infant carrier base on airplane?

[MaleficentFan]

I posted this question in the transportation forum as well. DH and I will be flying with dd for the first time in two weeks. We purchased a seat for her and will be taking her infant carrier on the plane. We will be bringing the base for the carrier as well since we are renting a car. Do we just strap the infant carrier into the seat or strap in the base and put the carrier in the base as we do in the car? Experienced travellers do tell!

 

[Lucille1963]

I would read the instructions that came with the infant seat. I know that mine was usable without a base, but I am not sure about others.

 

[NotUrsula]

It is often very difficult, if not impossible, to use the base on board an aircraft. This is because on a plane, the seat belt buckle is in the center, not the side. With most carseats, there is not enough clearance between the seat and the base to allow the seat to lock in with that large obstruction between them. (You can test it by trying to install your seat with a deck of cards sitting on top of the car's seatbelt where it passes over the base. Obviously, you have to install the base with the seatbelt to test this -- not using the LATCH system.)

Almost all carseats sold in the US are compatible with safe installation with a lap belt only. Read your instructions and see how to do it. Generally I advise leaving the base at home -- if you can install the seat without it, it is one less item to have to take along, and you definitely would NOT want to check it as baggage if you didn't have to.

 

[imthatgirl]

i would use it without the base.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

We had a Graco SnugRide(? - it's been a while) - the standard Graco infant bucket - and never took the base with us to WDW or on any trip to see Grandma. It was pretty much for the reasons that NotUrsula stated in her post. As far as the aircraft goes, the belt holding the carrier down into the seat will do more than it's job by itself. The design and bulk of the base may hamper that.

I became a pro at putting the seat into a rental car using just the belt. It's actually really easy! Sometimes I felt even more comfortable installing it that way, because I knew how super-tight I could get that belt pulled. I can proudly say that you couldn't even shift it in the seat at all! I think a few practices at home will make you much more confident with being able to use the belt only before you leave. Also, identify which one of you is better at it than the other. My husband is great with LATCH (me not so good) and I am way better with the belt. Technogeek vs. Mother's instinct? Perhaps!

My best advice - Just make sure you always know where they little brass belt locking plate is at all times. Take it off the clip it's stored in on the back of the carrier and put it safely in your purse - not a pocket, since you don't want it to get lost when going through security.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd leave the base at home. With my 1st 2 kids, our seat didn't even have a base - it's really not difficult to just use the belt. I got lazy with #3.

 

[MaleficentFan]

Thanks everybody! We have a Graco... so it can be safely installed without the base. I just have never done it without the base. I think we'll spend some time over the next two weeks experimenting with strapping it in belt only... I'm sure I'll appreciate having one less thing to carry!

 

[tanyaandallie]

Well, allow me to disagree.

If you can take the base with you, take it. You don't need it on the plane but it will make life easier in the rental car. Carry it on and put it in the overhead bin or gate check it.

While you can install a Graco Snugride without the base, it's a huge pain to get it in there nice and tight every single time. Can it be done? Sure, but do you really want to reinstall the carseat every time you get in the car? 80% of carseats are installed incorrectly. My guess is that when we look at infant seats installed without the base, the stats are even higher. It is not just a matter of slipping the seatbelt through the belt guides on the carseat. You will need to make sure the seat is at the right angle, that it moves less than 1inch at the belt path, etc. Without the base these things are tough to accomplish.

IMO, much easier to get the base installed properly and then not have to worry about installation every time you get in the car. When it's late and your baby is screaming and you all just want to get back to the hotel, popping the seat in the base will be far easier.

 

[MaleficentFan]

good point tanyaandallie!

 

[tanyaandallie]

:

My best advice - Just make sure you always know where they little brass belt locking plate is at all times. Take it off the clip it's stored in on the back of the carrier and put it safely in your purse - not a pocket, since you don't want it to get lost when going through security.

Rental vehicles are normally newer vehicles. All vehicles manufactured today are required to have a locking mechanism. Most have a switchable retractor which allows the seat belt to be locked at the retractor. You do not need a locking clip unless you are using a seat belt that only locks in an emergency. My guess is she will not a locking clip in a rental.

 

[thepeach80]

Here's what it looks like to not use the base in the car and on a plane. This was our trip last year. I generally tell people to leave the base at home, but be sure to practice installing it w/ no base plenty before your trip and even see a carseat tech. www.seatcheck.org I never take mine, but I'm a tech.

