2 and a half year old on a plane.....!!!!

[Billy6]

This isn't really a WDW question, but it pertains to it... I'm taking my 2 1/2 year old on a plane for the first time to WDW and want to know anyone's opinion on using a car seat on the plane. Or do you think she would be ok/safe sitting in the seat using the regular seat belt?

I am not really interested in lugging her car seat on the plane, but I need it obviously, for my rental. I'm thinking she will be ok, and so does my GF, but looking for some other opinions...Thanks :animwink:

 

[MinnieSummer]

I never used one only because the seat belt on the plane never seemed to hold the seat steady I guess because it is only a lap belt and not a shoulder belt. I felt safer keeping my arm across her in addition to the lap belt. I'm sure noone else agrees with me though as it is supposedly safer with the seat.

 

[mouselvrmom]

I didn't know you could use a car seat on the plane. I thought you had to stow them underneath with your luggage. We have always used the lapbelt and that has seemed to work fine for us.

 

[Princess Clayre]

When we flew last year my son was 2 and a half and we didn't bother with a car seat. We sat our son on one of our laps for take off and landing with the special seat belt the airlines provide and then let him have the freedom of his own seat the rest of the time. As we were flying on from the UK (9 hours flight!) we made sure we had brought a selection of small toys with us onboard to help keep him entertained, however he must have spend at least half the flight playing with the brightness control on the seatback tv's !!!

If you do decide to take your car seat onboard just check that it's the right kind as not all types are accepted (Sorry can't remember which ones).

 

[tigsmom]

Guess I'm in the minority because we used ours when the kids were little. They are used to traveling in one anyway. It has to be airline approved and it must be placed in a certain seat...window or middle, I can't remember as its been quite awhile since the kids are teens now.

 

[JDM]

Never used a car seat on a plane and am not sure of the regulations.

I would definitely check with the airline first if you haven't already done so.

That being said, I assume you will also make sure your little darling is occupied and well fed and not given free reign to run up and down the aisles disturbing everyone, like the little charmer I met on a flight back from Bermuda.

The stewardesses kept telling the "parents" not to let her, but she threw a screaming tantrum every time someone made her sit down, so they'd let her right back up again. Grrrr......

On the other hand a child of similar age sat in front of me on our last trip and was delightful.

 

[Billy6]

Thanks all for the info..I'm thinking no seat there and if it doesnt work out, use it on the way home...

Do seats count for your checked luggage limits???

 

[Sadiebird]

My son is 2 1/2 as well and we'll be traveling in April / May to Disney. On our previous trips (when he was 1, 1 1/2, and 2) we always used a car seat on the plane. We actually specifically purchased this car seat to use for travel, and also use it in my husband's car, because it's very lightweight. The big thing with car seats is to make sure it will fit in the seat on the plane. Most plane seats are very narrow, so not all car seats will fit in them. Measure the width of the base of your seat and then go to your airline's website. There should be a page there that tells you how wide the seat can be. If not, just call your airline. Also, the seat must be FAA certified. That info should be printed somewhere on your seat, probably on the sticker that has all the safety info on it.

One problem I have run into is that the buckle of the seat belt on the plan often ends up right in the middle of my son's back, with only a small bit of fabric inbetween him and the buckle. To remedy this, we just twist the male end of the seat belt to make it shorter. Then the buckle doesn't end up positioned in the middle of his back.

My son is used to being in a car seat for travel, so it just makes things a lot easier to have him strapped in. My guess is, if he were just in the seat with the regular airline buckle, he'd be able to unlatch himself, which would be a little too stressful for me. The other nice thing is that if he falls asleep, he can just rest his head on the side of the car seat, so he's pretty comfortable.

 

[Jarienn]

We live in CA, so obviously, it's a long flight for our daughter to WDW. We have always used her car seat. We have a Graco ComfortSport that isn't too heavy to carry on. It installs fairly easily with the lap belt (although you feel like you have to stand on your head to get it tightened on some airlines because of the seat belt configuration) I know they make carriers to help parents lug them thru the airport. One of the best I've seen is the GoGo Kidz Travelmate which is basically like a little luggage cart for a car seat that makes it like a stroller. Haven't used one personally, but we saw other parents using them and it looked like a great idea. If you do decide to check the seat, make sure you get a heavy duty car seat travel bag because the airline baggage handlers are not that kind to them. I've seen them come off of the baggage carousel battered and often broken. I'd recommend checking it at the gate even though that means carrying it thru the airport. Less likelyhood of damage. Car seats are not normally counted as part of your luggage allowance, but every airline is different, so check with them before you fly.

 

[kstella]

I never flew with small children, but if I had to purchase a ticket anyway, I would use a car seat. You want them to be as safe as possible and in the event of the unthinkable they would be much safer in a car seat as opposed to in the adult belt. Much more protection for their little bodies. I would also think that if they are used to being in a car seat, they would feel much more relaxed and comfortable in the comforting confines of a car seat instead of a big seat.

 

[Cole'sMom]

We are traveling in May with our son who will be 22 mos-we are still having him in our lap. He is very quiet and easy to entertain-he has flown many times. We will not be purchasing a seat. When we fly down in September he will be 26 mos and we will purchase a seat for him, but will not bring a car seat. He will be so enthralled that he is sitting like a big boy that he won't notice the lack of his seat. We have a Britax and it is heavy to lug! We won't be renting a car while on property, so a car seat is, for us, not necessary. I don't want to have to buy a light-weight seat since I am not having any more children. Just my thoughts. The chances of anything bad happening-God forbid- are slim to none.

