Have you travelled WITHOUT carseat?

[robinb]

Yea, that poster should really learn some self control....how dare he/she advocate parents taking control of their childs safety....

As frequent posters to the DIS we are all Kings and Queens of Uninvited Advice. I know that I have stuck my nose in more than one thread that I probably should not have. It is her holier-than-thou take on this subject (again and again and again) that bothers me the most. The next thing you know we will all be called bad, uncaring parents (again) because we flew with a lap baby.

 

[hipmaman]

What were you experiences? I know that most people here are huge advocates for bringing a carseat, but I would like to hear from people who have gone the no carseat route.

We purchased a ticket on the plane for our DS, who will be 1 at the time, but we will probably not be bringing the carseat. He is not a big fan of being "confined" in his carseat and I know that he will scream the entire time that we are on the plane and I will just end up holding him anyway....I want to hear from those of you that chose NOT to bring a carseat....

Thanks!

I have considered flying w/o carseats but in the end I took the trouble of taking the carseats.

Believe me, I considered during the last trip to SoCal (just about 2-3 wks ago) to just cargo checked the carseats on the way back since it was so much work taking them on board. My kids are 4 and 5.5 yrs old. The 5.5 yrs old can certainly sit in a booster in a car and in aboard an airplane w/o a carseat. The 4 yrs old is not heavy enough to forgo his carseat in the car but being 4 yrs old, he would have been fine w/o one aboard an airplane.

Carting 2 large carseats like the Britax Marathon and Wizard around the airports (we had to do 1-stop connection for both direction) with other gear/bags, it was very tempted to cargo or even gate-check the carseats.

But with us needing the carseats in the rental car, not wanting the carseats damaged or stolen while being cargo-checked, me being a carseat safety technician I know it would be safer to use their carseats on the plane in the event if something terrible might happen, etc. so we persevered and I am glad we did.

The kids never complained as carseats in the car or an airplane is routine to them. The slept in the seats comfortably, got out when wanted/needed, and I am glad I used them.

Here are a few resources for you to read upon and hopefully it would help you to decide if you should use or not use the carseat http://www.carseat.org/ (on the right portion of the site, there is a link for "Air Travel"

 

[the kabuki]

Throw my $.02 in here. I've flown with all 3 of my kids when they were 2yr to 2 1/2 yrs old and never brought their car seat. They always had their own seat, and no FA ever told me that a car seat was required .

Last time we flew was in Jan 05' and DD was 3 yrs , in her own seat with no car seat, not a word was said. Is this a new law since then?

 

[disneyfanfamily]

We took our booster seat for our 3 year old (approved for her age and weight)- thinking it would be easier. However, once we boarded the plane and set up the booster, we were told that boosters were not allowed and we had to put our DD in the seat without a car seat of any kind. Just FYI.

 

[hipmaman]

We took our booster seat for our 3 year old (approved for her age and weight)- thinking it would be easier. However, once we boarded the plane and set up the booster, we were told that boosters were not allowed and we had to put our DD in the seat without a car seat of any kind. Just FYI.

It's true that boosters are not approved for use on an aircraft. They require lap-and-shoulder seatbelt which are not available on aircrafts.

Throw my $.02 in here. I've flown with all 3 of my kids when they were 2yr to 2 1/2 yrs old and never brought their car seat. They always had their own seat, and no FA ever told me that a car seat was required .

Last time we flew was in Jan 05' and DD was 3 yrs , in her own seat with no car seat, not a word was said. Is this a new law since then?

It's not the law, but best-practice and recommendations by many organisations.

 

[grlpwrd]

Yes, please remember, too, that you would most likely need a carseat for vehicle travel after the flight. At least consider checking the carseat in should you travel via car.

Forgot to add: Even if you manage to get a rental thru a rental car company there is no guarantee that they will have one as they are by request only. Unless, of course, you go thru a rental company for kid's equipment, of course.

GL!

