Flying with a 2-yr old questions

[kkayluvsdis]

Hi There,
I was wondering if anyone could offer me some insight/suggestions in regards to flying by myself with my DD2. I realize that the airlines require you to purchase a separate seat for the child, but I was wondering if anyone knew the regulations as far as carseats go. Right now we have a Britax marathon and I'm not sure how feasible it would be for me to muscle that, a carry-on, a stroller, and my daughter all onto the plane! Any tips??
Thanks! Kelly

 

[Vijoge]

Kelly,
The airlines don't require a carseat (not saying you shouldn't take it) and you won't be able to take your stroller on the plane (it will need to be either gate checked or checked with your luggage).

That leaves you with your carry-on (could you fit what you need in a backpack?) and your DD. You'll have to take her with you-they won't let you check children!

 

[raven69david]

We have Marathons too and have used them on the plane twice. At 3 we no longer use the car seat as she's a little taller than the average 3 year old so she fits in the seat perfect now. She remains buckled the whole flight so no fear of something happen should turbulence hit.

You can purchase a carrier for the Marathon. They sell them at Babies R Us (forgot the price, DW bought it) and are like a big storage pouch that you put the car seat in. It has wheels and you can pull it like a carry on. This is helpful if you plan on storing the seat under the plane. (P.S. always take your shoulder pads off as they tend to get lost - trust us on this one)


There is also another item that attaches to the car seat. Basically it attaches to the car seat and you can strap the baby in the seat and pull her just like your carry on luggage. Very convenient and frees up your arms. It's like the other item I mentioned, but there's no pouch, it's just a luggage handle with wheels that attaches to the car seat.

 

[sharen24]

I just traveled alone with my DS2 over July 4th. We had to even switch terminals in Houston. I purchased a "Pacbac" which is a device that attached to the car seat so you can carry it on your back. I packed 2 carryons full to the gills, put my son in our huge graco stroller, put the carryons in the back and we were off! Gate checked the stroller with no problems! I bought the BEST book -" Travels with Baby" It tells you everything you could possible need to know. Go the the website for your car seat to see if it meets airline requirements. There should also be a sticker on the frame that tells you. I bought at COSCO SCENERA at Target on sale for $30.00. It was extremely lightweight and met all requirements. Good luck!

 

[imthatgirl]

i tried bringing the carseat on the plane once, i wont do it again. it really was a pain. i have a carrier type bag that i bought at babies r us and i just check them now.
my kids have all been really good flyers. they usually sleep, it helps that we take early flights. i bring them things to do. each of my kids has their own backpack and each one has the same exact thing(very important with more than one child, lol). they are bringing crayons, coloring book, small dry erase board and marker, mini magna doodle, 2 ring pops, 1 box animal crackers and 3 bags fruit snacks. i think theres more, but i forget. it helps to have lots of things they can chew and suck for the ascent and descent.
other than that, if youre relaxed they will be relaxed. if youre a ball of nerves, they will be a ball of nerves.
hope you have a quick flight!

 

[PrincessPeyton]

We are flying to Disney next week and taking my DD2 for her first trip! We are staying onsite so will be using the ME instead of a rental car so no need for a car seat. Instead we bought a CARES airplane harness. here is the link, you can usually find them for around $70, http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

 

[Not so Dumbo]

So us cheapos didn't have to buy anything useful or handy, we put the carseat in the stroller and put our carryon in the carseat with the strap around the stroller handles so nothing could fall out. Then the only thing I had to carry was DD who wanted to be carried anyhow.

 

[tjmw2727]

A carseat is not required but the TSA, FAA and American Academy of Pediatrics all "strongly recommend" (their words not mine) a carseat for children under 4 and or 40lbs.

I think for a 2yo it is worth the hassle for a few reasons; it's familiar, comfortable and safe. A 2yo is likely to realize they can't get out while in the carseat and if my neice is any indication will be fasinated with unbuckling and buckling the seatbelt. (They are very, very easy to unbuckle). If your not using DME then you have the bonus of having your own carseat for the rental car/towncar.

