Flying with 3 year old and carseat

[ringstrue]

I have no idea if either of DDs carseats are approved for airplane travel. She is 3 in August a 36 inches and 29.99 lbs. Could I get away with putting her carseat in the airplane seat or should I look into a harness sort of thing instead??

[heightsyankee]

Don't put her in the carseat. Gate check that thing. In a car seat she will have her feet all over the seat in front of her and, more importantly, you can't put the tray down, which I find is a complete necessity when flying for coloring, snacks, DVD player, everything else...

I use a CARES harness with both my kids and we're all happy with it.

[pamela]

I don't use either. If anything the harness, but definately not the carseat. I check it with the luggage, not gate check because then I have to haul it through the airport.

[frlcb]

Don't do the carseat! She will be at the right angle to kick the seat in front of her. We used the CARES for ds until he was 4, now he sits with just the belt. You don't have to do either but the CARES is safer than nothing.

[heightsyankee]

Jun 18, 2012 11:06:56 GMT -5 pamela said:

I don't use either. If anything the harness, but definately not the carseat. I check it with the luggage, not gate check because then I have to haul it through the airport.

I used to do this until we showed up in Denver and our car seats were not with us. We used GoGoKidz trolley for either when they were smaller, which also allowed us to push them through the airport without needing a stroller. Now that they can both handle walking on their own, we still use it and the car seat become our own Smarty Carty.

[twotrue]

Gate check the carseat if you need it at your final destination but don't use it on the plane. In all of my trips with DD I've never taken it on the plane. At this age she is all about doing exactly what I do, so if in anyway her seat is different than mine there might be grounds for a meltdown.

[thejackpot]

GAte check the car seat. My ds travels without the harness anymore, he just uses the belt. He is a big boy so you may still want to use the harness.

[ringstrue]

ok thanks I just ordered the harness! Dunno why I didn't think of this until now. We've had this planned for 2+ years so I've just always envisioned her being in a seat I guess.

[penguingrrl]

Use the carseat if you need it at your destination. Carseats that are checked get lost and/or damaged constantly.

[Deleted]

I just buckle her in the regular seat and gate check the car seat. I've never had it lost or damaged.

[housegeek]

We fly a lot, always have checked the seats without issue. They usually lay down and sleep, car seats would make that impossible. I've always just used the belt.

[dutchgirl678]

Getting the car seat on the plane and buckled in the seat is a serious PITA. I did it once when DD was 13 months old and I traveled with her by myself to Europe. But last year when she was 3 we flew to Italy and she was just in her seat with the seat belt. She did fine. Her legs definitely would have kicked the front seat and as others have said you can't put the tray down.