Carseat on the plane or no?

[epholdsteady]

We're going in April and flying for the first time with our kids. We're getting three seats (one for each of us parents and one for our 2yr old) and our not-quite-1yr old will be in a lap. I figured throughout the flight (aside for take off and landing obviously) the boys would be able to trade off and the seat so my youngest isn't constantly in a lap. But someone recently recommended bringing a car seat to keep my 2 year old from running around.

My concerns are: 1) that it will take up a lot of space and make it harder to keep whoever is in it entertained while not giving the other 3 family members as much room. 2) transporting it through the airport

I'm just wondering will it be worth the trouble to bring it?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would not bring it if you won't need it on your trip. You might want to look into renting (on eBay) or buying a CARES harness.

Your 2 year old cannot sit on your lap during taxiing, take off and landing, or when the fasten seat belt light is on (FYI).

 

[sam_gordon]

I would not bring it if you won't need it on your trip. You might want to look into renting (on eBay) or buying a CARES harness.

I disagree (to a point). Does your 2yo behave well while in the car seat? You may benefit by having him(her?) sit in the car seat on the plane. We've used car seats on three (I think) trips. We used a bag similar to this one: http://www.walmart.com/ip/7812701?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227001187053&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=13683529870&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem to move the car seat through the airport. We've used two different kinds of car seats, one with an "overhead" bar, and one with a 5 point harness. I don't remember the seat impacting our space. I do know you should put the car seat back in the bag AFTER you get off the plane.

I'm not saying it's a necessity, but it is an option.

 

[anonymousegirl]

If using a car seat, that child must have a window seat so as not to block the row in an emergency. One of the parents should request early boarding to put the seat in place and then the other parent can board normally with the two children.
Also, children under the age of 16 are prohibited from sitting in an exit row.

 

[epholdsteady]

We will need carseats during our trip. We're staying off property and will be renting a car. BUT - we have family members driving down and could send a car seat with them. And I know we can rent a car seat from the rental car company along with our vehicle. So it isn't necessary that we bring it on the plane - which is why I'm debating it.

I was looking for anyone who maybe had experiences to share with bringing or not bringing.

 

[N365PA]

I don't have experience with my kids (no kids) but I was a flight attendant. If they're comfortable in the seat for the duration of the flight, I would take it. If not, get one of those little harnesses for the seat belt. I personally don't agree with allowing lap kids because if something happens (I have been in a real crash), you will not be able to hold them. 20lb projectile in the shape of a kid flying through the cabin, watch out! The car seat will protect your kid from harm in the event of an emergency. Just my two cents.

Clint

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Also, children under the age of 16 are prohibited from sitting in an exit row.

This isn't correct. For US airlines (at least the ones I am familiar with), you must be 15 or older.

 

[anonymousegirl]

This isn't correct. For US airlines (at least the ones I am familiar with), you must be 15 or older.

I stand corrected. In this case, that one year misinformation would not affect OP

 

[buzzmom12]

When we fly I bring my kids car seat with us. They were both comfortable in them and actually both took naps. It also kept them from running around. It was a pain to take them through the airport but you can just put them in a stroller and check the stroller at the gate. One more thing it made us safer with them we hit some turbulance but the were strapped in with no problems. I've read other places some airlines wont let you use the harness but Im not sure if that is true.

 

[Pinup Mommy]

We used a Sit n Stroll 5 in 1 when we flew from CA to FL with our toddler. It is a car seat that is FFA approved that and easily converts into a stroller and booster chair. It is pricey but I have heard you can rent them as well.

Sitnstroll.com

 

[cel_disney]

I absolutely always buy a airplane seat and take a carseat for my kids on the planes....it's sooooo much more comfortable for them to be in a familiar place!!!

Our typical airport setup would be:

Stroller (we brought a single and rent a double at Disney) with youngest in it, backpack on handles, mom pushing it and oldest holding on to handle. Dad with a backpack and a carseat. Sometimes we even pull out the straps on the carseat and wear it as a backpack or hook it to the stroller handles and each put a backpack on our backs...

DH usually boards the plane first - he brings the stroller in its bag to gate check and installs the carseat. I keep one backpack and both kids and head down at the end of boarding so he has enough time to get the seat installed and the kids run off that last bit of energy.

Have fun!!!

 

[letsgoreds]

I just wanted to add that when using your carseat, they cannot be used in bulkhead (first row in coach), any of the Exit aisles, nor the row immediately in front of the exit row. I learned this the hard way last month as I had booked the row in front of the Exit row for both flights ; ) Delta was great, moving groups around, but I still felt silly.

