Flying with a 3 year old

[KK'sMommy]

So we are taking our 3 year old and our 1 year old to WDW in September. This is the first time our older one has flown without a car seat. I was thinking about renting the CARES system, but she will be at the height limit when we go and I am not sure the extra money would be worth it. Should we take a booster seat? Would this really do any good? Any other recs? Also, is there anything I can do to make our 16 month old a little easier to manage as a lap baby?

 

[Padstack]

DW took DD3 to Tennesse last month and had no problem with the restraint system on the airplane. She was 37" tall when they left.

We took DD on an airplane when she was 11 months. We had a few toys for her to play with and she was fine. This was only a hour and a half flight, though.

Depending on how long your flight is, you might want to consider a portable DVD and bring along their favorite movies. It should keep your kids plenty entertained during the flight.

 

[abdmom]

Booster seats are not allowed on airplanes. My ds is almost 3 and has been flying without a carseat since he was about 18 months. He knows how to do up his own seatbelt now. The portable DVD player is an excellent suggestion.

 

[embgrl]

I've never used any type of extra seating for my DS2. He started flying with us when he was 5 mo. When he turned 2 he just sat in the seat next to me with his seatbelt buckled.
I agree with the PP about the portable DVD player. We travel from the northwest to TN and DW every year and it really helps to keep him occupied and we enjoy it too!
Snacks and drinks help too!

 

[_queenie_]

As much as so many people think I'm overly concerned with my kids safety, I personally think that after two or so (depending on your child's size) carseats on airplanes are more aggravating than anything. Especially for me with DH having a bad back (he had surgery two years ago and had a tough recovery), it's just one more thing to carry. I don't think my DD wouldn't sit in one comfortably on a plane anyway, at 43" she won't fit in her carseat for much longer.

Back in the '90s, my two older kids just went right from my lap to a seat, and that's basically what my DD almost 4 (or now as she calls herself, 3 11/12 ) has done. I hate to say this , but when she was an infant we really only got her a seat when the flight was a good price! I think with young babies it does come in handy because they can sleep, and with toddlers because it sort of straps them in more than the regular seat, but after a certain age the normal seat seems to work best.

 

[wildirishrose]

If you let your kids have candy take some gummy bears or gum something chewy (again if you allow it) The air pressure on their eardrums when you take off and land can sometimes be a little much. It just helps them pop their ears. Gummy bears and Disney movies are a must for us on a plane

 

[AndyMcV]

Hi KK'sMommy

I think if your children are of the age that they need to be fitted with car seats in your car/van then they still need to have the same level of safety in a airplane. No offence intended to the other posters here (and this is strictly our opinion) but I think it's insane to not have a child fitted in a proper carseat when travelling in the air.

Please have a look at this other thread before you go.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1651662

Andy

 

[5 for WDW]

We have always used car seats on airplanes for our kids until they are 4 or so.
I am not a big fan of flying so, I feel much better knowing they are safe and sound in a car seat.
We have never had a problem bringing them through the airport. We had a stroller in September for our DD so, we put the car seat right in the stroller and wheeled them both to the gate. They took the stroller and we took the seat. The flight home was really late so my daughter sat in her stroller. I just loosened the straps of the seat and wore it like a backpack or on my arm.
The seat also helps with keeping my daughter still. She knows she can't get out of her seat in the car so, the only time she asked to get down was to use the restroom. She just sat in her seat and colored or watched the portable DVD player. There was two small kids in front of us that were not in car seats that spent the entire two+ hour flight looking over our seat and the one in front of them. We didn't mind but, the parents spent the entire flight telling them to sit down and apologizing to everyone around them. My husband and I felt so bad for them by the end of the flight.
So, my suggestion would be to bring a car seat for your 3 year old and a portable DVD player. Heck, my husband and I are going down for three days next week and I am bringing our DVD player for me, lol!

Have a great trip and safe flight!!

 

[jodifla]

Hi KK'sMommy

I think if your children are of the age that they need to be fitted with car seats in your car/van then they still need to have the same level of safety in a airplane. No offence intended to the other posters here (and this is strictly our opinion) but I think it's insane to not have a child fitted in a proper carseat when travelling in the air.

Please have a look at this other thread before you go.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1651662

Andy

Airplanes and cars are just not the same thing.

OP, I stopped using a carseat for DS at 3 years old. First of all, there was no room for his legs! And you can't use the tray table with a car seat.

 

[AndyMcV]

Airplanes and cars are just not the same thing.
OP, I stopped using a carseat for DS at 3 years old. First of all, there was no room for his legs! And you can't use the tray table with a car seat.

There is a reason why the airlines themselves and the medical community support children using proper car seats in airplanes. Don't kid yourself, your children can get seriously hurt in an airplane without their carseats.

 

[all4fun]

So we are taking our 3 year old and our 1 year old to WDW in September. This is the first time our older one has flown without a car seat. I was thinking about renting the CARES system, but she will be at the height limit when we go and I am not sure the extra money would be worth it. Should we take a booster seat? Would this really do any good? Any other recs? Also, is there anything I can do to make our 16 month old a little easier to manage as a lap baby?

If by "booster" you mean the kind that has an internal 5pt harness but can convert to a booster - then you CAN use those on airplanes when using the internal harness system (most of them anyway, there are a few models that this doesn't apply to). Many of these sit lower to the airplane seat and will still allow your child to use the airplane tray table as well. Regular boosters that do not have a harness system are not airline approved and besides, a three yr old is too young for a booster anyway (4 yrs & 40 lbs being the bare minimum recommendation for moving up to this step).

I don't know how long your flight is but at 16mos there was no way I would have wanted my ds flying as a lap baby. I knew that would be asking for trouble. He was too much of a wiggle worm at that stage but otoh, he napped beautifully in his car seat on the plane! If there is any way you could reconsider buying a seat for your littlest one, if it were me, I would do it. Jmo of course.

 

[DevilDuckie]

So we are taking our 3 year old and our 1 year old to WDW in September. This is the first time our older one has flown without a car seat. I was thinking about renting the CARES system, but she will be at the height limit when we go and I am not sure the extra money would be worth it. Should we take a booster seat? Would this really do any good? Any other recs? Also, is there anything I can do to make our 16 month old a little easier to manage as a lap baby?

Please put both the children in good restraints. The extra money is totally worth it when it comes to the safety of the most valuable things in your world. Rent the CARES, get the little one a seat and fly secure in the knowledge that you have done everything possible to safeguard your babies.