Take the car seats on the plane or not?

[Erica09M]

Just like when my pedi reccomends things I take it all in and use what I want of it. Choices are great

Yes, choices are great. However, car seat safety is something that should be taken seriously and is something that I don't budge on. Car seats save lives and prevent injuries. Period. Sadly the US lags behind greatly on car seat safety, it's really sad.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Most definitely bring their seats ~ at least gate check them if you don't use them on the plane (don't want them getting lost/damaged in check luggage), but I'm sure all of you will be much happier with the little ones bucked up in their seats.

I love the Scenera ~ such a great travel seat (I'm a Child Passenger Safety Tech) I'm sad that DD has outgrown it. I'll let you know how I got the Scenera through the airport ~ DD's stroller for Disney is a Mac Volo - I placed the Scenera in the Volo and if DD wanted to she sat in the Scenera - I clipped the top tether clip inbetween the back wheels ~ where the release is to fold the stroller. I would gate check the stroller and buckle the Scenera in DD's plane seat. I'm not sure what I'll do from now on ~ does ME have seat belts? I could bring one of our bigger Britax seats (ugh their BIG) for her but at 6 she is fine on the plane without a harnessed seat and we're just doing Disney so the only time we'll be in a vehicle is the ME and resort busses.

 

[kevschickee]

I am all for car seat safety as you can see from above I am using the cares system for our flight and my kids are in carseats for car rides but I wouldn't knock a parent for not using them on a plane.

 

[Erica09M]

I am all for car seat safety as you can see from above I am using the cares system for our flight and my kids are in carseats for car rides but I wouldn't knock a parent for not using them on a plane.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not knocking anyone. I just can't tell someone in good faith that their child would be fine without one and I strongly encourage children to be in their car seats or CARES on the plane.

Anyway~ moving on

 

[stacy6552]

Here's the trick to installing carseats on planes....well 2 tricks actually: First, get dufflebags to get them through the airport, priceless, owrth every last penny. Second, to install, recline the seat first to buckle the belt, then sit the back up again and tighten the belt.

 

[stephie1012]

ditto everything that Erica said!

and Op just remember that with the cares harness there is no crotch strap, i know my 2yr old is very very wiggly and would wiggle right out the bottom of it lol and then he would crawl all over the floor and cause all kinds of chaos!! with that being said my 2yr old is going to Rear face on the plane just so i can keep him entertained better, RFing on the plane has nothing to do with safety just convience for me...he is RFing in the car so im sure it will be easier on us anyway.

 

[PumpkinPrincess]

I would only take them if you purchased seats.
They are extremely helpful in keeping the kids wrangled.
Also call the aairline ahead of time to make sure you get seats together.

 

[Hannathy]

I'll join in the Don't bring them on the plane side. I would never lug them thru the airport with 2 toddlers. I'd check them with baggage and not worry about them until I got there. A 2 yr old is old enough to sit in a sit with a seat belt on. My kids flew thousands of miles with out car seats and did fine. And loved feeling grown up and riding without a carseat with the seatbelt.

 

[clc053103]

I am not going to comment on taking the car seats on the plane as I wish to stay out of the line of fire.

I would agree with PP that you should bring the scenera (a fabulous travel seat, by the way!) either way for use in the rental car- I would never rent a car seat from a rental car company. Who knows what you are getting, if it's been vomited on, in an accident, recalled, expired. Also since your children are under age 3, it may be against the law to travel by car in a high back booster as a PP suggested (unless they mean forward facing 5 point harness car seat that converts to a booster later, used in 5 point harness mode.) I know it is not legal in my state.

RE: Magical Express -they do not allow carseats (though it appears you are renting a car so I am guessing you are not taking ME?)

 

[frtchr]

We used a car seat once for DD on a flight. Once. LOL She has always hated her car seat, though, and screamed like a fiend to get out. We have used a CARES harness since she was old enough to use one, and it works great. DS, on the other hand, doesn't mind his seat at all. We're taking it on the flight for him in December. He's already well over the CARES weight limit now, but I am hoping he'll sleep in his car seat.

 

[JUJU814]

We do not now nor have we ever used a carseat on the plane.

If we take a cab anywhere while at Disney, they have carseats or will call one that does.