If you need a carseat on the other side of the flight, use it on the plane. No brainer. Soooo much safer, and more comfortable for everyone. Same with babies. Safety is one area where I don't try to cut corners. After having a conversation with a good friend who was a flight attendant, I looked at lap babies in a completely different light.

 

[Comeundone87]

The one time I used a car seat for my daughter on a plane I felt better that she was much safer in the seat, but due to the height of the seat base the tray table would not fold down all the way. Granted this was 16 years ago and carseats have changed a lot in that time, but on some of them the sides of the seats are fairly high.

Also, make sure your seat is FAA approved. The airlines I've been on have always checked our carseat for free, I just bought a nylon bag to put it in. It is a pain to carry around the airport, but way cheaper than renting one. The one time I rented a carseat it was not a nice seat and was dirty so I will never do that again.

 

[Greysword]

Personally, we did buy a seat for DD when we flew, even when she was "lap eligible". In my mind, babies are the most fragile of all the travelers, besides older folk, and need the most protection. As such, I prefer to play it safe and buckle the little one in during the flight "just in case".

In addition, most kids of toddler and younger enjoy their own car seat, as it makes them more comfortable in a foreign space. This allows them to sleep more easily, and for you, you know it is fairly clean (at least clean enough for daily use).

That said, make sure the car seat used is also FAA rated (it will have a sticker saying this). I posted this on another thread, but I'll repeat it here, since this thread is applicable.

The FAA has guideline for car seats on aircraft. The pamphlet can be found here:
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/

The governing pronouncement is Circular AC 120-87B (9/17/2012) found:
http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC 120-87B.pdf

It is 14 pages, and definitely worth your time to look through it. Quite a few gate agents and some flight attendants don't know the rules, and make a judgement call regarding whether you need to gate check a car seat. Having this 14 page document printed will give you leverage in case they don't understand the rules.

In addition, you airline's Contract of Carriage will talk about accompanied minors and the airline's rules regarding them. Also worth a quick review.

In summary, please look at the FAA's rules regarding car seats on aircraft, if you use a car seat print a copy of the rules to have with you just in case (or keep a soft copy on an iPad), and please consider getting a seat for both kids on the plane.


As for the placement of car seats near a window, this is what the Circular says:

18. PLACEMENT OF CRS ON THE AIRCRAFT.
A window seat is the preferred location; however, other locations may be acceptable, provided the CRS does not block the egress of any passenger, including the child’s parent or guardian, to the aisle used to evacuate the aircraft. Th e regulations contained in §§ 91.107, 121.311, 125.211, and
135.128 allow aircraft operators to determine the most appropriate passenger seat location for CRSs based on safe operating practices.

a. Aisle Seats.
CRSs should not be placed in an aisle seat because this placement has the highest risk of slowing down the passenger flow rate during an evacuation.

In summary, car seats can be placed in any seat, but the airline has the discretion to say where they may be allowed; however, the airline is not allowed to restrict their use, just move the family to a suitable place.

The reason for a window seat is that it doesn't restrict the others from moving out of a row. The same reason is why the circular suggests not using the rows in front of and behind an exit row. Just in case room needs to be made, but the circular does not restrict seats from being set here, it is up to the airline based on evacuation procedures.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Sometimes we even pull out the straps on the carseat and wear it as a backpack

There's an actual product for that!

We use this when we travel.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I'm just wondering will it be worth the trouble to bring it?

I find it's worth the hassle, but it depends on your kid. My son naps quite easily in his car seat, as did his big sister. Just went on international flights in the past two weeks, and our active 2.5 year old slept for 2/3rds of the trip in his car seat, while his four month younger cousin was up and active. He actually wouldn't sit in his seat for takeoff and landing, but the flight attendant was lenient in allowing him to sit on his mother's lap unrestrained. Could have been a bad situation if she'd been strict.

 

[loveswdw]

We have done it both ways--brought a car seat and also just gate checked the seat. When our boys were younger, we used Britax car seats. Those suckers were huge! It was always a PITB to get them fastened into the small plane seats. After about the age of 2, we'd always just fasten them in with the plane seat belt. They slept both in the car seat and without the car seat. We prefer no car seat on the plane. They both love to fly and seem to prefer sitting in the plane seat. Just take lots of activities to keep them interested in case they don't sleep on the flight. Our flights to MCO are only 2 hours tops so its not hard to keep them busy.