To take a carseat or not to take a carseat?

[1hero2princesses]

We are leaving in a few days. We will be taking ME and disney busses so will not use a seat while we are there but I am taking it for the plane for our youngest 17 months. I don't think she will want to get down and run nearly as much, and might even sleep. I am sure she could wiggle out from under a regular belt. Of course my older two are also in car seats at home but they will just use the seat belt on the plane. Somehow we are gonna get through the airport with 2 strollers a car seat and carry on's. It is a short period of time so somehow we will get there. Hopefully we aren't the farthest gate. Ohare is huge...

 

[boettj]

I would definitely recommend taking a car seat. Not only that, I would recommend renting a car as apposed to using the bus system at Disney. The buses haul a** around the property, and all you are doing is holding your child in your lap. With a rental car, you can secure you child in their seat. To me, it's not worth the risk. Deals are abundant with the economy going sideways.



Just my 2 cents.

 

[katied]

DS does his best on the plane with a car seat. We also have a CARES harness, and for shorter flights (less than 2 hrs), where I don't need a car seat on the other end, we have used that, but at his age (17 months), he is more comfortable in the car seat and cannot sleep with the CARES harness.

I've gotten pretty quick at installing it (esp. since I normally fly on my own with DS)- it's getting it uninstalled that is always the issue for me... so I just wait and am the last person off the plane.

 

[Zoesmama03]

I took one when dd was 2. I flew alone just her and me so its doable for a family going together. I attached the carseat to my rolling carry-on with the strap on the luggage to get to our gate. I even looped my backpack diaper bag through it. I had dd in a sling but thats because it was just me. If you got more than one person it will be all the better.

It can be a hassle to drag it on board but I flew southwest and the gate agent actually helped me install it. No problems with it at all. So what if you hold up the line.

 

[Avonlady1001]

I've gotten pretty quick at installing it (esp. since I normally fly on my own with DS)- it's getting it uninstalled that is always the issue for me... so I just wait and am the last person off the plane.

Uninstalling it is my problem too! My Boulevard got stuck going & coming our trip before last. The flight attendant had to take the plane cushions off to make room to unbuckle it. LOL BOTH WAYS. Our next flight (DD was 3) we used the CARES. I only bothered with it going...she could unbuckle it like a pro. I didn't bother with it coming home.

Unless I rent a car next time, I won't be bringing the seat. But by the time we go, she'll be 4. I would definitely bring it for a 2yr old. Mine was too wiggly at that age to just be in the seat belt.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I guess I will be different here. I do not take carseats. We do not rent a car and use DME. The kids are fine on the plane. We entertain them and they sit.

 

[all4fun]

Uninstalling it is my problem too! My Boulevard got stuck going & coming our trip before last. The flight attendant had to take the plane cushions off to make room to unbuckle it. LOL BOTH WAYS. Our next flight (DD was 3) we used the CARES. I only bothered with it going...she could unbuckle it like a pro. I didn't bother with it coming home.

Unless I rent a car next time, I won't be bringing the seat. But by the time we go, she'll be 4. I would definitely bring it for a 2yr old. Mine was too wiggly at that age to just be in the seat belt.

There are two easy fixes for this problem. One is to just flip the female end of the airplane seat belt buckle (the latchplate piece) over so the latchplate is facing away from the hard plastic shell. The other recommendation I've read is to ask for a lap belt extender from an FA when boarding. This puts the buckle out of the belt path, where it's easily reached. I also found that reclining the airplane seat when installing and uninstalling helps as well.

hth!

 

[Avonlady1001]

There are two easy fixes for this problem. One is to just flip the female end of the airplane seat belt buckle (the latchplate piece) over so the latchplate is facing away from the hard plastic shell. The other recommendation I've read is to ask for a lap belt extender from an FA when boarding. This puts the buckle out of the belt path, where it's easily reached. I also found that reclining the airplane seat when installing and uninstalling helps as well.

hth!

The lap belt extender is a great idea!! So then you'd be able to reach it without sticking your hand in there? I did have the buckle facing the right way...someone else had mentioned that way back when. And I do recline the seat when installing & uninstalling. I don't know what my problem is! I know the FA had a tough time too. LOL I never had a problem when I took my Evenflo....just the Britax, which I LOVE LOVE LOVE otherwise! Just not on a plane.

Thanks for the advice, though!

 

[boettj]

When my family and I go to Disney, we fly SWA. We can't beat the prices from Providence, and they are by far the most pleasant airline. The flight attendants are more than willing on SWA to assist you with putting the seat in or taking it out. They are there to assist you. Don't be afraid to ask them. Now if you are flying on another airling, like United or USAir, well I can't speak to them. Only because my expierence with them has only been business related. Not attempting to bash them. Maybe someone else out there can share their expierence with other airlines.