I often have to travel as the solo adult with my dd's and had to manage them both, the carryon luggage, stroller and carseat. Its fine if you think it through. Like a pp we put the carseat in the stroller and I carried DD in a sling through the airport. You can use the stroller right up to boarding and then gate check it so you only have to bring your carryon, carseat and the baby onboard. You can wear baby until takeoff and then you will have to store the sling until after you land. A well packed small rolling carryon was a lifesaver for me.

Your britax should be fine so don't worry. Or if your traveling again in the future for $30/$40 you can get a lightweight seat that is great for travel/gramma's/dad's car etc.

HTH
TJ

 

[nytimez]

We are flying to Disney next week and taking my DD2 for her first trip! We are staying onsite so will be using the ME instead of a rental car so no need for a car seat. Instead we bought a CARES airplane harness. here is the link, you can usually find them for around $70, http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

I've used this on multiple flights and have to say it's fantastic... you get the added safety and it's so much better than lugging a car seat around.

 

[nikkers]

I agree bring the car seat on the plane. It is so worth it. It will be so much more comfortable and safe for your DD. I think it is easier for them to sleep in a car seat. I have a DD (2) and a DS (4). We fly several times a year. I had my DS's car seat until he turned 3. I am planning the same for DD.
Good luck!

 

[AmyBWV99]

We have Britax Blvds and get those wheels the PP talked about, my DH didn't think we'd need them them i ended up kicking the car seat thru the airport and cursing the lack of wheels. I had a Mac Quest ith me and that thing was now way fiting in that besides it was holding my then 2 year old as i wore the baby in a carrier. I will never take that thing again w/o the wheels. Since i hold the baby we check thru one carseat and DS #1 sits in the car seat we carry on.

 

[Dannielle_1]

We are flying to Disney next week and taking my DD2 for her first trip! We are staying onsite so will be using the ME instead of a rental car so no need for a car seat. Instead we bought a CARES airplane harness. here is the link, you can usually find them for around $70, http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

I used this as well. Thought it was great. My DS was 2 years 5 months when we flew and he liked his special seatbelt for the airplane. We practiced at home before hand. Even had his stuffed Pooh give it a go at home. We also checked several books out of the libary about flying so he knew what to expect. He did great.

Miss Mouse Takes Off, by Jan Oremerod is great. Also, Airport, by Byron Barton.

 

[mrstomrice]

We just flew with DS 23 months. We chose not to bring his seat with us and everything worked out fine. We bought a seat for him for everyone's comfort. On the trip home, I ended up holding him for the last hour or so and he fell asleep on my shoulder. He fit nicely in the seat with the lap belt and was a great passenger. The girls behind us had crayons and he enjoyed coloring. He also watch some of a movie on DH's computer with DS4. I also never realized that he liked my Ipod!

We gate checked the stroller without any problem. We also brought our own juice boxes on the plane (allowed as long as you tell security that they are in your bag...no problem both ways) He drank form the sippy and used lollipops to help with any ear pain on take off and landing, as well as a dose of tylenol for good measure

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

When we took my son at 2 I read so much about bringing or not nringing a car seat. I decided not to, thinking it would be a hassle. Our flights are long as we flew from Oregon to Orlando. We wished the entire time we had brought it. He never slept! I think if he had had his car seat he would have felt more comfortable and slept. It was also hard to keep him in his seat with the belt at the times he needed it on. I think he would have just assumed in his car seat that the belt would just be on. I say BRING IT!

 

[kkayluvsdis]

Thanks for all the responses. I've got a couple months to think it over. The other thing I forgot to mention is that I'll be 20 wks pregnant with baby#2 on this trip! Hopefully that won't complicate things too much! My dd has never been one to sleep in her carseat so that won't be a big selling point for me. I'm definitely thinking of looking into the options of the harness or a more light-weight type carseat for that trip. The Britax, even on wheels, is big. Okay, I'll stop rambling now..Thanks!
-Kelly

 

[sbrotherton]

I was looking at info on the CARES harness and was not too excited about spending $80 - not that I am unconcerned about the safety off DD2 -- but it's not exactly a fun purchase. Anyway, I wanted to see if anyone was selling a gently used one and looked on e-bay. There are several sellers that rent these for $20 per week.

