Infant Car Seat on the Airplane

[scanne]

We'll be flying to Orlando in October with a 2 year old and a 3 month old. Our two year old will have a carseat or booster... We will be bringing the infant in her infant seat and one of those frames that converts the infant seat to a "stroller." I'm not 100% sure if we will be buying a seat for the infant. I was thinking I could keep her in the Baby Bjorn carrier attached to me during the flight. I've never flown with an infant. Our son was one when we took him on his first flight and he was in a regular carseat, so it was easy to get the car seat in the plane seat. So if we do buy a seat for the infant, should we bring the infant seat base and attach that to the plane seat or will she be ok in the baby Bjorn on me? I plan on nursing, so this arrangement would be ideal for that as well. Also, we are flying from Philadelphia and the flight is only 2 hrs. 20 minutes.

Any thoughts??? Please share your experiences with me regarding flying with an infant. Thank you.

 

[blizzard]

First for the 2 year old:
Make sure you are not using the "booster seat" capabilities of the seat, as boosters are not allowed. Your seat will have to have all the straps still in use, and the base attached to the airline seat via the seatbelt. Make sure your seat has a sticker on it which specifies that it is FAA approved.

For the infant:
If you are using the car seat, the same restrictions as above apply - the seat will need to have a sticker which says it is FAA approved. The installation will be the same as a vehicle. Also note that due to safety restrictions, you may not be able to have 2 carseats in the same row of seats, so you may need to split up.

If you are using the carrier, you will not be allowed to have the baby in the carrier during takeoff and landing, or any time the seat belt sign is on. This is an FAA regulation as well. If there were a problem, the baby could be crushed by your body.

I think that about covers the regulations for flying anyway. (Make sure if you are not buying a seat for the infant that you let the airline know anyway, as there may be seating restrictions on the airplane)

 

[jel0511]

First off, you can not use the base on the infant seat on the plane. You have to strap the seat in over the seat, the base isn't FAA approved (too wide), but the car seat with the seat belt OVER is. You'll see the strap loops located on the sides of the car seat. Also, you can not use the Baby Bjorn carrier during take off and landing, only during cruise when YOU, the passenger, doesn't have to wear a seat belt. If the seat belt light is illuminated, the child must be out of the Baby Bjorn. Also, the previous poster is correct in that if you are traveling with two car seats, there is a STRONG possibility that you'll have to sit 2 and 2. Usually a car seat has to be placed in the window seat so it doesn't impeed on anyone's exit from the aircraft in the case of an emergency. A forward facing car seat for sure, and usually a booster seat as well. Also, the booster seat MUST have the 5 point harness attached to it, and also be FAA approved. Be careful when shopping for a booster seat, since some are not FAA approved. Make sure you look for the sticker on the store samples before buying.

Edited to add: My first flight with my child was with an infant, and we did have a seat for her. I brought the baby bjorn with me in case she wanted out of her car seat. It was a nightmare trying to get it on/off in such tight quarters. Also, she was MUCH happier in her car seat, she could have her own space, and was able to fall asleep, instead of wanting to play. I've flown so many times with my children, I've lost count. Based on my observations, the children who are screaming or upset, or the ones who don't have their car seats with them. The car seats give them some familiarity in an unfamiliar situation. It gives them comfort, and they know they aren't allowed out. Now, you'll have an infant, so she won't be asking to get down yet, so that's one thing out of the equation. I always buy a seat, mainly for the safety purpose. I always say, an airplane is a moving vehicle. Would you sit in the back seat of a car with your child in a Baby Bjorn and think it safe? Most likely not, so your thoughts should be exactly the same in a plane.

 

[justhat]

Also, because of the way that airplane seats buckle, you can't use the car seat base since the buckle would be in the middle so you couldn't snap the infant seat on. We're flying with my daughter in 2 weeks and she'll be 3 months old (we live in DC so our flight is 2 hours 10 minutes). We got her a seat and I think it will be nice to have her carseat (aside rom just safety reasons) so that if she sleeps (which hopefully she will) I can move around in my seat or even get up and won't have to worry about waking her up transferring her or by my movement.

My daughter is breastfed also, but I plan to pump milk shortly before the flight to feed her in a bottle during takeoff and landing. That way she's safe in her seat and also will have some relief from ear pain.

