME and the plane was the only place that needed the seat. But if he can ride in the plane seat without the car seat that would work great for us!

 

[all4fun]

Car seats are recommended for children under 40lbs by the FAA & AAP.
from: Tips for Parents using child restraints on airplanes

Choosing the correct CRS
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding use of the CRS. Do not place a child in a CRS designed for a smaller child. Be sure that any shoulder straps in the CRS come out of the CRS seat back above the child's shoulders, tighten the aircraft seatbelt around the CRS as tightly as possible.

* Under 20 pounds - Use a rear facing child restraint.
* From 20 to 40 pounds - Use a forward facing child restraint. Although the safety technology of forward facing carriers in aircraft is still developing, current devices offer dramatic improvements in protection compared to lap held and/or unrestrained children.
* Over 40 pounds - A child over 40 pounds may safely use an aircraft seatbelt and does not require a CRS.

The AAP (click here) says

Testing has shown that aircraft seat belts alone do not adequately protect a child younger than 3 years.

Still, no one is required to use a car seat on an airplane but it is what's recommended for kids under 40lbs.

hth!
Cheryl

ETA: Just to provide some info - not trying to start a debate or make anyone feel bad....

 

[new mom11]

It looks like I'm in the minority here, but I opted to take the carseat onboard for both of my DS trip. The first he was 18 mos and second 2 1/2. We did it mainly from a safety standpoint, but it made the trip a lot more pleasant for both DH and myself. We planned the flights around his naptime, and luckily it worked like a charm. The little time he was awake, we kept him busy with some toys (pipecleaners, stickers). It was a bit of a "pain" carrying the seat around the airport, but worth it to us. After the first flight we discoverd that you can hang the seat (using the tether strap on the back) from the stroller. Worked like a charm. Just be very careful when you take your child out, because the stroller may tip back. This trip he will be almost 3 1/2 and right now he's almost 40 lbs, so I'm still up in the air. Do whatever you're comfortable with. I'm sure he will be fine either way.

 

[tlbwriter]

I thought they had to be in a car seat until they were 2 if they weren't lap babies? That's great if they don't. We are flying in Oct. DS will be 22 months then.

Sadly, airlines do not require carseats at all. The 2-year rule is for lap baby vs buying a seat. Personally, I would buy a seat anyway, and put my carseat in it. Passengers are injured by turbulence every day, and adult seat belts just don't do a good job of securing children.

 

[cruiserkaren]

This is interesting. I too, thought that it was required until they hit around 40 pounds or so. This would help alot b/c DD2 is really tall. Last time we were at her ped. office she was about 21 months and she was almost 36 inches. DH and I were concerned about her kicking the seat in front of her the entire time.

 

[loveswdw]

Kicking the seat in front of the child can be a problem. We fly Delta and they have assigned seats. I buy one for me or my DH beside my DS then I buy the other one right in front of my DS. That way, if he kicks, he'll only be kicking either me or my DH. (Tip I got from this board before our last WDW trip! )

I still will have to decide whether to bring DS's car seat or not. He has his own seat (infant fare) so he could be sitting in the regular plane seat then. I'll have to talk to my DH and see what he thinks. I know last trip DS slept most of the way there in his car seat but didn't sleep much on the return flight home. He got a little cranky, not too bad, but I wonder if I opt for no car seat if he would sleep at all being that the plane is unfamiliar. Too much to see and do maybe.

 

[taximomfor4]

DD will be turning 3 on our trip this week. I have been agonizing about this very same decision. I am leaning toward suffering the inconvenience and bringing our carseat because many airline injuries are caused by turbulence. Although my dd does not usually sleep in her carseat, my SIL's thoughts on this just yesterday made good sense to me. Her dh (my brother) is a Marine, so they move a lot (requiring flights) and have to fly home for their visits. Their kids have flown a lot, their whole lives. She said she ALWAYS brings carseats because the kids know that they must stay in them. The plane seats allow much more movement so her kids would fight being seated nicely for the flight.

About kids kicking, I had one in April pushing their body off me over and over and over. It was the longest 2 1/2 hrs of my life. Was especially annoyed because the mom was doing nothing to stop it, other than the occasional "Honey, you can't do that, honey!" My kids are not perfect, but one of our biggest no-tolerance policies is Rudeness. So everyone send pixie dust, here is hoping that I can keep dd2 from kicking the seat in front without causing a fit. Although even if she does have a fit when I correct her, at least fits only torture the surrounding passengers for a few moments, not a few hours!!

Beth

 

[laney]

We took our car seats for the plane ride but never used them. We had a 2 yr old and a 2 month old. The two month old stayed in the baby bjorn and my 2 yr old loved sitting in the big seat. We had a total of four flights and after the first one we just started checking the seats in because it made it much easier then lugging them around. Good Luck.

 

[Windy City Heather]

2 years 4 months was the last time I took my car seat for my dd. She was fine on the way down but learned the joy of kicking the seat in front of her on the way back. I so tired and would not stop no matter what I did. I felt bad for the gentleman in front of me. He finally moved. The next trip I took 7 weeks later, no car seat and I loved it. I had one less thing to lug around in the airport. She sat great, we could use the tray (would not come down all the way with the car seat) and she could pick up the things she dropped herself.

 

[Shelebeen]

I am in the minority. We take our car seats with us on every flight. My daughter is 5 - 35 pounds and my son is 2 - 25 pounds. They are very comfortable in the seats, the tray tables go down without a problem and the kids know they have to stay in their seats.. just like in a car...

Our kids do lots of travelling in the car to the cabin ( about 2 hours at a stretch) so they are very used to sitting in them for periods of time.

I also really like the security of them being strapped in safely... and knowing the car seat will be there when we arrive. (The one time we flew to Hawaii with her in our laps, the seat did not make it!). That was a hassle and finally the airline had to lend us a car seat so we could leave the airport. The seat they lent us was old and def not one we felt especially safe in.. luckily ours arrived and was delivered to us the next morning.