All that matters to us that our final destination is Disney. Nothing is getting in the way or ruining the final destination. Whatever happens getting there just fades away once we are there.

 

[imthatgirl]

There are two easy fixes for this problem. One is to just flip the female end of the airplane seat belt buckle (the latchplate piece) over so the latchplate is facing away from the hard plastic shell. The other recommendation I've read is to ask for a lap belt extender from an FA when boarding. This puts the buckle out of the belt path, where it's easily reached. I also found that reclining the airplane seat when installing and uninstalling helps as well.

hth!

the female end

 

[thepeach80]

The buses haul a** around the property, and all you are doing is holding your child in your lap. With a rental car, you can secure you child in their seat.

Statistically though, buses are the safest form of transportation on the road. It's much riskier to use a car, even w/ a carseat.

 

[imthatgirl]

Statistically though, buses are the safest form of transportation on the road. It's much riskier to use a car, even w/ a carseat.

its safer to put your child in your lap on a bus where you sit facing each other with no seat infront of your child..then to have them in a carseat in a car witn airbags? seriously? how could that possibly be?

 

[abdmom]

its safer to put your child in your lap on a bus where you sit facing each other with no seat infront of your child..then to have them in a carseat in a car witn airbags? seriously? how could that possibly be?

A bus is much larger and has a heavier mass. If a bus is in an accident with a car, at equivalent speeds, the deceleration forces would be less in the bus than the car because of the higher mass. So, the damage to the bus and anyone in it would be much less.

I don't take a carseat on the plane after each child reaches about 18 months. Mine loved to play with the tray table and kick the seat in front. Before that time, I bought a car seat just for traveling. It's smaller and lighter weight than the behemoth I have in the car. Much easier to take down the aisle of the plane and install. Now, I check the car seat with the luggage.

 

[thepeach80]

its safer to put your child in your lap on a bus where you sit facing each other with no seat infront of your child..then to have them in a carseat in a car witn airbags? seriously? how could that possibly be?

The pp explained it fairly well. The chances that a bus will get into a crash vs a car as much slimmer. Buses are larger and more easily seen. Also, unless they hit another bus or topple off a cliff, the chances that another vehicle will hurt the bus aren't so great. In a car however, you're much more likely to get hit and there are MANY vehicles on the roads of all different sizes so you could be driving a sedan and get hit headon by a SUV and you'd feel it. Does that make sense?

 

[princess&her4princes]

We are going to Disney in Dec and my daughter will be two on Monday. She is still obviously in a car seat here at home.

Does anyone have an opinion on whether to take a carseat on the plane still or just use the lapbelt? I hate carrying that carseat around as it is really heavy, but I will always err on the side of caution and I am worried about NOT bringing it.

When we went last yr, they would not let us board ahead of time to secure the seat and we held up the line to get on the plane becasue we were in the front of the plane. This yr going to Orlando we are in Row 4 so again we will have the same issue. It is soo stressful when you are trying to secure something to keep your child safe, and then people are agitated behind you trying to knock you over to get passed.
I know that if I bring the carseat, then she will sleep on the plane and I wont have to worry about her getting out of her seat. Maybe I just answered my own question.

Does anyone have any experience with a 2 yr old on a plane? What did you do? Any suggestions would be great!!
Thanks!!!

Skip it..no need to bring more than you need!!

 

[imthatgirl]

The pp explained it fairly well. The chances that a bus will get into a crash vs a car as much slimmer. Buses are larger and more easily seen. Also, unless they hit another bus or topple off a cliff, the chances that another vehicle will hurt the bus aren't so great. In a car however, you're much more likely to get hit and there are MANY vehicles on the roads of all different sizes so you could be driving a sedan and get hit headon by a SUV and you'd feel it. Does that make sense?

no, it doesnt. even a small jolt could send someone , who wasnt ready for it, flying. especially if that someone was a child.

 

[thepeach80]

no, it doesnt. even a small jolt could send someone , who wasnt ready for it, flying. especially if that someone was a child.

Yes, but the CHANCES of that happening are not as great on a bus. It's been explained, it's fact, there's nothing I can do to change your mind and that's fine. Statistically though, more people/children are hurt in cars than on buses.

 

[imthatgirl]

Yes, but the CHANCES of that happening are not as great on a bus. It's been explained, it's fact, there's nothing I can do to change your mind and that's fine. Statistically though, more people/children are hurt in cars than on buses.

i dont think i want you to change my mind. btu i dont think the chances of a bus stopping short are slim.
i completely believe you that more people are hurt in cars than on buses. there are far more cars on the road than buses.