Car seats, airplanes, and tray tables

[Barb D]

I'm trying to decide whether to take DD's car seat on the plane, or to check it. (I know I want it for the rental car.)

She'll be 3yo, and about 40". With her old car seat we couldn't get the tray table down, which really limited her activities.

Questions:

First and foremost, will she be safer with her car seat (high back booster with 5 point harness) or with the airplane safety belt (easier to get her out of in an emergency, etc.)

And does anybody know if the tray table will go down over an Eddie Bauer by Cosco high back booster seat? And if she's NOT in a booster seat will she be able to reach the tray table anyway?

 

[DebbieB]

Is your car seat FAA approved? I didn't think boosters were allowed.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Booster seats are not allowed in aircraft.

 

[Barb D]

This is a high back booster, which is essentially a really tall car seat. It's not the kind of booster that just lifts the child up a bit. It's FAA approved as long as you use it with the 5-point harness.

Here's a link:
http://store.babycenter.com/product/gear/car_seats/booster/2044

 

[Gillian]

I saw someone at the airport yesterday with a lap desk. It's one of those pillows with a hard writing surface. This one had storage for pens & stuff. I don't know if you'd want to carry that, but it is a way to bring the car seat on the plane & still have her be able to color.

I haven't a clue if it's safer, sorry! Can your daughter unbuckle the seatbelt? My DS, almost 2, can get his stroller straps unbuckled and gave us a bit of trouble at WDW. Now that we're home he's going back into the 5 point harness on the Maclaren stroller!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Barb,

After reading this, I would check with the airline you are using.
This is from SWA.

What is an appropriate CRD?
Many child safety seats that are designed for use in automobiles are also appropriate for use on aircraft. Appropriate CRDs should have hard sides and backs, include integrated shoulder straps, and secure to a passenger seat via channels through which the seatbelt is threaded and attached. Many of these carry the FMVSS.213 insignia and/or language indicating that they are "approved for use in motor vehicles and on aircraft."

Although one might think that any type of restraint device would provide at least some degree of flight safety enhancement, this is not the case. Some child restraints may do a good job of protecting children in automobiles or in other situations, but are not appropriate for aviation use. Recent testing and research have led the FAA to ban the use on aircraft of certain types of child restraints that may be harmful to a child in the event of an aviation emergency. These include booster seats, safety belt extensions (commonly referred to as "belly belts"), and vest or harness devices that attach to an adult or to the seatbelt of the child's own seat. Although some were manufactured before the FAA's ban may carry an insignia and/or language indicating they are approved for aircraft use, please understand that they are no longer permitted.