Carseat ? - Flying and taxis

[JJ&JSMOM]

Getting a taxi is no big deal - the taxi van we got after SeaWorld actually had 2 carseats in the back. I think most taxi vans have car seats not sure on the sedans but it is Orlando and families are in abundance.

 

[lost shaker]

we weren't planning on a car seat for the plane for our 3 year old. i guess my thought is that if the plane is in a wreck, a car seat won't do much good. i've seen a number of other families both with and without them in my business travels and the additional effort, or shall i say, the fewer available hands just don't seem right for us.

--m

 

[mdhkitten]

we weren't planning on a car seat for the plane for our 3 year old. i guess my thought is that if the plane is in a wreck, a car seat won't do much good. i've seen a number of other families both with and without them in my business travels and the additional effort, or shall i say, the fewer available hands just don't seem right for us.

--m

I've never used one for my dd, 3, either when flying. I possibly am going to borrow my friends C.A.R.E.S harness for this trip, though, which she purchased for her child. I think it's a great idea since I don't have a need typically for a carseat at WDW while there. Here's the site for those of you who aren't familiar with it:

http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

 

[all4fun]

we weren't planning on a car seat for the plane for our 3 year old. i guess my thought is that if the plane is in a wreck, a car seat won't do much good. i've seen a number of other families both with and without them in my business travels and the additional effort, or shall i say, the fewer available hands just don't seem right for us.

--m

The FAA recommends children under 40lbs use an approved car seat or CARES harness on airplanes but there are also other reasons to use a car seat on a plane other than if there's a crash landing. Rough air/turbulence is one and just giving the child a familiar traveling environment is another. The airplane seatbelts are built for adult bodies, not small children, and the buckles are not hard to undo. Also imho a car seat is simply more comfortable for smaller kids than just the airplane seat, mainly because when sitting w/their backs against the back of the airplane seat, their legs can't bend over the edge of the seat like an adults can. A car seat negates this problem.

I've seen more than parent of a toddler not in carseats on the plane and fussing to get out of their row and walk the aisles - which isn't always possible or even practical (say if the seatbelt light is on which can happen frequently or if the FA's are doing their drink/snack service). It's much easier to keep a young child seated when you have a car seat to strap them in to rather than trying to hold them down w/your arms. Granted the flights I've noticed this being a problem on were over two hours long, which is understandable why children would want to get up and move around after a while.

Up until ds was four we always used a car seat and I always felt that it made our lives easier once on the plane. Sure it wasn't the most convenient thing to lug thru the airport but it was a "hassle" that was worth the effort especially since our flights to WDW are longer ones. I also gleaned several travel tips that made traveling with a car seat easier i.e. putting the seat upside down over the arm to carry it on board the plane, and also installation tips that made getting it installed fairly simple. There are also many different ways to make carrying it thru the airport easier. Some are simple improvisations, and some marketed specifically to parents to deal with this task. But once you've figured out what works for you and have done it a couple of times it gets to be much less of a big deal imo.

 

[tlbwriter]

we weren't planning on a car seat for the plane for our 3 year old. i guess my thought is that if the plane is in a wreck, a car seat won't do much good.

This is a common misconception. The truth is that most people who are in a plane crash today actually survive. The "falling out of the sky" scenario is what we all think about, but the most common type of crash is more like a very hard landing. And carseats provide protection not only in the event of a crash, but also from turbulence.

 

[lighttech]

I also gleaned several travel tips that made traveling with a car seat easier i.e. putting the seat upside down over the arm to carry it on board the plane, and also installation tips that made getting it installed fairly simple. There are also many different ways to make carrying it thru the airport easier. Some are simple improvisations, and some marketed specifically to parents to deal with this task. But once you've figured out what works for you and have done it a couple of times it gets to be much less of a big deal imo.

Please share any of the tips you have "gleaned." I'm definitely a little worried about juggling a toddler, a stroller, carryon's and a carseat. Usu. DH and I have our hands full w/ just DS, stroller and diaper bag!

 

[northriver]

Here are some tips, hopefully people will add their own!

You should never carry a carseat by the harness straps. However, you CAN use the top tether strap if your seat has one, it can be used to make a shoulder strap, and to attach it to a cart. But remember, just the tether, not the harness straps.

I get my carseat out of the car before flying and just play around with it. They sell my car seat at Target so I have also gone there and tried the seat on different luggage carts they sell, so see if I could secure it to the cart easily. Depending on the car seat, bungy cords sometimes work. (Early in the morning when there were few people around to think I was crazy.)

Most infant seats can be used with or without the base. I had one that HAD to have a base (bummer) but if yours installs without the base, play around with that before you go and perhaps you can take just the seat, no base. Some of them take practice to get a solid installation without the base so if you are not familiar with this type of installation make sure you practice before you go.

I bought a bag with handles for my carseat, but found that the bag was too bulky, it was easier to carry around without the bag. Mine has a handy bar on the back to use as a "handle". Depending on the carseat, I've found either attaching it to a wheeled cart, or just carrying it, has worked the best. But again, it will depend on your particular seat.