Rear-facing car seat OK for plane??

[gwtw428]

Hi...my baby is 4 months old in a rear-facing infant car seat. Is this ok for airplane? Do I still put it in rear-facing on plane? I am so confused! I have no clue how to install the car seat on plane! Help!!
Thank you!!
Jamie

 

[belle&beast]

Hi...my baby is 4 months old in a rear-facing infant car seat. Is this ok for airplane? Do I still put it in rear-facing on plane? I am so confused! I have no clue how to install the car seat on plane! Help!!
Thank you!!
Jamie

You can use it on the plane, but you will need to install it forward facing, and you will need a ticket for the baby. I'm sure someone will have the link to the FAA requirements for carseats. To install you will just slip the airplane seabelt through as you would in a car, buckle and tighten. Have a great trip!

 

[TiggerStac]

When we traveled w/DS at 5 months (he's now 5 years) they had us still face him backwords. Has something changed???

 

[MyZoeJane]

I was under the impression that you still use a FAA approved infant seat in the rear facing position, too....

Instead of using the LATCH systemt hat you probably use now, you just thread the seat belt through the back of the infant seat according to the directions that are almost certainly printed on the carseat itself...

 

[all4fun]

Here's the LINK to the FAA site

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using a CRS. The FAA recommends that a child weighing:

Less than 20 pounds use a rear-facing CRS
From 20 to 40 pounds use a forward-facing CRS
More than 40 pounds use an airplane seat belt
A child may also use an alternative device, such as a a harness-type device, if it is approved by the FAA. The FAA has approved one device appropriate for children weighing between 22 and 44 pounds. This type of device is not safe for use in motor vehicles.

You should install the seat the same way you would in the car... You can't install an infant seat forward facing because it isn't designed to be able to do that. It's a r/fing only seat. Check your car seat owners manual because you should be able to install it on the plane w/out the base. Most bases can't be used on the plane because the airplane seat buckle is in the middle as opposed to on the side like in motor vehicles. The buckle position makes it impossible to click the seat into the base so you can't use it. That shouldn't be a problem though as long as you have a seat that can be used w/out the base. You can either check the base in a bag, or carry it on.

This site (cpsafety.com) has some tips I found helpful:

Installation Tips

1) Use the seat the same way you'd use it in the car (if you use it rear-facing, rear-face on the plane, etc.).

2) Take advantage of pre-boarding. Take that extra time to get the seat installed tightly.

3) Recline the airplane seat back when installing the seat, then bring it upright to get the seat even tighter.

4) For some forward-facing seats, twist the latchplate around once (so that it's "backwards") to make it easier to unbuckle at the end of the trip. Not twisting it may make it nearly impossible to unbuckle the belt. This will also help keep the belt from slipping loose.

5) Put up at least one armrest. This will give the seat more room for installation, and keep it more stable (since resting against an armrest may cause it to tip to one side).

Remember, it's always a good idea to buy your child, no matter what their age, their own seat on the plane so you can use your child safety seat - especially since airplane seats are relatively inexpensive and children tend to be relatively fragile.

ETA: This site has videos showing how to install car seats. Scroll down to the one that says: "Rear-Facing Infant Seat without Base". hth.



HTH.

 

[katerkat]

Yup, you can and should rear-face them at that age. My Graco, I think the seat belt just went over the top, in some slots.

You may want to inform the person in front of you that they won't be able to recline. I've had some rude comments and two people slammed their seats into the carseat in an attempt to recline.

 

[PoohHappens]

I just wanted to comment on the twisting the seat belt suggestion in all4funs post. Pay attention when you buckle the thing. When I buckled my son in the lift lever (you know the way plane buckles unlatch, you lift that metal plate) ended up against the back of the seat. I had of coures made sure I got it really tight and guess what---I could not get it undone. I thought I was never gonna get off the plane. I could not get my hand in there to lift the latch up. Even the next time when I got it turned around the right way it was still hard because there is such little space for you hand, because sometimes when you tighten it the latch ends up through the middle of the slot . It has to do with the way the 2 straps latch together rather than one going all the way over to the other side like in a car. Good luck and enjoy your trip. And as mentioned, don't forget you do need a ticket for your child if you are planning on using a seat.

 

[belle&beast]

OOPS! I guess I was wrong about rear facing- sorry! I could have sworn I had read that they needed to be, but now I think it was for the comfort of the person in front of the baby because the seat won't recline. Again, I'm sorry.

 

[NotUrsula]

Harried FA's will often *tell* you the seat can't rear-face, because they haven't checked the regulations and they don't want you to tick off the person sitting in front of baby. Another good reason to carry copies of the most recent incarnation of 14 CFR 121.311.

If you do get stuck in a situation where you can't get your hand behind the carseat to release the buckle, wait for the folks behind you to leave, then go around and reach up between the seat and the back cushion -- you can usually unlatch it pretty easily that way. Of course, this normally won't be an issue with an infant seat, because the buckle will almost always be right on top.