Need Some Advice re flights and toddler

[CdnKayDee]

Hi,

When on the Boards I only check a few different places like the Canadian one, Disney Land and DVC. Today I checked out the Family section and became very nervous. My husband and I have a trip planned to Disney Land in a few days and one to Disney World in October. On our DL trip our son will be 1. For WDW he will 2. We did not buy him the seat to DL as we thought he could sit on our lap. We were nervous about him freaking out on a plane. Me being slow did not think about the dangers of him not being strapped in. Reading the family board there was a lot of talk of the dangers so my husband and I discussed it and I just got off the phone booking my son his own seat with WestJet. Now my questions are about the car seat. Who has flown with their child in a car seat? How did that go? I can see my son becoming quite angry being in his car seat for that long. I am thinking that we will keep him distracted for awhile with the DVD player and other things but not sure how his temper will hold up. People who have travelled with almost 2 year old, car seat or no car seat? If he is crying and upset during takeoff and landing can I hold him or does he need to be strapped in at all times? What have your experiences been? Any helpful advice? I am still second guessing the decision to buy the seat. I have till tomorrow at around this time to cancel.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MikeyNS]

Hi,

When on the Boards I only check a few different places like the Canadian one, Disney Land and DVC. Today I checked out the Family section and became very nervous. My husband and I have a trip planned to Disney Land in a few days and one to Disney World in October. On our DL trip our son will be 1. For WDW he will 2. We did not buy him the seat to DL as we thought he could sit on our lap. We were nervous about him freaking out on a plane. Me being slow did not think about the dangers of him not being strapped in. Reading the family board there was a lot of talk of the dangers so my husband and I discussed it and I just got off the phone booking my son his own seat with WestJet. Now my questions are about the car seat. Who has flown with their child in a car seat? How did that go? I can see my son becoming quite angry being in his car seat for that long. I am thinking that we will keep him distracted for awhile with the DVD player and other things but not sure how his temper will hold up. People who have travelled with almost 2 year old, car seat or no car seat? If he is crying and upset during takeoff and landing can I hold him or does he need to be strapped in at all times? What have your experiences been? Any helpful advice? I am still second guessing the decision to buy the seat. I have till tomorrow at around this time to cancel.

Thanks in advance!

We've travelled both ways, car seat and on the lap. We do feel a little guilty when we didn't buy a seat, but it turned out fine. Our son(s) were great either way. We always kept him strapped in the car seat, but loosed the belt a bit to give him some mobility. If he has his own seat I don't think you can take him out during take off and landing. Taking him for walks up and down the isle helps. This might be considered a bit spoiling, but we went and picked up a small present that we brought out every 15-20minutes. Like a new hot wheels, or crayons and colouring book, stickers, etc. Kept him very occupied during the trip. Some kids are better travellers than others, but don't be embarassed if he happens to have a meltdown. Before children I never knew how stressful having a child freak out on a plane can be, but now I'm very sympathetic. Good luck! I'm sure you'll be fine!

 

[my2boyz]

We have used car seats as well and I found our boys were better behaved being in their car seats as this is what they are used to. They only got up to use the washroom. Our boys were 2 and 4 when we used them this past summer and younger the previous trip to California!! It's a lot to bring through the airport but I think well worth it espc if you will be renting a car (those safety car seats I wouldn't trust!).

 

[coastgirl]

We've done it both ways and it's much more comfortable when the little one has his own seat. We just explained, this thing ain't moving if you aren't strapped in...just like the car. BUT, as a bonus, you don't have to stay strapped in the whole time!! Woohoo!

You might want to make sure your car seat is properly "stickered", for US flights the seat needs to be approved by US standards, which aren't exactly the same. Ask Westjet for advice.

We travelled a fair bit when the kids were car seat aged, and we always brought some new fun stuff. Find some safe little new bits--harder to find cheap stuff with under-three (I wouldn't trust the dollar store, which is my secret weapon for older children). Maybe a little container of cheerios or some little treat he loves, that he can hold and manipulate himself. Stickers, yeah. I would make sure you have a bottle or sippy cup to give him for take off/landing as he's too young for gum or chewy candy. Not sure how you manage liquids, but I thought baby formula/milk was exempt?

Totally get him his own seat. An almost two year old is hard to hold under those conditions, and when I really thought about what I'd presumed I could do (hold my baby in a crash), I freaked myself out. I'd never sit in a car with him in my arms and expect it to be ok. (We did it a couple of times when ds was an infant. Really handy to nurse him on take-off/landing, but scary when I thought about it in retrospect.)

I HATE planning vacations buying FOUR airfares now, always full price. (Child fare? NEVER seen one.) But my favourite perk is the extra leg room. While their little legs are short, you can put all your stuff under their feet for easy access/fewer overhead bin fights! Much better than 3 people in two seats, and maybe a grumpy 6 foot stranger with broad shoulders in the next seat!

 

[krazy4crusing]

How does your son do in his car seat in the car? You can expect a similar experience with the plane. Our kids slept the whole time we flew with their car seats. We always brought toys, DVDs, SNACKS... Lots of them, Sippy cup etc... As other posters have mentioned you have the option of taking him out of his car seat if you choose.

If your son is lap riding there is a product out there called the Baby B'air flight vest. We used one for our son when he was an infant and toddler. It is a vest that has a loop on the back that slides over your seat belt for use while flying. It can not be used during take off or landing though. At that point they recommend holding the baby over your shoulder in an upright position.

I would keep the seat for him and that way you have the option of holding him or putting him down to rest.

 

[casper_jj11]

The Baby B'air vest isn't approved for use on Canadian airlines. If you're flying the american airlines, you will be able to use it.

The CARES is another option. It provides a five point harness on the airplane for children aged 1 to 4 without bringing the car seat on board. That is approved by Transport Canada and Canadian airlines. You can rent it or buy it from different Canadian companies. We use this all the time and love it.

Although it makes no sense to me, our last flight on WestJet there was a lady flying with a toddler and an older sibling. She didn't have a seat purchased for the toddler but brought the car seat in case there was one available. There was a seat available and athough the toddler was permitted to use it during flight, because he was under 2, the mother was forced to hold him at take off and landing. Made absolutely no sense and I would have kicked up a fuss if it was me. Its worth clarifying the rules for travelling with a child under 2 with the particular airline just in case.

 

[Tanooki]

Just returned from our trip a week ago and it was our first trip with the little one (19 months). The flight going in was bad, mainly because it was his usual bedtime (7pm) and he was definitely overtired. We got him his seat, put the carseat in it and he was strapped in it the whole flight. He was whining/crying for the first part of the trip (and I was nervously trying to make him feel better) and he finally fell alseep for the last hour of the flight. Coming back home, the flight was much earlier (3pm) and he was in a much better mood. I had a bag of mini M&M's and I fed him one whenever he started to whine and it worked fine. He actually fell asleep while we started to land and he didn't wake until I put him in the car!
Bring lots of little things for him to play with and lots of snacks.
Have a great time!