Car Seat or Not on Flight?

[dorymom67]

I am traveling on Tuesday to Disney and wanted some opinions from Moms/Dads on lugging a car seat on the plane for my 2 1/2 year old? Do you think she would be more comfortable?

Any help/opinions/experiences are appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[labdogs42]

I lugeed mine on the plane when DS was 15 and 18 months and I'll be lugging it on the plane in May (DS is now 2). It really isn't that bad. We pull the straps out all the way and DH carries the seat on his back like a backpack through the airport. I think it is nice for my son to have a familiar seat on the plane and it sits up higher so he can look out the window. It is also much safer for them in the event of an emergency landing. Another consideration is that my son can and will undo the airline seatbelt, but he can't get out of his carseat! And, lastly, I need the carseat when we get to Orlando because we rent a car. I'd rather keep the sea twith me than risk it getting ruined in the baggage compartment! That's my experience -- good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

[beattyfamily]

For me, there are two things that help me decide:

1. How is my child with just the lap belt? will she behave without the carseat?

2. Am I renting a car and thus need the carseat for the rental as well.

If I am not renting a car and I think my DD will be fine without a carseat (behave and stay seated), then I would leave it home.

Good luck!

 

[mangosink]

I would. Roll it to the gate on your stroller. It will be kind of a pain but the safest thing.

 

[Luvin*Livvy]

We decided against it for our May trip. Our daughter will be almost 2 when we go.
Here is why..she NEVER sleeps in her car seat, so we thought it might be easier (on flight home doesn't get us home until 10:30pm) for her to sleep on US...or at least lay on us buckled in. PLUS she never flew before and gets scared, I figured is she FREAKED OUT I had more easy access to her.

We are bringing a Portable DVD, so that should keep her in her seat for our 2 hour flight.

We didn't want to lug it..and keep it in our room (we aren't renting a car).

We also rented a car service to pick us up..and they supply a carseat for her.

AND we have the BIG Britax, and I was worried it would be TIGHT between the 2 of us.

I have NO IDEA if this is a good idea or NOT..but we are going again in the Fall, so this is our "trial run". If it doesn't work out, we'll bring the car seat next time!

 

[dorymom67]

My little one does sleep well in her car seat. In fact, 9 out of 10 times that is how I nap her. However, she has never flown before and I would like to have alot of access to her.

I know this should have its own category, but how many of you give your kids Benedryl before they fly? I know some Moms swear by it.

 

[bumbershoot]

I believe it was shown that Benadryl actually doesn't have the affect, statistically, that people want it to have on their wee ones. I couldn't do that to my kiddo, even if I knew it was absolutely going to work. I can barely give him western medicine when he NEEDS it, let alone to flat out drug the boy!

However, if you're into homeopathy at all, chamomile can be great, and if you've ever seen Rescue Remedy at various stores, it's WONDERFUL stuff. Works like magic...one second=freaking out child, next minute=everyone has forgotten that he was being wild b/c it was such a fast change. It also works on bickering adults (DH and I dose ourselves routinely while traveling).


*****
We have a travel carseat, the Scenera by Cosco, rather than hauling the Britax. We got a bag for it (Eddie Bauer brand from Target) b/c you're really not supposed to carry it by the straps, and it's difficult to carry otherwise. (you DO have to take it OUT of the bag for security)

When DS was 1.5 we just held him, and it was a bad experience (except that he did get to nurse when he wanted, which was good for everyone) b/c when he wasn't sleeping or nursing, he was a hellion. My arms were TIRED from holding him, and we couldn't rest.

Last year at 2.5, we had his seat, and it was SO much better. He's familiar with the seat, he's more buckled in, he can't squirm out of it. Very good things.

 

[Hannathy]

We never took car seats for either kid and they were fine. And were VERY frequent fliers! They liked sitting in the regular seat like a "grown-up" and it is easier to play, can use the tray table.
Lugging a car seat thru the airport is a royal pain and if you won't need it in Disney for a rental care I wouldn't take it.

 

[NU2WDW]

We used carseats on the plane only up to about 18 mos. All 3 of ours do just fine with the lapbelt and it's soooo much easier not to take the carseat on the plane.

