Best flight safety option for 3 and 5 year old.

[Anonymous]

Mock me if you will, but we've never flown with our kids and they're 3 and 5. I'm a safety girl, so would love any input into what the best approach is for flying with them. Their carseats are huge (we have the 5yo in one of those high backed booster 5-point Frontier things), so I don't think taking them on the plane is even an option if we wanted to.
What do people do these days? Those harness things you can buy? Or get a smaller carseat or booster thing that attaches to the seat just for flying?
(I understand and respect that lots of people think anything other than the airplane seatbetl is unneccessary, but I'm not one of them, so please save that convo for another thread.)
TIA

[Anonymous]

What is your concern - that they will squirm about or that if there was a plane crash they would be safer in a carseat?

If the former - they are both old enough to sit still well. They will be fine with some toys and looking out the window etc. Honestly, don't worry about it.

If the latter - a car seat will not help if your plane has a crash. Just make sure they understand they need to keep their seatbelts fastened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your concern - that they will squirm about or that if there was a plane crash they would be safer in a carseat?

If the former - they are both old enough to sit still well. They will be fine with some toys and looking out the window etc. Honestly, don't worry about it.

If the latter - a car seat will not help if your plane has a crash. Just make sure they understand they need to keep their seatbelts fastened.

Please, this is exactly what I said I didn't need to hear. Obviously, not worried about squirming or if the plane crashes. Planning in the event of serious turbulence. Rare, but happens. You can keep your opinions to yourself. I'm just asking for advice on WHAT to use, not whether to use anything at all.

[Anonymous]

I would do the CARES harness for the 3 year old. My guess is your 5 year old is large enough that the airplane seatbelt really is enough. The weight limits for CARES are 22 to 44 pounds and the upper height limit is 40 inches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would do the CARES harness for the 3 year old. My guess is your 5 year old is large enough that the airplane seatbelt really is enough. The weight limits for CARES are 22 to 44 pounds and the upper height limit is 40 inches.

Thanks! That's really helpful.

[Anonymous]

Here is the FAA's recommendations based on weight:
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/#choosingCRS

[Anonymous]

Your other option is to buy new carseats for both. We used a Sunshine Radian (I think they changed the name) it is a very narrow low profile seat but harnesses up to a high weight limit. My dd rode in one until she was almost 7yrs old.
Pro-the kids will be in a full harness which they are used to and will be helpful if their is turbulence. The low profile of the seat does not interfere with using the tray table so they can still color ets. The seat folds to help make it easier to carry in the airport.
Cons- they are expensive and heavy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your other option is to buy new carseats for both. We used a Sunshine Radian (I think they changed the name) it is a very narrow low profile seat but harnesses up to a high weight limit. My dd rode in one until she was almost 7yrs old.
Pro-the kids will be in a full harness which they are used to and will be helpful if their is turbulence. The low profile of the seat does not interfere with using the tray table so they can still color ets. The seat folds to help make it easier to carry in the airport.
Cons- they are expensive and heavy

and currently very hard to find. The company just did a redesign and the new models seem to be out of stock every where.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your concern - that they will squirm about or that if there was a plane crash they would be safer in a carseat?

If the former - they are both old enough to sit still well. They will be fine with some toys and looking out the window etc. Honestly, don't worry about it.

If the latter - a car seat will not help if your plane has a crash. Just make sure they understand they need to keep their seatbelts fastened.

Please, this is exactly what I said I didn't need to hear. Obviously, not worried about squirming or if the plane crashes. Planning in the event of serious turbulence. Rare, but happens. You can keep your opinions to yourself. I'm just asking for advice on WHAT to use, not whether to use anything at all.

Jesus, rude lady. You didn't say that on the OP.

Enjoy the rest of your day. I hope the rest of the world keeps out of your way- it's clear you have your claws out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your concern - that they will squirm about or that if there was a plane crash they would be safer in a carseat?

If the former - they are both old enough to sit still well. They will be fine with some toys and looking out the window etc. Honestly, don't worry about it.

If the latter - a car seat will not help if your plane has a crash. Just make sure they understand they need to keep their seatbelts fastened.

Please, this is exactly what I said I didn't need to hear. Obviously, not worried about squirming or if the plane crashes. Planning in the event of serious turbulence. Rare, but happens. You can keep your opinions to yourself. I'm just asking for advice on WHAT to use, not whether to use anything at all.

