Infant Carseat on an Airplane

[VillainV]

We just booked tickets to fly back to the US in July, and booked the baby his own seat.   Our car seat (Chicco KeyFit30) is airplane compatible.  My question is, can we bring the base on the airplane and use that to install the seat?   Or do we just bring the seat itself (in can be installed without the base).

We will need the base when we get to our destination, and it seems like the easiest way to bring it is to use it on the airplane (otherwise we'll need to put it in a suitcase and pack around it, which I'd rather not do).   The other options are to 1) mail one of our bases to our destination, then just mail it back when we leave (we can use US domestic postage rates, so this would cost maybe $30-40 total), or 2) buy an extra base to use at our destination ($90). My parents would probably get use out of it after we leave because my sister uses the same infant seat/base combo.

WWYD?

[VillainV]

May 28, 2014 2:00:20 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Just use the seat. I think many seats recommend not using the base on an airplane. It is just as safe to use it without the base - just put it overhead.

If we do this, will they count it as one of our carry-on items?  

[VillainV]

May 28, 2014 2:11:01 GMT -5 frlcb said:

May 28, 2014 2:03:52 GMT -5 VillainV said:

If we do this, will they count it as one of our carry-on items?  

I don't know but I doubt it. I actually wouldn't bring the base at all, and just use it with the seatbelt when you get to your destination. It is just as safe and quick to do. I just did a quick search and it looks like the base is not approved for use on an airplane anyway.

We will need the base at the destination. Our stroller is a car seat frame, so we need to take the car seat out of the car every time we want to use the stroller. The base allows it to just click in to the car. I don't want to un-install and re-install the seat every time we use the stroller. At 3 months I don't think he'll be able to sit up enough to use an umbrella stroller....though maybe he will, in which case we could leave the seat installed in the car the whole time. Then we'd have to buy an umbrella stroller....

[travelingturtle]

I don't think installing and uninstalling is too big of a deal. It's what we've always done. If you like the convenience of it, and since your sister can always use it anyway, then get a base at the destination. I wouldn't get an umbrella stroller yet (there are some that are compatible for that age, but putting them in and out of strollers at that age is annoying to me.

[pittpurple]

We also started using an umbrella stroller early. She had reflux so never was flat anyway so we have a Micralite we bought when she was about 3/4 months I think? We now have another umbrella stroller that lies flat that is approved from birth. Personally, I'd buy whichever you'd get more long-term use from - an extra base or an umbrella stroller. It also depends on how often you will go back and forth, maybe it's worth having an umbrella stroller you just leave at your parents place?

[potatopie]

Just chiming into say that we used a regular stroller from pretty early as well. It was part of his travel system and reclined to flat, but he also sat up in a reclined position as well.

[Shreddingbetty]

I never used the base, not even at home. It is very easy to install and uninstall a bucket seat. It is nothing like doing it with a convertible car seat.