 

[minnie1928]

I took my 3 mos old daughter last august and used a product called Baby B'Air. Basically it's a vest that goes over the infant with a strap that attaches to your seat belt. We were able to hold her the entire time with out any complaints from the airline staff. Technically, it is not approved for take-off or landing. However, because of the way this vest is designed, you can have it secured to your belt and no one would have to know. I can't recall the name of the catalog that I ordered it from, but I know that I did a google search to compare pricing at the time.

I hope this helps!

 

[moinab]

Well, I guess it depends on what kind of plane you are on. I have flown several times (on Continental and Delta) with an infant in a Graco SnugRide infant car seat, always with the base attached, strapped into a window seat, just as I would strap it into a car. I also flew with a 3 month old in a Baby Bjorn. At the time, I didn't know this was against regulations, and the flight crew never said anything about it. All I can say is, those regulations are in place for a reason. I would never do that again. Since then, we always buy a seat for both of our children and put them in their car seats. We do split up into 2 rows.

I would check with the airline to find out the specifics regarding your car seat's compatibility with the seats on your flight.

 

[justhat]

I have a Graco SnugRide and was told that the base wouldnt' work because of the seatbelt. Hmm, I'd prefer to bring the base Since it's so much easier to just leave it in the car rather than making sure that seat is secure everytime we drive and then getting my 2 month olds legs under the belt. So the base does work? But it may not be approved for aircraft use? Ugh, why can't they make these things easier, like having all carseats approved for aircraft use.

 

[moinab]

justhat-

I would check and double check with your airline, just to be sure. Not all aircraft have the same seating dimensions. I never had a problem, but I always flew on Delta and Continental, on 737's and the little puddle jumper commuter jets.

We're trying Southwest for the first time in two weeks, but we're not using an infant seat anymore.

Good luck!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Be sure to call airline about purchasing tickets. I was able to get my DD(11 months) ticket for just $116-nearly 50% off our fare of $216. I had thought the discount was only on full price fares but I called based on a tip I read here and it was well worth the call. Our flight was only 2 1/2 hours but I can't imagine it without DD in her car seat. She slept most of the flight.

 

[Kermit]

Regarding the stroller, I would strongly encourage you to bring a regular stroller instead. Carseats are not meant to be used for long periods of time like that. Your baby will be much better off in a stroller that fully reclines. It's not good for their backs for them to be in carseats longer than necessary, and it gets so much hotter in them.

 

[justhat]

Aside from Kermit's point about car seats not being good to sit in for a long period of time, if you plan on using Disney transportation, I would just stick to a stroller as well. My daughter will be 3 months on our trip too and we're just bringing our fully reclinable stroller. I'd rather bring a smaller, lighter stroller, but this is the only one we have that fully reclines where the baby faces you (she screams if she can't see me). But I think loading on a stroller of any kind, even those frames that the car seats attach to, is hard enough with 2 small kids, without having to also carry the car seat. This would be especially true if you have to stand on a bus, as holding the kids and all that stuff would be a pain.

 

[NotUrsula]

RE: the question of two carseats in the same row: yes, it is allowed in the US, as long as the seats are in the window position and the position next to the window; the adult cannot sit between the carseats. What is forbidden is having two LAP BABIES in one row if the row is fully occupied; that is because there is only one extra oxygen mask.

Generally, the airlines discourage putting 2 carseats in a row if there are 2 adults in the party; installing two seats next to one another is very difficult, and tends to really slow down the boarding process. SWA, especially, prefers that you don't do it unless there is only one adult in the party.

I know of no FAA rule that addresses the use of a carseat base for an infant carseat. However, the base is a convenience item designed for use in automobiles to make it easier to get the seat in and out frequently; any carseat sold in the US must be designed to be safely installed without a base. Installation on an aircraft is almost always going to be easier if you do without the base. Also, there is no advantage to using a base on a plane, as there is no need to frequently lift the seat shell. Depending on the routing of the seatbelt through the base, the center seat buckle may get in the way of the clearance for snapping in the seat shell, making it impossible to secure properly.

My advice is to skip the base on the flight; put it in your checked luggage if you want it for a rental car.

 

[castlegazer]

We used a Graco base with our infant seat on the flight we took with my DS when he was an infant a year ago. We flew in a tiny American Eagle plane too. Check and recheck policies of your particular airline.

You have gotten good advice here - I need not add more, BUT, I would always get a seat for my infant.

