Needed - Tips for traveling with car seat

[merekc]

We are flying with our 18 month old next month and we reserved him a seat on the flight. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for dealing with the car seat both in the airport or any other time? Just not sure what to expect. We are also planning to bring his stroller and check it at the gate.

Thanks.

 

[Tara]

You can buy a carrying bag for the seat -- some come with a long shoulder strap, but I know there is at least one version with backpack-style straps. If you have a big car seat such as the Britax Marathon, be sure whatever bag you buy is big enough for the seat.

My car seat bag only has a shoulder strap, but I've managed it, a carryon (sometimes a backpack, sometimes a messenger bag), plus my son in his stroller by myself more than I can even remember. It's certainly easier when DH is along for the ride, though! If your son is in the mood to walk a bit with you, you can always use the stroller as a car seat cart, too.

I will say one thing -- when you install the seat on the plane, be sure to turn the seat belt so the release flap is facing the plane's seat and not the back of the car seat. If it is facing the back of the car seat and then you tighten the strap, you will have a very difficult time unfastening it since the release flap will be pressed tightly against the car seat backing.

Finally, it might be a good idea for one person to board with the seat and install it while the other person waits with the baby.

Have fun!

 

[dougsmom98]

Hi. We never bought a bag for our carseat, although it sounds like a great idea. The biggest problem is that carseats are so awkward to carry through the airport. Since we never bought a bag for the carseat, we found it imperative to have backpacks for our carry on bags. The first time we traveled with our first DS, he was 16 months old. On the way down we had carry on bags that just had plain old handles and couldn't be worn on our backs. We must have looked ridiculous walking through the airport dropping things and stopping every 300 feet for a rest and to situate ourselves. Before our trip home, we bought two backpacks at K-Mart and it made all the difference in the world. If and when you are ever traveling with two or more carseats, budget so that you pay for help or one of those carts. Too many times we have tried to juggle everything ourselves and it can be so stressful. The money for a cart or skycap is worth every penny. I think it is a great idea to have one person board and install the car seat while the other person waits with the baby.

 

[dzorn]

Don't forget to check the location of the FAA flight aproved sticker to you know right were it is if the attendant wants to verify it is approved for airline use. It will save some time if you get there and cannot find it.

 

[PortieOwner]

Your seat should have the "latch" system so it will be easy to attach to a rental car. Might want to bring along a big towel to put over the seat to keep it from getting too hot in the Florida sun.

Portie

 

[Luv2CDisney]

When we traveled with the car seat we used one of those folding luggage carts (metal that folds in half has a handle to it). We would put the car seat on it and use bungee cords to secure it. You can even stick the backpack you are carrying on the seat and it all is secured with the bungee cords. We use to gate check the stroller also. If you are traveling with someone let them go on board first and secure the car seat and put all the stuff up above. You go on almost last...this way they can still run around and get their energy out before they are put into their seat. We found that this method worked great for us.

 

[monorailsilver]

What we did last year was stretch the shoulder straps on the car seat as long as they would go & we carried the car seat like a back pack thru the airport.

 

[merekc]

Thank you for these fantastic ideas. I may need to walk around the house testing which method works best for us. I'll give the neighbors something to talk about.

 

[NotUrsula]

Be sure to call the airline and tell them that you will be using a carseat on board. There are restrictions on carseat placement, so be sure that you are not assigned to be sitting in one of those illegal seats (and avoid choosing them on SWA) -- if you are in an "illegal" seat, the FA's *will* hold up the flight and shuffle people around to make you move.

Carseats must be installed in the window position on a single-aisle plane, and they cannot go in the row directly in front of or directly behind an exit row. The high-and-forward positioning of the carseat makes it easier for kids to kick the seat in front of them; be prepared to restrain his feet if necessary.

The smaller adult should be the one to install the seat; there isn't much room to maneuver. It will be too wide to carry down the aisle upright, you'll want to carry it upside-down and sideways (picture a "7").

 

[merekc]

Thanks for those tips. Things I never would have thought of. We are actually a party of ten, so I figure I'll sit my son behind grandma or papa because they have to love him (even if he kicks).

 

[n2mm]

Thanks for those tips. Things I never would have thought of. We are actually a party of ten, so I figure I'll sit my son behind grandma or papa because they have to love him (even if he kicks).

I agree! I also book grand daughter's seat behind me for that reason!

 

[katerkat]

We use the rolling folding luggage cart, since I'm usually on my own with the kiddo. I can stick a bag or purse under the bungee cords and drag that as I push the stroller. I actually have skipped the stroller recently - the walking between gates lets him stretch his legs after being on the plane. (I obviously go for the longer layovers!!)

Installing on the plane is a pain. Window seat on the one-aisle planes. My carseat (Evenflo Triumph) doesn't fit down the aisle of most planes, so I have to pick it up and carry it. Since I've been alone, I relied on the flight attendants to entertain Russ while I strapped in the seat.

Oh, and security is fun, too! You have to unstrap it from the rolling cart to go through the scanner, but even then the Triumph doesn't fit through all scanners. (Couldn't get through Kansas City's.) But you'll have a lot more people to help, so you don't have to worry about pinning the toddler down while you rehook everything.