Traveling solo with toddler

[NJlauren]

I am currently planning a trip that will involve flying alone with my toddler she will be 22 months (cross country about a 6 hour flight). She has flown a bunch already which i thought would be good. However this past weekend was a little rough. Home was worse then going. I have already purchased her a seat and we have been flying with the Cosco Scenera Next car seat. On the way home for some reason the way the seat belt was laying was digging into DD's back and she ended up sitting on my lap most of the flight, and was pretty fussy. I am now debating gate checking the car seat and just letting her sit next to me, in hopes that this may give us more space. We currently have the window and middle. If i skip the car seat on the plane should i switch to middle aisle so she can walk in the aisle a bit?

I am looking for some advice on flying without the car seat, and just some general words of encouragement as this weekend really threw me for a loop.

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

My DS (22 months) is a lot more antsy when flying without a car seat. So, I'm looking forward to flying with his car seat for our upcoming trip. I couldn't imagine trying to get him to sit in a regular seat for 6 hours. He's just too busy/active at this age.

If you decide against the car seat, your neighbor/seat mate might greatly appreciate not having to get up every time your baby needs to walk around. So, switching to a middle and aisle might be best.

Good luck with whatever you decide and enjoy your trip.

 

[NJlauren]

My DS (22 months) is a lot more antsy when flying without a car seat. So, I'm looking forward to flying with his car seat for our upcoming trip. I couldn't imagine trying to get him to sit in a regular seat for 6 hours. He's just too busy/active at this age.

If you decide against the car seat, your neighbor/seat mate might greatly appreciate not having to get up every time your baby needs to walk around. So, switching to a middle and aisle might be best.

Good luck with whatever you decide and enjoy your trip.

Thank you! I'm so torn, I'm thinking I'm going to bring the car seat on and ask if the buckle is digging in to her back if I can hate check it before we take off. But I'm worried no matter what I do this flight maybe rough...

 

[Muskrat191]

Is she forward facing or rear facing on the plane? I think the seatbelt buckle will be at the child's feet/legs if the seat is installed rear facing. At 22 months, she would be well within the rear facing limits of the seat. (The Canadian version of the Scenera Next is usually outgrown forward facing before it is outgrown rear facing -- I think that is true about the American version as well.)

 

[NJlauren]

Is she forward facing or rear facing on the plane? I think the seatbelt buckle will be at the child's feet/legs if the seat is installed rear facing. At 22 months, she would be well within the rear facing limits of the seat. (The Canadian version of the Scenera Next is usually outgrown forward facing before it is outgrown rear facing -- I think that is true about the American version as well.)

We have been doing forward on the plane, mostly beacsue we don't want to make it so the person infront of us can't recline. In a car she is rear facing.

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

Thank you! I'm so torn, I'm thinking I'm going to bring the car seat on and ask if the buckle is digging in to her back if I can hate check it before we take off. But I'm worried no matter what I do this flight maybe rough...

Understood! The difference between my DS now at 22 months and a few months ago is bananas. He's 10 times more active. I'm grateful our flight to Orlando in 2 weeks is only an hour. Then, there's the possibility he won't sit in his stroller at the park. Currently, he hates sitting in his stroller. He either wants to push it, run around, or have me carry him.

Why was the buckle digging in her back? Can you troubleshoot now, to fix that?

I was on the plane a few months ago. There was a lady on there with a small child (between 1-2 years old). The baby was playing with these window clings (sticking them on the window) the entire flight. I was amazed at how well those things kept her attention. So, I ordered some on Amazon. I'm going to bring them for our flight to entertain DS, just in case he gets antsy during the flight. I hope they work for us.

Again, good luck.

 

[NJlauren]

Understood! The difference between my DS now at 22 months and a few months ago is bananas. He's 10 times more active. I'm grateful our flight to Orlando in 2 weeks is only an hour. Then, there's the possibility he won't sit in his stroller at the park. Currently, he hates sitting in his stroller. He either wants to push it, run around, or have me carry him.

