Flying with babies - tips/suggestions please?

[DT83097]

Has anyone else considered the new FAA approved CARES for little ones (22-44lbs) as opposed to lugging the car seat? I'm planning to get one for my DD for our trip in April because (a) I don't want to lug the car seat - would only need it for the plane, (b) I don't want a squirmy worm in my lap for 2 1/2 hrs., and (c) I'm not completely comfortable with having her just use a lap belt. Basically it's a seatbelt that slips over the back of the airplane seat and provides a 3 point harness for your little one. Check them out at kidsflysafe.com. It's a little pricey ($75) but I think worth not having to lug the car seat around. They were just recently approved so I've not seen much talk about them here, but I'll let everyone know our thoughts in a couple of months.

 

[poohj80]

Has anyone else considered the new FAA approved CARES for little ones (22-44lbs) as opposed to lugging the car seat?

We considered it but it also suggest kids be over 1 yr old as well as 22 lbs and our DD wasn't old enough on this trip.

 

[all4fun]

Hi all,

One issue we did have was that even though she still sits in a rear facing seat in our vehicle, it just wouldn't work that way on the plane. She didn't have the legroom she has in our vehicle so her legs would have been stretched up the seatback so we opted to turn her around on the plane and she did just fine.

Just like in cars, r/fing is also safer on airplanes. Kids are actually quite flexible and more comfortable in certain situations than adults would be. My ds sat r/fing in a Britax BV in the car until he was 45mos old - 33# & 41.5" tall.

This site HERE explains more. This is a link to the section about r/fing in the car.

It sounds like overall the trip went well. Glad to hear it.

 

[stacy6552]

I'm so happy to hear that you bought the baby a ticket. Bring your own seat. The baby will be used to it and more comfortable. But do call the airline and confirm how wide the seats on the plane are. Get yourself a carseat dufflebag. Its priceless and makes getting from here to there a breeze. Our's had a sholder strap that I would sling over my neck and one sholder, the curve in the seat rested across my back, which left my hands free to push the stroller (or whatever). It also had a handle at the top, that was handy on the plane, because I could hold it up walking down the isle.