Flying with a 3 year old, help please!

[harleyquinn]

Hello!

I successfully convinced DH to fly for our August trip. We are taking direct flights on United to MCO and using ME.

This is our first time flying with our DD who will be almost 3.

Does everyone suggest bringing her carseat? I don't want to buy or even rent a CARES Harness since we likely won't fly again with her. Do I have any other alternatives or need to think of anything else? DH is going to whine when I tell him we have to bring along the seat. Should we get one of those straps that connects the seat to a carry on roller? I'm afraid we'll be pushing a stroller with the kiddo, plus carry ons and carrying the carseat.

I believe car seats and strollers are free on United and can be checked when we get to the plane.

Any other advice or thoughts about toddler plane travel would be welcome!!

 

[Hannathy]

Will you be driving when you get to Disney or using Disney transportation?

You can't use a carseat on Disney Transportation so if you aren't renting a car I wouldn't bring the seat. My Kids all sat fine on the plane at 3 without a carseat.

If you do bring the seat and use it on the plane then with a 3 yr old make sure your DH or you sits infront of your DD because they tend to kick the seat at that age in the close confines of a plane and that isn't fair to a stranger.

Unless I needed it for a car in Florida I would not bring it.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

All US airlines allow you to check car seats and strollers for free, whether at the ticket desk or at the gate.

Since you won't be using a car at Disney, I would not bring the car seat.

You might find these links useful:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVTaEbMIV4Y

 

[harleyquinn]

No, we don't need the seat outside of the plane.

Okay, everything I'm reading online says that children under 40 pounds need a carseat or an FAA approved harness.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

No, we don't need the seat outside of the plane.

Okay, everything I'm reading online says that children under 40 pounds need a carseat or an FAA approved harness.

Not true. She can use the regular seat belt on the plane. The above is just an FAA recommendation, not a requirement. I've seen plenty of kids flying under 40 pounds using the plane seat belt, including my grandson.

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

 

[harleyquinn]

Not true. She can use the regular seatbelt on the plane.

Must be a "guideline" and not a "requirement."

 

[harleyquinn]

I did a ton of searches on here and it seemed like everyone was recommending the car seat or harness. I think she's more likely to sit still in her seat, but I'd love to avoid lugging it around if we can.

 

[dzorn]

No, we don't need the seat outside of the plane.

Okay, everything I'm reading online says that children under 40 pounds need a carseat or an FAA approved harness.

It's not required but it is the safest. Do you think the child will stay seated with the lap belt without trying to wiggle out or undoing it? A couple of months before the flight I would order myself kids meals if I was getting fast food for any reason asking for the infant toys that I then used for the flight. Since they were new she was more intested but if they got lost I was not concerned about the cost.


Denise in MI

 

[Alexander]

We have flown with our kids multiple times a year from the time they were born. When they were old enough to have their own seats (2 and up) they have always been in the plane seat with the seat belt fastened. And no, they never tried to undo the belt or wiggle out of it. They were much more comfortable than in the confinement of their car seats.

 

[Qltrgrl2]

No has addressed how to keep her busy while inflight. We always brought a few very small wrapped items ( coloring book, crayons, small doll or stuffed toy, Disney motif of course!) to keep our DD occupied while flying. I also packed many small snacks in CSS our flight was delayed. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[harleyquinn]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone and keep them coming!

She's relatively easy to entertain and I'm used to do that on long car rides, but I don't want to bring the kitchen sink like we do when we drive.

 

[keishashadow]

Download a few episodes of a favorite tv show (mickey's clubhouse?) or movie on Ipod or Ipad/touchpad. Many of the newer disney releases have digital copies included with purchase. Bulkier to lug but a portable DVD player can also do the trick of keeping a small child entertained. Slightly older than the OP's child, bring the portable video game players.

 

[harleyquinn]

Download a few episodes of a favorite tv show (mickey's clubhouse?) or movie on Ipod or Ipad/touchpad. Many of the newer disney releases have digital copies included with purchase. Bulkier to lug but a portable DVD player can also do the trick of keeping a small child entertained. Slightly older than the OP's child, bring the portable video game players.

We're planning on downloading a few episodes of the Imagination Movers on my iPod.

 

[dudspizza]

We flew when our youngest DD was 1 month shy of 3. We brought her car seat and wished we hadn't! She would have been so much more comfortable in the regular seat! The car seat never went again!

Duds

 

[Betty Rohrer]

remember to bring headphones for electronics. my grandsons loved to watch movies on DVD. plus all the excitement of the plane itself esp takeoff and landing. remember one nighttime flight years ago watching a lighting storm below us.

 

[Deesknee]

No has addressed how to keep her busy while inflight. We always brought a few very small wrapped items ( coloring book, crayons, small doll or stuffed toy, Disney motif of course!) to keep our DD occupied while flying. I also packed many small snacks in CSS our flight was delayed. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

IMHO this is probably the best travel info I ever received. But be forewarned my 21 year olds still expect wrapped surprises in their carry ons. (truth be told, I enjoy doing it, but they do frown when I tell them they are getting a little old for it).

As far as the car seat, we usually rent a car so bring the car seats from home. Sorry no help there.

 

[breakingd_awn]

On our first flight ever, Evie was almost 1, we didn't bring a car seat. I was a nervous wreck, I regretted not bringing one. I would NEVER take her in a vehicle without a carseat, why would'nt I put her in one on a plane? The next time we went I got the CARES Harness, I felt MUCH better . The only thing is they cant' lean forward at all. Which was really ok. She does really good flying , behaves very well. Now she talks about flying all the time and looks forward to it. I'm the one that's a nervous flyer. We always get a rental van once we get to florida and just get a carseat with the van.I don't really want to lug a carseat with all of our luggage through the airport. Usborne Books has sticker books and "my first experience" books on flying. I got her the sticker book this past cruise and it kept her busy the whole flight.

 

[millerette]

My DH and I are taking our DD2 to World in August and we are also taking the ME bus from the airport. We are not taking her carseat because it is not needed on the bus. I called the airline we are flying on and they said the seat is not a requirement. I am lookig into renting a CARES harness seeing is that it is more like her carseat than just a lap belt, not to mention safer. We also bought her kids headphones and a neck pillow for napping on the plane. She will be watching her Disney movies on the ipad and or ipod, coloring and playing with her toys. She is excited and talking about it almost daily. Enjoy your trip!

 

[aubriee]

No, we don't need the seat outside of the plane.

Okay, everything I'm reading online says that children under 40 pounds need a carseat or an FAA approved harness.

My husband and I just took our 3 y/o grandson to WDW Feb 4th-11th. He is a very tiny 3 y/o and no where near even 30lbs. We did not use a car seat for him, just the seatbelt on the plane. He is a very quiet, well behaved little boy though, plus we were taking the first early morning fight out and the last flight back home, so we figured he would sleep on the flight and he did. We loaded a toddler backpack with new toys and snacks, but other than playing with a hot wheel for a few minutes he didn't need them. He slept almost the whole flight going and coming.

 

[harleyquinn]

Thanks for all the responses! I'm leaning toward just using the lap belt with her. She's super excited about flying and I think she's going to think it's so special not to have to sit in her car seat. It's only a 2.5 hour flight.

Anyone want to recommend a good pair of toddler headphones?