Anyone have any experience with this? It's kind of a longshot, but I thought I would ask. All of the sellers have 100% feedback so if no one has anything bad to say here, I think I am going to give the $20 a whirl. It will leave me an extra $60 to spend on souvenirs!

 

[all4fun]

Before ds turned four, we always brought his car seat along. As pp's have said, not required but highly recommended. We have a Britax convertible, but we flew w/our "backup" seat - a Cosco Scenera 5pt - when ds was that age, because it was lighter and easier to carry. I could even bungee it back-to-back with the stroller: flipped the f/fing "foot" down and hooked it on the top of the stroller basket w/the bungee cord run thru the f/fing belt path on the car seat, and hooked on both sides of the stroller. Worked like a charm. You can then use the bungee cord to lock the stroller closed before gate checking it.

I always had dh w/us, so when boarding, I would always take the carry on (backpack - keeps hands free) and the car seat and board with it first while dh waited an extra few minutes in the concourse. This gave ds a few extra minutes of play time. At that time, we flew Delta a lot and they don't do pre boarding for families. Honestly, it was never a problem for us because we used this method.

I would flip the car seat upside down so the base was on top, and rest the seat on my arm, and carried it down the airplane aisle that way.

When you get to your aisle, put the car seat in the airplane seat (typically, the window seat is where you must put it) and, when installing fwd facing, then recline the airplane seat all the way. thread the lap belt through the fwd facing belt path, buckle and tighten...then putting the airplane seat fully upright will snug it up the rest of the way. Done. I like the Scenera because it has a nice wide opening for the seatbelt so it's really easy. If you travel with your MA then make sure to flip the airplane buckle over so the latch plate isn't facing the back of the car seat, other wise it may be very difficult to undo.

hth!

 

[Dannielle_1]

I was looking at info on the CARES harness and was not too excited about spending $80 - not that I am unconcerned about the safety off DD2 -- but it's not exactly a fun purchase. Anyway, I wanted to see if anyone was selling a gently used one and looked on e-bay. There are several sellers that rent these for $20 per week.

Anyone have any experience with this? It's kind of a longshot, but I thought I would ask. All of the sellers have 100% feedback so if no one has anything bad to say here, I think I am going to give the $20 a whirl. It will leave me an extra $60 to spend on souvenirs!

I bought my CARES harness. I did look into the rental thing briefly, but decided to buy since my DS is 2 and figured I'd probably get at least 3 or 4 flights use out of it. So the cost difference for me would be negligable (sp?) Plus, I didn't want to deal with the potential hassel of rental and the shipping involved in it.

An added bonus, I was able to let my sister borrow mine for her 2 year old when they flew this summer. Plus, I have several friends who have toddlers and figure if any of them decide to fly anywhere, I'll let them borrow the harness as well. I haven't regretted that $80 at all. Now the $20 I spent on the Skip*Hop Saddle Bag, that I regret.

ETA: I just wanted to add. I looked at it as a fun purchase. My son thought it was great to have his own special airplane seatbelt. So I guess it's all in perspective.

 

[Nicolepa]

Thanks for all the responses. I've got a couple months to think it over. The other thing I forgot to mention is that I'll be 20 wks pregnant with baby#2 on this trip! Hopefully that won't complicate things too much! My dd has never been one to sleep in her carseat so that won't be a big selling point for me. I'm definitely thinking of looking into the options of the harness or a more light-weight type carseat for that trip. The Britax, even on wheels, is big. Okay, I'll stop rambling now..Thanks!
-Kelly

I was in exactly your situation once. It was right after 9/11 so security was tight, but we were able to get a special clearance for him to walk to the gate with me to help me. What I do when taking the carseat is set it on the basket (back facing me), then I can hold onto it w/my thumbs while I pushed the stroller. I put the diaper bag in first and then set the carseat on top. DD was buckled in the stroller.