Flying alone with DS

wawa84 · July 2012

I'm taking DS (he's 3) to visit friends & family next month. I was tring trying to think of the logistics of flying alone with him. I'm planning on gate checking the stroller so I dont have to chase after him while waiting in line for security & carry our carry-ons. My problem is the car seat. I asked the airline & they said it is strongly recommended that children under 40 lbs use a car seat in flight, but not required. Ds is 30 lbs. I don't think I can manage everything else & carrying a car seat through the airport. Should I check it & not worry about it or try to manage through the airport carrying the car seat?

mittensonkittens · July 2012

There is a strap called Traveling Toddler that lets you attach the carseat to a wheeled suitcase. The last time I brought DS1's carseat on the plane, he was almost 2 and I was pregnant and by myself. It was a bear getting him and the seat on the plane, the flight attendants were not very helpful, and he spent the whole flight kicking the seat in front of him (the car seat brought him close enough to do it). Since then I've just checked the seat. There is also a CARES restraint you might want to look at.

roxy_jj · July 2012

I would recommend the CARES Kids Fly Safe Harness.

https://kidsflysafe.com/

We have them for both kids and really like them. We fly regularly, so they get lots of use too. If you don't fly very often, you can rent a harness from ebay for $13.

regenab · July 2012

I would check the carseat. I just flew by myself with my twin girls in May when they were 3 1/2 and I checked their seats. It was so much easier. My SIL dropped me off at curbside and the skycaps helped me to check my luggage and the carseats so I didn't even have to lug everything inside. I then had a backpack for my carry on and the girls had their little backpacks for carryons that had their coloring books and stuff to do on the plane. I didn't do a stroller but my girls are really good at walking so I didn't need the stroller. Last summer when I flew alone with them (they were just over 3) I used my double umbrella stroller and checked it at the gate. It worked out really well, but it was mostly needed for when we got off the plane because I was taking the Metro from the airport (DC).

Both of my girls are under 40lbs. and they just turned 4 this week. One is only 30lbs. They fit fine in the seats on the plane, it was no problem.

kmhunt11 · July 2012

I flew many times with DD (5 months, 10 months, 2, 2.5, 3.5...) and never needed the carseat. My daughter would not have wanted to be buckled into it on the plane, and it would have just made her mad. Not that she is out of her seat, but the airplane seatbelt it part of the fun for her, and having some freedom of movement was helpful in managing her. When she was in the 2-3 range I enlisted the flight attendants to convince her to stay buckled. A stranger telling her to do it worked better than me telling her to do it. How long is your trip? If it's under 2 hours it should be a piece of cake. 5 hours was tough, but we lived to tell the tale. Pack a small toy for each 15 minutes of the flight. Maybe 1 for every 10 minutes. Small pieces are not a good idea. Play dough, sticker book, coloring book, duplo blocks, an action figure. Honestly, the best entertainment for her on the plane is the iPad or iPhone. When she was 2.5 she was totally quite for almost 2.5 hours of a 4.5 hour flight with the iPad. (I guess you didn't ask for advice on what to pack. Sorry

)

the_jackpot · July 2012

Check the car seat. My son is 3 1/2 and I let him sit in the seat. I have the harness and that is it.

stdldb29 · July 2012

I fly almost every 6 weeks with my 4 and 2 year old. I never take a stroller with us, and I don't use a carseat on the flight (bad, I know). I carry one large purse and that is it--it keeps a change of undies and clothes for my 2 year old and then one book/toy for each of them. I guess you could just check your seat if you wanted. Don't carry much on the plane, the more crap you have the harder it is to keep it all together.

We have been flying ever since ds was 6 weeks old-it isn't too bad. Just wish DH would go with us! We always go alone.

ElatedMom2B · July 2012

At LO's age, I would say check it. They like being a "big kid" and sitting in the seat - at least DD#1 does. I have used the car seat in flight previously, but when she was about 2 - just over the age of having to purchase her a ticket. It actually worked out very well - she was really content in her car seat and liked it because she sat up a little higher and could see more of what was going on. They can feel so confined in the airplane...I know I do.

Brewtowngrl · July 2012

Ditto everyone else. Check the seat. She will just be able to kick the person in front of you the entire flight if you use it. DS1 sat and watched new movies the entire flight. It was 3 hours.

penguingrrl · July 2012

I would use it on board, no question. Not only because your son is far safer, but checked seats get lost and damaged all the time. What would you do if you got to your destination and your carseat didn't? Or worse, it sustained damage that wasn't visible but altered its performance in an accident? Use a bungee cord to tether the carseat to a rolling suitcase and roll it behind you while your son walks.

jlw2505 · July 2012

I would check the car seat. Once I knew I could trust my kids to stay seated with the lapbelt, I didn't mess with bring the car seat on the plane. For a while we used the special 5 point harness seatbelts that you can buy and use on the plane - DD#1 had no issue with it but DD#2 was never comfortable with how the straps fit her. They both fly great and we never have an issue with them sitting in their seats the whole flight.

wawa84 · July 2012

Thanks for all your input! I trust DS to sit in the seat fine with just the lap belt. I will gate check the stroller because he's a VERY energetic kid. If he's in the stroller or able to move he's great, but waiting in line for security would be a lot more stressful without it.

byrne15 · July 2012

I flew with ds at 3.5 years old. I didn't bring a carseat at all, just the lightweight stroller. We were able to borrow a carseat from the shuttle company that brought us from the airport to the hotel.

Want a personalized experience?

Flying alone with DS

Re: Flying alone with DS

Choose Another Board

Search Boards