Carseat for 2 Year Old?

[HLAuburn]

I just called Airtran and asked if a carseat is required for a 2 year old, and she said "yes" and then said its "recommended". So which is it? I'll be flying alone with DD and there's no way I could physically manage her, a bag, a stroller, and the huge Britax carseat. We'll have one when we get there and its only a 45 minute flight, so am I a bad mother for keeping her in my lap and/or putting her in a belt?

 

[disneyldwjr]

It is not required. It is, however, recommended that small children under 40# be restrained in a CRD when travelling.
If she has her own seat, she will have to be in that seat during take off and landing, she will not be allowed in your lap.
Personally, I would not drive around the corner with my child out of a CRD, let alone jetting along at approx. 4-500 mph.
Are you a bad mother, not my call.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'd say split the difference - no, you don't HAVE to use a car seat, but you really SHOULD place and belt your daughter into her own seat.

 

[Hannathy]

No it is not required and I have NEVER taken one for any of my kids for the last 14 1/2 yrs! You are right flying alone with a little one is difficult -I did it a lot! and I would never try to wrestle a car seat on top of everything else. And do not believe the folks who say the airlines will help you because I could count on my thumbs the time flight attendants offered to help.

 

[HLAuburn]

If she has her own seat, she will have to be in that seat during take off and landing, she will not be allowed in your lap.
Are you a bad mother, not my call.

Wow, that was a little snotty! FWIW, my daughter is 25 months and we just turned her forward facing in one of the safest car seats out there, so its not like we are "slack" when it comes to her safety in the car. Your chances of having a car crash and someone getting injured are a lot higher than the unlikely event of turbulance that bumps you out of your seat. If she's belted in, I would think she'd be safe.

I'd say split the difference - no, you don't HAVE to use a car seat, but you really SHOULD place and belt your daughter into her own seat.

So I guess she would be safer in her own belt/seat than me holding her in my lap during take off/landing? I know the flight attendants probably will not know the difference whether she has a seat or not.

 

[disneyldwjr]

Wow, that was a little snotty! FWIW, my daughter is 25 months and we just turned her forward facing in one of the safest car seats out there, so its not like we are "slack" when it comes to her safety in the car. Your chances of having a car crash and someone getting injured are a lot higher than the unlikely event of turbulance that bumps you out of your seat. If she's belted in, I would think she'd be safe.



So I guess she would be safer in her own belt/seat than me holding her in my lap during take off/landing? I know the flight attendants probably will not know the difference whether she has a seat or not.

I am truly sorry you feel I was snotty, I was not at all. I have been on too many flights and have seen way to many children bumped around in turbulance.
As I said, it is not my call to judge your mothering skills. You asked the question, I answered it. I also think she would be just fine in a seat belt if she is close to the weight recommended. I told you how I would handle the situation with my children. I would go with the FAA recommendations Everyone has their own way of doing things.
And, yes, the FAs will know if you have purchased a seat for your child. They do have a pax list.
Finally, what is FWIW?

 

[bavaria]

You asked the question, I answered it.

I think that's the danger of asking a question, sometimes! And FWIW, this seems to be a very hot topic with strong feelings on both sides.

FWIW = For what it's worth

I personally have no feelings either way - to each his/her own, depending on what works best for them. There have been a number of studies done on airline safety and unrestrained infants, including mortality rates during crashes.

But it comes down to what you feel is best.

 

[disneyldwjr]

I think that's the danger of asking a question, sometimes! And FWIW, this seems to be a very hot topic with strong feelings on both sides.

FWIW = For what it's worth

I personally have no feelings either way - to each his/her own, depending on what works best for them. There have been a number of studies done on airline safety and unrestrained infants, including mortality rates during crashes.

But it comes down to what you feel is best.

Not so much the danger of asking a question. It is getting an answer you don't care for.

