DO I need to bring car seats?

[jodifla]

I'm not purposefully inconveniencing anyone. I'm not being rude, and I'm not being inconsiderate.

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/airplaneRF.aspx

You don't have to get it. I do, and that's all that matters.

It's still really rude, and the "safety" aspect is so minimal as to be meaningless.

 

[Erica09M]

It's still really rude, and the "safety" aspect is so minimal as to be meaningless.

That's your opinion. Get over it.

 

[Hannathy]

It's still really rude, and the "safety" aspect is so minimal as to be meaningless.

I agree 100% and the person you quoted, their response says volumes it was quite rude to you. so why would she be expected to not be rude on an airplane.

 

[Keri]

One of the reasons I LOVE our Disney trip is that we don't have to be bothered with carseats!!!!!

We did not buy our toddler a seat on the plane, so there's no reason to bring a carseat -- can't use it on the bus/monorail/boat & those are the only methods of transportation we'll be using all week

 

[Erica09M]

I agree 100% and the person you quoted, their response says volumes it was quite rude to you. so why would she be expected to not be rude on an airplane.

You have called me inconsiderate and rude, previous to this I have done neither to you.

I'm not a rude person, and my child's safety will always be the most important thing to me. I know the chances are very rare, and I hope it never occurs, but I will do anything in my power to protect my children the best to my ability even if the benefits aren't significant. I always say better safe than sorry. You don't have to agree with me, but you certainly may not name call and attack me.

We will just have to agree to disagree on this issue.

 

[Hannathy]

You have called me inconsiderate and rude, previous to this I have done neither to you.

I'm not a rude person, and my child's safety will always be the most important thing to me. I know the chances are very rare, and I hope it never occurs, but I will do anything in my power to protect my children the best to my ability even if the benefits aren't significant. I always say better safe than sorry. You don't have to agree with me, but you certainly may not name call and attack me.

We will just have to agree to disagree on this issue.

I was referring to your response to jodifla when you told her to "get over it" IMO I consider that a quite rude statement.

 

[Erica09M]

I was referring to your response to jodifla when you told her to "get over it" IMO I consider that a quite rude statement.

Oh, excuse me, it was dinatwin that called me rude & inconsiderate.

You just called me rude on pg 2.

I don't feel like it's necessary for anyone to be attacked for their parental choices. You don't have to agree with the way I choose to keep my child safe. I have the right to rear face my child on an airplane and if it was an issue it wouldn't be allowed. But it is allowed, therefore I can do it. I'm not breaking any rules.

Would you feel differently if it was a child that didn't meet the minimum requirements for forward facing and had to remain rear facing in their car seats, even on an airplane since they must be used according to the manufacturer's guidelines? Or are you just singling out my child since she's over the minimum (but still within the rear facing) the guidelines?

 

[SmallWorld71]

Haven't read through the responses, but I would bring one for the 18 month old in case you decide to use a taxi while at WDW. We always say we are going to use Disney transportation, but occasionally we are running late for an ADR and need to use a taxi to get there on time.

 

[Hannathy]

Oh, excuse me, it was dinatwin that called me rude & inconsiderate.

You just called me rude on pg 2.

I don't feel like it's necessary for anyone to be attacked for their parental choices. You don't have to agree with the way I choose to keep my child safe. I have the right to rear face my child on an airplane and if it was an issue it wouldn't be allowed. But it is allowed, therefore I can do it. I'm not breaking any rules.

Would you feel differently if it was a child that didn't meet the minimum requirements for forward facing and had to remain rear facing in their car seats, even on an airplane since they must be used according to the manufacturer's guidelines? Or are you just singling out my child since she's over the minimum (but still within the rear facing) the guidelines?

I don't care why you are inconveniencing another person whether it is for your child or for your lap top as an adult. I feel it is rude anytime another person does not consider the person they are inconveniencings feelings and have the attitude that they don't care they are more special and that person be darned.

 

[Cedarmom]

I have kids pretty close in age to the OPs. I'll be bringing a car seat for the baby, a CARES harness for the 3.5 year old, and nothing for the 6.5 year old. This is *big* for me not to have seats for everyone, but we'll also only be using Disney transport so there's really no need.

