Do you need a carseat for a 3 y/o on flight!

[Ricky P]

Hello,
Just wondering if a carseat is needed on an airplane for a 3 y/o. The flight is the only time one would possibly be needed. Just trying to save lugging back and forth from airport. Don't cruify me, I'm a grandfather who grew up in the 50's and 60's and survived.
Thanks, Ricky P

 

[Gracie09]

no car seat is required for a 3 year old on a plane. If you want, you can look into a cares harness. It turns the regular belt into a 3 point harness.

 

[craigkerstiens]

We generally don't carry the car seat for our daughter on flights. We didn't when she was an infant as she was in our laps, and since the age of two she's sat in the seat fine on her own. We've probably taken 5+ flights since she's been age 2-3 and none of them with a carseat. From observing others I'd say it's probably the norm to not have one.

 

[pooch]

We found our DGS 2 1/2 did better with a car seat. It's not needed but he was used to traveling in it and so hopped in readily. It kept him confined and comfortable, allowed him to be able to look out the window which he loved and he fell asleep 10 minutes after takeoff!

 

[sam_gordon]

A car seat is not required for any age. However, like pooch, we found our 3yo (at the time) traveled better in his car seat so we decided to use it. If you do use it, find a car seat bag (preferably one with wheels) to make lugging it through the airport a little easier.

 

[bumbershoot]

The carseat on a plane is to help the child understand that when seated on the plane you are buckled in. That way in case of huge turbulence the child doesn't go airborne into the ceiling or into other passengers' faces. If the child can comprehend that she is to be buckled at all times other than going to and from the bathroom (and in the bathroom of course), the lap belt can work fine.

Don't cruify me, I'm a grandfather who grew up in the 50's and 60's and survived.

All of us writing now survived our childhoods. The key question is how many serious car accidents did you survive without a carseat? THAT is a key difference between those of us here to talk about having survived our childhoods and those of us who aren't.

 

[PrincesCJM]

We found our DGS 2 1/2 did better with a car seat. It's not needed but he was used to traveling in it and so hopped in readily. It kept him confined and comfortable, allowed him to be able to look out the window which he loved and he fell asleep 10 minutes after takeoff!

That was my son. We went to WDW when he was 2 years 10 months old. We were renting a car so we needed it anyways.

 

[FunkyDuckToo]

We used the CARES Harness for our plane rides. I highly recommend it.

 

[Plaid Princess]

Car seat not required. If you choose to use a Cares harness, just check with your airline to make sure they allow them. Not all airlines do. Also, if you do opt to bring a car seat, make sure you speak to your airline and let them know, so they can place you in appropriate seats (not all seats allow a car seat to be used for safety reasons).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Car seat not required. If you choose to use a Cares harness, just check with your airline to make sure they allow them. Not all airlines do. Also, if you do opt to bring a car seat, make sure you speak to your airline and let them know, so they can place you in appropriate seats (not all seats allow a car seat to be used for safety reasons).

All US airlines allow the use of a Cares harness; they are certified by the FAA. There are seats where they won't work, such as some business class and first class seat pods; however that usually isn't an issue for domestic flights.

 

[mrscoobs]

Just to add that if you want to use your own car seat that you also need to make sure that it is approved for airline use by checking the manual or looking for a plane symbol on the bottom near the model number for the car seat as some car seats are not approved.