 

[happymom52003]

It is safer to use a car seat...I really do not think that point can be argued. It is just a fact.:shrug: It is rare to have severe turbulence, but if you did encounter some, a toddler could come right out of that seat belt (I am talking about SEVERE turbulance that will throw people to the roof of the plane if they are not buckled in). I know it is rare, but it does happen, and people do get injured pretty badly when it does.
That is why we have always paid the extra money for our babies/toddlers to have a seat....we never did the "lap baby" thing.
I know alot of people do it, but it is just not worth the risk to me.
It is kind of a pain to drag the car seat through the airport and on and off the plane, but hey....we only have to do it a few years. Really not that big of a deal in the scheme of things.
Also, as someone else mentioned, somtimes a toddler will be more inclined to behave if they are in the car seat (I said some....I know not all will!). I know that is the case with our DD who is almost three now. We spend alot of time in the car, so she is used to being in her car seat. So when she in on the plane, she just thinks it is the same as a car, so she does not put up a fuss. Knowing her personality, if she were in the seat of the plane with only the lap belt, she would be all over the place, and it would be a constant battle to keep her out of the aisles!
But, it really comes down to personal preference. Unlike a motor vehicle, there are no regulations in place for the way children are restrained on airplanes. So every parent has to weigh the options and make a choice they feel comfortable with.

 

[hansel1]

I'm not sure, but don't some car rental places provide a car seat if you request one?

I don't have an opinion for a carseat on the plane, although we most likely will not use one for your trip next year when our son is two. We held him in our laps this past january when he was 8 months.

 

[daliseurat]

As far as the PLANE goes, a two year old doesn't have to be in a car seat. If you prefer them to be in one, it has to be a CAR SEAT, not a BOOSTER SEAT. Some 2 year olds might prefer the car seat and might be more well behaved. Ours was really happy to NOT be in one on the plane. I never had a problem bringing it on, and I always got to board FIRST when I had it.

But I do recommend bringing one with you if you are renting a car. They totally cheat you if you request one. They charge between 5-20 dollars per day. If you are not careful it can cost as much as a new car seat. I actually bought a BOOSTER just for travel. I stick it in the over head bin and use it for a rental car. I've saved a couple hundred bucks by not renting a carseat or booster.

 

[KC82271]

My 2.5 year old DD has been on a plane 3 times and we used the car seat all three times. My issue the last time was kicking the person in front of her - not to mention she didn't want to be in it.

We leave in less than 8 weeks for our next trip to the Mouse. I found a new option to try this time. kidsflysafe.com has a new FAA harness to use in the plane without a car seat. It was $75 but I bit the bullet and ordered it. We have played with it at the kitchen table, and my daughter loves it. She thinks she is a big girl now on the plane because she doesn't need the car seat.

Which ever way you choose, good luck!

 

[MouseMadness]

I too have always used a car seat. Not only is it safer, but more comfortable and familiar to them. They slept well in them, usually most of the flight.

I am not sure what the requirement is for the seat to be approved for use on the plane but they always flipped mine over looking for something. I never took the time to see what they were looking for :lookaroun but ours were always fine. Still I guess it couldn't hurt to call and see what is required to use the seat.

Also, as much stuff as we lugged with us (even by the time we got down to the 4th child needing that car seat!) it was never a huge burden to carry that. It is definitely worth the half hour or so of aggrivation it will cause.

 

[mickey&me]

Never used one. My son remained seated and played quietly or colored during flights. He also looked out the window a lot. Never tried to unbuckle or anything.

The little girl three rows in front of us, on the other hand, unbuckled herself from her car seat, stood up in it, unbalanced it, and caused it to tip forward, throwing her to the floor, whereupon she threw a screaming fit.

 

[dclick4968]

We use them for two reasons:

1. It raises them up so that they can see out of the window (impossible buckled into the normal seat).

2. They can sleep in them (somewhere to lay their heads)

FYI: We have a 2 and 3 year old.

TIP: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS have your child drinking something as you're taking off and landing. I travel for business quite often and I cannot tell you how many people "wonder" why their child is crying on take off and landing.... I just want to jump up and "it's their ears popping idiot....give them somthing to drink!!!!"

 

[The Mom]

Just a hint. If at all possible, have one adult sitting in the seat in front of your toddler, whether in or out of a carseat.

In a carseat: the person in front of you will not be able to recline, which will start them off in a bad mood, so ANYTHING your child does will just be an added irritation.

Not in a carseat: if the person in front of reclines, your child's feet will be up against the back of his/her seat (because they are too short, so will be straight out), which will either pinch your child's foot every time the passenger in front moves, or will cause your child to "kick" the back of the seat everytime he moves. Unless you are prepared to have your child kneel or sit in a lotus position for the whole trip, you'll be getting complaints from the passenger in front of you.

I learned all of this the hard way.

 

[MichWolv]

This isn't really a WDW question, but it pertains to it... I'm taking my 2 1/2 year old on a plane for the first time to WDW and want to know anyone's opinion on using a car seat on the plane. Or do you think she would be ok/safe sitting in the seat using the regular seat belt?

I am not really interested in lugging her car seat on the plane, but I need it obviously, for my rental. I'm thinking she will be ok, and so does my GF, but looking for some other opinions...Thanks :animwink:

We took our carseat on planes with us until my son was about 4 (something like 30 flights by that time). We bought a fairly light carseat specifically for travelling. since we usually rent a car when we travel, we were bringing it anyways, so it wasn't a big deal to take on the plane instead of checking. I found that he was really little, the lap belt itself didn't really seem to hold him well. Plus, the five point protection of the car seat (i.e, shoulder straps as well) seemed like it would provide him much more support.

You do have do some fighting and tugging on the airplane belt to make sure it holds the car seat well. Also, be aware that with the car seat, your child must sit by the window (if a single aisle plane). I've seen many people set up the seat only to be told they need to swap with their child because of the FAA regulation.