child seat ??

[Mad4Dizne]

Without a carseat--Do your toddlers (over 40lbs)actually sit with just a seatbelt on the whole plane ride??

 

[dreams91]

There isn't much to a booster seat. They are intended to "boost" the child up to an adult size so that they will fit into the seatbelt system. Just make sure that the shoulder harness is not crossing the child at the neck.

A booster wouldn't do you any good on a plane, as planes have lap only belts. Boosters are required to have lap/shoulder belts.

HTH

 

[Iamom]

both of the booster seats we have use a 5 point harness system up to a certain weight and then the use of a standard seatbelt. If you have just a base I don't believe you can even use them on a plane.

 

[dreams91]

A "booster" seat does not have a harness. That is why it is a booster. The seats you are talking about are called "convertibles". They have a harness and are considered a car seat until you take the harness out. Once the harness is out, then it becomes a booster. I'm a certified car seat tech.

 

[cdrn1]

We would never dream of flying without a car seat for Abby. I am too scared of turbulence. I want her in a five-point restraint.

 

[Mad4Dizne]

When your child grows past 40 pounds and I believe, above 37 inches; then you need a booster seat in a car. What do you do for plane rides?? (boosters can't be used with lap belt only)

 

[NotUrsula]

According to the FAA, a child who weighs at least 40 lbs. (regardless of height) can safely sit in an aircraft seat restrained by the seat's lap belt. That is, they will be just as safe as the adults sitting next to them.

The recommendations for aircraft use and automobile use are different, because the vehicles are very different, as are the stresses and impacts that one can experience. The FAA makes the rules for seats used on aircraft.

Under the FAA definition, a carseat is only defined as a disallowed "booster" if it lacks any upper body restraint system.
If you have a convertible seat that still is being used with the full harness attached, then the seat is not considered a "booster" under the FAA definition. As long as the harness is still in place, and the "approved for use in aircraft" sticker is in place, the seat can be used in an aircraft if its occupant weighs less than 40 lbs.

 

[mobetsy]

Different seats have different upper weight limits on the 5 point harness use. Although many are designed for a max of 40 lbs., several of the Britax seats (Husky, Wizard, Marathon) have higher limits of 65-80 lbs., as well as greater height limits. These seats do not convert to boosters, but they can allow a parent to keep a child in a 5 point harness for quite a bit longer than the average seat. One problem I've heard of with some of the Britax seats on airplanes is that they are fairly wide, and sometimes too wide for the plane seats. Good idea to check with the airline about the specific plane and the seat width!

 

[dreams91]

Mad4-- I sent you a PM. And yes, there are a few seats out there that you can keep your child in a harness system to higher weight limits. Those seats are sometimes still hard to find and more expensive.

A seat becomes a booster when there is no harness system (whether you remove it or it comes without the harness).

HTH.

 

[Mad4Dizne]

Thank-you all. I'm going to check out the Britax!!!!!!!!!!

Thank-you NotUrsula--just what I needed to know about the airplane!!!!!