First Plane trip with 2 small children - Advice Needed

[Duck143]

Hi everyone!
We are planning our first plane trip to Disney with our 2 boys, 5 years and 2 years. We're thinking about bringing the car seats with us and I am considering bringing our umbrella stroller for the 2 year old and checking it on the plane. Has anyone brought their car seats and a stroller onto the plane with them? We would prefer to keep the kids confined in their seats on the plane and not have to rent them car seats from the car rental company.

 

[TWK]

If you are not staying on site, and have to rent carseats, then I would bring them on the plane (I think the best plan is to stay on site and take Disney transportation to avoid carseats altogether though) I would probably buy a used or cheaper double umbrella stroller if you are planning on more than a few days in the parks, then gate check it. You could at least put the carseats and 2 year old in the stroller and have the 5 year old walk.

 

[scrapquitler]

I always brought the carseat on the plane when I traveled with a child who needed to sit in a carseat in the car. Just be aware in terms of your five year old: You cannot use a booster seat on the plane, only a carseat. If you have a booster for the 5 year old, you will have to gate check it.

 

[heath92681]

We did not use car seats for our boys. Just not something I wanted to deal with, since we were using Disney transportation. We just told our boys it was like being in a car - while the plane was moving we needed to stay buckled in our seats. We did have a double umbrella stroller that we gate checked.

 

[happymommy]

Unless you're renting a car, I wouldn't bother with car seats. I've flown with my kids since they were babies (and often I did it without my DH, even when they were a 2YO and 3 month old).

I agree about a double stroller - I would definitely have a double! At 5 and even older, my kids would fall asleep in the stroller (as they got older we'd just bring a single but at that age we needed the double).

 

[Mousemommy1]

We have been traveling with our girls since they were 3 and 5. When they were little we always rented one of the park strollers if we needed it. Now we have a 17 month old son. We have taken him to Disney twice and we have brought our own stroller each time (City Mini GT). We prefer to have the stroller in the airport (as containment) and having it in the parks. Gate check is super easy.

Now, I foolishly thought it would be a good idea to have him as a lap child on the plane when he was 3 months old, but that was not a good idea. It's not very safe either.

His second time around, (at 15 months old) we brought his car seat. It was very cumbersome. DH was sooooo irritated carrying that thing around, lol. Anyway, we just ordered a CARES Harness for future trips (next time we go he will be 2.5 years old). I am hoping it works!!

 

[ElenaRN]

Our kids are around the same age. On our last trip they were almost 5 and almost 2. We rent a car so we took the car seat for YDD for the plane and packed ODD booster in our checked bag. I know YDD will fall asleep if she is in the carseat - at least for a little while. We also rented a double stroller. We have travelled with our stroller and don't find it worth the hassle just to have it in the airport. The rental strollers are usually Citi Minis and they are great strollers. Also, they get delievered right to your hotel. Super convenient. An umbrella stroller wouldn't work for us.

 

[epsmith921]

I would definitely bring your seats rather than rent from the car rental agency, but as far as using them on the plane, maybe not. We personally choose to not use a stroller in most airports because it's one more thing to deal with. If I'm by myself though- definitely a stroller.

Think about whether you want the 2 year old to use a car seat on the plane and how you plan on getting it through the airport and that should help you decide what to do. We brought our diono radian attached to our suitcase (we were using the seat on the plane because the belt was not going to be effective for my 18 month old) by one of those straps available on Amazon. We wound up ordering the much more expensive cart I think called the go go babyz and it was awesome. Should have spent more in the first place

Anyway, depending on the size of the two year old, you may want him in the seat or not. My daughter was fine with just the plane seatbelt at 2.5, but she's pretty tall for her age.

Basically I would say as much as you can, less stuff is probably better.

 

[Pesky]

1. Bring your seats. You don't want to rent them. Trust me. After trying that route from a major rental company at a major airport, NEVER.AGAIN. They were atrocious.
2. Seats on the plane -- I have to admit I didn't hassle with it. My sister and BIL did so and they admitted it was a giant pain figuring out how to do it and get them put in just right, the airline crew was of no help as they didn't know either, and the person in front of their kid couldn't recline. Something to consider is a CARES harness instead. There are companies that rent them if you don't want to get your own.
3. Seats checked -- you can gate check or luggage check your car seats. We got $25 car seat cover bags from WalMart with backpack straps. We loaded in blankets and diapers and clothes for padding and our seats were always fine. Plus we appreciated the extra storage. FYI, car seat bags check for free regardless of airline as it is a mandatory safety device.

Oh and absolutely bring a stroller. Handy to contain at least one of your kids (if not both) and you can always use it to hold carry-ons if no one wants to ride in it. Disney is so much walking that little legs can get tired easily and my 4 and 6 YOs were drooping at DLR which is far more compact.

 

[RachaelA]

We don't bring anything, but I do use a CARES harness for my 2 year old. I wear her in a carrier basically from getting out of the car until we are seated on the plane and then from the minute we get off the plane until we are on Magical Expeess.

