Infant Carrier or Convertible Car Seat - WWYD?

[maciec]

DS will be 6m when we take our trip in October. He will have his own seat on the plane. He is still in his infant carrier (which is FAA approved) and we do not have a convertible seat for him yet. We will have a rental car while in Disney.

My question is, do we just fly with the carrier or should I bite the bullet and buy a convertible seat for him?

If we fly with the carrier can we use the base on the plane?

Thanks!

 

[scrapquitler]

DS will be 6m when we take our trip in October. He will have his own seat on the plane. He is still in his infant carrier (which is FAA approved) and we do not have a convertible seat for him yet. We will have a rental car while in Disney.

My question is, do we just fly with the carrier or should I bite the bullet and buy a convertible seat for him?

If we fly with the carrier can we use the base on the plane?

Thanks!

You can use the carrier on the plane. We used it without the base, and we put the base in the suitcase so that we would have it for the rental car because I figure the base makes it much easier to use the infant seat in the car....otherwise you have to install it with the seatbelt each and every time you take baby in/out of the car.

I'm not sure if you can install the base in the seat of the plane or not. I just don't remember.

 

[deegack]

Learn how to install it with just the belt for the plane. You can pop the base in the overhead compartment. Are you renting a car? A lot of them have LATCH systems if not just install with belt.

 

[Disneychix]

wow, I didn't know you could just use the 'bucket' part of the carrier system. We are flying with our 7 month old and I am using his brother's old convertible carseat. I figure I will not have him in the bucket anyway so i will have no real use for it on vacation.

 

[mom2princesss]

It will be much easier to fly with the infant seat then with a convertible. You can just carry him in the infant seat and seat belt it in the plane. Very easy. You can bring the base along but I never do. I just find it easier to to a seat belt install then lug the base around. But that is just me. I don't want to carry anything extra that I don't absolutely need.

 

[disneymom0104]

My DS was 6 months when we went last year. We put him in his infant bucket seat. We did not use the base. I can't remember if it was because it wasn't allowed or because we thought it would be easier. We were not using a rental car, so only brought his car seat for the plane. It was a tight fit and the people sitting in front of him could not recline thier seat at all (and boy did they try).

 

[mjkacmom]

You don't need the base, even in a car. I never had one with my two oldest, but decided to "splurge" with the next round.

 

[robinb]

DS will be 6m when we take our trip in October. He will have his own seat on the plane. He is still in his infant carrier (which is FAA approved) and we do not have a convertible seat for him yet. We will have a rental car while in Disney.

My question is, do we just fly with the carrier or should I bite the bullet and buy a convertible seat for him?

If we fly with the carrier can we use the base on the plane?

Thanks!

I would plan on taking the carrier instead of a convertible car seat. In addition, I would buy a Snap N Go type stroller to make getting through the airport and around WDW easier.

 

[DopeyDame]

Definitely no need to buy a convertible unless you want one for home already. Our son flew from Korea in his infant carrier without a problem. Like a pp said, make sure you read your instructions so oyu know how to install it with a lap belt. Most seats can not be used with a base and a lap belt, so if you bring the base for the rental car, just throw it in the overhead bin for the flight.
have fun!

 

[maciec]

Thanks for all of the responses! I have decided to take the bucket. I am going to have to practice installing it without the base though.

We do have a Snap & go stroller, but the shade on the bucket is not all that big, so I am going to take our baby jogger. I am going to get the belly bar to help carry the bucket through the airport.

I knew you guys would have the answers!!!!!

 

[msr709]

I would plan on taking the carrier instead of a convertible car seat. In addition, I would buy a Snap N Go type stroller to make getting through the airport and around WDW easier.

What is a "Snap N Go type stroller"? Looking for the right stroller for our trip and this sounds interesting...

 

[angelmom27]

What is a "Snap N Go type stroller"? Looking for the right stroller for our trip and this sounds interesting...

the snap n go stroller is just a stroller that is just the frame no seat. that you can attach the carrier on top of. so it is super lite and compact. of course the only thing is there is no sunshade it doenst have a seat so you can only use it one way. i think it is super handy for the airport and malls but for disney i would use a stroller so baby can stretch out and lay down in the stroller and have a bigger sunshade for protection.

 

[arthuruscg]

Last september we flew with our 6m, we use the "bucket" and left the base at home. Don't bother with a snap and go stroller. The buckets don't allow for enough air flow or shade for an infant, don't have enough storage and suck to push.

You can leave the bucket installed and still load/unload the infant. Defently try it at home before you are under the time crunch on the plane.

Also call the airline and verify that your car seat will fit. Just because they sold you a infant/ child seat doesn't mean the computer system is smart enough to assign the correct seat. Some seats are narrower then others and some don't have enough distance between the rows to install a carseat.
So you might have to sprig for a narrow convertable if your bucket will not fit.

 

[amylynne01]

Most seats can not be used with a base and a lap belt, so if you bring the base for the rental car, just throw it in the overhead bin for the flight.

Lap-only belts can most definitely be used to install bases, infant seats without a base, and RFing or FFing seats. They cannot be used with a kid in a booster or for an adult.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Just take your carrier. And either install the base in the seat on the plane, OR throw it in the overhead and just strap the carrier in the seat. Either way, you have the base for the rental car. Much easier than lugging a heavy convertible carseat.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Lap-only belts can most definitely be used to install bases, infant seats without a base, and RFing or FFing seats. They cannot be used with a kid in a booster or for an adult.

Ditto.

All carseats come with an insturction booklet on how to install the seat correctly using the LATCH system. They also include instructions on how to install the seat correctly using just the lap belt. (This is due to the LATCH system not being in cars older than like a 2000...I think.) We had to use the lap belt to install my sons infant carrier in my car (1998 contour). Not too hard. And just as safe as LATCH system.