First Plane trip with 2 small children - Advice Needed

[DopeyDame]

http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/

Choosing a CRS Based on a Child's Weight
The FAA strongly urges you to secure your child in a CRS or device based on the child's weight. See the table below.

CRS Type Selection
If your child weighs… Use a…
Less than 20 pounds Rear-facing CRS
20 to 40 pounds Forward-facing CRS
22 to 44 pounds CARES child safety device
More than 40 pounds Airplane seat belt
Booster seats and harness vests enhance safety in vehicles. However, the FAA prohibits passenger from using these types of restraints and belly belts during ground movement, take-off and landing because they do not provide the best protection. The FAA encourages parents to make the best safety choice by using an approved CRS during all phases of flight. While there is no regulatory prohibition from using a booster seat or harness vest (or other non-approved devices) for a lap child during the cruise portion of the flight only, airlines have policies which may or may not allow the use of those devices. Check with your airline.

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FAA-Approved Child Harness Device (CARES)

You're confusing two different paragraphs and regulations into one thing. The first section about weights is what the FAA "strongly urges you" to use. They are pointing out that babies should be strapped in and not lap babies, and that toddlers should be in car seats. And they give you the information that children over 40 pounds are safe using just the airplane seat. But none of that is required (clearly, given how common lap babies are.)

The second paragraph specifies that they "prohibit" using booster seats and harness vests. Which is true. But that doesn't mean that a child that is 45 pounds can't use a carseat ("approved CRS") - they absolutely can. (Frankly, a child that big would probably be uncomfortable in a carseat on a plane, so it might not be a good idea, but that's different from it being prohibited.)

It's really important that parents flying with carseats know and understand the laws because not all flight attendants do, and parents have gotten push-back when they were doing something well within regulations.

Here's the regulation from the FAA specifically allowing use of any approved CRS: http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/avia...afety/info/all_infos/media/2015/InFO15013.pdf

Per §§ 121.311 (b)(2)(i), 125.211(b)(2)(i), 135.128(a)(2)(i), no operator may prohibit a child (an individual who has not reached his or her 18th birthday) from using an approved CRS when a seat is purchased for the child, the child is accompanied by a parent or guardian and the child is within the weight limits for the CRS.

 

[Ndusmama]

You're confusing two different paragraphs and regulations into one thing. The first section about weights is what the FAA "strongly urges you" to use. They are pointing out that babies should be strapped in and not lap babies, and that toddlers should be in car seats. And they give you the information that children over 40 pounds are safe using just the airplane seat. But none of that is required (clearly, given how common lap babies are.)

The second paragraph specifies that they "prohibit" using booster seats and harness vests. Which is true. But that doesn't mean that a child that is 45 pounds can't use a carseat ("approved CRS") - they absolutely can. (Frankly, a child that big would probably be uncomfortable in a carseat on a plane, so it might not be a good idea, but that's different from it being prohibited.)

It's really important that parents flying with carseats know and understand the laws because not all flight attendants do, and parents have gotten push-back when they were doing something well within regulations.

Here's the regulation from the FAA specifically allowing use of any approved CRS: http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/avia...afety/info/all_infos/media/2015/InFO15013.pdf

Per §§ 121.311 (b)(2)(i), 125.211(b)(2)(i), 135.128(a)(2)(i), no operator may prohibit a child (an individual who has not reached his or her 18th birthday) from using an approved CRS when a seat is purchased for the child, the child is accompanied by a parent or guardian and the child is within the weight limits for the CRS.

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I copied the FAA page I linked to. So if it's confusing you should take it up with the FAA! I just thought the original poster would like the suggested car seat type based off of weight.

 

[Muskrat191]

But that doesn't mean that a child that is 45 pounds can't use a carseat ("approved CRS") - they absolutely can. (Frankly, a child that big would probably be uncomfortable in a carseat on a plane, so it might not be a good idea, but that's different from it being prohibited.)

My 46lb, almost 5 year old was perfectly comfortable in an Evenflo Sureride - JetBlue one way and Southwest in the other. We were renting a car and I don't trust the rental car seats.

 

[Baklava]

Assuming your 5 year old is no longer in a 5 point harness...

No car seat for the 5 year old.
Your own car seat for the 2 year old.
Use (borrow if you need to) a toddler friendly baby carrier or wrap for the airports and rent a double stroller from one of the offsite companies.

We had a bubble bum for our youngest (5 at the time) for use in Ubers but were not allowed to use it on the plane, even though they'd let her sit on a pillow which amounts to about the same thing.