The baby has her own seat on the plane, so she'll need her carseat. She'll be 9 months old and 22 lbs. And rearfacing. No family members sitting in front of her. Should I start writing the apology note to the poor soul sitting in front of her who won't be able to recline their seat 2 inches?

Actually, when the now 3 yo had just turned 2, I had an issue w/ a flight attendant and his rear facing seat. She insisted he needed to be turned. I asked the gentleman sitting in front of him if he minded not being able to recline. He didn't (and the two seats beside him were empty had he minded). The FA would.not leave it alone. She finally got another FA --I guess to come yell at me. The second FA asked the gentleman the same question, he responded, and the second FA told the first one to get over it.

Bottom line, you can use any FAA approved seat on the plane in any manner in which the seat is designed to be used. RFing, FFing, whatever. I promise it would be worse if I let the 2 yo FF. He's going to be kicking your seat the whole time, and I probably won't have the energy to fight it for an entire flight. Picking your battles w/ the kids and all that.

 

[Cedarmom]

I don't care why you are inconveniencing another person whether it is for your child or for your lap top as an adult. I feel it is rude anytime another person does not consider the person they are inconveniencings feelings and have the attitude that they don't care they are more special and that person be darned.

Wouldn't this apply to the person sitting in front of this child as well, insisting it is their 'right' to recline? Isn't it inconveniencing the parents, who have to unstrap the child, change harness heights, reinstall the seat, and then try to stop the child from kicking the back of the seat through an entire flight? Once the flight is over, harness heights have to be changed again. Trust me, it would be very inconvenient.

I try very hard not to inconvenience other passengers. I bring toys to entertain my kids, attempt to keep them as quiet as possible (even if that means putting them in a movie coma for hours on end). I do not recline my own seat because I hate having someone recline on me. Why is it in these discussions that the parents are considered 'rude', rather than the person who had the bad luck of having a rfing car seat behind them and insist that it not be so?

 

[Erica09M]

Thank you, Paula!

 

[PEANUT1]

Wow..these care seat forums do get heated don't they. I got totally attacked last year when I posted a question on these forums about wanting to switch my 5 year old to a booster.

I would not presume to tell others how to parent their children. I would however probably be annoyed if I couldn't recline my seat on a plane..especially if it was a long ride. I was just on a 10 hour flight and the person in front of me was reclined. If I couldn't recline I would have been very uncomfortable for a very long time. I understand that a person may ask the person in front of them nicely if they mind not reclining, but that puts that person in a very uncomfortable position..especially if they are shy and dont speak up for themselves. Just my opinion.

 

[Erica09M]

I don't care why you are inconveniencing another person whether it is for your child or for your lap top as an adult. I feel it is rude anytime another person does not consider the person they are inconveniencings feelings and have the attitude that they don't care they are more special and that person be darned.

Did you not read all of my posts in this thread?

I have clearly stated that if there was an issue where the person infront of us needed to recline their seat, we'd rearrange so that the person could do so and we'd still be able to have our child rear facing. I definitely don't have an attitude in regards to my situation being more important than theirs. I have clearly stated that we could rearrange to suit all parties. How is that not being considerate? How is that being rude? How is that having an attitude that I don't care? How is that me feeling like our situation is more special than theirs?

Please make sure you're reading everything before you start assuming that I am not considering anyone else.

You also haven't answered my question on if your feelings would change if the child was required to be rear facing in their car seat per manufacturer's guidelines because the child was too small to meet the forward facing requirements.

 

[jennyleettu]

NO, it does NOT have to be forward facing. I've been through this before many times on this board.

The seat that it is installed in must be forward facing, but the seat itself can be rear facing if it is FAA approved for rear facing usage. Some aren't, some are. Ours is.

Can you tell me what kind of seat you have? I just want to make sure ours is going to be okay.

We are also going to be "rude" and install DD's deat RF on the plane. I don't understand really why it's rude but whatever. It's my DD's safety, and yes I will do whatever I can to insure she is safest any time I can. We have traveled many times and taken a car seat with us, we have a Scerena that was travel with because it's so light weight. We can also use a bungee cord and strap DD straight into the stroller with out having to take her out of the carseat so for us it works well!

