Car Seat

[Diane D]

We will be flying to WDW this Sunday with our daughter, her husband, and 20-month-old granddaughter. They have purchased a seat for her and are planning on bringing her car seat. Just wondering if bringing her car seat is normal procedure and if we are correct in urging them to do so? We will be picked up at the airport by a towncar service van which will already have a car seat but we thought it best to have hers on the plane??

One other question.....can anyone tell me where you go for diaper changes on a full plane??

 

[misandrog]

Are you staying in the park? The only reason I ask is because we were going to bring my DD car seat on the plane as well, she is 2, but because we are staying in the park and using ME to get from the airport to hotel and then using WDW transportation buses to get to all the different parks, we decided that it would be one less thing to travel with. We wouldn't be able to use it in the buses...no way to strap it in.

Have a great trip.

 

[Diane D]

Yes, we are staying on-site at Pop Century. I guess our concern was her safety on the plane being in her car seat vs. just being seat belted in. But, like you said, would be nice not to have to lug it along if it isn't totally necessary. (Do you have any idea about diaper changes?)

 

[safetymom]

If I remember correctly one of the bathrooms in the back of the plane usually has a diaper changing station.

I would bring the car seat. They are familiar with it. You don't want to be figuring out how to use a strange car seat when you get to Orlando. You also don't know the history of the seat. Better to be safe than sorry. It's worth the effort to bring your seat.

 

[Jacksmom99]

For a child that age I would highly recommend the carseat on the plane! She will fit more comfortably in her seat than the regular plane seats. She's still so little at 20 months old that she'd flop around on the plane seat. I'd use a carseat on the plane until she gets closer to 3.

 

[NotUrsula]

A child that big is unlikely to fit on the changing shelf in the head; they are usually less than 2 ft. long. If she won't be changed standing up, it's best to bring a couple of large disposable changing pads and change her on the floor just outside the door of the head.

 

[southjerseymom]

The car seats are a pain in the airport - but they really make flying easier. Your granddaugher will be familiar with her seat and more comfortable with the new experience. In addition, it is just plain safer. I decided that I could put up with a little inconvienence - and I had two kids in car seats on my last flight in November! You can strap the car seat around your shoulder for the walk to baggage claim (strap the tether hook to the bottom of the seat to make a sling). Or Walmart sells car seat totes online for approximately $16. They looked like they were worth it. We leave May 20th - just one car seat this time - my DS weighs enough now to use the regular plane seat belt.
For more information check the FAA site, or flyingwithkids.com for some pointers.

 

[lpberg]

Oops double post!

 

[lpberg]

I would definitely bring the car seat on the plane. Having travelled with my DD (5) since she was 7 months old, and now my 18 month old DS, it is definitely worth the "hassle" of bringing it on board. It makes it seem more like a car ride and therefore, less jumping about and trying to get down and run around.

As far as changing her during the flight, I only had to do it ONCE in many years of travel. And not every plane has a changing table in the "lavatory" - check with the flight attendants when you get on board, or go see for yourself to make sure. To avoid having to worry about it, I usually changed my kids just before boarding began, and then *prayed* that they didn't poop mid-flight. The one time I did have to change my DD there was no table, so we used the seat she was sitting in and stretched her across my DH's lap while doing so!!!!!

Enjoy your trip!

Lynne