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car seats on airplane

smwigglesmwiggle member
in International Bumpies
This may be a silly question, but for my infant car seat (American style), do I need to bring the base or do I check it?  Also, for the convertible car seat, my DS1 normally is rear facing but should I put him forward facing when flying?  
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Re: car seats on airplane

  • dieselmonkeydieselmonkey
    You can only use FAA approved car seats. Check with the manufacturer to see if it's rated "FAA approved" and it should say whether you need the base.

    For the convertible, it will go forward facing. I would suggest, unless you NEED them where you are going, leave them at home.

    For babies, if you get bulkhead you can usually get a cot. For older children, I HIGHLY suggest getting a C.A.R.E.S. strap. Using a car seat for our son was very cumbersome. Huge in the small airplane seat. He couldn't help but kick the seat in front of him. Using the CARES has been great. Gives him more room. He can use the tray (impossible with the carseat). Super easy to pack.

    See if you can borrow or Rent car seats at destination.
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  • tlew12778tlew12778
    No base. Learn how to do a baseless install for your destination. Traveling with a base is just excess weight and space.

    I install FF after 18m. I RF in the car until 4 yo though. But my seat needs to be braced when RF so it's not really doable on a plane.

    I never ever rent car seats bc you've no idea if they've ever been in an accident, been puked or peed on, washed with bleach, etc. I also never check my seats bc I have too many friends that got to their destination with a damaged or lost seat.
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  • Brooke81Brooke81 member

    imagetlew12778:
    No base. Learn how to do a baseless install for your destination. Traveling with a base is just excess weight and space. I install FF after 18m. I RF in the car until 4 yo though. But my seat needs to be braced when RF so it's not really doable on a plane. I never ever rent car seats bc you've no idea if they've ever been in an accident, been puked or peed on, washed with bleach, etc. I also never check my seats bc I have too many friends that got to their destination with a damaged or lost seat.

    mostly this. I wouldn't bring the base. I try to RF with the convertabel until 18 months (if they hassel me I tell them the child isn't to the FF minimum wieght limit yet.). After 18 months it just isn't worth the fight. Event though I too RF in the car until at least 4.

    Last time I traveld I had a CARES for DS and I did like it for a 3 1/2 yo. I would not use it with a child younger than 2 for many reasons. Mostly because it wouldn't keep my children sitting in their seat at that age. Too easy to escape by undoing the lap belt.

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  • Temp123197812503460Temp123197812503460

    we had to ff the seats at 16 months because they wouldnt fit rf (tall seats and a small plane), but i was fine with it as the safety aspect of ff isnt such a big deal on the plane.

    i would have rf if i could because then they cant reach the seat in front of them (no having to keep them from kicking).

     

    the infant seats we installed wihtout bases and just left the bases at home.

    i would never check a carseat, either with luggage or gate check, if they are handled roughly the safety can be compromised.

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