Should we bring the car seat?

[Melissabo]

My son will be two years and three months when we head to Disney at the end of the month. Should we bring his car seat for the plane? We won't have a car while down in Disney so it would be just for the plane ride. I'd like to bring it because I know he would "get" that he needs to stay seated in his seat on the plane where I think he may be squirmy just in the seat and also for saftey reasons. On the other hand, we'll have a stroller, luggage bags and a tired toddler while navigating to and from the hotel and in the airport. Thoughts?

Fyi, he has a bulky, heavy britax car seat.

 

[natnelliesmom]

No, no no!! Don't bring the seat! Your son will stay seated on the plane because he can use the seat belt in the plane's seat. Also- he may want to sit in your lap to look out the window anyway.
The carseat is only to be used for the plane. After that it becomes an extreme hassle! Not to mention takes up hotel room space! It's heavy to lug around the airports.
I have done plane trips many times with 1-6 y/os. We did the carseat thing once- and will never do it again!
Hope this helps!
-Sarah

 

[AuroraBeauty]

And, if the car seat is not FAA approved then it can't even be used on the plane. If you are taking a car service you may want to contact the car service company to see if they can provide a car seat. If you are using Disney's Magical Express then you are not required to have a car seat and most won't work any way on the bus. If you are riding in a taxi, I'm not sure you need it but I'm not up on that particular law. I know that many just choose not to use them in a taxi b/c what do you do with it after that.

Happy Travels!

 

[3goofyboys]

We will be bringing our car seats with us when we go down and our situation is very similar to yours; we'll have a 3 yo and a 27 month old and won't be renting a car. We also have Britax seats, but decided to purchase Costco Serena (sp?) seats for the plane ride. They are much, much, much lighter than the Britax seats and I think they'll fit better on the plane. They were very inexpensive ($45 each) and to us, it was a great compromise between no carseats at all and lugging a monster Britax through the airport.

 

[October]

I traveled to Disney with no carseat when DS was 10 m.o. and vowed never to do that again. DS is now 4.5 and we have gone to Disney once a year and always used a carseat. As a PP mentioned we purchased the much lighter Cosco Senara for $40 at Walmart, at the airport we put the carseat in the stroller, and walk with or hold DS. The carseat comes in a plastic bag with handle that makes it very easy to lift should you need to. We always stay on property, the carseat goes underneath the bus on Magical Express and then once you get the the hotel there has always been someone standing right by the bus stop who tagged the carseat and kept it in storage for the entire vacation so it was really never a hassle. The storage area at FQ is right by the Magical Express stop so you never have to the lug the carseat anywhere once you are there and Ds has never given us a problem when sitting in his carseat on the plane-he would never sit still otherwise! The peace of mind and peaceful flight is totally worth it IMO.

 

[LollipopPanda]

Since you won't need a carseat when you get there, there is an alternative for you for just the airplane.

Google "CARES harness". It will lead you to a website called something like "Kidflysafe.com"

CARES is a belt that fits around the seat on your airplane, forming a 5-point harness for you child.


If you search around the web a little bit, you can find some reviews on it, and see if it would work for you. If it isn't an option, I would bring a cheapo lightweight carseat for the plane. Kids under 3 need that security of a 5-point harness. Plus it keeps them from "moving about the cabin" at their own discretion.

Best of luck on your flight!

 

[Jennygt]

Consider the CARES harnes, we used the britax on the plane when ds was only 12 months and his feet hit the seat in front, I feel it would be much to tight for a 2 1/2 year old. If you want it for the car in fla then just check it, you are allowed one stroller or car seat in addition to the bag. You can gate chek a small stroller. Check out A Babys Best Friend, this is a great place to rent gear fore the kids if you don't want to lug some stuff down. Have Fun!

 

[laughinplace199]

We also bought the Cosco Scenera car seat for travel so we don't have to lug our Britax around.

I think I read somewhere (here on the DIS, maybe?) that airplane seatbelts aren't meant for holding a child under 40 lbs, so you might want to bring a carseat. I don't know anything about the CARES harness.

 

[Jennygt]

We also bought the Cosco Scenera car seat for travel so we don't have to lug our Britax around.

I think I read somewhere (here on the DIS, maybe?) that airplane seatbelts aren't meant for holding a child under 40 lbs, so you might want to bring a carseat. I don't know anything about the CARES harness.

