DD-2.5 seating on airline

[eruwqoi]

I was wondering what everyone has done in the past concerning children under 3 while flying. Did you use a car seat, some other device, or the default airline-seatbelt?

Thanks

E

 

[BuzzNutt]

I was wondering what everyone has done in the past concerning children under 3 while flying. Did you use a car seat, some other device, or the default airline-seatbelt?the portable dvd, leapster and good old coloring books and crayons.

Thanks

E

We have always depended on a car seat or seat belt. My son is pretty good. We do try to use JetBlue or Delta's Song for theTV bonus. We now use the portable dvd, leapster and good old coloring books and crayons.
Have a great trip!!

 

[dpuck1998]

Before the age of two we used a harness designed for airline travel. After 2 for the most part they did a good job of staying in their seat, with the help of DVDs and gameboys.

 

[flexsmom]

I also think it depends on the size of the child. My DS has been a big kid since he first appeared. By 2 1/2 he was very comfortable sitting in the seat with a seat belt only and it actually restrained him. But I've seen other 2 1/2 year olds who really were dwarfed by the seat with no car seat!

 

[jellojatdisney]

When we traveled with my oldest we brought the car seat - back then wouldn't imagine doing it without (new parent syndrome). Just flew with DD4 and DD2 1/2 on Sat. I didn't bring a thing.

 

[umber]

We always bring our car seat, it's comfy and she's used to it. Plus we need it for the car to and from Orlando.

 

[strega7]

If your child is 2.5 I am assuming you had to buy them their own seat. With that being said, when we traveled with ds we always took his car seat, which you have to make sure has a sticker on it that says it is FAA approved, or airline approved or something like that. Our son would never sit still, so it was great to be able to strap him in. Make sure if you are bringing a seat on the airplane it is approved because some flight attendents check, while others do not. If your child is not squirmy, then they will probably be fine just strapped in. When DS was a lap child, we used the harness thing, but it was kinda a pain because you could not use it during takeoff and landing. Happy flying. Marci

 

[molarman]

One thing to think about: we travel extensively with our now 2, 4, and 7 year old. Our two year old is very active boy, so we decided to carry on the car seat to help keep him strapped in. It did work very well, but it enabled him to reach the seat back in front of him with his FEET. He kicked the seat back all the way from California to Texas, with us constantly holding his feet. The flight was not full, and the passenger in front of us asked to be reseated (she was nice about it, but we still felt bad). Since then, no car seat for him. We check the car seat with the luggage and strap him in the regular airline seatbelt. That way, his little feet can't reach the seat in front of him and we don't have to lug that heavy car seat all over the airport when changing planes.

Of course, we felt more "safe" with the car seat on board, but felt so bad he was so annoying to the passengers in front of us (all the while we were trying to keep him from kicking). That was a h*** of a flight!!

 

[dpuck1998]

When we traveled with my oldest we brought the car seat - back then wouldn't imagine doing it without (new parent syndrome). Just flew with DD4 and DD2 1/2 on Sat. I didn't bring a thing.

LOL, we did the same thing with the first child. Now they are lucky if they get duck tape and some string.

 

[Anjelica]

The two times we took our daughter on air trips when she was two we just used the seatbelt provided with each seat. She stayed in her seat both times with zero issues (she's a very easy going kid). Now we did keep her entertained on both trips with portable dvd player **advice: pick up one or two new dvd's they haven't seen before so they are more interested in it during the flight**.

Her first flight she was 2 years 3 months and it was over 3 hours both ways to Jamaica. Her second flight she was 2 years and 8 months and it was only a little over 2 hours each way to Orlando.

 

[Babs417]

1998 your funny

 

[poohmomof5]

You guys are so funny!!!

We just got back from Mexico in November and our DD 2.2 years old had her own seat and I made my husband bring the car seat thinking that she would be able to sleep better and that she would be more comfortable. Well, after him nearly missing the flight because he had to go park the car and run across O'Hare's outdoor parking lot WITH the car seat, he said he would only remain married to me if we NEVER brought the car seat again!

