How To Take Car Seat?

[RainbowsMist]

Our DD is 4 1/2 and we want to take her car seat with us (we'll be renting a mini van when we get there). How to I take her car seat, do I check it in as luggage, does it have to be in a box?

Here in Canada, they have to be in a car seat until they are 80lbs and 9 yrs old. I realize the laws in Florida are a lot less strict but we really feel she should be in one. She's a very petite 4 1/2 yr old, she's only 33 lbs and 3' 2" (38").

Thank you.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You may check it as luggage. Some kind of bag or box would be nice - I have seen some pretty bashed up "naked" car seats on baggage carousels.

 

[Liltx]

Would you not want her to use it on the plane? I realize she is older but if you are really concerned about safety you might want to use it on the flight as well. Maybe at that age her seat is not approved for air travel?

Have a great trip!

Monica

 

[RainbowsMist]

Would you not want her to use it on the plane? I realize she is older but if you are really concerned about safety you might want to use it on the flight as well. Maybe at that age her seat is not approved for air travel?

Have a great trip!

Monica

I didn't realize I could take it on the plane?

 

[alexb]

It's my understanding that she has to be using the carseat's 5 point harness on the plane. If she is no longer using the 5 point harness they might not let you use it.

We check our DD4's carseat as luggage. You can buy a bag to put them in that protects them. We have one that we purchased from www.onestepahead.com that we've had for 7 years and has gone on at least a dozen flights and is quite durable. Plus it's one less item you have to carry through the airport.

 

[PistonsFan]

We just used a big heavy duty trash bag for ours and it was fine when we picked it up from checked luggage.

 

[RachaelRol]

Toys R US sells the car seat travel bag. It's about $12.

ETA, don't know if you have Toys R Us in Canada!

 

[chorlick]

We just got back. We flew on Southwest. We carried our 3 1/2 yr old's carseat for on the plane for him to sit in, and checked our 6 month old's as luggage. They put it in a clear plastic bag for us. It was is great shape both ways. We also carried the stroller on the plane. The checked that at the door to the plane. We got it back as soon as we "un"boarded the plane.

 

[RainbowsMist]

Sorry...I should have said she is in a "booster seat".

This is her seat....

http://www.happymothers.com/shop/pr...75&zmam=8563630&zmas=1&zmac=12&zmap=EV3381475


So this can't be taken on the plane can it?

 

[jodifla]

Sorry...I should have said she is in a "booster seat".

This is her seat....

http://www.happymothers.com/shop/pr...75&zmam=8563630&zmas=1&zmac=12&zmap=EV3381475


So this can't be taken on the plane can it?

No, it can't be. You could gate check it, or put it in a bag and check it when you check your other luggage (as long as you aren't flying Spirit! They only let you check one bag now without charging extra fees.)

 

[Brian Noble]

We now have two boosters. Seeing as how the seats themselves are only about $15, I just check 'em "naked". My kids do much more damage to them than the airlines do.

 

[Gillian]

Clear trash bag (pack some extras for the way home) and check it with your luggage seems the easiest.

When we took DS's backless booster we just put it in alone. I think they put it in a bin one way, but not the other. We just needed it for the ride to/from the airport in NJ. DD's Britax car seat was a PITA. We took that on the plane. Luckily our cabin steward was able to make it disappear during the cruise!

 

[chorlick]

That's like the one we took on the plane.