Flying with a toddler...carseat or no carseat?

ellenaxo · January 2009

Just wondering what your experiences are. We are flying with Hannah for the first time in a few weeks and are debating whether to bring the carseat. My feeling is to bring it b/c I feel that she will be more likely to sit still in the carseat then just on the airplane seat. But, I don't want to lug it on if she's not going to want to sit in it. I have no idea what to expect from her. If we don't bring the carseat on the plane, we would either check it or just make sure the rental company had some. WDYT??

oparcm · January 2009

My dd just turned 3 and I've flown several times with her. I always use a car seat because she is strapped in and she is comfortable. I think if she wasn't in the car seat, she'd be squirmy, moving about and all over the place. To me it is worth it and I lug it through the airport using my stroller. Dd walks and I push the carseat on the stroller (dh does the luggage).

shopgirl78 · January 2009

I do not bring ours when I fly mostly because I fly alone with two and cannot carry it through the airport

Marchmamma · January 2009

I always take the carseat on the plane with us. She is used to it and will sit/sleep in it. I say bring it!

I alway want to say sorry and hugs to you. I am just catching up on things. I had one a few years ago and if you need to talk or vent I'll listen.

ElizabethD · January 2009

We might have slit our throats if we didn't bring the car seat when our son was 2 years and 3 months old and we flew. ;-) He was Super Pissy, entering (we had no idea at the time) week #2 of FIVE WEEKS of nonstop hell... to aquire 4 new teeth to make his mouth more full of teeth. He didn't break his first tooth til age 1 so he had a lot of time to make up!

So, knowing how unpredictable they are, if they're strapped down at least you have one less thing to worry about. :-)

W&J'sMommy · January 2009

We recently flew w/o carseats and they were fine. The flight was under 3 hrs, DD was a lapchild and DS had his own seat. He did really well, stood for awhile and played with his toys on the seat.

camrude · January 2009

We check one, but do not bring it on the plane with us. M has never had a problem. I would for sure bring one and NOT use a rental. We had a really bad experience using a rental once and never, ever again.

Bellisimo · January 2009

I always check the carseat along with the luggage and DS sits in his own seat. We have a CARES harness that's FAA approved and it works like a five point car seat harness. He always does great, and it's much easier than lugging along the carseat in addition to everything else.

co18co · January 2009

I have been since DS was born. I got a "pac-back" (search for it on Amazon), and easily carry it through the airport. 9 out of 10 flights we take I am flying solo and able to manage DS, the stroller, the carseat, etc., with ease.

When he's in the plane, he knows that we're moving, just like in a car, so he has to stay in his seat. It helps that I need the seat at my destination, for the most part, too. He'd be all over the place if I let him just sit in the seat!

hikerbeth · January 2009

You will get mixed reviews. It really depends on the kid.

My DD rides very well in her carseat. We take long (8-9 hour trips) with relative ease. She knows that is her place to ride. However, when she was a lap child, she was all over the place. Shortly after a year, I decided that unless the flight was under 2 hours, I was getting her a seat.

The carseat is also comfortable for her to fall asleep in.

And last, I don't have to worry about going over the checked bag allowance that many airlines have.

We've rented a carseat from a rental company once (it was an "emergency" need) and had a good experience. . . I just wouldn't always want to count on it.

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