Plane Flight with Toddler?

[DutchsMommy]

My DH and I will be flying from Toronto Canada to MCO with my DS who will be 3 1/2 at the time. My question is regarding a car seat - does he still need one? We currently have the Eddie Bauer Costco (Blue and Black one) which looks to me to be way too big to fit in an airplane seat. We are looking at taking a towncar to our resort and would also need a carseat for that as well I suppose. Has anyone ever done this and what did you do? Also, any additional tips on how to keep an active toddler/preschooler occupied for the flight would be appreciated. I am actually considering a portable DVD player for him but I don't think that can really be worked into our budget unless we can get some sort of amazing deal! Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Jaime]

He doesn't need a car seat on the plane. We travelled to Toronto this summer and there was a 3 year old sitting next to us without a car seat. She was just happy playing with some of her toys and having snack time. She really enjoyed looking out the window and playing with my baby. We will also be travelling from Toronto to Orlando in Jan with a 20month old and a 3 year old. We are going to bring some snacks and some of their toys. Security at the airport may ask to look through your bag of toys, so be prepared. Have a great trip

 

[tricia]

You can request a car seat, free of charge from most towncar companies.

 

[Jaime]

We are checking our car seats as special luggage with the airline. It is free of charge.

 

[MinnieGi]

Just also wanted to say most towncar companies have car seats that can be requested.

On our last flight we also saw kids in the three and up age range sitting without a car seat. I don't think I'd purchase a DVD system just for the flight. Bring books, coloring items, stickers and plenty of snacks to keep them busy and you shouldn't have a problem. Also the window shade and plane telephone always keep DD occupied for a while. She pretends to call everyone she knows and tells them we are headed to Disney and then plays "peek-a-boo" with the clouds with the window shade!

Good luck!

 

[HaleyB]

We fly all the time with our 3 kids. A few things we have learned are:
You MUST have gum for their ears. There is nothing worse than a child crying in pain on a plane!
Playdough is fantastic on a plane. The fold down trays are a perfect surface and the playdough sticks just enough to keep it from falling off the tray.
Skip the tiny toys. They are impossible to retrive if they are dropped. We always have a puppet with us. It is uncanny how much kids love a puppet show (even when I am the one doing it, and I have zero talent for this kind of thing).
Food. Lots of grazing food.
Blankie and pillow. Get them comfy and they might fall asleep!
Board very early, as early as possible, so you have time to settle in a bit.
Books on tape and a Walkman. My kids love them.
We could not aford a DVD player so we taped a movie onto one of those little tapes our video camers uses and played it using the playback and the little screen on the camera. My kids didn't care one bit that it was 3 inches and grainy. We made sure our battery was fully charged and it lasted for the whole movie.
We ALWAYS used our car seat on the planes because otherwise it is nearly impossible to keep them in their seat. It is a hassel boarding and all, but worth it for long flights. I must say though, it was a huge pain when we had to go through customs, almost not worth it.

Please excuse my spelling today. I do not have the energy to proof read today.

 

[NotUrsula]

It may keep a little one quiet, but Playdough leaves a permanent greasy residue on fabrics. If any tiny little bit of it is dropped or left on the seat or bulkhead, it will ruin the several-hundred-dollar suit worn by the next hapless business traveler to occupy that seat. If some sort of modeling dough is a must-have (and with over 100K airmiles on my kid, I don't consider that it is), I suggest Crayola Model Magic, which does not leave greasy residue, and also does not smell to high heaven in an enclosed space.

BTW, gum is really not the greatest idea for the same reason. Little kids don't keep track of it well. A water bottle with a sipper cap is a better alternative, as the swallowing will clear the ears, and the water will help to combat the dehydration common on long air trips.

I don't know what Canada's aviation safety bureau recommends, but the US' FAA gives 40 lbs. as the weight at which a child can safely forgo using a carseat. Using one is not a *requirement*, but it is the safer thing to do, and much more comfortable than going without on a long flight.

 

[Barb D]

We've used our Cosco Eddie Bauer seat on the plane before. Just make sure it's the kind with the 5-point harness, not the seat belt adjuster. It worked out fine. The advantage was that the seat was familiar, it kept her secure, and we had it on the other end.

 

[castlegazer]

Make your own playdough - it doesn't stick and it doesn't smell. There are lots of great recipes on Family Fun. Use the recipes with flour and baking powder and you will find it works great. It is a great idea for entertainment that I hadn't thought of before, but I would not use Playdough as cautioned by NotUrsula. Eating, coloring, books and window clings do the trick in our situation. Ditto on cautions about little toys - if your child's not a thrower - they will be on the flight. It is a Murphy's Law.