We did use the seat on the shuttle to the hotel, so it was good that we had it, but still, it was so difficult to carry, she could reach the seat in front of her with her feet, and she could open and close the window shade whenever she felt like it! (On the way home, she refused to sit in the seat and the stewardess had to store it for us or we would have had a screaming toddler for the full 4+ hour flight!) It is truly a hassle. My future thoughts will be not so much the flight, but the ground transportation that we will need before I decide whether or not to take her car seat with us!

Luckily my husband did forgive me and we won't be taking the car seat this week when we are headed to DCL! Yippee!

Safe travels!

Poohmom

 

[KayDox]

Once we brought our DD's (11mo then) bulky Britax car seat with us when we flew across the Pacific Ocean.
And we said never again.
It was too big for economy seat. It fits, but just barely.
After just 5min we asked a flight attendant to store it somewhere.
We just let our DD play on the regular airplane seat with seatbelt around her tummy.
When it was time to take off/ land, we held her on lap.

And yes, a portable DVD is a god-send!
You can buy one for less than $100 nowadays.
Just make sure you charge battery!!

When we fly with kids, we do DVD, snacks, juice (but not much, to avoid tummy ache), books, walking, toys and some more DVD.
It's a lot of work, but it is far better than having to deal with a cranky child.
And I usually let our kids have a lollipop or two during takeoff/landing.

Oops, sorry I digress...

Kaye

 

[Hannathy]

I never took the car seat with my kids, usually flying alone and way too hard to carry ( I totally agree with your DH) and deal with. To my kids it was part of the plane being extra special - can't do this in a car! and they loved it sat very well and cooperative for many, many flights.

That is so true about kicking the seat, please if you insist on bringing the seat do something about it, flights are full anymore so no changing seats.

1998 That is so true, Don't forget to take some pictures either they get very testy when they are older and realize they have exactly 6 pictures of themself from infant hood till school time and the oldest has 6 albumns!

 

[dpuck1998]

1998 That is so true, Don't forget to take some pictures either they get very testy when they are older and realize they have exactly 6 pictures of themself from infant hood till school time and the oldest has 6 albumns!

Too True...at least now with digital cameras its a little better. My youngest 8 months at the time, didn't get to go to Hawaii with us...we have soo many awesome photos..but shes isn't in any of them.

 

[Skroops]

Of course using the car seat is safest. That being said, we have done it both ways. If we are renting a car, it is worth the cost savings to lug our own. For the cost of a car seat rental for a week, you could buy a new seat. If you are lugging it to the airport, you may as well use it during flight. If we are using ME, we don't lug it.

Either way, we've had trouble with the wee-one kicking the seat infront of him during flight. This is an on going battle during every flight for us. Toddlers have to move, and this is our greatest challenge (well and to keep the voice down...)!

Good luck!

 

[JVL1018]

After the age of 2 we had the kids in the regular airplane seat.
We have carseat bags that we put them in and check with the luggage.
Kids are 7 and 5 now, so we can put 2 backless boosters in one car seat bag and check just the one.
PLUS if you buy a lot of stuff, you can fit A LOT in the bag besides the boosters. LOL

 

[eruwqoi]

Thanks for all the tips.

I did find this link www.kidsflysafe.com for a different and easier way to secure a child in an airplane. We are not going to take the car seat unless we absolutely have to.

Thanks again,

E

 

[clkelley]

One thing I have seen that might be worth buying if you fly alot with your little one and want that car seat is combination stroller/carseat thing. (Not the multi-piece things). This is a one-piece thing. It looks like a normal forward facing car seat. Then when used as a stroller, the wheels pop out and a handle pulls up like on the roller bags. Not sure if it is narrow enough to go down the plane aisle, but except for that and going through security the kiddo stays in it and nothing extra to lug!!

 

[Liltx]

We have always used car seats for both our dd's. I have even flown by myself with them several times and used them. They do not know differently so they do not fuss.

Most airlines will send them down to baggage claim after the flight which solves half of your problem.

Flying is safe but if anything did happen they would be much more likely to survive. No judgement though. Choose what is best for your family.

Monica