Jesus, rude lady. You didn't say that on the OP.

Enjoy the rest of your day. I hope the rest of the world keeps out of your way- it's clear you have your claws out!

Nothing rude about what I said. And I very clearly did say that in the OP. You just wanted to chime in with your opinion. And now you're upset that I said it wasn't welcome. My day is great, thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your other option is to buy new carseats for both. We used a Sunshine Radian (I think they changed the name) it is a very narrow low profile seat but harnesses up to a high weight limit. My dd rode in one until she was almost 7yrs old.
Pro-the kids will be in a full harness which they are used to and will be helpful if their is turbulence. The low profile of the seat does not interfere with using the tray table so they can still color ets. The seat folds to help make it easier to carry in the airport.
Cons- they are expensive and heavy

and currently very hard to find. The company just did a redesign and the new models seem to be out of stock every where.

Thanks, both PP's. If anyone knows about an alternative to the Radian that's more readily available, would love to know that. We will have a car with carseats at the other end of the flight, so probably won't go this way, but since we play on flying a lot more in the coming year it may be worth it. Otherwise, the harness thingy for the younger kid and the seatbelt for the older sounds like a plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your concern - that they will squirm about or that if there was a plane crash they would be safer in a carseat?

If the former - they are both old enough to sit still well. They will be fine with some toys and looking out the window etc. Honestly, don't worry about it.

If the latter - a car seat will not help if your plane has a crash. Just make sure they understand they need to keep their seatbelts fastened.

Please, this is exactly what I said I didn't need to hear. Obviously, not worried about squirming or if the plane crashes. Planning in the event of serious turbulence. Rare, but happens. You can keep your opinions to yourself. I'm just asking for advice on WHAT to use, not whether to use anything at all.

Jesus, rude lady. You didn't say that on the OP.

Enjoy the rest of your day. I hope the rest of the world keeps out of your way- it's clear you have your claws out!

Nothing rude about what I said. And I very clearly did say that in the OP. You just wanted to chime in with your opinion. And now you're upset that I said it wasn't welcome. My day is great, thanks.

New poster here, and yes OP--you were rude with your "You can keep your opinions to yourself." Good Luck to all the other passengers on your flight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your concern - that they will squirm about or that if there was a plane crash they would be safer in a carseat?

If the former - they are both old enough to sit still well. They will be fine with some toys and looking out the window etc. Honestly, don't worry about it.

If the latter - a car seat will not help if your plane has a crash. Just make sure they understand they need to keep their seatbelts fastened.

Please, this is exactly what I said I didn't need to hear. Obviously, not worried about squirming or if the plane crashes. Planning in the event of serious turbulence. Rare, but happens. You can keep your opinions to yourself. I'm just asking for advice on WHAT to use, not whether to use anything at all.

Jesus, rude lady. You didn't say that on the OP.

Enjoy the rest of your day. I hope the rest of the world keeps out of your way- it's clear you have your claws out!

Nothing rude about what I said. And I very clearly did say that in the OP. You just wanted to chime in with your opinion. And now you're upset that I said it wasn't welcome. My day is great, thanks.

Lady, now you are going crazy, too.

[Anonymous]

OP, when the plane goes down in a mass of burning aluminum it won't matter what car seat they are in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your concern - that they will squirm about or that if there was a plane crash they would be safer in a carseat?

If the former - they are both old enough to sit still well. They will be fine with some toys and looking out the window etc. Honestly, don't worry about it.

If the latter - a car seat will not help if your plane has a crash. Just make sure they understand they need to keep their seatbelts fastened.

Please, this is exactly what I said I didn't need to hear. Obviously, not worried about squirming or if the plane crashes. Planning in the event of serious turbulence. Rare, but happens. You can keep your opinions to yourself. I'm just asking for advice on WHAT to use, not whether to use anything at all.

Jesus, rude lady. You didn't say that on the OP.

Enjoy the rest of your day. I hope the rest of the world keeps out of your way- it's clear you have your claws out!

Nothing rude about what I said. And I very clearly did say that in the OP. You just wanted to chime in with your opinion. And now you're upset that I said it wasn't welcome. My day is great, thanks.

New poster here, and yes OP--you were rude with your "You can keep your opinions to yourself." Good Luck to all the other passengers on your flight.

Fine, but I think she was being rude with her response especially given that I had asked, respectfully, not to get derailed by people who think nothing is needed.