Taking a car seat on the plane for a 3 yr old?

[bdiddy]

Has anyone done this? Was it a pain to cart around? Or did the benefits outweigh the negatives?

DH and I keep going back and forth about this. We have a VERY active 3 yr old boy and are really nervous about the flight. It is a 2 hr non-stop flight but DH just flew the same airline this week for business and had tons of delays, sitting on the runway for an hour, etc....so I'm thinking it could very well be way more than 2 hrs. We are planning on taking a portable dvd player because he will sit still for Wall-E and Tinkerbell (LOL!) but I can totally see him getting antsy and wanting down which could turn into a tantrum and then you'll see us on the news as those people getting kicked off the plane!!


Anyway, our son actually travels very well in the car and has always been great in his carseat so we are thinking if we take it then he'll be used to the seat and knows what the expectations are (although the surroundings will be different). I'm just already worried about the 2 carry-ons we'll have and the double umbrella stroller we'll be checking at the gate and then having to worry about the car seat and taking that on the Magic Express as well.

Just wondering if anyone has done this and their experience??

 

[scustons]

We always take our son's carseat for him to sit in on the plane. My son is very skinny and I can't see the lap belt actually holding him down if there was any turbulence.

My son is almost 4 and we still use the car seat every time. It keeps him in the seat nicely (and I never have to worry about whether the airline will lose it).

Suzanne

 

[stephd219]

We are taking our car seat for DS who will be 3 years 3 months. We are getting a car, so we will need the seat, but I would use it anyway. The seat is familiar and DS knows that he has to stay in it when we are in the car. Also, he will fall asleep in his car seat, but I don't think he would fall asleep in just the airplane seat. I really, really want him to sleep on the plane!

 

[eksb327]

Do take your carseat. It's safe, your child will be comfortable, and they aren't too bad to lug around if you either use a luggage carrier or one of these:
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog...33888&parentCategoryId=85184&categoryId=85218
You can make sure it's FAA approved by checking with the FAA, but most are, other than the backless boosters.

We were glad on our last flight that our 3 year old was in hers- loads of turbulence likely would have made our daughter quite nervous, but in her seat she was comfortable and secure.

 

[5 for WDW]

We always took our car seats on the plane for our kids until they were 4. It was never an issue for us at all. We gate checked a stroller too. We always wanted what was safest for our kids and we knew that they would stay in their car seats and not try to get down. Which always worked like a charm.

As far as ME is concerned, everything goes under the bus so, that is not a big deal at all.

Have a great trip!!

 

[bakalorber]

Get one of these:
http://www.kidsflysafe.com
I am getting on for my 2 year old so we do not have to worry about lugging a car seat around!! and with the magical express she will sit on our lap!
You can rent them on e bay or some other sites. They do sell them on amazon, too.

 

[la_la]

Get one of these:
http://www.kidsflysafe.com
I am getting on for my 2 year old so we do not have to worry about lugging a car seat around!! and with the magical express she will sit on our lap!
You can rent them on e bay or some other sites. They do sell them on amazon, too.

Wow, that is really neat. Pricey, but definitely neat!

 

[bakalorber]

Its about 20 bucks to rent for 21 days on ebay. I just re checked it out.

 

[liznboys]

Yep, we've done it. Back in 2007 we took 4 trips (so 8 flights) with our 4 boys. Two of them were in carseats on the plane (3 yr old and 1 yr old), the other two we checked booster seats for, we also had the umbrella stroller which we gate checked, plus 2 medium carryons and 1 small one.... And then of course the rest of the checked luggage. If we could do it, you can do it. lol

It is worth the hassle for sure IMO. Oh and I did buy two Cosco Sceneras back then for travel use. There was no way we were going to take our two Britax Marathons-WAY too big and heavy. Buying the Sceneras for about $40 each was soooooo worth it.

 

[TiggerStac]

yup we brought w/our now 8 year old and are bringing next week w/our almost 3 year old.

