NWMR: Flying with kids

[sept07b2b]

Ok ladies - You always give amazing advice, so I figured I'd ask you!  I'm flying with my 5 year old and 3 year old for the first time this Spring. 

We are renting a car at our destination, and I'm trying to decide what is required and what makes the most sense (and to see if those things happen to intersect!).  For my 5 year old, we have a booster seat that we can pack and bring with us to use in the rental (he's still in 5 pt at home, but can do fine in a booster).  He'll be fine in a normal plane seat.

It's my 3 year old I'm worried about.  We will obviously need a carseat at our destination, and I do not want to check one.  Therefore, would you suggest I bring one on the plane for her to sit in and then use it in the rental?  Would you bring nothing on the plane and rent a carseat from the rental place (should I trust that?).  Is she allowed to fly without a carseat? 

Any thoughts, experiences?  I would love to hear real experiences on this one. 

TIA!!! 

[psutexan]

I'd either check the toddler seat or rent one at your destination. You do not want to lug that big thing through security. She is allowed to fly without one and in fact at her age they are more of a nuisance since it puts her closer to kicking the seats in front. If you are worried about her safety on the plane, get a CARES harness (Amazon). That's what we travel with.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't check it. They are tossed around akin to the force they receive in an accident (when you should replace them).

That being said, I would rent one and that is also frowned upon by the car seat gurus. I would either drag the seat onto the plane or rent one.

[Deleted]

There is a pretty involved thread on Parenting today regarding this topic. You might find some useful stuff there as well.

[leap08]

I'd bring the car seat on the plane. I've done it several times. My 3 year old doesn't even weigh 30 pounds though and the airlines recommend being in a car seat on the plane until 40 pounds. I really prefer her in a car seat. I think she'd be all over the place if she were in a seat with seat belt. We bought an inexpensive luggage cart that we put the car seat on to maneuver through the airport. Usually one of my kids end up sitting in it while we push it and that works well. We don't really use strollers anymore so it's kind of nice to have something they can ride on.

Luggage cart we have is kind of like this one: www.amazon.com/Travel-Conair-Compact-Folding-Multi-use/dp/B002CV8UXE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1422995526&sr=8-2&keywords=luggage+trolley)

[momofcatan]

Definitely take the 3 yo's seat with you on the plane. It's safest for your daughter and the best way to ensure your seat arrives safe to use. Like PP said you can buy a cart to drag it through the airport. I personally would not trust a rental car seat, you don't know if it has been properly used/maintained.

This link has some helpful information (although most of it is about why kids under 2 should also be in car seats on planes): csftl.org/leaving-on-a-jet-plane-the-csftl-guide-to-safe-air-travel-with-children/

[momofcatan]

My BMB was having a discussion about the wheelie carts if you want to see some recommendations: goodbyecb.proboards.com/thread/8333/traveling

[ericalee27]

We bought a cheaper convertible seat that we used for flying only, Cosco Scenera - it was only $40 at Walmart and goes up to 40lbs. It's light so easy to travel with...might something like that work for your 3 yr old?

[sandandsea]

We bring our full carseat everywhere and we often check it in a bag. I wouldn't be comfortable with a 5 year old in a booster, regardless of if it's legal. If you don't want to check them (carseat check ins are generally free of charge), then you can bring both onto the plane and they can use them on the plane if they fit. We have used both the Diono Radian and Britax Boulevard and both have fit fine.

[mamamd]

My LO is younger than yours - she was 1.5 when we last traveled with her. But we brought our convertible seat on the plane (Britax Roundabout) and it was great. We got a car seat carrier to pull it (and her in it) through the airport. I think it was this one:
www.amazon.com/Britax-Seat-Travel-Cart-Black/dp/B005CNEQK0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423020118&sr=8-1&keywords=britax+carseat+carrier#productDetails

We used it instead of a stroller and it worked well. The carseat fit fine on the plane. It's a little tight rear-facing but still fit and would definitely fit forward-facing.

[seadragon2013]

I second the Cosco Scenera as a travel car seat. They just came out with a new model that has higher RF and FF limits. We have the older model and have used it on 5 trips so far, so we paid about $6 per trip . It's only 11 lbs and very easy to carry around. We strap it to one of our carry-ons to move around the airport, but a luggage cart would also work well with it.

[ericalee27]

Feb 3, 2015 23:56:41 GMT -5 seadragon2013 said:

I second the Cosco Scenera as a travel car seat. They just came out with a new model that has higher RF and FF limits. We have the older model and have used it on 5 trips so far, so we paid about $6 per trip . It's only 11 lbs and very easy to carry around. We strap it to one of our carry-ons to move around the airport, but a luggage cart would also work well with it.

seadragon, you are my F13 soulmate 

[jil]

I would bring the car seat on the plane.
I just flew with my DD (2.5y/o) and bought her an evenflow car seat just for the trip because it was barely over 10lbs and I really wanted to able to bring it on the plane easily. It was light enough that I carried it.

When we have traveled with her regular car seat we used a folding wheeled cart in the airport. I didn't think I could lift her regular car seat over my head by myself and I think it would fit through the airplane aisles any other way.

[enigmaticdrscully]

We have always brought the car seat on the plane. We have a strap to affix it to a piece of luggage but MH thinks it's more trouble than it's worth so I let him carry it.

[theborg7of9]

I haven't read the other replies, but i really want to encourage you to bring your car seat on the plane. It's much safer. Just this morning there was a survivable plane crash. Also, if you check your carseat, they could throw it around and damage it without you knowing. Also, renting a car seat is not really safe because someone might have returned the seat even after an accident or it could be really dirty or old. Also, your child will be so much more comfortable!

csftl.org/leaving-on-a-jet-plane-the-csftl-guide-to-safe-air-travel-with-children/

Ah, I see someone else already posted the link. I just wanted to say that I agree with the scenara as a good cheap travel seat. I just flew alone with with 1 year old and three year old. The younger one was in his infant carrier without the base. We used a double stroller that fit the infant carrier. My 3 year old rode in the stroller and I carried his cosco scenara on my back. It was hard traveling alone, but I did it!