Flying w/two year olds?

[mom2jcc]

Well, our twins will be 2 months shy of their 3rd birthday.

Questions:

Do they need their own seats on the plane?
Do they have to sit in car seats?

I know nothing about toddlers flying because we have never flown with them before. I'm starting to plan our Christmas 2008 trip!

Thanks

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I believe that if they are older than 2, they need their own seats.

regarding the car seats - it is a full fledged car seat and NOT a booster seat, then they can use them on the plane. I recommend using the car seats, this way they are secured and won't try and get up and run around.

But it depends on your kids. My DD, didn't need a car seat at that age....DS however needs a chain and locks to keep him in his seat.

 

[Minnie824]

We flew for the first time in May and our DDs were 5.5 and just 2 yrs old. The 5.5 yr old loved it. The 2yo had her own seat, no car seat. She sat very well, didn't even ask or attempt to get up. She had the window seat on the way to vacation, aisle on the way back (with me in the middle seat between the kids and DH across the aisle). That setup worked well for us. She did, however, not like the ear popping stuff. I don't let the kids chew gum, but I brought suckers (she just stared ahead and didn't want it), fruit snacks, and a bottle of water, which she drank. Its hard explaining to them at that age that they need to swallow. Luckily, both times for landing, she fell asleep and it made the landing much easier. Just make sure you bring something to help with their ears.

 

[design_mom]

Do they need their own seats on the plane?
Do they have to sit in car seats?

Yes, since it will be after their 2nd birthday, they will need their own seats.

They do not *have* to sit in their car seats, but they can as long as the car seat is approved for airline use (look for a sticker on the seat). Most airlines recommend car seats for children. We usually fly with ours (although we only have one toddler). It's a little bit of a hassle to haul them through the airport, but not too bad.

Good luck planning your trip.

 

[Cruz91]

Yes, they need their own seat.
No, they don't need a car seat.

Most airlines (like SW) won't give a discount on their seat either. They consider 2 and up adult .

One key that worked for us was to make it a FUN thing. Wife is afraid of flying, and I didn't want that to rub off on the kids. We started talking about the flight months before the date and got them excited about the prospect of getting to fly. Now, though, every plane they see flying overhead MUST be going to Disney

 

[Ducky4Disney]

My LO has flown 3 times. At 10 months, 11 months, and 14 months. The first two times I just held him. The last trip I got him his own seat and used the newly approved flight harness and it was GREAT! It's available through kidsflysafe.com and cost $75. It's small, lightweight, easy to install, and makes flying safer for toddlers.

From the website:

Q. At what age can a child use CARES?
A. Children must be at least 1 year old, weigh 22 pounds, and be able to sit “front facing” to use CARES.
Q. What is the upper age limit for children to use CARES?
A. Children who are 4 years old, weigh at least 44 pounds and are more than 40 inches tall are considered old enough and strong enough to travel without an airplane child safety belt.

Definately something to look into! I figure we will use it another 4-6 times for Allen and then when we have another baby we'll get another 6-8 uses out of it. My DSis is PG and she may borrow it too... well worth the $75.

I'll post of pic of Allen on the plane in his harness later.

D4D

 

[design_mom]

The last trip I got him his own seat and used the newly approved flight harness and it was GREAT! It's available through kidsflysafe.com and cost $75. It's small, lightweight, easy to install, and makes flying safer for toddlers.

Wow. I've seen other harnesses, but they weren't FAA approved for take-off and landing. This looks great (and a long time in coming.) I've never heard of it before, so thanks for the heads up!

 

[wrighter]

Having flown many times with both my kids at very early ages, I would like to mention something: If your children are tall, please consider whether or not your child could fit comfortably in a full-sized car seat in an airplane seat. My children were both tall for their ages, and the last time we flew with our DD when she was 17 months, she was so scrunched up we swore it was her last time with the car seat. Not to mention she was constantly kicking the person in front of her because there was nowhere for her feet to go. On the return leg of that trip we checked her car seat and everyone was much more comfortable. Just something to consider since yours will be almost 3 when you fly. Best of luck!!!

 

[mom2jcc]

Thank you all so much!

I'll definitely look into that harness.

I just can't see us hauling two kiddos and car seats. We plan to use ME so hopefully that will make things a little easier, too.

 

[Minniemouse07]

My children have always (dd) and will always (ds) use an appropriate car seat on an airplane.

Dd flew about 5 or 6 round trips between 17mo and 3.5yrs. Using a car seat was really no problem at all, in fact almost every flight she fell asleep... most times before we even took off!

Ds flies for the first time in December just as he turns 2yo and we will definitely have his seat on the plane for him, even though we don't need it once we get to Florida.

I look at it this way, how would I secure my child on the airplane if I KNEW it was going to go through severe turbulence or a crash landing? That is the way we fly every time... just like how we do it in the car.

There is a great website here that has excellent advise about using your car seat on the plane.

Oh, and to address children that don't "fit" in the seat... If the child meets the manufacturer's guidelines (under 30-35lbs and their head is more than 1" from the top of the shell of the seat) it is actually more comfy for them to be REAR facing on the airplane. This also precludes them from kicking the seat back of the person in front of them and allows them to face their parent/sibling on the plane!

If the child must be forward facing, make sure that the seat is not in the recline position and assure that the person in front of them doesn't recline either.

Dd is quite tall for her age and was in a car seat on a plane as old as 3.5yo...we had no problems with her fitting.

 

[DawnM]

I have only carried a car seat on a plane once. It was horrible. I was alone with a 3 year old and a 1 year old and diaper bags and purse and trying to manage all with the stroller gate check, carrying everything and then when we landed I had 2 car seats and 2 sleeping children to try to get off the plane.

My youngest flew for 22 hours from China to the East Coast without a carseat and he did fine.

Dawn

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I agree that kids need to be properly restrained while in any transportation situation. For flying - that doesn't have to be a big bulky carseat anymore! The CARES harness is FAA approved - it is the *ONLY* FAA approved harness! It worked great for Allen, he played, snacked, and napped on the plane.

D4D