Seatbelts on the plane....

[Picabo]

This is our first time flying with kids. Do the airlines have any type of special seatbelt attachment for kids (2 and 3 yrs old) or do they fit ok in the regular seatbelts? I'm afraid they're going to be too loose for them, although I am fairly sure they slide to adjust, right? Just wondering if there is anything special we need for them to sit without car seats. THANKS!

 

[noahdove]

The children that I have taken, the seatbelts have adjusted well.

 

[bumbershoot]

Just the seatbelts. If you have carseats with stickers that state they are OK on the plane, however, you might consider using them. I used the carseat on the plane until the way home from a trip when DS was 3.5, and he proved himself to be so good with just the seatbelt that we continued that, but he'd been on a few flights already by that time!

 

[LWatson]

They dont provide one, but you can use the CARES Harness system. They are $70 each though. My 3yr old did fine w/o one, and I just used one on my 18m old 3wks ago and last week when I flew. (I got mine on sale for $35). Apparently Ebay has ones to rent though. I would say its deff worth it if you plan on flying a lot.

 

[jerenaud]

Last month I flew with my 2 1/2 year old and 5 1/2 year olds - their first trip without carseats (due to West Jet deciding suddenly to not allow two carseats in a row). My 5 1/2 year old had a couple of extra inches in the seatbelt, even when it was at its tightest; she's about 37 pounds. My 2 1/2 year old had about 6 extra inches in the belt. I bought a CARES harness for the return trip but found that it didn't do a lot because the waist belt didn't cinch tightly so she just slid forwards on the plane seat. Overall I *much* prefer travelling with their carseats, but the baby *has* to have hers, so I don't have much choice in the matter.

Erica

 

[Erica09M]

I suggest car seats

 

[LWatson]

Last month I flew with my 2 1/2 year old and 5 1/2 year olds - their first trip without carseats (due to West Jet deciding suddenly to not allow two carseats in a row). My 5 1/2 year old had a couple of extra inches in the seatbelt, even when it was at its tightest; she's about 37 pounds. My 2 1/2 year old had about 6 extra inches in the belt. I bought a CARES harness for the return trip but found that it didn't do a lot because the waist belt didn't cinch tightly so she just slid forwards on the plane seat. Overall I *much* prefer travelling with their carseats, but the baby *has* to have hers, so I don't have much choice in the matter.

Erica

Really not tight enough??? I only ask because I was able to tighten it really well. My little guy never slid forward once, he even had the red marks from where the seatbelt was on his lap for so long. But we flew SouthWest

 

[Bren's Mom]

Until at least age 3 a car seat is almost a necessity on the plane. Before then you're not going to get a really good, safe fit with the seatbelt and kids are most often more comfy in their car seats. I'd strongly suggest taking them.

 

[stacy6552]

The seatbelts will tighten up tight enough. But is your 2 year old a tall child? You might want to bring the carseat if not.

 

[jerenaud]

The seatbelts will tighten up tight enough. But is your 2 year old a tall child? You might want to bring the carseat if not.

My experience was that they in no way tightened tightly enough. Not even for my 5 year old, let alone my 2 year old. This was on West Jet (Canadian carrier) though, so perhaps the seatbelt system is different on other planes. Using the CARES harness reduced the risk of my 2 year old bouncing up right out of her seat during turbulence, but still didn't really keep her in the seat because the belt didn't fit. I wish that the belts did tighten more, or that either Canadian carrier had such a clear policy as Delta has (that 2 carseats can be in the same row as long as they are children travelling together), because right now I'm really unimpressed with my choices regarding their safety.

Erica

 

[Bren's Mom]

The seatbelts will tighten up tight enough. But is your 2 year old a tall child? You might want to bring the carseat if not.

I'm curious to know why you think height has any bearing on it?

In any case, even if the belt tightens enough it likely tightens around their belly and not over their hips where it belongs, making it not the safest option to use only the aircraft seat belt and not an FAA approved car seat.

 

[LWatson]

I'm curious to know why you think height has any bearing on it?

In any case, even if the belt tightens enough it likely tightens around their belly and not over their hips where it belongs, making it not the safest option to use only the aircraft seat belt and not an FAA approved car seat.

Like I said b4 my youngest (18m at the time of travel) used a CARES and the seatbelt for the plane was on his thighs (where it was on mine) and he had no problem. My 3.5yr old really had no problems. They tightened up nice and tight. I even played w/ it b4 I sat down to make sure. The FAA would never have approved the CARES harness for kids of certain weights if it were going to be a problem...like they wouldnt approve a carseat if it were going to be a problem.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I'm still wondering why the person I quoted thinks a child's height has any bearing on his/her ability to use or not use the plane's seat belt.

 

[Picabo]

I'm still wondering why the person I quoted thinks a child's height has any bearing on his/her ability to use or not use the plane's seat belt.

I would think it has more to do with weight than height, myself. But as I said - we have never flown with kids so this is all new to me.

 

[LWatson]

I guess it all comes down to... do a little research and see what works best for you and your family. Some people prefer the carseats, others CARES Harnesses w/ checking the seats, and others prefer neither and just checking the seats (or not taking them if they are using Magical Express). Check out every aspect and see what you think would be best for your family.

 

[lil mermaid]

I'd definitely use a carseat at least for the two year old. Unless of course, you are confident that you have a child who will remain seated without unbuckling the seatbelt five million times....

 

[K and K's Mommy]

My kids have all flown quite a bit, and I've never had trouble with the seatbelt. It always tightens up all the way. I think we have been on United, Air Tran, Southwest, maybe others.