It's familiar to them...they know they sit in there carseat and we haven't had a problem w/them wanting to get up and walk around. We are bringing the one for hubbys' car, not mine because it is less bulky.

 

[GrumpyBa*D]

Yup, just got back. Yes it is a pain in the neck but I do it and intend to do it for my december trip. He is going to be 4 in January and with the travelling we do he expects to sit in it. I like it because he is trapped and has less of a chance of "fully" kicking the seat in front of him. when I travelled alone with him I wanted to check the seat and he was adament about sitting in his seat.

Pain in butt but worth it to me.

 

[treehugnmama]

I guess I am the exception. my son turned 3 while we were there in september we did not take car seat... we went when he was 2.5 we did not take car seat. We are going in march we will |NOt take car seat. he likes to snuggle in with me and read stories. We travel with 2 children and have never taken the car seat. just my 2 cents

 

[tam626]

My son was 3 last year when we went & he is very active also. We did'nt take his car seat. He watched a dvd & got up once to use the bathroom & did very well.

 

[Poohbug]

On our last trip, we rented a car and brought a car seat on the plane for our youngest one.

It was a pain. Cars eats are big and awkward to carry, especially down the isle of an airplane. My son did sit in the seat for the majority of the air trip and we used it in the car rental.

We did check out the car seats that the car rental agency had for use and they were pretty gross.

Your options are limited. Either bring your own seat, use a rental, or buy one when you get there. If you are not renting a car, I would not bring a car seat at all.

 

[tloveswdw]

Do take your carseat. It's safe, your child will be comfortable, and they aren't too bad to lug around if you either use a luggage carrier or one of these:
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog...33888&parentCategoryId=85184&categoryId=85218
You can make sure it's FAA approved by checking with the FAA, but most are, other than the backless boosters.

We were glad on our last flight that our 3 year old was in hers- loads of turbulence likely would have made our daughter quite nervous, but in her seat she was comfortable and secure.

We have these and LOVE them! Easy peasy strollers through the airport.

I really prefer the kiddos in seats, and they are more comfy in a seat that cradles them.

 

[jgazda]

I have a very active little girl that's three and we use the Cares system and haven't ever had a problem. I just bring a backpack full of crayons, coloring books and little toys she hasn't ever seen before and she is fine for the 2.5 hours. It's all about the distractions.

 

[imortalcandy]

we took our 2 year old very active, doesn't listen to anything son and our very quiet listens to everything 3 year old daughter. we took both car seats, 2 carry ons a double stroller and a laptop. it was not easy but I highly recommend bringing the car seat. its his comfort area, and even if he gets scared with the ear bubbles he has his area to comfort him.

 

[jgazda]

My first double post. Weird!

 

[barnaby1]

I guess I am the exception. my son turned 3 while we were there in september we did not take car seat... we went when he was 2.5 we did not take car seat. We are going in march we will |NOt take car seat. he likes to snuggle in with me and read stories. We travel with 2 children and have never taken the car seat. just my 2 cents

Not the exception at all.
I have never taken a car seat for my dd (now 3.5). She was a lap baby until 2 then has always sat in her own seat and I am talking all long haul flights here (anything from 7 to 27 hours- 2 or 3 times a year). She has known from the begining that she must behave in the plane and sit in her seat or with me quietly. Because it is the norm for her it has never been a problem (with of course alot of attention and time from me). If you establish the rules for your children and enforce them then they will be fine sitting still. It is not a long flight you are taking.

 

[bdiddy]

Thank you everyone for your experiences! You've convinced us to definitely take it. We are extensive car travelers and he does great in the carseat so hopefully that will carry over on the plane.

If you establish the rules for your children and enforce them then they will be fine sitting still. It is not a long flight you are taking.

And yes we could establish rules and enforce them but knowing our son who has never flown or been in this environment before (unlike your child) it is just asking for a tantrum and a crowded plane in a confined place is not somewhere I want that to happen.

So I definitely think a carseat is the answer for us.

Thanks everyone!