Julie

 

[deva]

I'll join the minority that doesn't use the car seat on the plane. Tried it once and will never again. We check with the luggage (wrapped in a big plastic bag supplied by the airlines) and pick them up when we get there to use in the rental car. My kids are fine with the lap belt.

 

[dancin'girl]

We used the carseat on the plane for DS and it worked out great for us. Definitely a pain to lug around, but DS was comfortable and contained. He actually slept on both flights!

 

[DisneyDevilz]

I'll join the minority that doesn't use the car seat on the plane. Tried it once and will never again. We check with the luggage (wrapped in a big plastic bag supplied by the airlines) and pick them up when we get there to use in the rental car. My kids are fine with the lap belt.

We are also with the minority on this touchy subject.We also have never used a car seat on an airplane.I don't know about any other children but our 2 girls (ages 8 & 4) who have been flying since they were 14 months old respectively sit in their seat and never cause any problems.When they were that young we held them in our arms.As for safety...if the plane goes down I don't care if you are in a seat belt,car seat or strapped to the wing 99 out of 100 times your dead so the safety factor is null and void.Thats why the FAA only "recommends" to use a car seat,its to cover their rear end legally otherwise the liberals will cry foul....

 

[stephie1012]

We are also with the minority on this touchy subject.We also have never used a car seat on an airplane.I don't know about any other children but our 2 girls (ages 8 & 4) who have been flying since they were 14 months old respectively sit in their seat and never cause any problems.When they were that young we held them in our arms.As for safety...if the plane goes down I don't care if you are in a seat belt,car seat or strapped to the wing 99 out of 100 times your dead so the safety factor is null and void.Thats why the FAA only "recommends" to use a car seat,its to cover their rear end legally otherwise the liberals will cry foul....

well what happens in that chance that you hit some bad turbulence? There was a recent incident where adults were thrown and had some serious injuries...how about an emergency landing, protocol for lap babies is to place them on the floor in front of you...so not worth the risk.

 

[Hannathy]

well what happens in that chance that you hit some bad turbulence? There was a recent incident where adults were thrown and had some serious injuries...how about an emergency landing, protocol for lap babies is to place them on the floor in front of you...so not worth the risk.

SORRY you are wrong this hasn't been the protocol for at least 17 yrs!!!!!! And I do know this because I first flew with my DD 17.5 yrs ago and actually had an episode of a rough landing and I was not instructed to do this. I am so tired of people saying this! Plus 2 yr olds will be in the regular seatbelt which would hold them in turbulence.

 

[DisneyDevilz]

SORRY you are wrong this hasn't been the protocol for at least 17 yrs!!!!!! And I do know this because I first flew with my DD 17.5 yrs ago and actually had an episode of a rough landing and I was not instructed to do this. I am so tired of people saying this! Plus 2 yr olds will be in the regular seatbelt which would hold them in turbulence.

Thanks for saying it so I didn't have too.I am so tired of people with their out of date or made up information that they try to pass on.Btw stephie1012 how many flights have you been on that people were injured during a flight....my guess is none.Odds are we will be injured or killed going to the airport then during the flight so lets worry about seatbelting the kids in the car....

 

[jennyleettu]

We are taking Avery's seat on the plane with us and I can't wait! She has never been bad on a flight but she travels so much better in her seat!! It's nice to have her safely contained on the plane.

 

[jodifla]

With two kids, I'd probably be tempted to check the car seats if you thought they'd sit still with just the lap belt. It's SUCH a pain to drag them through the airport, AND keep track of two toddlers.

We flew with DS as a lap baby until 2, then used a car seat until 3.

At 3, no more car seats for us!!!!!!!!!!! He had no room for his legs and if he even flinched he kicked the seat in front of him.

 

[chipscinderelly]

We take our seat - a britax marathon - for our 13 month old and while it's a pain it's worth it to us. For the airport we generaly put the seat in the stroller and one of us carries him.

For those who want to rear face your child who is not in a bucket (infant carrier) please please please read up on the FAA rules and regulations and take a copy with you. We were almost removed from a flight on Delta 2 months ago because we rear faced our 11 month old. We had a choice to forward face or get off the plane. Delta in the end agreed that we were correct and actually issued us each a credit - but it was horrible that flight with him forward facing.