Carseat JUST for the plane?

[aidansmom]

Does anybody bring a carseat just for use on the plane? We will not be renting a car (using Disney transportation), so if we bring the carseat, it is only so dd (2) will have one on the plane. All opinions are welcome - both from safety and sanity (I am a little worried about containing the little bugger for the 3 hr flight, but not relishing the idea of dragging the carseat through the airport) points of view.

 

[SweetMissy]

We've gone when our son was 2 and even last year when our 3rd child was 4 months old and never brought a carseat. I say, if you don't need one, than don't bring one. The baby was easy but when we went when our 1st was 2, he just used the plane seat belt and we just kept him entertained by a portable DVD player, books, coloring, snacks, small noiseless toys. Our flight was longer than 3 hours, lol....you should be fine.

 

[TwinkleKS]

If you don't want to bring a car seat the FAA has approved the CARES harness for use and it fits in a small bag and is easy to carry. Both options are safer than just the lap belt.

 

[Gracie09]

We did when DD was younger. Best decision we made. She was comfortable, relaxed and even slept a bit. It made the unfamiliar plane familiar for her.

 

[CaoilinnsMom]

If you look at baby stores and online you can find a cart that will attach to your car seat, you can roll it through the airport with your child seated. Makes it much easier.

 

[tms295psu]

If you look at baby stores and online you can find a cart that will attach to your car seat, you can roll it through the airport with your child seated. Makes it much easier.

Or go to Walmart and buy a compact "utility" cart in the luggage section for. 3rd the price.

I personal only take a car seat it I need it for the car rental.

 

[stacy6552]

YES!!! We always brought the carseat for the plane. It is the unquestionably safest way for your child to travel. Your lap is no place for your child, even with the cares harness, which could result in your weight slamming your child into the seat in front of you in a crash. If you need to evacuate in an emergency, you will be able to undo the carseat without thought because you have undone it countless times before. From a comfort standpoint, your child knows the carseat and will be most comfortable in it.

As for hauling it around get a dufflebag like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Diono-Car-Sea...qid=1378591774&sr=8-2&keywords=carseat+duffle
Sling it crossbody with the curve of the seat around your back. You will have both hands free for the stroller or carry on or whatever. I spent more than double this back in the day and it was worth every penny.

 

[pooh4evr]

Well I'll be the opposite voice. We have never brought a carseat for the airplane. We haven't had a problem with keeping the girls contained or entertained. To me anyway we have enough to keep up with at the airport, and unless it is a baby in an infant seat , the kids just seemed squished. Kicking the seat in front of them, can't put down the tray. So we usually will gate check a seat in a large bag if we are renting a car. Otherwise no. FwIw our kids have been all ages flying as young as mos (lap) with their own seat at 2.

 

[MissChris]

I brought a carseat on a plane for one trip. I had one of those carts that attach to the seat to roll it around and I though it was ingenious. Actually it was a huge pain in the rear. Firstly, my carseat, a Britax, was too wide to roll down the aisle so the cart was useless on the plane, worse than useless because for some reason the one I used attached to the carseat with long screws which took forever to put in and take off. I was travelling with my kids on my own so a stewardess had to carry the seat down the aisle for me over her head and then i spent 10 minutes propping it up and unscrewing the cart. Installing it was cumbersome and once it was installed it lifted my child up and forward, putting him in the perfect position to kick the back of the seat in front of him. I ended up taking him out of the seat anyway because there was no way, short of removing his legs, to prevent him from driving the poor passenger in front of him completely bonkers. At the end of the flight i nearly strained my hand trying to unbuckle it (helpful tip, you need to turn the buckle side of the belt upside down when you install it or you'll never get it unfastened) and then had to do the entire process of getting it in there in reverse. If you're not renting a car you then have to muscle the darn thing out of the airport and onto a bus and then store it in your hotel room.

In conclusion I recommend the CARES harness. It's very easy to install and provides a chest strap and shoulder harness keeping your child safely secured at the back of their seat and saving your back, arms, and sanity. I want to add that one of the previous posters mentioned that the cares harness could be dangerous if the adult holding the child is thrown against them. I think she might be thinking of a baby carrier or sling which could be dangerous during an accident for exactly the reason described. The CARES harness is not for lap children and can only be used by a child in their own seat.

Good luck, have fun!

 

[christygobar]

I am a big fan of bringing the carseat on the plane (much safer!!) but only if you need it at your destination. If you are using ME and Disney transportation, I probably wouldn't haul it through the airport.

The CARES harness is a good alternative though. Worked for DD after the age of 2. Supposedly you can find sites to rent them

 

[bumbershoot]

YES!!! We always brought the carseat for the plane. It is the unquestionably safest way for your child to travel. Your lap is no place for your child, even with the cares harness, which could result in your weight slamming your child into the seat in front of you in a crash.

FWIW, lap-child isn't an option for the OP since her child is 2 already. So she's got the option of the child sitting in the carseat or sitting on the seat with the lap belt.

