Can a 3 YO fly with just the seat belt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, your 3 YO can fly with just the seatbelt. On a flight earlier this year, we forgot to pack the CARES harness and I had to do just that for my then 3 yo. It's not as safe as children are more susceptible to injury from the seat belt alone than for a harness, but it's not mandated, only strongly urged.

CARES harnesses are good until 44 lbs. Our kids' weight gain has slowed enough that I figure we'll be using these for years, and we travel by plane at least 2-3 times per year, so it was worth it to me to buy them (got them on ebay for like $25-30 each).

The CARES harnesses are really easy to use and the kids actually like having the shoulder straps. They especially like them when landing when the straps help hold them back against the seat during deceleration. And they are so much easier than car seats to install and use and the kids prefer them to the car seat.

Although the FAA "strongly urges" and does not have actual mandated requirements for you to use either a car seat/booster seat or CARES harness for 20-40 lbs, some airlines may not allow your child to fly only in the seat belt. You should contact your airline carrier to see if they have child restraint restrictions. Also, if you choose to buy a harness, make sure you actually buy a CARES brand harness and not a knock-off. On our recent Alaska Airlines flight they asked to see either the label on the harness or the instruction documentation that it was FAA-approved. The flight attendant who checked said that if we didn't have documentation that it was FAA-approved (it had the label and I had the instruction book in the carry bag, so I was doubly covered) then the airline policy was that it would have to be removed and the child would have to fly with only the seat belt.

Which airlines, do you know?

So so so not true. I've flown every airline with kids of all ages and sizes.

+1. I fly monthly or more often with my kids, and have since they were infants and you do NOT have to have a restraint for a 3 yo. Unless Southwest does, because I refuse to fly them.

[Anonymous]

If you think you will use it at least 4 times, just buy it. I rented on ebay twice and by the time I paid shipping costs I should have just bought one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just flew for 4 hours with our 3yo yesterday. Totally fine in just the lap belt. Don't make life harder than it needs to be.

+1

+2

+3

Hate to say it, but if there's an airplane crash, a CARES harness won't make a difference. Just use the lap belt.

+4
My twin boys are 5 now and we've flown somewhere every year since they were 18 months old. With the exception of that first flight when we used car seats on the plane, they've only used the lap belt - even on international flights to/from Europe. The lap belt will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Just use the lap belt, especially on an overnight flight where your child will want to sleep resting with their head on your lap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just flew for 4 hours with our 3yo yesterday. Totally fine in just the lap belt. Don't make life harder than it needs to be.

+1

+2

+3

Hate to say it, but if there's an airplane crash, a CARES harness won't make a difference. Just use the lap belt.

+1 You moms are something else.

[Anonymous]

We have a CARES but have stopped using it for both our almost 4yo and our 2.5yo. They both have traveled enough that they are well aware of what is expected of them on the airplane.

I might still use it if I were traveling alone with all three kids just since my hands would be so full.

It's nice if you think your 3yo won't be able to sit still and leave his belt on during taxi, takeoff, and landing though.

[Anonymous]

Flying solo with 3yo DD to CPT on SAA. 20 hours. Wasn't thinking about a CARES harness but then it occurred to me -- those who use one, how do the kids sleep? I imagine I'll put up the armrest and she'll rest her head on her little pillow on my lap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just flew for 4 hours with our 3yo yesterday. Totally fine in just the lap belt. Don't make life harder than it needs to be.

+1

+2

+3

Hate to say it, but if there's an airplane crash, a CARES harness won't make a difference. Just use the lap belt.

+1 You moms are something else.

Are you kidding?!?!? It's not for crashes (extremely rare), but for turbulence (far more common).

[Anonymous]

http://thecarseatlady.com/before-you-fly-know-your-rights/

A US airline cannot deny you taking the seat onboard. Your child will be safer in it and you need it once you get to your destination. Plus, checking car seats is not recommended. That said, your child will probably be fine using only the seatbelt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just flew for 4 hours with our 3yo yesterday. Totally fine in just the lap belt. Don't make life harder than it needs to be.

+1

+2

+3

Hate to say it, but if there's an airplane crash, a CARES harness won't make a difference. Just use the lap belt.

+1 You moms are something else.

Are you kidding?!?!? It's not for crashes (extremely rare), but for turbulence (far more common).

+1 it's for turbulence and hard landings, not crashes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://thecarseatlady.com/before-you-fly-know-your-rights/

A US airline cannot deny you taking the seat onboard. Your child will be safer in it and you need it once you get to your destination. Plus, checking car seats is not recommended. That said, your child will probably be fine using only the seatbelt.

I'm flying British Air out, so I don't think they have to comply with that (unless they do, since it's a US-originated flight?).

I wasn't going to check our main seat, but gate check a cheap travel-only seat. I'll need it when we get there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just flew for 4 hours with our 3yo yesterday. Totally fine in just the lap belt. Don't make life harder than it needs to be.

+1. This! It never occurred to me use a seat with my 3yo on flights. Her seat was always checked in.

[Anonymous]

I recently flew with my 13-month old and he was fine with just the seat belt. Although we had the CARES harness, we didn't use it for various reasons.

I'm sure your 3 year old will be fine. But I guess that depends on what exactly your concerns are, and your definition of fine.

[Anonymous]

I checked the BA website. You can use a car seat up to age three or a Cares harness up to age four. This is surprising. On US carriers you can always use a car seat. We flew on BA when my twins were two, and used the car seats on the plane. I will have to check Air France's policies, an airline I like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I checked the BA website. You can use a car seat up to age three or a Cares harness up to age four. This is surprising. On US carriers you can always use a car seat. We flew on BA when my twins were two, and used the car seats on the plane. I will have to check Air France's policies, an airline I like.

I thought this was pretty strange, too, especially since they seem to accommodate families better with the baby seats built in to some planes. I don't understand limiting use of the harness to age 4. Maybe by then they think they are big enough to sit up straight on their own. Honestly I'd like to not have to take my car seat because it's such a pain to manage with only one adult. Technically it's recommended to have a car seat on the transfer bus from the airport, but I think he's tall enough to use their boosters seats, so I've decided that's what I'm going to do. We will use public transportation every where and most buses in the UK do not have seat belts; I think the long-range coaches are required to have seat belts, and you're supposed to use them. Still torn on the CARES harness, but since I'm not buying a car seat now, I think I may just rent one. It doesn't take up much room, and if I don't end up using it, it's not a lot of money I spent on it. The last time he flew he was in a car seat but did NOT do well! That was a year ago, though, and he's obviously matured a lot in that time (and entered the defiant 3's). I want him to sleep on the plane, too, which may preclude use of the harness and maybe even the seat belt, but we'll see about that.