 

[all4fun]

We have used the car seat on every trip since his first one at 13mos. At 2.5yrs I would not have considered not using the CRS simply because I would not have trusted him to stay seated and buckled in and taking the seat was easier than battling him for several hours to stay seated properly. Those lap belts on airplanes are far too easy to undo, plus they are designed for an adults body. The FAA recommends using a CRS up to 40lbs, or 44 lbs if using a CARES harness.

We never used Benadryl because I was worried it would have the opposite intended effect, plus I'm just not one to use a med unless it's truly called for. DS usually had no problems napping periodically during our flights at that age anyway so it was never an issue, really.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I've flown with my little ones many many times and have never used the carseats. The car rental places also have provided car seats and installed them for us everywhere we go.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

We have never flown with carseats. We don't rent a car. I also am not a fan of benadryl for kids to fly. Flame away but if your kids really need it for medical reason then so be it but if you are giving it to your child so they will sleep I don't agree with that. JMHO.

 

[TikiGoddess2006]

When we flew down to FL with our 20 mo old last year, we didn't have a carseat for her (forgot to take it out of the car!). It was TORTURE. She was all over the place -- including under the seat, on the floor, crawling over us... we did our best and I don't think anyone else was bothered by her but it was a long three hr flight.

On the way back we had her sit in her sister's carseat (that we had checked on the flight down). It was amazing the difference in her behavior. She was in her carseat the entire time and didn't complain once. It was familiar to her, she was more comfortable, and she was used to being strapped in.

Take the carseat if your little one is a wiggler. It's worth it!
TikiG

 

[Liltx]

Our 2 year old will be using one this summer. I think our four year old will go without for the first time. Just easier to keep them in their seats.

Monica

 

[PooksMom]

We have always used a car seat, until my daughter was almost 3. My son is 22 months and he will be in one in a few weeks when we go. Both my kids like to MOVE... my son would be all over the place if not for the seat. I use a convertile Britax, pull out the straps and wear it on my back or on the stroller at the airport, Ihave always done it so it's no big deal now. Last time I gave my daughter Benedryl it was for allergies and I swear she was awake for 2 days. I think I'll bring the rescue remedy though... Have fun!

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

interesting topic. I too am trying to decide. Dh doesnt want to pay for a plane ticket for our 17 month old, IF we did that then we would have to decide if we want to lug our Britax Boulevard - I think it's the largest car seat.

We ARE planning to rent a car- but can't you have the car rental place supply you with a car seat?

 

[all4fun]

interesting topic. I too am trying to decide. Dh doesnt want to pay for a plane ticket for our 17 month old, IF we did that then we would have to decide if we want to lug our Britax Boulevard - I think it's the largest car seat.

We ARE planning to rent a car- but can't you have the car rental place supply you with a car seat?

We have a Blvd too and I wouldn't want to lug one thru the airport either. What I would suggest doing is buying a Cosco Scenera 5-pt (here) which costs $40-50 at Target, Walmart, or Kmart, and taking that. The seat is weighs less than 10lbs and is very easy to carry. I would personally never trust a car rental agency with something like a rental car seat. I've heard too many horror stories about that. Plus the Scenera at $40 would probably be a much cheaper way to go anyway.

hth

 

[TravelinGal]

A rental usually averages $10 a day - so if you're going for more than a few days, yeah, it would be cheaper to get the carseat mentioned above (Cosco Scenara 5-point Convertible Car Seat)

 

[October]

After doing some research I will always take a carseat until DS is 4, it's a safety issue for me. Most airplane accidents do not end in casualies but if you were holding your child in your lap and the plane had to make a rough landing our quick stop your child would likely go flying out of your arms. Bad turbulance can present the same risks. We took one to Disney last year when DS was 23 months and it really wasn't that bad, we were not renting a car and as soon as we got off the bus at POFQ someone checked our carseat so that we didn't have to look at it again until we were boarding the bus to go to the airport at the end of our trip. We used a carrycase with backpack straps and DH carried it through the airport so it really was a non issue.

 

[dhardawa]

interesting topic. I too am trying to decide. Dh doesnt want to pay for a plane ticket for our 17 month old, IF we did that then we would have to decide if we want to lug our Britax Boulevard - I think it's the largest car seat.

We ARE planning to rent a car- but can't you have the car rental place supply you with a car seat?

Most will, but you can end up with a nasty dirty seat, an expired seat, a crashed seat, a damaged seat, a seat missing parts, a seat that is not appropriate for your child's age/weight, etc. Once you are there, you are stuck taking whatever they give you.