car seats on plane...

[jennafo3]

ok, so this will probably open some debate - but we leave next week and trying to decide about car seats for my 3 kids on the plane. I have a six year old, 4 year old and 2 year old. All are very big for their age (6 year old is 60 lbs, 4 year old is 40 lbs, and 2 year old is 30 lbs.)
Would you just recommend car seat for the two year old? or would she be ok in just a seat belt? (if she sees her sisters in the seat, she would sit as well)
I'm just concerned as its going to be just me in the airport (and the three girls and the luggage and the stroller) My husband is meeting us later...
As always, thanks for your help!!!

 

[jodifla]

Ah, yes. You will find that you have opened a can of worms here, as there are a few posters who will accuse you of nothing short of child abuse if you don't bring car seats.

They don't allow boosters on airplanes, so only full-fledged car seats with harnesses will work. That seems to let out your 6-year-old, and maybe your 4-year-old, depending on what seats you have. As for the 2-year-old, realistically it depends on your 2-year-old's temperament. I was happy to have the car seat for my 2-year-old, who was one wiggly, impatient guy. But if your 2 year old will be OK with the lap belt, then you can use it.

 

[jennafo3]

yep, that's what I thought... i have boosters for my older two girls, so I guess the car seats are out for them...my youngest normally will sit (normally the key word, but then again she's never been on a plane before) and copy what her older sisters are doing. Thanks!

 

[ducklite]

For the two older girls, I wouldn't take the car seats--their legs will never fit between the car seat and the seat in front. For the two year old, I think I'd still take it--can you maybe bungee it to a rolling collapsible luggage cart thing and let the six year old tote it? If you find she can't fit, you can always gate check it after you get on the plane. Even if they are big for their age, a lap belt won't restrain most two year olds if there's a problem with the flight--better safe than sorry.

Anne

 

[beattyfamily]

If you are flying alone without help from your DH, and you think your 2 year old will sit with a seatbelt then you maybe should leave the carset behind. I know very well how tough it is to fly and trek through an airport without DH.

Good luck deciding and don't let anyone make you feel guilty whatever you decide to do.

Have a GREAT trip!

 

[surfgirl]

Many good advice above... if it was me and I was schlepping all the diapers, wipes, snacks for the plane, change of clothes (in case... I've been thrown up on on an airplane by my kid), coloring books, sippies, etc.... I wouldn't have the energy to bring the car seat. (even for the 2 yr. old) I would probably say, "I'm doing the best I can... in this case, its no car seat for anyone. That is my only hope of approaching sanity."

Good luck!

 

[grlpwrd]

Well, the majority of past posts about this issue dealt with unrestrained infants. I am adamant about properly restraining an infant in a carseat on a plane.

Here are legitimate sources and links stating that your 2yo should be restrained in a carseat:

* Here's the official AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) policy:

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;108/5/1218

Also, a special note is made regarding using seat belts for toddlers: Testing has shown that aircraft seat belts alone do not adequately protect a child younger than 3 years

* http://www.carseat.org/Legal/FAA_Childproof.pdf

states that a child must be more than 40 lbs to use an airplane seat belt.

* http://saferidenews.com/html/Airplane_Eng.htm

gives reasons why it's best to use a carseat plus mentions again The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends car seat use in aircraft by all children up to 40 pounds.

It's very inconvenient to take her carseat (being that your dh won't be with you and that you have 3 kids to deal with and their stuff), but based on expert advice I would do it and check in her older sisters' booster seats.

I don't cast judgment - I just relay the expert information.

Here is another link with tips for flying with kids: http://www.flyingwithkids.com/travel_tips.htm

GL!

 

[jodifla]

I just had one child and his car seat, and his stroller, and his diaper bag, and a toy bag....it was NUTS trying to do it all. I got lots of dirty looks getting on the airplane, because I was totally struggling to handle it all and get down the aisle, and DS was taking off down the airplane.

And that was just with one child....

 

[4lilpoohs]

I just took my 5 year old and two year old by myself. It was their first time and my second time on a plane. I did take a carseat for my two year old. I also carried on 4 bags and gate checked a double stroller. I broke almost every fingernail getting on the plane. lol

 

[BAYSIDE MOM]

i'm not trying to start a debate, but we did drag the carseat with us for our 19 month old and I have three small children so I know how tough it can be to carry all their stuff. We hit very bad turbulence on our return trip, the seatbelt lights were on the whole time and I felt much better knowing that our daughter was properly restrained. Its a personal choice, but also a safety issue too. There is a catalog called Safety First and they sell a bungee type thing for the car seat and also something that converts where you can carry the car seat on your back, so your hands would be free, you might want to look into that.