 

[rgribik]

I don't know why people start these threads. It always turns into a big debate. We are all good and bad parents in one way or another, but I agree with robinb: giving an opinion is one thing, passing judgement on parenting for people you don't even know is another. The op wanted to know if there are people who don't use a carseat on a plane, and the answer is yes. Not because we don't love our children, it is still, by law our choice. Some people don't vacinate, some don't use bike helmets, some let their kids run around alone. Do whatever works for your family(within reason), but don't pass judgement, other than "thank goodness those aren't my kids", or "I would never do that for my family". Try it without a carseat, maybe you will be the next poster to say, "I will never fly without a carseat." You know your child better than anyone here with an opinion.

 

[tlbwriter]

Yup. You would be the poster I was talking about. I was wondering when you would weigh in here. 5 hours from the first post and 3 hours since mine. You're slipping.

She specifically said ...



... but you just couldn't control yourself, could you?

My goodness. Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

 

[Gillian]

Throw my $.02 in here. I've flown with all 3 of my kids when they were 2yr to 2 1/2 yrs old and never brought their car seat. They always had their own seat, and no FA ever told me that a car seat was required .

Last time we flew was in Jan 05' and DD was 3 yrs , in her own seat with no car seat, not a word was said. Is this a new law since then?

Once they are 2 you don't need a carseat when they are in their own airplane seat.

It's the kids under 2 in their own seat that people are talking about.

 

[PatricenPete]

I didn't want to start a debate which is why I didn't ask "Which is better...."

DH and I are debating on this subject. We purchased a seat for our DS, but frankly, I like the idea of not having a carseat and having some extra room in the row for us. DS can stretch out to nap (while the seatbelt light is off, of course), he will have a little more room to play (as much as you can in an airplane seat) and we will all be more comfortable during the 3 hour flight. I have read lots of posts here about using carseats and not using carseats. I just wanted to hear people's experiences, not get opinions on what people thought was best.

I am sorry if anyone was offended.

Thanks!

 

[mookie]

I am one of those mothers that will more than likely not bring our carseat for our dd. (She will be 2.5 when we go to WDW in Spet.) BUT, one thing I did think about was her comfort while on the plane. Our dd likes to color and look out at things, but I want to also keep her strapped in. I'm afraid if she has her own seat, without a car seat, it might be hard for her to reach the tray in front of her to color, eat, watch a movie on the dvd, or even just look out the window. (She'll be about 36 inches then) I still don't think I'll bring the carseat, but this is one thing I thought about that might be easier if I did bring it. Any thoughts?

 

[pooh4evr]

We went a month ago with DDs 4 and almost 2- flew Southwest. Ok- we did not bring a carseat for either girls , and they both had their own seats. We were never asked to prove DD 1 (at the time) age.(she is a big tall girl 30lbs 36 in) We had to split up so on the ride down DH and DD2 sat together and I sat with DD4, it was fine neither tried to get up and rome around- flight was full- Both girls had carry on bags with small toys, snacks,chew candy for ears, color books and crayons. Things were fine for us we had plenty of room!
Reasons we did not bring seats- we stayed at a DTD hotel and had shuttle busses everywhere so we did not need a seat, and well between keeping track of the girls and our bags- we had enough to get throught the airport I don't know how we would have managed 2 carseats too! We did bring our umbrella stroller just for the airport- DD2 sat in it and we hung the small carry on bags on the handles and then gate checked it- worked great! Just our experience!

 

[long4disney]

We brought our Britax Marathon for our 2 year old last year thinking she would be more comfortable in her car seat on the plane. Boy, were we wrong. My 2 year old was as tall as a 3 year old, about 38 inches and 30 pounds. When we put her in her car seat she was so cramped on the plane. The Britax Marathon is a very large seat to begin with, but when she was sitting in it, her feet were touching the seat in front of us, actually she had to bend her legs to fit and she was kicking the person in front of us the whole trip. Boy, was she mad. She kept turning around, and asked the FA to tell us to have our child stop kicking. We ended up taking her out of her seat, and put her on our lap so she wouldn't kick anymore. My dh didn't want the car seat on the plane for that reason, and we couldn't put the tray down either for her to color or eat, since there was no room when she was in her car seat. We are traveling this summer and she is almost 3, and we will not be bringing her car seat on the plane this trip. We will just check it with luggage for our car rental.

