Do we have to have a carseat on the flight?

[Minniemouse07]

We always use car seats.

Dd used them until she was 3.5yo (5 round trips). Her next flight she was 6.5yo so that was her first w/o a car seat.

Ds turned 2yo during out WDW trip last year and we took his seat just to use on the plane (we used DME and WDW transportation while there). He was rear facing on the plane and we seated him behind his sister so we wouldn't get any grief about the person in front of him not being able to recline their seat.

As for the tray on the airplane... we just don't use it when the kids are in carseats. They don't have a tray in our car so they really aren't missing anything!

I look at it this way... If I knew before we got on the flight that we would definitely hit severe turbulance, how would I want my child secured? In their car seat so that is what we do. Is it a pain dragging the seat through the airport? ... a bit but not overly so. It is worth my piece of mind to know that I'm doing all that is in my power to keep my kids safe. I realize that the chances are slim, but if we did hit that severe turbulance and I had decided to leave the seats home and my kids were injured... I wouldn't be able to live w/ myself.

Everyone makes their own decisions, but that is why we use car seats whenever we can.

Great post all4fun... you provided all the links that I would have shared!

 

[jodifla]

This isn't approved for FAA use, only cars...and depending on the vest, it may require an upper tether anchor in order to use it in a car.

I was interested in it for cars, particularly when traveling, guess I should have been more specific.

 

[Wendybird55]

FYI...as I was looking online at prices for CARES harness (it's not cheap!!) I found this website sweetpeababyrentals.com. They rent the CARES harness - I called and the woman was very nice. I will cost $18 to rent for 1 week plus $7 for shipping. Then when I get home all I have to do is mail it back. So you figure the total cost would be bout $31-$32.

Seems like a good deal to me. Better than the $80+ it will cost to order online with shipping and tax and all...

So, with alot of help from Disers - I think I found the solution to my airplane situation. I am going to rent the CARES harness from sweetpeababyrentals...

 

[_queenie_]

Having flown FIFTY times with a child(ren) under the age of five, I have only used a carseat once, when my DD4 was one, and I totally regretted it (of course a few of those tmes were before they even allowed carseats on planes, but go figure). That thing was such a PITA to lug around so we just decided never again. I gave it a shot, I was really hoping we'd do well, but it just didn't work out.

 

[lil mermaid]

I was interested in it for cars, particularly when traveling, guess I should have been more specific.

Your question about the Ride Safer vest was not directed at me, but I have seen it spoken about favorably by carseat techs on a few carseat boards (www.babybargainsbook.com, for one.) If you google it I am sure that you can find it. You do need to use it in a seat with a headrest though.