 

[Duck143]

1. Bring your seats. You don't want to rent them. Trust me. After trying that route from a major rental company at a major airport, NEVER.AGAIN. They were atrocious.
2. Seats on the plane -- I have to admit I didn't hassle with it. My sister and BIL did so and they admitted it was a giant pain figuring out how to do it and get them put in just right, the airline crew was of no help as they didn't know either, and the person in front of their kid couldn't recline. Something to consider is a CARES harness instead. There are companies that rent them if you don't want to get your own.
3. Seats checked -- you can gate check or luggage check your car seats. We got $25 car seat cover bags from WalMart with backpack straps. We loaded in blankets and diapers and clothes for padding and our seats were always fine. Plus we appreciated the extra storage. FYI, car seat bags check for free regardless of airline as it is a mandatory safety device.

Oh and absolutely bring a stroller. Handy to contain at least one of your kids (if not both) and you can always use it to hold carry-ons if no one wants to ride in it. Disney is so much walking that little legs can get tired easily and my 4 and 6 YOs were drooping at DLR which is far more compact.

Thank you SO much for all your advice!! We have a couple months left to get all these details figured out before we head down there.

 

[MarBee]

If you are staying on Disney property, I wouldn't bother with car seats at all and not rent a car. Then I would look into the CARES harness.
Also, I second what everyone is saying about the double stroller. It makes life so much easier.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thank you SO much for all your advice!! We have a couple months left to get all these details figured out before we head down there.

if you decide to use carseats on plane plan on your kids not being able to use tray table as it can be lower right with carseat.

 

[Ndusmama]

ABSOLUTELY take some kind of a stroller. Just make sure it is easy to fold.

 

[happymommy]

The airlines will not allow a child large enough for a booster seat to use a car seat on a plane regardless if the child is still in one at home. I believe it's FAA rules. The two year old is required to be in a car seat but unless yours clearly states FAA compatable on it, it can be a hassle. Seriously look into a CARES system. They are $60 on Amazon. There is also an inflatable car seat that gets great reviews from many safety experts. I forget the name of it, I think it is something like the bubble seat. That might be a less bulky weight item to have.

And ABSOLUTELY take some kind of a stroller. Just make sure it is easy to fold.

A 2 year old isn't required to be in a car seat on a plane; I've flown many times with kids that age, and only used a car seat for our flight from Hawaii (moving from there) when my son was 1 1/2 (so he'd sleep the whole flight). Otherwise, at 2 we didn't bother, just used the seat belt. Always bought them a seat (except for a short 30 minute flight to a neighbor island).

 

[MarBee]

A 2 year old isn't required to be in a car seat on a plane; I've flown many times with kids that age, and only used a car seat for our flight from Hawaii (moving from there) when my son was 1 1/2 (so he'd sleep the whole flight). Otherwise, at 2 we didn't bother, just used the seat belt. Always bought them a seat (except for a short 30 minute flight to a neighbor island).

This is true. No airlines require anyone to be in a car seat.

 

[Muskrat191]

We always fly with car seats and use them on the plane. We generally rent a car, and I definitely do NOT trust rental seats. My oldest was almost 5 on the last trip, and there was no problem using a harnessed car seat for her on the plane. We use a folding luggage cart and bungie cord the seats to the cart. The luggage cart then folds up and stores in the overhead bin on the plane. My kids are used to sleeping in their car seats, so they had no problem sleeping on the plane.

The only downside for us is that the tray table cannot generally be used when the child is in a car seat. We bring lap desks for the kids to use.

 

[DopeyDame]

The airlines will not allow a child large enough for a booster seat to use a car seat on a plane regardless if the child is still in one at home. I believe it's FAA rules. The two year old is required to be in a car seat but unless yours clearly states FAA compatable on it, it can be a hassle. Seriously look into a CARES system. They are $60 on Amazon. There is also an inflatable car seat that gets great reviews from many safety experts. I forget the name of it, I think it is something like the bubble seat. That might be a less bulky weight item to have.

And ABSOLUTELY take some kind of a stroller. Just make sure it is easy to fold.

Totally not true. How would they even know since every state has different rules about when a child can legally move from carseat to booster.
If the seat is approved for use by the FAA and being used within manufacturers specifications (ie, the child isn't over the weight limit of the carseat), then you are absolutely allowed to use it on the plane.

That said, to the OP, I am one of the biggest proponents of carseats on a plane that you will ever find. I have two kids (now 4 and 7) and they both have traveled a ton - I've installed a carseat on literally dozens of airplanes (and never found it any more of a hassle than anything else while travelling).
But I definitely wouldn't use it for the five year old. Assuming he's a normal sized kid, he really won't have anywhere to put his legs, and you'll end up making him sit criss-cross or driving the person in front of you crazy. The airplane seat belt will be plenty safe for him.
The two year old will be fine in either a carseat or cares harness. *Some* two year olds are also fine in just the airplane belt, depending on size and maturity - you have to decide for yourself if you trust your child to sit correctly and not play with the belt at all.

 

[Duck143]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the tons of advice and suggestions!

 

[Ndusmama]

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.

Back to Top

FAA-Approved Child Harness Device (CARES)