 

[robinb]

My 2 year old was as tall as a 3 year old, about 38 inches and 30 pounds. When we put her in her car seat she was so cramped on the plane. The Britax Marathon is a very large seat to begin with, but when she was sitting in it, her feet were touching the seat in front of us, actually she had to bend her legs to fit and she was kicking the person in front of us the whole trip. Boy, was she mad. She kept turning around, and asked the FA to tell us to have our child stop kicking.

The same thing happened to my DD when she was just 3. She kicked the seat in front of her and I felt really bad for that poor person! That was the last time we used the car seat. Even a regular car seat can put a 3 year old (or tall 2 year old) within striking range of the seat in front of them . The car seat can also make it impossible to put down the tray table so the child can play or color.

 

[surfgirl]

I've been on both sides of this debate.

Before I go any further, please make sure the car seat that you might take is FAA approved -- it will state that on the car seat itself and I have been asked by a FA to see it on the car seat.

When my 1st was younger than 2 yrs., I always bought a seat for her, took the car seat and buckled her in. Safety was important enough that I purchased (at 1/2 price) a seat for her. Before she was 2 yrs., she had about 20 flight segments to her name.

However, now that we have 3 kids (5,3,1), its physically impossible to carry on car seats. In the past, I have done different variations mentioned above -- I've taken a sling and the baby fell asleep in the sling on me (which made for a peacful flight!), I've had no car seat/no sling and a lap rider, I've had a car seat for one child and not the others... I've had an 8 month old in her car seat fight the car seat (and this was the "compliant" one) so hard she screamed for 15 minutes and then threw up all over herself, myself, and the car seat at the beginning of a 3 hr. flight. (talk about a car seat rendered useless... good thing I carried it on, huh?) It was the beginning of the "I'm going to cry so hard I'll make myself throw up" stage. Needless to say, I was thankful for an extra sweatshirt for me and change of clothes for her that I had already packed.

Its all what works for you and your situation.

Would I always buy a seat if I could for the baby under 2 and use a car seat ? Sure, its the safest. But not feasible anymore.

Will I fight a child to get into a car seat on a small confined airplane that we are stuck in for 3 hours ? After the vomit experience, absolutely not.

At this point, I'm usually happy to get through a flight with only minor tantrums ... and that's Daddy!

I've also learned that a change of clothes is an essential to be carried on!!!

I don't rely on the rental car car seats, because they are incredibly scary (unsafe and cleanliness wise) to me... I have car seat bags that I use for the car seats (also good to stuff large things in - coats, towels, shoes, etc.).

good luck!!!

 

[KristinU]

We've traveled several times using the carseat and once without using it...and if at all possible we will always get DS a seat and use his seat. We do take him out during the flight if he is antsy but have him sit in his seat for takeoff and landing (wel, one landing he had fallen asleep on daddy so we didn't put him back in which defeats the purpose of course...) The one time we traveled without it we checked it both ways and on the way to our destination it was a full flight and we just felt confined with no extra seat to spread out in, but it was manageable. On the way home it was DS and I traveling alone (it was a business trip for me to the city my parents live in and DH had to travel later that week for business too) Long story longer: the flight home that I was scheduled on was cancelled and they flew us into Manchester NH (we live in Hartford CT) with the plan to get a rental car and drive down to Hartford (a 2 hour drive, so not a huge deal) BUT, they lost our checked carseat! And the rental car company was out of carseats, so after a long wait behind all of the other people who had lost luggage we finally got the last loaner carseat from the airline (which was really not my favorite thing to plop my 14 month old in for a 2 hour drive...but he handled he like a trooper and we made it) Needless to say, after that I will always bring and use our carseat if at all possible. I realize it was a very unlucky situation and the 2nd time I've ever had lost luggage, but I'm now paranoid from the experience!

 

[michvin]

You know...it takes all kinds of people to make the world go round, right? When we flew with our son, then 5 months old from San Diego home to Philly, we did get put in a row with an "extra" seat. My son was able to lay down and stretch out to sleep. Remember, lots of the planes are three and three, I think, so you may luck out and get an extra seat...or lots of time people will move...either because they are nice or they don't want to sit next to kids..lol. Have a great trip!