Flying with a toddler

MrsSR · February 2013

Talk to me about flying with a toddler-what did you do for a car seat? If you didn't use the car seat on the plane, did you take one for your rental car? If you were to be going on a trip with a toddler, would you prefer by car (and have to travel for a couple days) or by plane (and have to limit what you bring)....We'd be going from Chicago to Tallahassee. We drove last year and it was two days there and two days back.

LadyXaverian · February 2013

We flew when Nora was 15 months old. She flew on our laps. We need dtake a car seat with us for the rental car, though. We were able to check it for free along with her stroller.

If can't say which I'd prefer. The pros and cons for each kind of cancel each other out.

shopgirl78 · February 2013

I've done both (drive & fly). We recently drove 10 hours with all the kids including a newly potty trained almost 3 year old. I have also flown with all three alone last few times were in March, July & November 2012. My mom has her own carseats. Not as nice as ours but they work for a few days. I use the CARES on the flight because I need him contained so I can care for everyone. My first two kids used nothing on the flight. I bring a stroller for DS and gate check it. I bring a carry on for each kid plus my own purse & camera bag. The stroller makes it easier to keep everything together.

The drive wasn't bad either. We stopped and ate a reasonable amount of times. The kids watched moves and have itouches to play with. We brought snacks and drinks in a cooler.

I have no preference. I might drive with all three for 12 hours soon (by myself).

catycate · February 2013

Last time we flew, DS was on our laps. It sucked. A lot. We rented a car seat on the other side but I won't do that again bc the car seat we got was grody and flimsy feeling. I would always always always fly than drive- why waste 4 whole days of your vacay? Flying with a tod sucks, but I'd rather get it over with.

MrsGoodkat · February 2013

I've done both. They both have their perks. I think I prefer flying because it's quicker. It's a little stressful but it's over relatively quickly (barring any flight delays/cancellations). We used the car seat on the plane and put DS in the window seat when we could. He liked looking out and treated it like being in the car where he had to stay buckled in his seat. The car ride was okay but DS got really tired of being in the car the last few hours on the way home so cranky toddler + tired, cranky parents and traffic just made it not fun.

MrsSR · February 2013

Do you HAVE to have a car seat?

At what age must the child have his/her own seat?

shopgirl78 · February 2013

MrsSR:
Do you HAVE to have a car seat?

At what age must the child have his/her own seat?

On a plane? No. For the car once you get where you are going? Yes. However FL has the most relaxed carseat laws so after age 5, according to the state & legally, you don't need them. Not that I'd....

2.

amykins1283 · February 2013

We've flown with Liam four times, once I did it solo, and overall we have had good experiences. The first two times he was a lap child and the last few he has had his own seat. We have never brought a car seat with us because there was one available at our destination each time. I brought lots of snacks and our Kindle Fire and those two things kept him occupied fairly well. I always will prefer flying over being stuck in a car for hours on end with a restless toddler.

FrickandFrack · February 2013

We flew with DS1 in September and it was fine. He sat in the regular plane seat and we checked the car seat. It was nice to get to our destination in one day and not be in the car for a long time.

samjodo · February 2013

I flew solo with DS across the country when he was 17mos. The hardest thing was lugging all of the stuff through the airport. I brought his carseat on the plane, which was great because he napped in there, but it was bulky.

I ended up wearing it like a backpack, with my arms through the straps and the seat on my back, it was easier that way when I had to push his stroller. Gate checked the stroller. He got a good workout at the airport, and slept half of the flight.

Personally, I would prefer to fly and get the travel over with.

footnotegirl · February 2013

Just got back from a trip with our daughter. She's not QUITE a toddler, just short of her first birthday, but getting close. This is the third time we've flown with her (once at 14 weeks, once at 9 months, and last week).

Ideally, my DH and I would prefer to travel with her by train, if the trains in this country went anything like a respectable speed, or even as fast as we could get somewhere by car. That would be perfect, as we could relax, eat comfortably, and let her crawl or at least move around in some of the train cars. However, since going by train takes way longer than by car, and is more expensive than flying? It's just not possible.

We only took a car seat this last trip, and that was a mistake. Previous trips we used Disney transportation (no car seat needed) or rented a car seat from the car rental company. Both ways were way, way easier than bringing a car seat by far.

Our daughter travels fairly easily. We make sure to have something for her to suck on on take off and landing, and bring along several of her toys and books. Also, while on the plane is the only time she is allowed to touch my iPad, which has a couple of baby games loaded on it, but those really don't hold her attention long.

I simply can't imagine doing any sort of long distance travelling by car with a child. Not only does it extend the hard part of the trip, but it also means that you have less actual vacation time.

sucredee · February 2013

We fly a ton and have done so since DD was 11 days old. She was a lap child until 2 and it was fine. The only time she was not an official lap child was when we went to Europe when she was 16 months old but she was pretty much on my lap anyway....that was also the first and last time we took a car seat on the plane. Too darn bulky and she knows she is not in a car so the thought that "she is in a car seat and can't get out" just doesn't fly with her. She was only in it for her naps.

We now use the Cares harness and we gate check the car seat. We have a GOGo baby to haul the car seat and love it. It is pricey so probably not something you want to invest in unless you will use it several times. That goes for the Cares harness as well I guess. She doesn't need the Cares harness but I like it because she is a bit more restrained and less likely to get out. She knows when the light is on she has to be buckled and so far that has worked well.

I have never rented a car seat and would not be in favor of it. I also prefer flying over driving. You waste less time that way. While in Europe last fall (I'm from there so we go every year) we had a 8 hour drive (not including the stops every couple of hours with a PT kid) which was fine but we did do it in 2 days and it is not something I would chose to do on a regular basis if not needed. It would've been more costly to fly and a 1.5 hour drive to/from each airport so not worth it. Plus we wanted to have a car to get around with our own car seat.

Plenty of people drive long distances and do fine, it just isn't for me (us).

jlw2505 · February 2013

Under age 2, the girls sat on my lap. Once age 2, they need their own seat. We brought the car seats on a few times and honestly, its a royal pain. WE bought the 5 point harness belts that are made for airplanes and DD31 did awesome with those and stayed in her seat. DD#2 hated it so we really only used it a few times for her. We always bring our car seats and check them (for free) so we have them when we get to wherever we are going. I don't trust rental car agency car seats at all. As far as on the flight - bring lots and lots of little snacks - think small snack size bags and lots of variety. Bring sippy/straw cups and fill them with water once past security. Brings stickers, books, coloring stuff, cars - whatever small toys your child likes. We always have the girls bring a lovie or fav stuffed animal and we always used to bring a change of clothes (including for me). The snacks and a new toy or 2 are the key. 2 days in car sounds like he** on wheels with a toddler. No way. WE drive a few times a year from MN to MI and its 11-12 hours and we almost always do the bulk of it over night so the kids sleep. The few times we have done most driving in the day, its just a lot harder as we have to stop more. As my kids have gotten older, it has gotten easier to travel via car or plane. We bring iPods and in the car, the DVD player. If your child will watch movies, load up the iPad and you are good to go.

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