Why was the buckle digging in her back? Can you troubleshoot now, to fix that?

I was on the plane a few months ago. There was a lady on there with a small child (between 1-2 years old). The baby was playing with these window clings (sticking them on the window) the entire flight. I was amazed at how well those things kept her attention. So, I ordered some on Amazon. I'm going to bring them for our flight to entertain DS, just in case he gets antsy during the flight. I hope they work for us.

Again, good luck.

Thank you! I have no idea why it was in her back, it was our 6th flight with the car seat and the first time it bothered her or it happened. I'm not 100% positive it didn't happen in the past, but about 95%. It was because of the airplane buckle, we tried everything on the flight to fix it even the flight attended came over and was trying.

I'm totally going to try the window clings!

I found with the stroller DD is the same was has little interest till she is tired then she wants in, I hope you have good luck getting him to ride in it!

Thank you! And I hope you have an amazing trip too!

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

Thank you! I have no idea why it was in her back, it was our 6th flight with the car seat and the first time it bothered her or it happened. I'm not 100% positive it didn't happen in the past, but about 95%. It was because of the airplane buckle, we tried everything on the flight to fix it even the flight attended came over and was trying.

I'm totally going to try the window clings!

I found with the stroller DD is the same was has little interest till she is tired then she wants in, I hope you have good luck getting him to ride in it!

Thank you! And I hope you have an amazing trip too!

Cool! I got the smiley face window clings, but they have various types. They look cute on the window too. It made me stop at her seat and ask about them.

Thx, I'm excited about our upcoming trip. It will be DS's first time at WDW. He's been on a Disney cruise, but not to the parks yet. So, I'm excited to share this first with him! He likes to be carried on my back. So, I'm definitely bringing my carrier for the park. I think he'll like that better than the stroller, because he'll be high enough to see what's going on. That keeps me from chasing him around the park all day. So, we'll alternate between the stroller and the carrier. I can't wait to see Disney through his eyes! He had A BALL on the Disney cruise for his 1st birthday!

When is your trip?

 

[NJlauren]

Cool! I got the smiley face window clings, but they have various types. They look cute on the window too. It made me stop at her seat and ask about them.

Thx, I'm excited about our upcoming trip. It will be DS's first time at WDW. He's been on a Disney cruise, but not to the parks yet. So, I'm excited to share this first with him! He likes to be carried on my back. So, I'm definitely bringing my carrier for the park. I think he'll like that better than the stroller, because he'll be high enough to see what's going on. That keeps me from chasing him around the park all day. So, we'll alternate between the stroller and the carrier. I can't wait to see Disney through his eyes! He had A BALL on the Disney cruise for his 1st birthday!

When is your trip?

How was the cruise? I really want to try one but DD loves the pool and I know that she can't use the pool on he cruise yet so I'm holding off on it for a bit.

We go in mid May to DL and surrounding Cali areas! when is your trip?

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

How was the cruise? I really want to try one but DD loves the pool and I know that she can't use the pool on he cruise yet so I'm holding off on it for a bit.

We go in mid May to DL and surrounding Cali areas! when is your trip?

He had a ball on the cruise! The pools are tiny & super crowded! It literally looked like a hot tub with wall to wall people. There were so many people in the pools, they all could only stand in the water. It's crazy how small those pools are! So, I'm glad DS wasn't allowed in the pools. He turned one year old on the ship. He did not like the splash zone (Nemo's Reef). However, he LOVED the beach (Castaway Cay)!!! When he's older, we will sail another cruise line with larger pools.

Our trip to WDW is in 2 weeks!

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

I'm totally going to try the window clings!

The Dollar Tree has window clings now!!! I just saw them today and bought three packs. They had more options. I just chose three. Here's a picture of them...

 

[NJlauren]

The Dollar Tree has window clings now!!! I just saw them today and bought three packs. They had more options. I just chose three. Here's a picture of them...View attachment 155712

I am going to keep my eye out for these for sure!