 

[crazywig]

i stopped using the carseat with my older child when he was 2yrs 2 months. that was his last flight in a carseat and passengers around the world are now saved from his antics! i had to put my dh in front of ds because he would kick the seatback the entire time. that was a hellish trip. his next trip at 2yrs 8m he was completely fine in just the seat. the added bonus was he could now use his seat tray.

we check his seat (he's 3y 7m now) but now i have dd (15m) to deal with

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

I'm very curious about this topic also.......we're flying down to WDW in April with our DS5 & DS2 (both birthdays 2mnths before our trip)...........the boys have never flown before, and I'm not really sure the guidelines on flying with kids. Wouldn't I need the boys carseats anyway for the car ride to WDW in the rental car?? Instead of bringing them on the plane for them to sit in, is checking them in as luggage what other families do?? Isn't it just as easy to bring them on the plane for the boys to sit in, rather than check them??? Like I said, I'm new at this flying with kids thing so I might have no idea what I'm talking about..............

We'll be flying as a family of 9, 4 immediate family, the rest extended family, so I'll have plenty of help either way.

 

[jodifla]

I'm very curious about this topic also.......we're flying down to WDW in April with our DS5 & DS2 (both birthdays 2mnths before our trip)...........the boys have never flown before, and I'm not really sure the guidelines on flying with kids. Wouldn't I need the boys carseats anyway for the car ride to WDW in the rental car?? Instead of bringing them on the plane for them to sit in, is checking them in as luggage what other families do?? Isn't it just as easy to bring them on the plane for the boys to sit in, rather than check them??? Like I said, I'm new at this flying with kids thing so I might have no idea what I'm talking about..............

We'll be flying as a family of 9, 4 immediate family, the rest extended family, so I'll have plenty of help either way.

If you plan to have car, you'll need a car seat for the 2year old. the 5 year old can ride with a seat belt. But he will probably be more comfortable in his car seat. Boosters are not allowed on airplanes, though, so you can check that through with the luggage. The 2-year-old's seat should be fine to bring on the plane.

 

[belle&beast]

We are going in January with DD4 and DS who will turn 2 while on vacation and we are taking our carseats for both of them. The last time we flew my DD was 2 and she did well using her carseat on the plane because she knew that she has to sit while in the carseat. My DS is much more active than she ever was, but he does understand that it is time to sit when in the carseat, so along with a portable DVD player and favorite movies, we are hoping to keep him happy.

 

[dman11]

During our recent trip (over Thanksgiving) I decided to take the car seat for our 2 year old for the plane trip and because of the fact that we rented a car for a few days while in Orlando. I did so after reading most of the threads mentioned above and some other here on DIS. I used it on the way down but lugging it through the airport to both at home and in FLA. And to the room on arrival was a pain and it was myself, my DW and a 10 and 11 year old in addition to the 2 year old. The seat didn't fit all that great in the airplane and it made it very easy for her to kick the seat in front of her. Which she did quite often. I noticed that the rental company had car seats for rent when I picked up the rental and wished at that point that I did not lug her seat with us.

I checked the car seat for the ride back home and she was much happier and apparently more comfortable on the ride home because she even fell asleep during the ride.

If your 2 year old is big enough to sit with the seatbelt pulled tight she'll be just fine. Leave the car seat home. That's one less thing you have to deal with at the airport and on Magical Express.

 

[TnTWalter]

doing the car seat on the plane. . . but

We're doing magical express and using the bus service...it's ok not to have car seats? Is it the idea of a school bus where kids aren't restrained? Thanks. I was writing a checklist and this question popped in my head.

Trish

 

[jodifla]

Almost no mass transit has the seat belts for car seats....buses, trains, monorails, trams.

Kids ride on all the buses without car seats at Disney.

 

[stacy6552]

Call the airline. Find our how deep the seats are on the plane you will be flying on. If the 2 year old can sit in the seat with their legs bent at a 90 degree angle while his bottom is all the way back in the seat, then he won't need the seat. However, if not, then bring the seat and remember this is your child. Its a dictoatorship with a 2 year old, not a democracy. He will use the seat because you say so, not because he is inclined to since his siblings are too.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

we bought a ticket for our almost 2 year old and used the car seat
he was great
never any real issues even other passengers commented on good he was

the car seat kept him stapped in and safe he seemed comfortable and slept well in it