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

We are planning on taking our son's "extra car seat" that we usually have in DH's car. It is a little smaller and I won't have to go through the hassle of removing and re-installing his car seat in our van. I am planning on taking a bungee cord and attaching it to our rolling carryon for moving through the airport. Of course I will have to remove it for inspection in security but that is only a few extra minutes. We will board early to get it situated. My son is 2.5 and I have read the reports about it being safer plus I think he will be better behaved in his seat.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[Tara]

I will say that I've been in your position (I've traveled with just my son a whole bunch of times from the time he was an infant until recently and he's about to turn 5). I would recommend taking the seat on the plane, not just for safety, but for comfort. You can get a carrying bag for the seat that makes it much easier to handle, too (some are available with backpack-style straps). It isn't easy, but it is certainly manageable, and I am by no means SuperWoman. Time and time again, I found myself pleasantly surprised with the helpfulness of fellow travelers -- someone was always willing to carry the seat on board for me, for instance.

The flight attendants will likely know if your child has a ticket or not because they'll ask in order to get an accurate count.

 

[clkelley]

Also, I know it's probably pricey, but I've seen these wonderful carseat/stroller combinations. Not the ones for infants where the carrier sits on top of the stroller carriage, but one where wheels and a handle pop out of the car seat and it becomes a stroller.

 

[molly2004]

The FAA recently approved a flight vest/harness for toddlers. Here's the press release. It includes info on how to get one.

http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=7381

http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

I will say that I've been in your position (I've traveled with just my son a whole bunch of times from the time he was an infant until recently and he's about to turn 5). I would recommend taking the seat on the plane, not just for safety, but for comfort. You can get a carrying bag for the seat that makes it much easier to handle, too (some are available with backpack-style straps). It isn't easy, but it is certainly manageable, and I am by no means SuperWoman. Time and time again, I found myself pleasantly surprised with the helpfulness of fellow travelers -- someone was always willing to carry the seat on board for me, for instance.

The flight attendants will likely know if your child has a ticket or not because they'll ask in order to get an accurate count.

I was just going to write the same thing. I've been researching a backpack style carrier for car seat at www.onestepahead.com. They're about $35. I'm in the same situation except I'm not traveling alone but do have 3 kids age 7 and under. It will be cumbersome but I thought my DD2 (will be 2 at time of travel) would be much more comfortable and would nap better (hopefully ). Good luck.

 

[tjmw2727]

A carseat is not required to fly but the FAA and AAP both recommend that children under 40lbs use one on aircraft.

If you decide not to use one be aware that you won't be able to lap sit her for take off and landing. The FA's will know exactly where the lap children are (if any) in the airplane. In the event of an emergency a child on a parents lap can act as an airbag for the parent or become a projectile. When the seatlbelt light is off she is free to move about and or sit on your lap but as with adults will be safer in the seat belted in. When the seat belt light is on she will need to be in her seat just like every one else.

I have a few links with information from the FAA and AAP about the benefits of using a carseat. If you would like I will post them or a quick search will reveal alot of information.

If you do decide to use your carseat there are some inexpensive bags that make carrying the carseat easier, my sil has one that rolls. Lots of folks on the families board here at the DIS have great advice on traveling with a carseat as well. Having traveled often with my dd's in and out of carseats as the solo adult I know there are pro's and con's to every decision.

TJ

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Even though it is cumbersome, it is possible to tote a Britex car seat, stroller, back pack, rolling bag, a Thomas the Tank Engine pillow and a 2YO with a little advance planning. I know 'cuz i did it with my niece. The hardest part for us was having to transfer from the commuter terminal by bus to main terminal but it took us so long to get off the commuter plane that everyone else had already gone and we had the next bus to ourselves.

We had a bungie cord to attach the car seat to the rolling bag, so when my niece wanted to ride in the stroller, I pushed her, with the back pack on my back and pulled the rolling bag/car seat. When she wanted to walk, I put the car seat in the stroller seat and she helped push that while I pulled the bag.

I was glad that we had plenty of time between connections, but that would have been true no matter how many adults were along since we often went at "toddler speed."

It also helped that I had assistance at both in ends when checking and retreiving the rest of the luggage.

Best of luck -- Suzanne