Have an amazing trip 2 weeks ekkkk so soon!

 

[DisneyOma]

We currently have the window and middle. If i skip the car seat on the plane should i switch to middle aisle so she can walk in the aisle a bit?

I am looking for some advice on flying without the car seat, and just some general words of encouragement as this weekend really threw me for a loop.

Keep the car seat, it is safer. Do not let your toddler walk in the aisles - one big bump of turbulence (like we had on one of our flights last month to Tampa) could severely injure her, or even kill her.

 

[NJlauren]

Keep the car seat, it is safer. Do not let your toddler walk in the aisles - one big bump of turbulence (like we had on one of our flights last month to Tampa) could severely injure her, or even kill her.

In theory I completely agree with you, however this past trip she screamed non stop because the seatbelt was digging into her back. I wouldn't want that in my back, and I wouldn't want her screaming for 6 hours either.

 

[msmama]

I had one horrendous trip with the carseat on the plane and moved my son to the regular seat and he was fine (he was 18 months at the time and like you, he ended up in my lap with an empty carseat next to us). If you're concerned about her sitting you could purchase/rent a CARES harness which has a chest strap - it's kind of similar feel to the carseat (though not through the leg strap).

Honestly though, my son did okay with or without it. There was no getting up and walking around the plane for us. I told him it was like a car and we had to stay sitting (I think maybe I let him do one lap on the way to CA but with a purpose - we were throwing something away or something - I didn't want him to think it was okay to get up and walk around for no reason).

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

I had one horrendous trip with the carseat on the plane and moved my son to the regular seat and he was fine (he was 18 months at the time and like you, he ended up in my lap with an empty carseat next to us). If you're concerned about her sitting you could purchase/rent a CARES harness which has a chest strap - it's kind of similar feel to the carseat (though not through the leg strap).

Honestly though, my son did okay with or without it. There was no getting up and walking around the plane for us. I told him it was like a car and we had to stay sitting (I think maybe I let him do one lap on the way to CA but with a purpose - we were throwing something away or something - I didn't want him to think it was okay to get up and walk around for no reason).

Flight Attendants love you!

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

I am going to keep my eye out for these for sure!

Have an amazing trip 2 weeks ekkkk so soon!

My DS is LOVING these window clings! He's been playing with them all morning! He's still playing with them now. I will let him play with them today. Then, I'll put them away until our trip. I need to make sure they appear "new" to him when we travel in two weeks.

Thx! I'm excited about our upcoming trip. Two weeks seem so far away.

 

[DisneyOma]

In theory I completely agree with you, however this past trip she screamed non stop because the seatbelt was digging into her back. I wouldn't want that in my back, and I wouldn't want her screaming for 6 hours either.

How would the seatbelt be up in her back? It should be down lower, and in the frame. Are you sure you did it up correctly? I've never seen a seatbelt go into the actual seating part of a carseat.

You could give her some benadryl, BTW. But only if she's had it before andit makes her sleepy - my younger daughter couldn't take benadryl. It made her the opposite of sleepy!

 

[NJlauren]

How would the seatbelt be up in her back? It should be down lower, and in the frame. Are you sure you did it up correctly? I've never seen a seatbelt go into the actual seating part of a carseat.

You could give her some benadryl, BTW. But only if she's had it before andit makes her sleepy - my younger daughter couldn't take benadryl. It made her the opposite of sleepy!

When we pulled it tight it was going in to her lower back sitting forward. If I didn't see it happening I wouldn't believe it, me, my husband, and the flight attendant all tried to get it to work. This is the first time in 6 flights with this car seat it happened.

 

[DisneyOma]

When we pulled it tight it was going in to her lower back sitting forward. If I didn't see it happening I wouldn't believe it, me, my husband, and the flight attendant all tried to get it to work. This is the first time in 6 flights with this car seat it happened.

Was there part of the seat missing? Isn't the back a solid plastic frame?