Carseat for the Plane for a 2 Year Old?

We just got the wheeling rack for car seat for our flight. Child can ride in the car seat while being pulled around the airport.

i took my daughter to florida when she was a little under two years old it was transair i believe but i just seatbelted her in and it was no problem

There are no laws requiring a car seat for babies/children on a plane and we have found that at around 2, or when the baby is big enough to sit in a regular seat, it's a lot easier and more convenient to have them sit in the regular seat - they can use the tray table, their feet don't hit the chair in front of them and you can lift your arm rest so they can lay their head on your lap if they get sleepy. Good luck with your trip!

I think the airline can't give you a straight answer because I don't think there's any laws about it. I believe it's your preference. How do you think she'd be without the car seat? I think it's just personal preference. I flew with my youngest daughter when she was 3 without a carseat though and she was fine.

I know for me the "hassle" far outweighs the alternative. My kids are used to their carseats and sleep extremely well in them. Airline seats are not designed for little people. They are much too big and awkward for a little girl. When we flew to Europe (with a stop-over at LHR) with our then 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 year old boys I was thrilled to have the carseats along. The boys never asked to walk through the plane they were extremely content. Plus thru the huge passport queu we actually had them sit in them and pushed them along the ground in them (they were very happy).

If you have a stroller that you are planning on bringing you might be able to strap it on top of it walking through the airport...that is what I did with my Sit-n-Stand Joovy.

Good luck!

H. Z. (SAHM 5 1/2, 4 1/2 and 2 year old boys)

Call the airline, but when we've gone trans-Atlantic at that age, it's been so much easier without the carseat. We make sure they are strapped in with the seatbelt and one airline had a little booster seat they put on the seat (Virgin, I think). 5-6 hours is easier if they can move around a bit and sleep.

you do not need a carseat. you can purchase a special seatbelt, harness online for toddlers if you want, but I just used the seat belt when my son was two.

We flew to the UK end of May this year and my son was two on the 14th of May. He had his own seat but we took his car seat for comfort more than anything else as he was able to sleep much easier than in the airline seat.I do agree that having to take the seat through the airport is a pain in the backside but for peace on the flight we took it! (We also invested in trolley you can fit onto the car seat, bought on Craigslist) We flew Continental.
Good luck with your flight!

Check out www.kidsflysafe.com It has information on the Cares harness. It's a seat belt harness approved by the FAA so you are allowed to bring it aboard an aircraft. I bought one for my two year old son. Made it very easy to travel!!

P.S. I just read the other responses...sorry for the repeat info!!

You can rent the 5 point CARES restraint that people have mentioned for $15 on ebay for the length of your trip. It weighs a pound and fits in your bag so it is easy to carry with you. Search "rent my cares" on Ebay. I rented from seller "m and d in fl" and I had a really good experience.

Enjoy the trip!

M.,

There is this harness you can buy that will work on the plane so you don't have to bring the car seat.

http://www.kidsflysafe.com/index.php

There is also this site for info.

http://www.thecarseatlady.com/airplanes/airplanes.html

good luck,
L. M

Hi M.,

I have traveled to Italy and all over the US with my 2 children since they were babies. I have never used a carseat for them on the planes and have never been told I would need one ( I have used various airlines, but can't recall if Continental was one). I would think that if it was mandatory for your daughter to have a carseat, then Continental would have a clear policy stating so and would be able to tell you. You should be all set without the carseat and 2 years is the age at which children must have their own seat anyway, my children have always used the planes seatbelt once they were required to have their own seats and it has not posed a problem.

Hope this was helpful and have a safe trip!

S.

The airline does not require a carseat. There is a product called the CARES airplane harness that provides a 3 point harness and is used with the airplane seatbelt. We used it last year for our 2 year old when flying across the country. It's a bit pricey but I believe there are people on ebay who rent them. My daughter is small and I felt safer having her in the restraint and then we gate checked her carseat.

H M.!
Consider investing in a "Sit 'n Stroll"... It's a car seat that converts to a stroller that converts to an FAA approved airplane seat. It's a litle pricey but it was worth it's weight in gold when we travelled both domestically and to the Phillippies. It also comes woth a detachable subshade. And You would only need to take one piece of gear instear of dealing w/ both a stroller and car seat in the airport (along w/ everything else)
Have fun and good luck
M.

Hi M.,
I used to travel between Spain and the US with my son from age 8 mo to 4 years with some frequency and never used a car seat. No problems. I'm with you, they're a pain. Plus (let's face it) your daugther will spend a goodly amount of time on your lap or otherwise wriggling around.

Safe journey!

Yes, you can just belt her in. I don't think that would be particularly safe in the event of turbulence so if you go that route, I'd get the harness others have recommended. Tho it's a pain to carry a carseat around the airport, it is nice to have it onboard. DD is used to staying strapped into it and can sleep well in it. Huge plus! That is a long flight for a fidgety toddler in an uncomfortable adult-sized seat. We flew recently and the flight attendant thanked me numerous times for traveling with a car seat.

We use a carseat case (goes over the shoulder) to carry it around but I think one of those little trolleys that makes the carseat into a stroller would be even simpler and you can put the other stuff in it rather than carrying it if DD isn't riding it it. Just something else to consider.

hi
i have traveled a fair bit w/my 3yo (since he was 3m old).
i have never useed car seat on the plane.
good luck & bon voyage!

Hi M.,
To echo the others here, this is a perfect situation for a CARES Harness - you have a car seat at your destination, and all you need is something to keep your daughter strapped in on the plane. Airplane seatbelts are unfortunately a lot of fun to open and close, and most toddlers don't have the self-control to stop playing with them. The CARES will give you a 5-point harness that fits in a tiny pouch and sets up quickly and easily on the plane.

You can get one from us - http://mbeans.com/cares-in-flight-harness.html

Since you're in MA, you'll most likely get it the day after you place the order - we have very quick shipping.

Have a wonderful trip!

Hi, There is a FAA approved airplane child harness (CARES). I have one but have not used it yet.

This link (below) has some information about the harness and some questions & answers that may be helpful.

Good luck!

http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/2008/feb/28/picture-...

or check out:

http://www.amsafe.com/products/detail.php?id=6&type=b...

Continental's website said that this harness is approved.

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/bagga...

Hey M.. I totally understand about being a pain to carry around. We actually have the CARES seatbelt for our son as well. It works great - I think it is worth the money. It is your childs safety. Good luck. and have a safe flight.