 

[mjkacmom]

Here's what it looks like to not use the base in the car and on a plane. This was our trip last year. I generally tell people to leave the base at home, but be sure to practice installing it w/ no base plenty before your trip and even see a carseat tech. www.seatcheck.org I never take mine, but I'm a tech.

I agree with practicing at home (and cute pics!). Since I never used a base for some of my kids, I was just as quick as fastening it myself as plopping it into the base - it's really not difficult, and I believe there was a little level thing that showed you when it was at the correct angle.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

Also - make sure your carseat is FAA approved! Not all carseats are FAA approved for use on an airplne. Read the package insert or inspect all the warning tags and labels on the seat itself, it will tell you if it's acceptable to use on a plane.

Here is the link to the FAA site about flying with children: http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

D4D

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Rental vehicles are normally newer vehicles. All vehicles manufactured today are required to have a locking mechanism. Most have a switchable retractor which allows the seat belt to be locked at the retractor. You do not need a locking clip unless you are using a seat belt that only locks in an emergency. My guess is she will not a locking clip in a rental.

That is a good point, but alas, not a complete guarantee. New technology in an unfamiliar vehicle is not always a sure bet and you can't guarantee on the guys working at the rental place to give you the best advice. Heck - the seats they rent aren't the newest and safest things and most of the service guys can't even install them.

I, personally, would rather be safe than sorry. That's why all infant seats are still sold with the locking clips.

 

[medleblute]

Thanks for all of your advice. We will be flying with our DD (8 months in February) for the first time and all your advice has put me more at ease.

 

[Nanu57v]

This may be a no brainer, but the baby needs to be in the window spot, and rear facing. Our first flight with DD we put her in the middle seat between DH and I. No one said anything. (On the way back they explained she should be in the window seat and why.) Our 2nd flight with her she was in a convertible but still rear facing (9 months old), and the flight attendant told me my carseat wasn't made to go backwards.

 

[NotUrsula]

Our 2nd flight with her she was in a convertible but still rear facing (9 months old), and the flight attendant told me my carseat wasn't made to go backwards.

IME, FA's will say darn near anything to dissuade you from installing a carseat rear-facing. They do it because they don't want to hear the complaints from the passenger in front who will not be able to recline his seat.

 

[MaleficentFan]

This may be a no brainer, but the baby needs to be in the window spot, and rear facing. Our first flight with DD we put her in the middle seat between DH and I. No one said anything. (On the way back they explained she should be in the window seat and why.) Our 2nd flight with her she was in a convertible but still rear facing (9 months old), and the flight attendant told me my carseat wasn't made to go backwards.

Yeah, we're having a war with Continental right now over the seats we've been assigned. On the way down we are in three seats that are together. However, they screwed us up for the flight home. When the tickets were booked we told them we were travelling with an infant and needed three together in both directions. The guy was very helpful and did as we asked. However, Continental decided to change the plane (as in the physical plane itself) for the trip back home. So, according to the nasty woman I spoke with, the row we were originally assigned became a handicapped row in the new plane. They now have us with 2 seats on one side of the aisle and one directly across the aisle in the same row. We tried to explain to her that we were flying with an infant, that we needed to be three on one side of the aisle but she was having none of that! So I'm going to have to see if they can switch us at check in or at the gate... or I'm going to have to hope that the person sitting as the third with our twosome would like to give up the window so they do not have to be next to some unfamilar infant!

 

[tjmw2727]

Wow that's tough but unfortunatly not surprising.

I would try calling again - the carseat needs to be in the window seat ! Although be warned that you may only be able to get 2 seats together as one of the adults would be expected to sit by him/herself. So as far as the airline is concerned you really only "need" two seats together a window and a middle seat.

Despite what most folks think no airline will guarantee seats. Having delt with the airlines on numerous occasions trying to get at least one adult seated with my then preschool/toddler age kids I don't envy you.

In your case I would call back and try for the window/middle for the baby and you and then deal with reseating DH later. If you can get any aisle seat for your dh he has a better chance of trading for the asile next to you and the baby.

If you do have to wait until you arrive, arrive early and keep positive. They do have seats on reserve for FF's and such to play around with and the more willing you are to work with them the better the results will be.

Good Luck,
TJ

 

[MaleficentFan]

I've been sending my mother after them (my parents are travelling with us and actually used their miles to purchase some of the tickets)... she's much more doggedly determined and vicious than I am! They have played with the seats more than once... we just need to check whether the latest incarnation has two seats together with one being the window! Keep your fingers crossed for us!