Short flight solo with 2 year tomorrow, family arranged for carseat at pickup, still take ours?
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Anonymous
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I have a one hour flight tomorrow with my 2 year old. I'm all for using the car seat on the plane, but I'm flying by myself. I a going to tell my family not to bother with their car seat and just bring ours on the plane. What if there's turbulence or if we are stuck on the runway for 30 minutes and she wants to run around?
But, I'll be easily flustered, trying to manage stuff and toddler. The idea of getting everything through the airport and onto the plane is giving me anxiety. Has anyone done a short flight with toddler who has their own seat and not taken the carseat? We are flying Southwest. And, if you're a parents-of-lap-babies-can-go-to-hell kinda poster, please don't respond. |
Anonymous
| If she wants to run around, tell her no. Who's in charge? |
Anonymous
| I'm confused. Toddler with her own seat, right? Then why are you damning the no-lap-babies parents? |
Anonymous
| I wouldn't bring the car seat. I've traveled alone with my kids from when they were little and found that it's easier to manage them with less stuff. If you'll have a car seat option when you get there, leave it behind. Bring a few new toys (target dollar aisle!) and rarely awarded snacks and you'll be fine. |
Anonymous
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My kid is five and we fly 4-6 times per year. I've never used a car seat on a plane. In all my years of flying, I have ONCE seen anyone else use a car seat on a plane. For all the storm und drang and pixels spilled over this, it's not actually all that common.
If you fly a lot, you might find it worth investing in a CARES harness. I found it useful mostly to contain my child when he was small. But for a short flight, you will be absolutely fine. If possible, sit your child at the window, and sit between her and any other passengers. Bring some high value treats that she's not usually allowed to have (we eat a bunch of candy on airplane flights), some sticker books, some kiddie apps on your phone, and maybe a short movie with headphones, if you think she'll sit through that. Also, protip, in case of delays, can I recommend stashing a sandwich or substantial amount of food in your purse? I've had delays that pushed a morning flight into a lunchtime flight, and had a kid get very cranky and hangry. So now I always make sure I have enough snacks on board that we can fashion "lunch" if needed. |
Anonymous
I was searching in archives and found angry posters on several threads lambasting parents who do not put their kids in carseats on planes, period. I just did not want an angry person derailing my thread. Sometimes people don't get answers that way. |
Anonymous
| I would not bring a carseat. Just put her in the seat. Bring some food, treats like fruit snacks, and a movie or games on your ipad. |
Anonymous
| Op I've flown multiple times with my twins, alone, for 6+ hour trips. Started when they were two. I didn't use a car seat. They sat quietly with their belt on and we were fine. Don't get flustered. It's an hour, one kid, and you can do it! |
Anonymous
| No reason for the carseat, the lap belt is good enough for a two year old on the plane. I just flew with my (wild) 2.5 year old on a 2.5 hour flight and the belt contained her most of the time. We had to do a few laps up and down teh aisle but we would probably have had to do that with a carseat, too. Don't bring it. |
Anonymous
| Thank you all so very much! No car seat, it is. I just thought it was something you were supposed to do. It never occurred to me that most people don't do it! |
Anonymous
| I had a 14 hour flight with a 21 month old - no car seat. You can do it. really.... getting through security was always the most challenging part for me (juggling everything and trying to keep DD from running off). but flying was fine. |
Anonymous
| Skip the car seat. You will be so glad you did!! |
Anonymous
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I have done it both ways. I only have one kid, so I managed to bring the car seat on the plane without much trouble. I put the car seat in the stroller (so I didn't have to carry it) and put the kid on top (I know, I know, it's not perfectly safe but it works). Then I gate check the stroller and carry the car seat on the plane. I usually just wear a backpack as my carry-on so that my hands are free. Most of the time, I ask another passenger to carry the car seat on for me. Everyone has always been super helpful when I am traveling alone with a toddler.
That being said, if you have a car seat waiting for you at the other end (and you trust that it will be safe and the right size), I would absolutely fly WITHOUT mine. You do not need a carseat on the plane. |
Anonymous
Some people use a CARES harness instead of a car seat. It essentially turns the airplane car seat into a four point harness. With toddlers on a plane, I prefer them to car seats. If you haven't flown yet, ask around among your friends to try to borrow one. Apparently, you can rent them too. http://kidsflysafe.com |
Anonymous
| Your child will probably think it's fun to be propelled across the plane during turbulance. "Again! Again!" |