 

[Erica09M]

Can you tell me what kind of seat you have? I just want to make sure ours is going to be okay.

We are also going to be "rude" and install DD's deat RF on the plane. I don't understand really why it's rude but whatever. It's my DD's safety, and yes I will do whatever I can to insure she is safest any time I can. We have traveled many times and taken a car seat with us, we have a Scerena that was travel with because it's so light weight. We can also use a bungee cord and strap DD straight into the stroller with out having to take her out of the carseat so for us it works well!

We also travel with the Cosco Scenera, it's perfect because it's so light!

If you plan on renting a vehicle, make sure you pack your pool noodles or a towel to roll up for your rear facing install. You won't need them on the plane, but you'll need them in the car!

 

[jennyleettu]

We also travel with the Cosco Scenera, it's perfect because it's so light!

If you plan on renting a vehicle, make sure you pack your pool noodles or a towel to roll up for your rear facing install. You won't need them on the plane, but you'll need them in the car!

We haven't traveled in a while so I just wanted to make sure there hadn't been any changes!! I love ours because like you said it's really light. We aren't planning on renting a car but I might throw some in just in case because with kids you just never know!!!

Thanks!

 

[Goofy_Dad_24]

You can't imagine needing one, I can't imagine going without one. I know it doens't happen very often, but I want my child as protected as possible in the rare chance that we hit severe turbulance and everyone/thing is being tossed around the cabin that isn't buckled down, the chance of a rough take off or landing, or an emergency. There is no way that a parent would be able to hang on to a child with forces against them. I can't imagine risking it, and it's always worth it to bring a car seat along. The car seat we have for traveling is VERY light weight and it's not an issue to "lug" it around the airport, to the hotel, etc.

There is a better chance of your child getting struck by lightning while walking around the Magic Kingdom then the situation you describe above, so by your reasoning you should probably keep your kids indoors at all times.

 

[Erica09M]

There is a better chance of your child getting struck by lightning while walking around the Magic Kingdom then the situation you describe above, so by your reasoning you should probably keep your kids indoors at all times.

That's your opinion, but with a number of recent incidents involving planes, we won't take the risk. If I was on the plane that had an emergency landing on the Hudson River, I'd be thankful my child was safe in her car seat. If I was on the Continental jet traveling from Brazil to Texas that hit severe turbulance in August, which dropped without warning and threw flight attendants into the ceiling, and injured over 20 people... I'd be thankful my child was safe in her car seat.

There are risks involved in everything we do. As parents we determine which risks carry a heavier weight. I am very passionate about car seat safety, and the potential risk isn't worth it to me. That is a decision I have made as a parent, and my decisions shouldn't be mocked by others.

I have not passed judgement on anyone for not using a car seat on the air plane, that's their own choice to be made. If I'm asked my opinion, which was asked by the OP, I'll give it and state my reasons like I have in this thread.

We all have our children's best interests in mind. I don't understand why some feel the need to pick apart my parental decision because it's something you don't see as a significant safety concern. It is to me, and that's all that should matter. It's my decision, not yours.

 

[wmharley]

I might be off, but I think maybe wmharley was perhaps saying that if an accident occurs, and people start suing for not being able to use seatbelts/car seats, that they might start putting seatbelts on the buses, and then car seats would be able to be used.

exactly...

when a lawsuit happens.. belts will come on

Putting seatbelts, then carseats on busses will probably never happen. The logistics of it don't make it easy. First to retrofit the buses, then, what is everyone going to do with the carseats when they get to a park, add to all that the extra load/unload to time needed to PROPERLY secure each different seat on the bus. Improperly secured seats can do more harm than good in an actual accident, so would drivers then be required to hook each seat, as they are now required to do with wheelchairs?

I know plenty of buses have em, including newer school buses. My work has shuttle buses from the remote lots and they have belts on em. Not saying they are used, but they are there.

When there is an accident and someone gets hurt.. there will be a lawsuit, isnt there always? and eventually, they will probably get added at some point.

I prfer to not rely on a bus driver for my transportation around Orlando. Running on the shuttles in Disney is better than driving from MCO.