 

[jel0511]

I just wanted to expand on what justhat said. If you have the child in an infant car seat, you have to remove the child from the car seat to ride on the Disney Buses I believe. That could cause you to haul a lot more than you intended to. There are no seat belts on the WDW buses, so there is no where to secure the car seat, and would have to be placed on the floor. The baby is safer in your arms than in an unsecured car seat on the bus. Also, it is true that spending long amounts of time in an infant seat isn't good for them, as it's not totally flat and not meant to be used in that manner. It will really constrict your infants movements being strapped into the car seat for long periods of time. In a regular stroller, she'll be able to move a bit (as much as infants move!) and also get more ventilation.

 

[newmommy]

I am a flight attendant for a major carrier, and I wanted to let you know that "Blizzard" was correct in his/her statement about it being against FAA regulations to wear a child in a baby bjorn carrier during take off and landing as well as any time the seat belt sign is illuminated. It is not safe for the baby to be in this type of carrier during those phases of flight. That also applies to the vest type restraint mentioned by another reply. I am shocked to read that several parents have used these restraints on an airplane without the crew saying anything. It is really dangerous and also against FAA regulations. Please keep your baby safe and adhere to FAA policy. Also note that if you choose to hold your baby on your lap instead of purchasing a seat, you also may not buckle them into the seatbelt with you. If your flight is very light, most airlines will allow you to bring the carseat onboard and use it in an empty seat anyway, even though you did not pay for the seat. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[Lover_of_Disney]

Another Flight Attendant here!

It looks like this issue has been covered but I wanted confirm that most airlines will let you use the car seat if space permits however as most of you know, MCO flight are usually pretty full. You can try and use the car seat but if there is not space you can check the car seat at the gate.

If at all financially possible, I would recommend a car seat for a child on the plane. I have been flying for two years and had more than a few istances that I was glad no one had lap children on board. During moderate to severe turbulence it is very hard to hold on to a child and using a seatbelt to secure the child to yourself is even more dangerous. Also, there are many incidents that occur on the ground. My first month of flying we had a tug run into our aircraft and I was knocked quite hard into the wall and ultimately the floor.

Certainly, most of the time it is perfectly safe to hold a child but keep in mind it is always better for a child to be restrained in a FAA approved car seat.

Thanks for letting me add my 2 cents!!!

 

[JennsBabySky]

So, any good advice for a family of 4. I really want to purchase a seat for our infant son, but my dh is not happy with the idea of someone sitting in the next row or of splitting our group into 2 groups of 2. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Jennifer

 

[NotUrsula]

Why would that be such an issue? If the plane has a 2-3 configuration you just take up two rows on the 2-seat side. If it's 3-3, you most commonly sit 3 in one row with the second adult across the aisle, though w/ 2 carseats, it is best for child care to sit 2 behind 2 in the center and window.

If Dad's complaint is that he wants the aisle, then let *him* sit next to both kids. That should take care of that, LOL. Seriously, if it's REALLY an issue for him and you don't feel equal to dealing w/ both kids, then buy Dad a double seat so that no one else is sitting in the aisle. Very pricey, of course, but it's a comfy solution.

If you are coming from a large market at a popular time, there is also the possibility that you will be on a wide-body that is 3-4-3.
You actually CAN use carseats in the center seats of the center section on a widebody; kids in the middle, parents on the aisle. This is allowed because the evacuation map has you go to the closest aisle to your seat, not across to one side of the plane.

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by JennsBabySky
So, any good advice for a family of 4. I really want to purchase a seat for our infant son, but my dh is not happy with the idea of someone sitting in the next row or of splitting our group into 2 groups of 2. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Jennifer

I just have to comment and hopefully ease your hubbies mind on this. We are a family of 4 and always sit 2 and 2 on a flight, we have been doing this since the girls were babies. It works well as we sit one behind the other, with rows of 2 its ideal and in rows of three we take the aisle and middle seats.

For us it helps to be flexible as often the airlines change seats and this guarantees us one adult with one child. We pick our "travel buddy" and I pack the backpacks accordingly. Our favorite book, and dd's favorite toys, gameboy, snacks etc.

I have seen so many families traveling in groups that had to be split up and were not ready for it. Passing baby's bottle up 4 rows, passing the snacks back etc. -

TJ

 

[tinkerbeth]

We travelled to England from Toronto with our son when he was a baby. We didn't get him a seat - he was happiest in arms and since he was nursing, I just popped him on my **** and he sailed through beautifully. It really helped with his ears on the take off and landing too.

Hope that helps.

Beth