Carseats, airplanes and buses, help please!!

[Oakenshield]

We're traveling from Boston and our son will be 2.5 when we're in Disney, currently we still rear face in a Britax (and will as long as possible), so we're super in to car seat safety. Currently, I'm having a bit of a crisis when deciding what to do. We don't need the car seat for the plane ride, and from what I'm reading, we aren't allowed to use in on the Magical Express from the airport in Orlando. So do I save my back and not bring it along? We won't be renting a car, just using ME to and from the airport, and buses within the resorts/parks. I'm freaking out a bit about being on a moving vehicle and not having my son secure in a car seat!

 

[twinboysmom]

You can't use the car seat on any Disney buses, including magical express. So in your situation I would not bring it.

 

[SweetMissy]

We're big into carseat safety too. However, I would leave it home. There's no reason for it due to the reasons you've stated. One less thing to lug around! Have fun!

 

[MSSANDRA]

If you are ok with him using the regular seat belt instead of being in his car seat on the plane, you really have no need to bring it. If he is a pretty mellow kid and you expect he will sit well in his plane seat, I would not bring it. We use on site transportation almost exclusively. In an emergency, a cab with a car seat can be requested though I would never use the seats in less than an emergency situation.

 

[kuhltiffany]

I'd leave it at home. If you're worried about the flight you could get a CARES harness, but for all the taxis/buses, etc. you can't use anything...

 

[bostonminnie]

We just got back from WDW. My son is 2 years old and is still rear facing in a Britax. We did not end up bringing the car seat since we just used Disney transportation the entire trip. We did end up buying the CARES harness for him to use on the flight, and we were happy with our choice.

We are also from the Boston area, enjoy that warm Florida weather! Have a great trip

 

[Oakenshield]

We just got back from WDW. My son is 2 years old and is still rear facing in a Britax. We did not end up bringing the car seat since we just used Disney transportation the entire trip. We did end up buying the CARES harness for him to use on the flight, and we were happy with our choice.

We are also from the Boston area, enjoy that warm Florida weather! Have a great trip

I just looked up that CARES harness and it might be a good idea for us. It might make him thing he's strapped in like a car seat and have him act like he would in a car seat. My worry for the plane is that he'll think he can do whatever because he's only strapped at the waist! Is that why you used it?

 

[momto3pirates]

My DH and I are having this argument now. He does not want to bring the car seat for the plane but I do not see our 2 year old sitting for the flight. I don't want to have to hold her the entire time. My opinion is I would rather have her secure on the flight and then throw the seat under the ME bus then to fight with her during the flight. We have a car seat carrier bag that we used in June and it was not that big of an inconvenience.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

The CARES harness might be the best option. If you use his car seat on the plane, there is a good chance that you will have to front-face it. Would that cause issues when you come home and he has to rear-face in the car again? With the CARES he may know he is restrained, but not make the connection to front vs rear facing.

 

[Gracie09]

The CARES harness might be the best option. If you use his car seat on the plane, there is a good chance that you will have to front-face it. Would that cause issues when you come home and he has to rear-face in the car again? With the CARES he may know he is restrained, but not make the connection to front vs rear facing.

You do not have to forward face a car seat on the plane. It would be nice if a member of your party was sitting in front of it as the seat on front will not recline all the way, if at all.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

You do not have to forward face a car seat on the plane. It would be nice if a member of your party was sitting in front of it as the seat on front will not recline all the way, if at all.

You are correct, you do not have to by regulation. But depending on the plane, not all convertible car seats will fit rear-facing, even with the seat if front fully upright.

 

[Muskrat191]

The FAA suggests a car seat or a CARES harness if the child is under 40 lbs.

If the child is within the rear-facing limits of a car seat and the parent wants to install rear-facing, a US airline is required to move to a different seat within the same class of service where the seat will fit: http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC%20120-87B.pdf. However, this assumes there is a seat where it will fit. The bulkhead generally has fixed armrests that make most (all?) seats too wide.

I also believe in extended rear-facing. On an airplane, I would be ok forward-facing a 2.5 year old. Turbulence is the most likely occurrence where the child would benefit from the car seat, and the child would be protected FF. If you will not be in a car or taxi during the trip, the CARES harness is probably the easiest solution for the plane ride.

 

[Willabea]

Having this same debate with my husband. We live in NYC and my main concern is the taxi ride to/from the airport on the home end. We've definitely hopped into a cab once or twice before without a car seat and nothing terrible has happened, but a friend who is an ER pediatrician warns against it. Of course, she sees the worst case scenario on a daily basis, so she's ultra cautious. We do have a really light car seat (the Cosco Scenera) that we got just for travel and may just suck it up and use it. It's still bulky, though and I guarantee my husband will be annoyed and want to throw the thing away at some point...

 

[MandiC]

Just wanted to point out you can rent a CARES harness pretty inexpensively off ebay, we've looked into it for our younger kids I wouldn't bring the big car seat if you plan on using only Disney transport, as the others said you will not be able to bring it on Magical Express and bringing it on the buses to/from parks is also out of the question

 

[dalmatian7]

We just got back from WDW. My son is 2 years old and is still rear facing in a Britax. We did not end up bringing the car seat since we just used Disney transportation the entire trip. We did end up buying the CARES harness for him to use on the flight, and we were happy with our choice.

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We did the same on our last trip.

 

[luvmy2babies]

I understand. My son (now nearly 5) is still harnessed whereas some other children his size are in backless boosters.

But, after two flights (ages 10 months and 21 months) with my son and his car seat, I rented a CARES harness once he was big enough. We were only taking ME and Disney transportation. The park/resort bus is like any public bus where you can't use a car seat and ME is like any charter bus where they aren't used. I'm the only adult when we travel and I was happy to leave his seat at home.

I drive and park at our home airport so I didn't have the issue the one poster had as far as taking a cab to the airport.

We were all happier on the plane. Because he was in the harness and not his car seat he could sit in the middle seat. My daughter was much happier at the window and I certainly was being on the aisle.

Here he is at various times during that flight.

I would recommend following the recommendation of the lady I rented the harness from and place some similar to a cabinet liner under the child's bottom to keep them from sliding if the plane seats are like on Southwest. Since there's no buckle between the legs it helps.

 

[lorenni]

We have a CARES harness and love it. We use it not for behavior but because in severe turbulence or a crash a lap belt will not hold in a small child - they need the 5 point harness.

We also have a separate harness for the car - safe ride. We travel with that and have used it in cabs. Love that and it fits in a small drawstring bag - much much easier than carrying around a carseat.