Your arguments are absolutely spot on and I don't disagree with them, but it's not the issue here because of the age of the child.



OP my son was a somewhat seasoned traveler when I ditched using the carseat on the plane, though he was maybe only 3. I had it, was going to use it, then our exact flight was scrapped at the last minute and they scooted us onto a nearly full plane and I just could not bear to carry the Roundabout over my head while carrying my stuff and his. Last minute I gate-checked it, he was PERFECT, and we were done with the carseat on the plane.

If your little one is new to planes, I'd bring it. Unless you know that she's a totally angelic, non-squirmy child that won't test the lapbelt, go with what she knows.

 

[aidansmom]

Thanks so much for all the great advice. DD (2) is our fourth kid, so usually I feel pretty confident in making these kinds of decisions, but I was really torn on this one. I think I will definitely go with using the CARES harness (which I hadn't even considered as an option until some of you guys recommended it). And, yes, apparently you can rent them - so, so much the better.

I want her to be safe and, ideally, have a five point harness, but the idea of trooping four kids, carry ons, a stroller, and a Britax carseat through the airport was a bit overwhelming to me. I think the CARES harness will be the perfect compromise. Thank you!

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

We were going to do this...HOWEVER...We asked the airline the dimensions of their seats--which was too small for out car seat. We contemplated buying a new car seat-after all DS would need a booster when he got older...BUT...it wasn't HIS seat. We did a lot of searching b/c we felt that if he was in his seat he would stay there.
After looking at the cost of a new seat, the cart to lug it on, the fact we were using ME and not renting a car...we looked at the CARES system and decided that was the best option.
We purchased it early and have been practicing with it ever since. We will go loaded for bear with enough new toys to cycle through, the ipad-with Mickey on it, games to play and we will go from there. DH and I have given up our fight over the window seat and have given it to our kiddo...
As far as practicing with it...he lasts about an hour and then says "All Done!" We hand him a different toy (all of his new travel toys are upstairs waiting to be opened for holidays and birthdays etc) and he goes an extra 10 minutes or so.

This was our approach...while we don't have an outcome as of yet....I hope this helps!

 

[stacy6552]

Apologies. My youngest is 14 and back in the day the cares harness was something you used to secure a lap rider to yourself. Just took a look and it has evolved into something much better. Here's the thing with carseats in general: in a car or airplane a child should be able to sit all the way back in their seat with their knees bent over the front at a 45 degree angle, otherwise they are slumped and the lap belt rides too high over their stomach. A plane seat is shallower than most car seats, so a younger child will be able to sit properly in a plane seat than one in a car. I'm not sure I see how The Cares harness solves that problem.

PS that cart thing sounds like a major drag.

 

[luvmy2babies]

I did once, but my son was just 10 months old. I also had it when we flew at 21 months, but we needed it after the plane ride.

At 2 we were using Disney transportation again and he used the CARES harness others have mentioned and we were all much happier. Since we didn't have the car seat dd could sit at the window so she was happy. I didn't have to sit in the middle between them so I was happy. Ds was still harnessed, but had more freedom so he was happy.

If you don't want to buy one, yes, you can rent them. Ebay sellers rent them. That's how I got the one I used. It's really easy. I do recommend putting something under them if you're using an airline that has leather seats. There is no piece that comes up between their legs so they could slide. But it was easy to install and my son loved it. I loved that it fit right into my carry-on.

 

[swthrtpallanes]

I used the CARES system when my DS was 3 and loved it I also didn't need a car seat because I was using DME. The harness didn't take up a lot of space and it was easy to use. My DS squirmed a bit but he was fine (regular toddler wiggles) I would use it again if I ever had to I will add I had a 4hr non-stop flight

 

[alc571]

I would leave it at home. We had to bring ours when DS was 3 because we had a rental car. It was so hard lugging it around the airport and it was a total PITA to secure in the seat. I never noticed how small the seats are until you try to lock down a carseat into them.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

We did when DD was younger. Best decision we made. She was comfortable, relaxed and even slept a bit. It made the unfamiliar plane familiar for her.

This has been our perspective as well.

I see the OP has made a decision, but I wanted to share the carrying solution we used:

The Pacback

We like it because it keeps your hands free. Its a bit of a hassle, but our two are/were squirmers, and car seats were a comfortable place that they did not fuss with.

 

[hebbynan]

We did when DD was younger. Best decision we made. She was comfortable, relaxed and even slept a bit. It made the unfamiliar plane familiar for her.

I second this. We flew when our oldest DS was 10 months old. Best decision we made as well. He was in his 'seat' so it was just like he thought we were going on a longer car ride. He even napped. It was only a 2 hour flight, but it was so worth it. There was another 8-10 month old a little farther back in the plane that the mom was holding and that kid fidgeted and fussed the whole way there. The mom even told me she wished she'd have done what we did...because all her kid wanted to do was get off her lap.

I'd say - it's really up to you. You know your child and how they travel. Good luck with your flight with your little one - car seat or no car seat!!