Can we revisit car seats/boosters on a plane?

[cna]

I know we have argued this to death but I have a bad memory.

[notreallyirish]

I put my toddlers in their own seats in a car seat for my own comfort--both because it sucks to hold a squirming child in my lap that long and because I am extremely anxious and it limits my obsessive, irrational worries.

[stevenpmorrissey]

I'm flying next Saturday to London with my 21-month-old and she will be in a rear-facing seat. We have a really heavy car seat, so I had to purchase a lightweight one. So I bought a Scerena Next and a Safety 1st 65 Sport. Haven't decided which one is being returned (unopened if course) and which one we are using, (anyone have any input on that?)

The first flight I took with my daughter was with her not having her own seat. Seriously, it was hell on my arms. The third flight I took with her really made me thankful she was strapped in a seat; the turbulence was horrid and downright scary.

I'm in the babies/toddlers-should-always-have-their-own-safety-seat-on-a-plane camp.

[lattelady5]

I used to be in the lap babies are no big deal camp too until I experienced freaking insane turbulence and had my kids not been in seats they would not have remained in my arms. The turbulence was so bad passengers not belted in flew up and slammed their heads on the cabin ceiling. One lady vomited for over an hour...I was holding back vomit. DS slept the whole time and DD woke up towards the end and thought it was a roller coaster. Anyway, I am firmly in the everyone needs their own seat camp.

How old are your boys? What do they normally ride in? If they're harnessed, just bring their harnessed seats and use them on the plane. If they ride in boosters they'll just use the lap belt on the plane. Booster aren't FAA approved so you can either have them carry on and store in the overhead bin or pack high back boosters with luggage.

Are you doing okay? I can only imagine how much stuff you're dealing with.

[toastie]

Boosters are not FAA approved. I've flown with DS1 on my lap, it was a disaster, I would never do it again.

I chose to drive 20 hours to disney instead of fly.

[serendipity]

I am also in the seats for everyone camp. DS slept the entire time (once at 6 months PA to FL and once at 9 months PA to Europe). He would have been a nightmare if we had to hold him that long.

For your older ones, you could always look into the CARES harness. Not sure how old your LOs are.

Good luck

[lala]

Your kids are both older than 4 right? If they need seats there, and I assume they do, you'll need to bring them. If it's harnesses seat they can use it on the plane. If it's a booster, you can't and will need to carry it on or gate check it (which I know some recommend not doing). I would be perfectly comfortable w/ a 3-4 year old in the plane belt only. If they're both old, big & mature enough to use backless boosters, I'd bring those b/c they would travel easily.

Basically it comes down to how old they are and I can't remember exactly.

[lala]

Jan 30, 2015 22:09:06 GMT -5 @kimbus22 said:

Yes, let's revisit. We're flying with both kids in May. THey have their own seats. DH says no carseats though becuase they'll only be in the car for the 15 minute drive to and from the airport to the resort. The resort is providing the transportation and bringing appropriate car seats for the drive. I have mixed feelings.

I would not trust the car seats from the hotel I don't think. Better than renting them, I guess, but still not ideal. 

You'll need one for Mallory on the plane anyway if she has her own seat - I can't imagine her being able to sit in the seat otherwise. 

Joey might be fine to sit on the plane w/o a seat (V was for our 2 flights when she was a new 3) but again, if you need it at the destination, might as well. 

Again, some seats fold small enough to be carried on and you can gate check (which some recommend not doing).

[lattelady5]

Jan 30, 2015 22:09:06 GMT -5 @kimbus22 said:

Yes, let's revisit. We're flying with both kids in May. THey have their own seats. DH says no carseats though becuase they'll only be in the car for the 15 minute drive to and from the airport to the resort. The resort is providing the transportation and bringing appropriate car seats for the drive. I have mixed feelings.

Nope. Nope. Nope.

You have no idea how those carseats have been treated or what their idea of "appropriate" is. I have friends who've rented seats before and were given boosters for itty bittys and the seats were nasty. Like caked on old nasty kid gunk. Ick. I wouldn't trust a hotel to provide seats. Plus, if you're paying for seats for the kids you will WANT to use them. It will save you from trying to contain your kids with only your arms and bringing seats is not that much more of a hassle. I mean, everything with kids is a hassle but it doesn't add that much to it haha

We bungee our seats to the luggage/stroller and give ourselves extra time. People will go out of their way to help you. 

And bring snacks. Seriously, all the snacks.

[penguingrrl]

It's definitely safer to keep the kids seats on board with you as seats can be severely damaged from being checked and that damage may not be visible, but will still cause cracks in the plastic that compromise the integrity of the seat.

If they're older and boostered you cannot use the boosters on the plane because boosters don't play with lap only belts. In that case I would grab two $13 cosco topsiders (they sell them at Target and Walmart) for this trip. They're very small, very lightweight, give a great lapbelt fit for most kids in most cars and should fit in your carry on or in a backpack (so have the kids stash them with their plane activities). Honestly, unless you really think they can't use a booster while you're out there this is probably the easiest option with the least hassle and what I would do.

[penguingrrl]

Jan 30, 2015 22:09:06 GMT -5 @kimbus22 said:

Yes, let's revisit. We're flying with both kids in May. THey have their own seats. DH says no carseats though becuase they'll only be in the car for the 15 minute drive to and from the airport to the resort. The resort is providing the transportation and bringing appropriate car seats for the drive. I have mixed feelings.

