For parents of toddlers

[EllyLovesDisney]

Do you use a carseat on the plane? I have flown with my dd alot, sometimes on my lap and sometimes in a carseat. She just turned 2. I am considering not bringing her carseat to Disney next month since we won't need it once we are there and it's a pain to lug around the airport!
Dh disagrees and thinks she is to young to sit in a seat by herself. I think she might like the extra space.
Can anyone share their experiances with this?

 

[Elmo888]

There are lots of opinions on this subject. They are safer in a carseat, they will stay buckled in the carseat, and they have sleep support.

That being said, we didn't take ours with our 26 month old. She likes to sit in chairs, and I brought some new stuff to entertain her. She was fine. We had a little trouble on the way back because she was tired and cranky. She figured out how to unbuckle herself even after I turned the buckle around. We didn't need a carseat for any other part of our trip, so I just though that it would be easier without one (in hindsight, I don't know where we would have stored it in the hotel room!).

How well your child will sit just depends on the child.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

We've never taken a carseat. Our kids would never stay buckled in it because a plane does not feel like it is moving. It is like being strapped in while sitting on the couch. We've never had a problem. We try to fly when the kids are going to be in a good mood or sleepy and napping. If we can't get those flights no biggie. We also bring stuff for them to do on the plane and sometimes a DVD player.

 

[Tinkerbell2002]

When ds was 2 we used a carseat on the plane since we were taking a car to the hotel. When he was 3 and 4, we took Magical Express and left the carseat at home. He stayed in his seat just fine, and when he fell asleep he leaned his head on me. When we go in May we are taking the baby's carseat since he can't sit up well yet and is too tiny for his seat.

 

[DIS0797]

I just purchased a CARES harness for my 3 year old to use when we go to Disney at the end of this month. It was $75, but I am not comfortable with him not being harnessed in, and he won't fit in a car seat in the plane comfortably (last July his feet were hitting the seat in front of him, without it being reclined!). If you search, "kidsflysafe" you should find a link to it (my post count it too low, so they won't let me post it!). I think it's worth it. We received it today, and I'm really excited about it. Hopefully it'll work the way it's supposed to, and you can get the best out of both worlds.

 

[EllyLovesDisney]

Thank you for the replies everyone! We most likely will end up taking the seat since Dh is so adament about it, and honestly, he's the one who lugs it around anyway. But I am going to show him this thread and maybe he will reconsider. Like I said I think she will like the extra room and being able to put the tray table down. Also we are flying JetBlue so the TV helps keep her occupied. I am more concerned about her comfort if she wants to take a nap.

 

[EllyLovesDisney]

I just purchased a CARES harness for my 3 year old to use when we go to Disney at the end of this month. It was $75, but I am not comfortable with him not being harnessed in, and he won't fit in a car seat in the plane comfortably (last July his feet were hitting the seat in front of him, without it being reclined!). If you search, "kidsflysafe" you should find a link to it (my post count it too low, so they won't let me post it!). I think it's worth it. We received it today, and I'm really excited about it. Hopefully it'll work the way it's supposed to, and you can get the best out of both worlds.

Thank you Tami! I am going to Google that.

 

[Tigger&Aidan]

When we go in Nov, DS we will be checking our car seat and letting DS sit in the seat without it (we'll need it for the rental car). I think it would be too much of a hassle trying to get him to sit in it the whole time. I think he'll enjoy being able to sit in a regular seat and use the tray.... We'll be taking our portable DVD - it was great having it last year!

 

[skoi]

Not trying to start a fight, but just wondering- you don't have to use a car seat on the plane? People have told me it's illegal to fly with a child under a certain age unless they're in an FAA approved car seat.

It would be great if that weren't true, because if dh goes to Iraq on schedule, I'm flying with three kids alone, and the last thing I need to do is drag a car seat through two airports, onto the Magical Express, etc.

Has anyone who has flown without a seat experienced any grief from airline staff?

Thanks.
Julie

 

[EllyLovesDisney]

Not trying to start a fight, but just wondering- you don't have to use a car seat on the plane? People have told me it's illegal to fly with a child under a certain age unless they're in an FAA approved car seat.

It would be great if that weren't true, because if dh goes to Iraq on schedule, I'm flying with three kids alone, and the last thing I need to do is drag a car seat through two airports, onto the Magical Express, etc.

Has anyone who has flown without a seat experienced any grief from airline staff?

Thanks.
Julie

I am not 100% sure on this, but I think the rule is if your child is under 2 and has her own seat she must be in a carseat.
How old are you kids?

 

[brandylouwho]

just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents worth: I have flown w/ a 2 year old with and without a car seat. With, because I was worried about her safety, not so much on the flight, but we knew we'd be taking a cab. I ended up buying a strolex sit n stroll (car seat converts to stroller & can use as a booster seat type chair at restaurants) and it was awesome, but not cheap at $200.00. In fact, as nice at it was for this one particular trip, it now just takes up storage space. Maybe I should sell that thing on ebay tonight.

When we went to Disney, at my husbands prodding, we did not take the car seat. It wasn't the style of stroller that would work well in the parks, so he didn't want to bother lugging it along (plus a stroller, plus my big suitcases). She was fine and enjoyed being a big girl in her own seat...plus we sat 3 across with the arms up (in coach) so we had MORE ROOM for all 3 of us!!!

But I still worried, I was glad the flight wasn't turbulent.

 

[skoi]

I am not 100% sure on this, but I think the rule is if your child is under 2 and has her own seat she must be in a carseat.
How old are you kids?

Thanks- I wasn't sure. The youngest is two now, but will be three when we travel. We've flown internationally with her, but US rules don't apply.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Not trying to start a fight, but just wondering- you don't have to use a car seat on the plane? People have told me it's illegal to fly with a child under a certain age unless they're in an FAA approved car seat.

IF you choose to use a carseat it must be one that is FAA approved. To my knowledge you do NOT have to use a carseat at all--but IF you do it HAS to be certain ones. We flew with our two year old two months ago and checked his car seat. He did not use one on the plane. We're flying with him again in a week and don't plan to take it on. He stays in his seat belt in his seat.

 

[jessica52877]

Take the carseat, treat it like the car. My son usually sleeps entire flights in his seat. Has never once asked to get out, he is 4 1/2 and I still take it. I wouldn't put him in a car without one, so I wouldn't put him on a plane without one. It is heavy and a pain to lug, but so much safer and gives me peace of mind. I don't ming lugging it for that reason at all!

 

[DebRMN]

I have only flown 3 times with my twins, & the third time included my then 10 month old. I never used carseats.
Not sure what I will do next month, my youngest is now 20 mos
I do need to bring carseats for all since we are renting a car

 

[my2minnies]

I am flying with my 2 year old twins this August and I plan on bringing carseats for both. I cant even imagine flying without one. I know they wont sit still in a seat with all that space for three hours. At least if they are strapped in their seats there wont be any chance of them trying to roam the plane. I dont plan on letting them out and hopefully they will fall asleep. I did this with my other dd when we went a few years ago and it worked well. I am not looking forward to lugging around two carseats, a double stroller and whatever carry-on luggage we will have however! We too are taking the Magical Express and really do not need the carseats. Hopefully we will have room to store them in the hotel room!