Question about flying with toddler

[jaame]

I posted this in another forum but was told I would probably get more traffic here.

We will be flying on airtran in October with a three year old. Do we need his carseat for the flight or should we check it with our luggage? I know we will need it for transportation to and from the airport after we arrive in Orlando but wasn't sure if was needed for the plane ride.

We found this and are seriously considering purchasing it but the catalog says it is "Not FAA improved" The website says "Not FAA approved" That would lead me to believe we couldn't use this product on the plane, correct?

http://www.leapsandboundscatalog.co...itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=313766&change=118

***edited to fix link***

 

[CleveRocks]

How are you getting to and from your hotel, and if you're staying at a WDW resort how will you get to and from the parks? The reason I ask is that child safety seats can't be used on buses, and DME and Disney Transport are buses.

-- Eric

 

[jaame]

My parents are joining us for the week so they will be picking us up from the airport and we will ride with them to and from Disney. We're staying off site.

 

[molly2004]

I flew with my 17 month old twins this past week and I have to say that I'd never fly with them again without a car seat. Other than the obvious safety reasons for having a car seat, you need to consider how restless your child will be. Even though we had a whole bank of seats to ourselves, they were all over the place. Something for you to consider.

Your link didn't work so I'm assuming you're referring to the flight vest. It is a waste of money because the flight attendants will only let you use it during "cruising" i.e., when the seat belt light is off.

Hope that helps.

 

[pooh4evr]

No you don't need one we flew with our DD2 in May and she did finw witout one. She had plenty of room for her tray to be lowered to color play nad snack with she kept her belt on and laid down - it warked well for us.

 

[janets]

in June. However, I took it with us since we were staying off site and needed it for the car.

Just a word of advice...when we returned home, we picked up our carseat from the baggage claim area (it was checked as luggage). We *thought* it was our seat...identical in every way. The seat was destroyed. Back ripped off and the foam between the shell and seat cover cracked and separated. The seat could not be used again ever. It was garbage. Turns out it was not our seat but that of another passenger. They ended up taking ours home after the airline tried to reach us in NJ when we were on the road home from JFK. I called the other mom and told her what happened to her seat and told her to keep mine...it was an extra and I didn't need it.

However, we are travelling in November and again staying off site so I'll need one for the now 3 yo. I plan on gate checking the seat this time and putting it in a bag for safety (the airline can give you a large plastic bag to protect from dirt). I'm hoping that this will keep the seat from being damaged like the one we inadvertently picked up in June.

Just a word of advice for you.

 

[gydell]

We have never used a car seat on the plane. We have a 4 year old that has traveled everywhere in the 48 states and Mexico since he was about 6 months. What about your parents buying or borrowing one? Wal Mart has cheap ones. When will your child be 4?

 

[daisax]

Totally aside from the carseat question, when flying with a toddler, PLEASE think ahead in terms of toys/activities.

More than once I've sat behind little ones with little figurines and such that go flying off the table into the aisle or down under the seat. Then Mom/Dad has to unbuckle, gather up all the stuff on the trays, put the trays up, and bend down to get them. Obviously if one lands in the aisle I'm happy to pick up and hand it back, but you can save yourself a lot of bother (and whining) by sticking to larger items, or things that can have a leash of sorts attached to them.

Nothing more fun than a 2 year old screaming for his spiderman "guy" when the drinks cart is one row away and it's going to take Mom 3 minutes to be able to get out of her seat!

 

[jaame]

My son won't be four until next May.

I edited to fix the link. In the catalog it is referred to as a travel vest.

 

[DemoBri1]

The last two times that we've been down we have checked our car seats. At the time our kids were 4 and 2. I would think that if you're kids are usually bored very easily then you might want to think about using the car seat. However, careful planning and depending on how long your flight will be could play to your advantage.

Pack some coloring books, some books to read/look at, and if you have a portable DVD player a movie. We had no problem with our kids being occupied and we have about a 2.5 hour flight.

One thing I would recommend if you decide to check the seat. Get a car seat carrier that doubles as a storage bag. It will help protect your seat.

 

[Colinsmom]

You can't use the Tote N Go on the airplane at all. And it isn't so great for the car either:

http://www.carseatdata.org/TNG.html

 

[dadtoagirl]

We have this bag and check the carseat and just pick it up in baggage claim and then use it for the rental car. This cover has held up well and leaves room to pack other items in the bag besides just the car seat.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t.../102-9906008-8281711?v=glance&s=baby&n=542454

 

[Skroops]

to use on the airplane. Every recent car seat approved for the car should have one. Don't bother lugging it around on your vacation if your seat does not have that sticker. Your toddler will not need it on the airplane, but it is safer to use one.
For those folks with a child who is technically a lap child and you did not purchase a seat (under 2 yrs old), you can bring your car seat to the airplane in the chance that a seat will be open and you can use your car seat then. If the plane fills up, you can check your car seat (along with your stroller) at the boarding door of the airplane at that point.