This says 22-44 lbs, here is the link to the info I have read.
http://kidsflysafe.com/ and http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

 

[brymolmom]

I didn't do it when my kids were that age. When they're to the point of 'getting' that they need to stay seated and can be distracted with a video or snacks if cranky...to me, it isn't worth lugging it around.

 

[mandynee22]

I definately would. Airplane seats are just not made to keep toddler safe enough during turbulance.
Have the luggage people check your bags and sling the seat over your shoulder.

 

[Jennygt]

bump

 

[Jennygt]

bump

 

[ascolti]

My son will be two years and three months when we head to Disney at the end of the month. Should we bring his car seat for the plane? We won't have a car while down in Disney so it would be just for the plane ride. I'd like to bring it because I know he would "get" that he needs to stay seated in his seat on the plane where I think he may be squirmy just in the seat and also for saftey reasons. On the other hand, we'll have a stroller, luggage bags and a tired toddler while navigating to and from the hotel and in the airport. Thoughts?

Fyi, he has a bulky, heavy britax car seat.

I'm nearly 100% sure you are not going to be allowed to put a car seat on an airplane seat. But even if you could, it's not a great idea.

Realistically, you should be prepared to allow your two year old to get a little exercise on the flight and to be honest, usually nobody minds (so long as he doesn't want to run riot or play soccer!).

How long is the flight? Anything over a couple of hours and I would suggest that YOU get up and walk about.

 

[Jennygt]

I'm nearly 100% sure you are not going to be allowed to put a car seat on an airplane seat. But even if you could, it's not a great idea.

Realistically, you should be prepared to allow your two year old to get a little exercise on the flight and to be honest, usually nobody minds (so long as he doesn't want to run riot or play soccer!).

How long is the flight? Anything over a couple of hours and I would suggest that YOU get up and walk about.

You can use the britax marathon on the plane I have done it, that being said I would not use it now for my 2 year old, he is too big, his legs are too long and he will be squashed, it was tight when he was only 1!

 

[laughinplace199]

I'm nearly 100% sure you are not going to be allowed to put a car seat on an airplane seat. But even if you could, it's not a great idea.

Realistically, you should be prepared to allow your two year old to get a little exercise on the flight and to be honest, usually nobody minds (so long as he doesn't want to run riot or play soccer!).

How long is the flight? Anything over a couple of hours and I would suggest that YOU get up and walk about.

Car seats are most certainly allowed on airplanes. It is not only allowed, but encouraged. Here's a link to FAA/Child Safety on Planes:

http://http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

 

[October]

Ditto what the pp said.

 

[albertamommyof4]

i am going in April to disneyland and my son will be 3 in May and we are bringing a car seat for him. He loves being in the car seat in our vehicle so i think he will do okay . I am bringin a alpha omega seat the 3 in1 but i am not sure if it will be to big in the seat. I know that i can take the bottom piece off for the plane ( the piece you take off to make it a booster) but i think i will keep it on as i will then have to put it back together to fit in our rental car lol.
You know your child better then anyone, if you think hhe won't want to sit in the car seat then there is no sence fighting but if he likes his car seat then i would bring it

 

[Melissabo]

I checked my manual and I am certain I can bring either of our two car seats on the plane. My issue is more that we aren't renting a car so it would only be used for the plane ride. He doesn't mind sitting in his car seat, but for a two year old he is pretty easy to reason with so I think that if I just explain to him that he needs to stay in his seat and bring the dvd player along with some small quiet toys/books he may be fine. I don't want to be unsafe by not bringing it, I just know we are going to be lugging a lot two and from the airport.

 

[2thfairy]

We just got back last week from florida. We took ds (2 1/2) car seat on the plane. It is the smartest thing we have ever done. We flew with him last june when we was just turning 2 and did not take and wished we would have. He doesn't mind sitting in his seat and it kept him much more calm and he never once wanted down this time since he knew it wasn't an option just like the car. He slept well for 2 or our 4 flights. The tray fit him better this way too so he could play with and do the activities we brought for him. We were like you and not sure what to do since we have a 5 yr old also. We had 2 car seats (we were renting a car so need older ds's booster), stroller, they boys each had a carry one and I had a back pack and purse/diaper bag and dh had dvd player and camera bag. we managed just fine in the airports...we were surprised ourselves. We used the stroller to put the car seats in and a bag or two and ds just walked with us and pulled his bag. It wasn't as bad as I was thinking it was going to be. Good luck and have a fun trip.