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:

 

[mouselvrmom]

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.

:lol: Good advice! That's the worst part of the trip for me: trying to make sure that none of my kids are kicking or annoying the person in front of them. :lol:

 

[happymom52003]

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.

This is so true! We fly Southwest (no assigned seating), so I always warn anyone who is about to take the seat in front of my DD. We've lucked out and have always had someone who was very understaning because they had small kids themselves, or they were a grandparent, etc... We've never had anyone choose not to sit in front of our DD after we warn them, at least not yet! We've also lucked out in that our DD has not kicked the seat in front of her very much.....just a few times, and it was usually unintentional.
We've thought about putting my DH in front of her, but it works out better for us to have him on the aisle seat across from us....makes it easier for him to help with the kids because he can get up easier, since in order to be in front of the carseat he would have to be in a window seat since you are not allowed to have car seats in the middle or aisle seat (carseat is by the window, I'm in the middle, DS is on the aisle, and then DH is on the aisle right across from DS).

 

[santa's surpriz]

I would be more concerned about the ears than a care seat, if it were not safe the airlone would require you to bring a car seat or provide one. I took my daughter on a plane when she was that age and it was a screaming mess on the trip home. I felt terrible for the people around us and was completely embarrassed. It was very difficult to explain to a 2.5 year old to pop ears.

 

[happymom52003]

Here is the American Academy of Pediatrics opinion on the subject in case anyone is interested. It also includes info on what the FAA recommends. This is from their website.

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: Should my child ride in a car safety seat on an airplane?
A: Most infant, convertible, and forward-facing seats can be used on airplanes, but booster seats and travel vests cannot. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the AAP recommend that when flying, children should be securely fastened in certified child restraints until 4 years of age, and then should be secured with the airplane seat belts. This will help keep them safe during takeoff and landing or in case of turbulence. Check the label on your car safety seat or call the car safety seat manufacturer before you travel to see if your seat is certified for use on an airplane. You can also consider using a restraint made only for use on airplanes and approved by the FAA.[/FONT]

http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm

 

[cemeb4dk]

I agree with most of all above comments.

We just got back last night with my 26 month old daughter. We didn't use a car seat and she did very well, all her other flights where with a car seat. Because we where renting a car, etc. But this trip no rental car was needed, so no car seat. My wife and I both said ow how much easier it was with out lugging the seat around.

Now one thing to take note, I know the airlines are limiting each passenger to 1 checked bag soon ( not sure of exact dates) so if you have to check the car seat that will count as a bag, where as if you use it on the plane, it counts as nothing.

 

[stormer]

We used to always bring my son's car seat so he would understand he had to stay in his seat, just like in the car. It helped him to understand he couldn't up.

Lollipops work great for ear popping. My friend is a pediatrician and he recommended this. We always give my boys lollipops to suck on during take off and it works great for helping their ears.

 

[MichWolv]

I would be more concerned about the ears than a care seat, if it were not safe the airlone would require you to bring a car seat or provide one. I took my daughter on a plane when she was that age and it was a screaming mess on the trip home. I felt terrible for the people around us and was completely embarrassed. It was very difficult to explain to a 2.5 year old to pop ears.

Would that this were true, but don't trust to them. The FAA and every pediatric group recommend using the car seat, but I've had several flight attendants tell me that it would be better if I just checked it, because putting in the seat slows down the loading process!! Further, children 2 and under are not required to be in their own seat. Instead they may sit on adult's lap (or sleep in their arms). This is far less safe for the child (and the adult for that matter) than being in a separate seat. But everytime the FAA makes noise about changing the rules, the airlines go ballistic, because they (rightly) believe that people would fly less if they had to buy a seat for their little babies.

So, while airlines are indeed concerned about safety, they are concerned with other things as well.

 

[IRBIWDW]

I flew with my 2 year old last summer. He had his own seat but I did not bring his car seat. He was ok on the flight down there, but on the flight home....that was a different story. He kept unbuckling the seat belt. He kept sliding under the seat belt so he would slide onto the floor in front of his seat. He kept fidgeting his way out of that seat belt so he could try to stand up in the seat. And, every time I would put him back in the seat with the seat belt, he would scream or go limp. I keep thinking that if I had his car seat, maybe that flight home would have been easier. He can't get out of his car seat and he is use to being in that seat for a long time during car trips. Just something to consider. If you have a portable DVD player, be sure to bring that so your child can watch their videos. That was a big help for us on the flight down. (Too bad the batteries died on that return flight home for us.) Poor planning on my part.
Have a great trip!!:wave:

 

[Craig & Lisa]

The first time we ever went to WDW my youngest son was 1 1/2, had no intentions of using a car seat. Main reason was because we would have to purchase another seat, which if children are the way they are he would not want to stay there. Luckily the plane wasn't full and there were seats open so he ended up having his own seat anyway. The good part was he was under the weather at the time so his meds kinda knocked him out too.

 

[sandheichert]

YES>>>use the car seat. .

We have flown many times accross the country with our daughter and with her car seat when she was younger it was safer and much better. the lap belt just fits over the car seat nice and tight and your child is much safer in case of turbulance........and then you have it when you rent your car so you don't have to pay $10 a day for a car seat.

 

[lac628]

This is Southwests policy...
I'd check with your airline to see what they allow

Does an infant stroller or infant or child safety seat count as baggage?

One (1) infant stroller and one (1) infant or child safety seat may be checked in substitution of a free piece of checked baggage for each fare-paying passenger at no charge on a one-for-one basis.

 

[jtced]

Check car seat

We flew US Air last year and brought my DD(4) booster seat with us. (Too cheap to pay $10 a day for rental) They would not let us use it in the seat it had to be checked or fit in the overhead. Since it is just a booster (half seat) we had no problems cramming it into the overhead. For your own sake I would check it. Less to have to worry about getting on and off the plane.

 

[slappy magoo]

off-topic but does anyone else think "2 and a half year old on a plane...!" sounds like a horror movie?

cue Samuel L. Jackson: GET THAT *****N' TWO AND A HALF YEAR OLD...OFF THIS *****N' PLANE!!!