What kind of vehicle is the resort profiting? Is the trip on highways or local roads? If it's a large shuttle bus car seats are unusable and unnecessary due to how te shuttle is designed. If it's a car then seats are needed. And in that case it's honestly a risk assessment. You may get there and find safe seats, you may get there and find seats that aren't age or size appropriate, are expired or dirty or missing pieces (all things that have happened to people I know IRL). The risk is smaller with a professional driver and the likelihood of something happening on the drive to and from the resort is very small, but if course something always could happen.

[cna]

Sorry for the post and run, I went grocery shopping just to get out of the house. There will be more questions coming soon.

[cna]

Anyway, they are 5 and 7 and are within the limits for a booster. I didn't want to bring their regular seats because I will be on my own with them. We will need boosters when we get there, but I wasn't sure about using them on the plane. Do I just let them sit in the seat with the lap belt and carry on their boosters? Or am I completely misunderstanding that I should do something else?

[lattelady5]

Jan 31, 2015 0:16:41 GMT -5 cna said:

Anyway, they are 5 and 7 and are within the limits for a booster. I didn't want to bring their regular seats because I will be on my own with them. We will need boosters when we get there, but I wasn't sure about using them on the plane. Do I just let them sit in the seat with the lap belt and carry on their boosters? Or am I completely misunderstanding that I should do something else?

That's exactly what you do Just put the boosters in the overhead bin.

[cna]

Jan 31, 2015 0:20:35 GMT -5 lattelady5 said:

Jan 31, 2015 0:16:41 GMT -5 cna said:

Anyway, they are 5 and 7 and are within the limits for a booster. I didn't want to bring their regular seats because I will be on my own with them. We will need boosters when we get there, but I wasn't sure about using them on the plane. Do I just let them sit in the seat with the lap belt and carry on their boosters? Or am I completely misunderstanding that I should do something else?

That's exactly what you do Just put the boosters in the overhead bin.

Oh good. Can you tell I haven't been on a plane with my kids past the infant stage?

[penguingrrl]

Yup, boosters in the overhead bin! At 7 and 5 I would only bring backless.

[NandaB]

Jan 31, 2015 22:52:07 GMT -5 @kimbus22 said:

Jan 30, 2015 23:58:59 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

What kind of vehicle is the resort profiting? Is the trip on highways or local roads? If it's a large shuttle bus car seats are unusable and unnecessary due to how te shuttle is designed. If it's a car then seats are needed. And in that case it's honestly a risk assessment. You may get there and find safe seats, you may get there and find seats that aren't age or size appropriate, are expired or dirty or missing pieces (all things that have happened to people I know IRL). The risk is smaller with a professional driver and the likelihood of something happening on the drive to and from the resort is very small, but if course something always could happen.

Per the woman I quizzed on the phone, it's a mini-van.  They asked for ages/seat types for the kids to put in our file.  I'm feeling off about the whole thing but DH thinks I'm a paranoid lunatic and refuses to drag our giant seats on and off four tiny airplanes.  I really doubt I'll be able to convince him to buy smaller lighter ones either.  I don't expect M to sit in her seat on the plane really.  I suspect she'll be on my lap 90% of the time but we wanted the extra room because I was afraid trying to put DH, myself and both kids in 3 tiny seats would be a nightmare.

How is she in the car? We took N's seat on the plane this summer because I didn't want to hold her. And she sat in it 90% of the time. As if we were in the car. I didn't really give her a choice. She doesn't get a choice in the car, ya know? We took a stroller and stuck the car seat on the stroller in the airport and carried the baby. We gate checked the stroller.

[penguingrrl]

Jan 31, 2015 22:52:07 GMT -5 @kimbus22 said:

Jan 30, 2015 23:58:59 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

What kind of vehicle is the resort profiting? Is the trip on highways or local roads? If it's a large shuttle bus car seats are unusable and unnecessary due to how te shuttle is designed. If it's a car then seats are needed. And in that case it's honestly a risk assessment. You may get there and find safe seats, you may get there and find seats that aren't age or size appropriate, are expired or dirty or missing pieces (all things that have happened to people I know IRL). The risk is smaller with a professional driver and the likelihood of something happening on the drive to and from the resort is very small, but if course something always could happen.

Per the woman I quizzed on the phone, it's a mini-van.  They asked for ages/seat types for the kids to put in our file.  I'm feeling off about the whole thing but DH thinks I'm a paranoid lunatic and refuses to drag our giant seats on and off four tiny airplanes.  I really doubt I'll be able to convince him to buy smaller lighter ones either.  I don't expect M to sit in her seat on the plane really.  I suspect she'll be on my lap 90% of the time but we wanted the extra room because I was afraid trying to put DH, myself and both kids in 3 tiny seats would be a nightmare.

If it's a minivan you'll need seats. I personally would not trust the hotel to provide adequate seats. I'd be worried with them showing up with a backless booster or short-shelled harness for Joey (many boosters say 3+ on the box). And if it's past Malory's birthday they may have a nautilus or something similar for her since she'll be of legal FF age.

Obviously you and your H need to figure out what works for you, but I would bring seats on the plane to avoid the what ifs. And treat riding on the and like riding in the car and don't give the kids an opportunity to ride unbuckled. My brother was on a flight that experienced extreme turbulence once and an adult passenger who wasn't buckled ended up hospitalized. Obviously that isn't common, but it can happen so avoiding a kid in your lap is better.

I was hoping to help you avoid bringing seats, which is why I asked about the shuttle, but it sounds like it really is a better idea to bring them.